Awash with Hostess Club

Goodness! Working full-time sure does get in the way of stamping and blogging! My new job as the main Kindergarten teacher is going well.... just BUSY. I am at work for much longer than before, and it wears me out. Today I finally had time for stamping - first in almost a month!

This afternoon is my Hostess Club. This group of ladies have been wonderfully fun, and I'm sad we are winding down to our last few club meetings. I hope to start up a club again in August or September, and I would be thrilled if my members continued!

Today we're doing a simple technique: Two Step Stamping. I wanted to showcase this technique because of the promotion going on, but also because it's a technique I don't use much. I chose to use Awash With Flowers, a set which, admittedly, I didn't like at first. I am not a real pastel-y person, and most of the samples I saw were pastel. Then I saw a very cute card on Stampin' Connection (a message board, idea-sharing site for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators) by Selene Kempton and decided to CASE it exactly. It's not too pastel-y, not too grandma-y (which was another initial concern with the set), and quite modern, I feel. I love it - I hope my club members do, too!

Awash for Hostess CASE
Stamp Sets: Awash with Flowers, Well-Scripted
Cardstock: Real Red, Kraft, Basic Black
Stampin' Pads: Black Stazon and Whisper White Craft
Accessories/Tools: Real Red Satin Ribbon

Now that I've played with the set a bit, I can see how versatile and cute it can be! You can make it fit your style so easily: bold, bright, light, pastel, watermark, etc. Contact me at tracy.riekenberg@gmail.com to order this set. It's only available until the end of April... if you miss it, you'll have to wait until July when the new catalog comes out to get yours. :)

On a side note... I'm but 150 hits away from 10K. Check back this week for some BLOG CANDY to celebrate. :)

Changes at Stampin' Up!

Now, for some really big Stampin' Up! news:
It was announced this week that Stampin' Up! is going through a COLOR RENOVATION! This means we are getting new, awesome colors, retiring some of our old, bored colors, and bringing back some goodies that got set aside for a while (like Baja Breeze!!) It is a change that is coming with the launch of the new Idea Book and Catalog on July 1st, but we demonstrators heard of it early to prepare ourselves and our customers. Many of the current Stampin' Up! colors are being discontinued ("retired") after July 1st - between now and then are the perfect opportunities for you to stock up on your faves!

You may be wondering some things, like...

What colors are retiring? Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace, Almost Amethyst, Bordering Blue, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue, Brilliant Blue, Taken with Teal, Glorious Green, Handsome Hunte r, Sage Shadow, Mellow Moss, Green Galore, Gable Green, Barely Banana, Yoyo Yellow, Summer Sun, Apricot Appeal, Only Orange, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, and Going Gray are all retir ing. Click here to see:



What are the new colors, and what are th e In Colors that are returning as core colors? What colors are staying? Any current Stampin' Up! color not mentioned above will return and stay in the Stampin' U p! world (called "carryover colors"). There are five new colors are called Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, and Cherry Cobbler. The ten returning In Colors are Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, River Rock, Sof t Suede, Riding Hood Red, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, and Baja Breeze. Also, they’ve renamed Kraft to Crumb Cake. Click here to see:

How many colors in total will we have? Will we still have In-Colors every year? There will be 40 "core colors" that will be the main base of the Stampin' Up! line for years to come. There are 40 core colors & they are broken into 4 groups of 10: the Brights, the Regals, the Subtles, and the Neutrals. There will be 5 new In-Colors every year, including new In-Colors for 2010-2011.

Why did Stampin' Up! do this?
Stampin' Up! is striving to stay "on top" of the color trends we are seeing in other industries. They did a lot of market research and compared their offerings to colors they were seeing out and about. When choosing the new colors, they were careful to choose the most popular and up-to-date colors. You will find you will see the new colors when you're shopping at department stores, looking through magazines, and noticing people's clothing & home decor. These are the best colors in the industry today!

