It IS award season, after all....

I am late in putting this up... but I was given another blog award. This time fellow Minnesotan Michelle at Stamp and Smile gave me a Kreative Blogger award. I'm very excited and humbled by her choice to award to me! Her blog ROCKS (be sure to check it out!)... and that she thinks mine is good is quite a compliment. Of course, it could just be us cold Minnesotans sticking together. :)

Of course, we all know how this works. I link to her, then I choose a few other blogs to award and leave a note on theirs about the award. And on it goes! So here are my choices for the Award:

Tina at My Creations
Karen at Stamping with Karen
Kim at Kim's Korner
Brenda at Stampin' with Brenda

Check out these ladies' awesome blogs & enjoy! Again, thanks for reading my blog. I appreciate it!

For a friend

I had lunch with one of my oldest and dearest friends yesterday. He told me his father is gravely ill with cancer & it has spread to many places throughout his body. I was so shocked to hear it!! I never know what to say or to do in these situations, so I made a card. The simple sentiment "you're on my mind" fits perfectly with how I feel. I hope the card at least lets my friend know I'm here for him if he needs me.

Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Real Red, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Stamp Pads (Classic): Always Artichoke, More Mustard (for sponging)
Accessories/Tools: Vintage brads

Thanks for looking. And please add all those who suffer from cancer & its effects to your prayers.

SAB Swap

I finally got my SAB preorders, so I got to make my swap this weekend. I am very happy with this card, and am proud to say I came up with the color combo all on my own! (I am very dependent on the Color Coach.... to a ridiculous degree!)

I made 16 of these for a swap, and I may keep this design as one of the cards for my upcoming SAB sampler class.... but maybe change out the sentiment to something more general like Thank You or Thinking of You.

I am looking forward to receiving my full heart punch soon! Cutting out 16 of these hearts was WAY too much work for me. UGH. This card would also be easier, and probably look better, if I had a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the hearts, but I don't have one, so I eyeballed it. Oh well. Aren't minor flaws what make homemade cards so endearing? :)


















Stamp Set: Polka Dot Punches
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White
DSP: Delicate Dots
Stamp Pads (Classic): Regal Rose, Riding Hood Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Word Window Punch, White Taffeta ribbon, dimensional

I can't wait to place a big fat order on Feb. 1 so I can get the other SAB sets. The more I see of them, the more I like them. I'm sure I'll fall even more in love with them when I get my swap back next week. :)

Another award!

Today is a good day! I put in my first order from the Spring/Summer 2009 catalog (goodies for my upcoming Hostess/Class Attendee Appreciation). We got a new president. And I got an award! Yahoo!!

Thanks to Rachel for nominating me! I appreciate it.

Like most blog awards, there are rules. Here are the ones for this lovely award:

• Add the logo to your blog
• Link the person from whom you receive the award from
• Nominate several people
• Leave a message on their blog

Here are my nominees, in no particular order
Stampin' Heather
Ink Inclinations
My Creative Corner
Procrastistamper
Stamping Place


Go to these blogs. They are great!! And thanks for visiting mine. I appreciate it. :)

Samples for Holly's class/workshop

My friend Holly so loved my Christmas Card class that she came up with the most brilliant idea for her own class/workshop in her own home! She is preordering (and her guests are prepaying) for Pun Fun & paper/embellishments, and instead of me demoing and doing a make-and-take.... they will all make about 20 awesome cards! It's like a class that I'm moderating at someone else's home. I'm adjunct!! I'm so excited for this. And it falls in the first week of February, so her guests will also get SAB sets. And Holly will get awesome Hostess benefits. Everyone wins!

I made samples last night. Here they are:

#1 Get Whale Soon
This design is taken from the new catalog... there's a very cute boat card on page 42 that acutally makes me like Boatloads of Love (previously unliked by me).

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Grey, Not Quite Navy. Oh, and Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Word Window Punch, 3/4" circle Punch, Black Brad

Note: I know there is a weird word window sticker-thing under the whale. At first the "Get whale soon" was there, but then I thought it would be neat to punch it out and put it over in the corner.... balance it out. When we really make them, they won't look this funny.