They retired colors based on sales history and focus group feedback. In addition, sales on many colors were very low, and the cost to support those colors was not worth the return.

What does this mean for the products I already have or the products I want to get? For the products you already have, it doesn't mean a lot. You can still use the awesome colors you may own, even if that color is retiring. In fact, you can still use that color after it retires! We are not going to make you give back your stamp pads or card stock, nor will they be ineffective in your project-making! Use and continue to love them! For the products you really LOVE and the products you really WANT, again I stress you stock up on those items! After July 1, you will not be able to order them!

What do I (Tracy) think of this? I am totally pumped! The new colors look awesome! My favorite are Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist. Plus, many of the new colors are going to have WAY more coordinating accessories like ribbon and brads and such. You know I love those things! I'm so excited some of my old faves are coming back, like Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red!! It makes more sense to me to have fewer, awesome colors than lots of boring colors. And honestly, many of the retiring colors are colors I rarely ever use, so I won't miss them! And my fave go-to colors (like Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, and Pumpkin Pie) proved to be everyone else's fave go-to colors and are not retiring. Yippee!!!

Please feel free to contact me with questions about Color Renovation. I will continue to share the information I gain as I gain it.

Gift-Wrap Inspired

Today was my coworker's last day before she has her baby (she's scheduled a C-Section). Of course I got her a cute present - and even cuter wrapping paper. As I was thinking about a card to make for her I had an idea: make it to coordinate with the wrapping! And so I did. It came together really easily and came out SO cute! She loved it!

Present and Card Together

Close Up of Card
Stamp Sets: Fox & Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Basic Gray, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: 1" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Polka Dot Bermuda Bay ribbon, Dimensionals

Of course I will miss my coworker now that she's gone - but I'm also very excited that she's gone! She was the classroom teacher in our kindergarten class and I was the teacher assistant. Well, now that she's gone, I get to step in as the Long Term Sub till the end of the year and get to TEACH! It's something I've been waiting to do for 3 years since I got my teaching license. I'm so excited! I can't wait to be the teacher and watch my kindergartners grow through the end of the year. :)

Inspired by reading "The Happiness Project"

I did some major stamping yesterday and last night! It's amazing what some sun, 60 degrees, and spring break will do to your creative juices! They were a-flowing!!

I've been reading this really interesting book by Gretchin Rubin called The Happiness Project - and the card I'm posting today was inspired by that book. Did you know bluebirds are a symbol of happiness? I knew it, but I just didn't know I knew it until Rubin reminded me of it in her book. (does that make sense?) Anyway, once I read about the author deciding to collect bluebirds (which is a really cute idea, by the way... if I didn't already collect owls, I'd consider joining her!) I had the bird image from Season of Friendship stuck in my head! I had to scoot downstairs and stamp this cute card!

The Happy Card
Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Fundamental Phrases
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: None
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Close to Cocoa, Gable Green, Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue
Accessories/Tools: Masterpiece Ribbon Originals, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

Love this set as much as I do? Contact me today to order one - and you're almost 1/2 way there to a FREE Sale-a-Bration set!!!

And.... what makes you happy? For me, currently what is making me happy is the sun shining outside and things generally going my way for the past couple of days. Makes me feel so good!

In the knick of time!

Whenever I get stumped about stamping and can't think of anything cute to do, I usually search for cards online to CASE (I already told you about that....) or I search for sketch challenges to follow. The challenges are great because you get to bring your own take on a sketch and use whatever stamps, materials, colors, accessories, etc... that you have on hand. And usually, the sketches are way more interesting than any card I'd have thought up!

Earlier this week I found the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #59 rather interesting. Of course, I am no plan-ahead-er, so I am just finishing the card now and posting it after the submissions to showcase it on that blog have closed. Oh well. At least the card turned out really cute (IMO) and used some new goodies I hadn't dug into yet. :)

SSSC59 Bird Thanks
Stamp Sets: Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Rose Red
Designer Series Paper: Sweet Pea
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Rose Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch, XL Two-Step Bird Punch

I love that the main focus of this card is the punches. Of course, the Scallop Trim Border Punch is quickly becoming a favorite - and so awesome that you can get it for FREE with an order of $50 or more! But that bird punch.... at first glance in the catalog I thought "NO WAY. Who needs that?" Then I saw samples and got my own. I love it! Mixing and matching the bird and the wing was so much fun! I have probably 6 more birds punched out waiting for me on my stamping table. :) It may become my "go to" for springtime cards. :)

Fox and Friends and Babies

Today is a baby shower for a teacher at work. She's due in April. My fellow TAs and I pitched in together to get her a present (I picked it out from her registry: it has an "eating" theme... spoons, bibs, burp cloths, bottles, etc!) and I said I'd make a card. I've been feeling under the weather lately, so I dug out this cute card I made a few weeks ago. I hope the "hello baby" sentiment is appropriate for a shower, although the baby isn't here yet!

Shower for Elizabeth

Stamp Sets: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Taken with Teal
Designer Series Paper: Sweet Pea
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon (from SAB 2009), Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/2" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, paper snips, 1/16" hole punch

I love how Fox and Friends makes the absolutely cutest baby cards ever! Don't miss out! Fox and Friends is only available through the end of the month.... contact me today if you wish to order this supercute set. :)

Off to the CASEs

I've said it once; I'll say it again: one of my favorite things about stamping is being able to copy (in the stamping world we call it "CASE" - Copy And Share Everything) awesome cards that others have already made. I rarely come up with a design on my own, and because I can CASE, I always feel really confident in my cards, even though I don't think I have a lot of artistic talent.

Today's card was CASEd from one of my favorite new-found blogs, Simple & Sincere. Most everything I see that Jen has made is awesome and I plan to CASE! Her original Thank You card can be found by clicking here.

Sweet Pea Thank You
Stamp Set: Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip
Designer Series Paper: Sweet Pea (3 different pieces)
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

This simple design can be used with various different papers, cardstock, sentiments. I plan to utilize this design a LOT!

Did you know you can get the Thank You Kindly set for FREE until March 31? Contact me to learn more!

Sunny Days are on the way!

As much as I'd love to say and hope that actual sunny days were on their way to Minnesota, I have to say they are not. By my predictions, we have got at least 4 more weeks of 30 degree or below weather, and even longer until the snow melts! Boo!! But, you can dream of Sunny Days by attending my Sunny Days Simply Scrappin' Kit card class. In the class we will make 16 all-occasions cards using the Sunny Days kit. The kit includes the cardstock and paper you need; I’ll provide ribbon, stamps, embellishments and envelopes. You will also get to keep any leftovers from their kit to use for future cards or scrapbook pages. What a steal! The class will take place on Saturday, March 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is only $25 and includes envelopes!!!

Here is just a samples of what you can make:

Birthday Presents
Stamp Set: Happy Moments (SAB)
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie textured, Pixie Pink textured, Old Olive textured, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Sunny Days SSK paper
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie (for watercoloring), Stazon
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Trim Border (SAB), Dimensionals

Birthday Cake
Stamp Set: Happy Moments (SAB)
Cardstock: Pixie Pink textured, Tempting Turqouise textured, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Sunny Days SSK paper
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie (for watercoloring), Stazon
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

Kind Flower
Stamp Set: Whimsical Words (SAB)
Cardstock: Tempting Turqouise textured, Old Olive textured
Designer Series Paper: Sunny Days SSK paper
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Stazon
Accessories/Tools: none, aside from the stickers that come with the kit

Cheep Hello
Stamp Set: Cheep Talk
Cardstock: Tempting Turqouise textured,
Designer Series Paper: Sunny Days SSK paper
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Stazon
Accessories/Tools: none, aside from the stickers that come with the kit

I love SO many things about the Simply Scrappin' Kits! You really can't go wrong with them: they come with textured cardstock (which is awesome - and costs more than regular cardstock if you buy it separately!); everything coordinates; the sticker sheets are awesome; you can make a TON of stuff with one; the price is right; the cards come together quickly when you use the awesome stickers..... and on and on. I love them!