#2 Stinky Sweet
Isn't it adorable! I may give this one to my husband for V-day. I used the In-Color chart to figure out these colors go together. I never woulda thunk it!! :)

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss
DSP: Bella Rose
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Grey, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss. Oh, and Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, White taffeta ribbon


#3 Hip Hippo Ray
Such a playful, mulitpurpose card. I have urged Holly to replace the white taffeta ribbon with the Riding Hood Red striped ribbon for the workshop. And maybe mount the hippo on RHR, too. I think that would pull it together nicely.

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron
DSP: Washington Apple
Stamp Pads (Classic):Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red. Oh, and Stazon
Accessories/Tools: White taffeta ribbon (but read note above)

#4 Happy Bird Day!
The Bird Day image is my favorite, and I have a feeling it's Holly's, too. (she fell in love with a sample I had at a workshop she attended). These bright colors really make it a fun birthday card for men, women, or children!

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
DSP: Washington Apple
Stamp Pads (Classic): Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red. Oh, and Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Silver Brads, Ticket Corner Punch

#5 Thank Ewe
Oh how fun to combine this cute lamb with the accessories from the Love You Much bundle. My only concern is that Candy Lane DSP is still on backorder... I hope it comes back before Feb. 2 when I place this order!!!

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
DSP: Candy lane
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Accessories/Tools: Heart to Heart punch

#6 Love You A Latte
Doesn't this card evoke the warmth of a Caribou Coffee? Mmmmm. My favorite design, again. I can't get enough of this layout!

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
DSP: Candy lane
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon

I think this class/workshop/adjunct event will be so much fun and a great opportunity for me to make some contacts with crafters! Holly is so excited, which I can tell is working, for she has 8 people coming to the party!! (all of whom are prepaying for their materials). It should be great fun. I'm very much looking forward to it.

More Thank You cards

I held my fun $30-for-30 Birthday card class this weekend. I am still not sure what I should do during these classes... walk around? Instruct? Work on the same projects? I was not prepared (i.e. did not have enough supplies, since my order from SU! is still on it's way to me.... another frustrating topic embedded there!) to make the same b-day cards as everyone else, so I continued to make some thank you cards. Some still for Christmas presents, some for the customers who came to my class! Sneaky, huh?

#1 Eastern Bloom Thank You
I love this card! I just got my Hawaii Papaya paper in my latest order & I couldn't wait to use it. And the colors in that paper are just so pretty together, and a nice retreat from the pinks and browns I have been using lately! I think it fit perfectly with Eastern Blooms. I will make more of this card, I'm sure (I only made 3 yesterday).

Stamp Sets: Pocket Silhouettes, a thank you set I can't remember the name of...
Cardstock: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango
Stamp Pads (Classic): Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Orchid Opulence
DSP: Hawaii Papaya
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon, Silver Brad, dimensional

#2 Thank Ewe
And I always seem to go back to Pun Fun, one of my favorite sets in the catalog! This one is just too cute for words, and it makes me chuckle everytime I use a stamp from it. Notice the same layout (one of my new favorites!) It's so simple, but interesting at the same time!

Stamp Sets: Pun Fun, Love You Much
Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue
Stamp Pads (Classic): Black Stazon, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue
DSP: Washington Apple
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" White Ribbon, dimensionals

I have to also say, I'm SO disappointed! It looks like my hit counter has bit the big one. So now I don't know how many visitors I've had. I may have to install a new one and start at 1000, since I know I was close to 1000. BUMMER!

Thanks for reading. :)

Thank Yous for Christmas Presents

I always send thank you cards for the Christmas presents I receive. It's thoughtful, it's polite, and frankly I think it's the reason why I'm nearly 30 and still get presents from my aunts and uncles & grandparents! Someday I hope to pass this trait on to my kids. Getting a thank you card is such a nice treat these days.

So, this year I made 4 different designs. Well, I have made 4 so far, but one I am going to change a bit to make it not so girly. You'll see what I mean.

#1 Silhouette Thank You
This design is straight off the cover of the Jan. 2009 Stampin' Success! Oh well, who cares if I cased it, it is cute! I just wish I had my Sweet Stems set, but since it is back-ordered (like most of everything I ordered lately!), I had to make due with Pocket Silhouettes.

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Passion, Pink Pirouette
DSP: Bella Rose
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" white ribbon, dimensionals

#2 Upsy Daisy Thank You
This card is made following this week's Mojo Monday layout. I love, love, love this layout and will probably make many more cards with this design. I think it's easy, but interesting to the eye. anyway, as you are beginning to see, there is a pink theme going on ...