I hope to see you at the class. Please RSVP by 3/8/10. :)

Spring-ful Thinking Thank You

I just love the Sweetheart stamp set! I am not really into it's intended use of treat cups and such, but I love how cute and springy and easy it is to use!! And we just got word that it's available until July - and thereafter as it's going to be featured in the 2010-11 Stampin' Up! Catalog. Yippee!!!

Anyway, I am totally sick of snowy, wintry, cold weather, so I thought a flowery image would brighten my day. I made a few of these cards as thank yous for a recent workshop - but the design is so versatile that you could easily change the greeting in the middle and make the card for any occasion! I hope the recipients of this card like it as much as I do.

Sweetheart Thank You
Stamp Sets: Sweetheart, Vintage Vogue
Cardstock: Kraft, Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Good Neighbor (SAB)
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Rose Red, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: Full Heart Punch, Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Do you love Sweetheart as much as I do? I'd love to showcase it at a workshop for you! Contact me to work out a date. :)

I've noticed I'm dangerously close (well, about 100 hits away) to getting 10,000 hits! Woot woot!! Please, pass my blog to your friends. In the coming week(s) I will have some blog candy to celebrate the milestone!

Homemade Valentine's Day

My husband, Aaron, and I decided to do a "homemade" Valentine's Day this year and make our presents for each other. I got breakfast in bed (YUM!) and he got M&M cookies. Later we plan to get a heart-shaped take-and-bake pizza from Papa Murphy's and eat at home while watching the Olympics. Just our kind of fun!

Of course, because the day was designated "homemade" we had to make our own cards for each other. I always love it when hubby stamps for me! Here are our creations:

Aaron's Card for Tracy
Stamp Set: I {Heart} Hearts
Cardstock: Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: None
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories/Tools: None


Tracy's Card for Aaron
Stamp Sets: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Sending Love Specialty
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Small Heart Punch, Real Red Sending Love Epoxy Brads, 5/8" Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon

What I love most about Aaron's card is the fact that he went to so much trouble to do it! He had to figure out how to use a clear mount stamp, open the stamp pads and coordinate the colors. He also tried to use the Scallop Trim Border Punch, but he couldn't figure it out (it's OK honey!) What a swell guy to go to all that trouble to make me a homemade card. He's the best!!!

Fun party in the 'burbs!

My good friend Andrea moved in with her cousins late in 2009 -- all the way to Eden Prairie! (To non-TC folk, that's a good 20 miles from Minneapolis, even farther from St Paul.... to a city gal like me, it's faaaaaaar away!) But, now that she's set up in the 'burbs, she has the perfect space for a Stampin' Workshop! I headed down there on Thursday for a workshop, and had a lot of fun! The ladies who came (mostly ladies from Andrea's new 'hood, mostly friends of Andrea's cousin) were fun, outgoing, crafty people - the perfect kind to have at a Stampin' Workshop!

I got to show off some clear mounts stamps; they got to use some SAB materials and make a cute Valentine's day card! Here are the make-and-take projects:

2010 Calendar Bookmark
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Saffron, white computer paper
Designer Series Paper: None
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1/8" circle punch, Elementary Ribbon Originals

Love Bandit Card
Stamp Set: Love Bandit
Cardstock: Kraft, Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Welcome Neighbor
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Stampin' Write markers: Basic Black, Old Olive, Rose Red
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon, horizontal slot punch

Andrea just LOVED the Love Bandit set the first time she saw it, so I really wanted to make sure to incorporate it into her party. She was pleasantly surprised when I presented it to her as a Thank You gift for hosting the party! :)

Stampin' Workshops are the perfect "girls night out" - gather some friends, make some food, serve some wine and everyone has a good time! I'd love to help you plan your workshop - please contact me right away! I'll even go anywhere from the city to the burbs! :)

Very Thankful Class

One of the things I love most about Stampin' Up! is its dedication to give back. Recently, the home office announced that through the Haitian Disaster Relief promotion, they will give $2 from every "I {Heart} Heart" stamp set purchased to the Red Cross. What a great way for the company to get involved - and a great way for customers to give a bit while purchasing a cute stamp set that they will LOVE! (See samples made with this stamp set here).