Stamp Sets: Upsy Daisy and... um... I can't remember this hostess set from a few years ago!
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Wide Oval punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon, dimensionals

#3 Autumn Vine Thank you
This design I took from the November Stampin' Success. I was not all that creative with the ideas this time around. It's rare for me to have such a small image and lots of blank background. I love how it looks. I shall remember that when designing cards! White space (even if it is Sage Shadow) is a good thing.

Stamp Sets: Pocket Silhouettes, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Really Rust, More Mustard, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Sage Shadow, Really Rust
DSP:Autumn Vine
Accessories/Tools: Scallop circle punch, silver brads, dimensionals

#4 Love You Much Thank you
This is the card, that while I love it and think it's super cute, I am going to redesign. It is cute, it is pretty, but it is really girly. I already have 2 pink thank yous, I need another masculine-ish one to send to Dad, brother, etc. So, I think I will keep the layout (which may have come from an issue of SS), but use Pun Fun instead and use DSP that is brighter, and not pink (like Washington Apple). Anyway... those are my plans. Too bad. I like this card a lot!

Stamp Sets: Love You Much, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: SPink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pens, 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon

So, there it is! I hope my family and friends appreciate these thank yous as much I as appreciate their gifts! :)

OH! I notice I'm close to 1,000 hits. This is so awesome!! Thanks to people who check out my blog. I really appreciate it. :)

Love You Much swap

I made this super cute card for a swap over at SCS. Naturally, I am late getting it in the mail. I think I just plum forgot to do the swap before the holidays, then we traveled for 2 weeks. So, I stayed home today and stamped like a mad woman. Here's the result!

Stamp Set: Love You Much
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip
Stamp Pads (Classic): Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon, Triple Hearts punch, Dimensionals

I think this card is so cute, but it will be even cuter when I get my hands on the new heart punch that we know is coming in the new catalog!! Cutting 11 hearts by hand sure makes you appreciate a punch. (And you know my love for punches is growing with each order I place...)

I was inspired by a card on Flowerbug's blog. It's not an exact case, but I sure used her idea, which I think is supercute! Thanks, Flowerbug!

Make-and-Takes for Andrea's party

I have another workshop coming up on Jan. 17 for my good friend Andrea J. She has come to classes & parties before, but this time around she's hostessing! So I wanted to create some really cute V-Day things for her and her guests. (Plus, I haven't really shown off the Love You Much bundle... all of these projects use SOMETHING from the bundle.) The treat bag was her idea! A great one, I think. :)

#1 Friend to Friend
I think this card is simple enough for first-time stampers, but is a classic enough design (it's basically the card on the cover of this month's SS) that even seasoned stampers will find it appealing. Plus, I love to show off In-Colors.

Stamp Set: Love You Much
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White,
Stamp Pads (Classic): Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Vintage brads, blender pens

#2 Love you a latte
I ordered these gift card holders months ago (with intentions of doing something with them for Christmas), and never got around to using them. So, I thought they made a perfect V-Day treat & demo opportunity! I used the triple hearts from Love You Much on the inside, though I didn't take a picture.

Stamp Sets: Love You Much, Pun Fun
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette,
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Gift card holders, Chocolate Chip ribbon, dimensionals (and I will use my word window punch when I get it, sometime this week).

#3 Hugs & Kisses
Andrea saw my reindeer poop for my craft show and wanted to do something similar at her party. We thought using the Hugs & Kisses stamp from Love You Much & filling the bag with Hershey's Hugs & Kisses would be so cute!

Stamp Set: Love You Much
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette
Stamp Pads (Classic): Riding Hood Red,
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1/4" Whisper White ribbon, dimensionals (I may also break out the glitter or something to jazz it up a bit).

I always do make-and-takes for a workshop. I think that it's important to get guests stamping & using the material; I really believe they won't fall in love with Stampin' Up! if they watch me make a few things! And I do 3 because... well, mostly because my brain almost always compartmentalizes things into 3s. I always have 3 things to eat for every meal... I put clothes in the drawer stacked in 3s (like jeans and sweaters)... I count things by 3s.... I'm weird.

Prepping 3 make-and-takes is a lot of work, but again, I'm all about value for my customers. It is imperitive to me that they feel like the party was not only fun, but that they did some cool stuff, and have lots of things to show off. I truly believe that is how I will build a good customer base.