Stampin' Up! also supports local Ronald McDonald Houses through events and volunteer, but also by creating a special stamp set each year where some of the procedes are donated to RMH across the country. This year, the stamp set is called Very Thankful, and I know some or all of it will appeal to everyone! Who doesn't need thank you cards?

My annual RMH fundraiser class is Feb. 20 this year. Participants will make 8 cards (2 of each 4 designs) using this set and can choose to keep the stamp set or not. In addition, I will donate $2.00 of each class fee to the Twin Cities Ronald McDonald House! Come give back! (Class fee is $15 if you don't want the stamp set, $30 if you do; includes envelopes and materials).

Here's what we'll be making!

Fancy Peacock Thank YouStamp Sets: Very Thankful, Vintage Vogue
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: None
Stampin' Pads (Classic): None
Stampin' Write Markers: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Basic Black
Accessories/Tools: Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Thanks So Much
Stamp Set: Very Thankful
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: None
Stampin' Pads (Classic): None
Stampin' Write Markers: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Basic Black
Accessories/Tools: Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, corner rounder punch

Thank You Kid
Stamp Set: Very Thankful
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White, Watercolor
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Stazon
Stampin' Write Markers: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Blush Blossom, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede (all for watercoloring)
Accessories/Tools: Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Blender Pen

Very Thankful
Stamp Set: Very Thankful
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Whisper White, Watercolor
Designer Series Paper: None
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Stazon
Stampin' Write Markers: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy, Basic Black (all for watercoloring)
Accessories/Tools: Elementary Ribbon Originals, 5/16" Whisper White Jumbo Brads, Blender Pen

I hope to see you at this class on Feb. 20 to give back to our RMH in the Twin Cities! RSVPs and payment are due Friday, Feb. 12.

Valentine's Day Class

Yesterday I got a beautiful big brown box from UPS. It included tons of goodies for the winter/spring classes and workshops I'm planning. What got me most excited, though, were my goodies for my Valentine's Day class, this Sunday. (If you love what you see and are DYING to come, I can probably squeeze you in! It's $15 for 8 cards!) I didn't have samples done before the sign up - since I didn't have my stuff yet - so I am very appreciative to my customers who are coming and trust that the results will be good! Here's what we'll make... 2 of each card - and all are inspired/copied from some great stampers on Splitcoast.

Friend
(inspired by Crystal)
Stamp Set: I {Heart} Hearts
Cardstock: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: Sending Love Specialty
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Pretty in Pink
Accessories/Tools: Small Heart Punch, 5/8" Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon

Love You Much
(inspired by Selene)
Stamp Sets: I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Designer Series Paper: Sending Love Specialty
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Accessories/Tools: Small Heart Punch, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

Be Mine
(inspired by Kristin)
Stamp Sets: Sweetheart, Vintage Vogue, Great Friend
Cardstock: Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: None!
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Regal Rose, Bermuda Bay
Accessories/Tools: Full Heart Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon

V-Day
(inspired by Mary)
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Real REd, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: Sending Love Specialty
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Real Red
Accessories/Tools: Full Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Real Red 3/4" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

These new products in the Mini Catalog are just great!! I love the cute stamp sets, I love the new punches, the specialty paper is great, and the satin ribbon is to DIE FOR! Best of all, I am growing quite fond of the clear mount stamps. I always thought I was a wood-mount purist, but when I noticed the significant price difference in clear mount to wood mount, I had to try it out. (I am cheap, afterall....) The clear mount is SO SLICK. I got 3 or 4 sets in clear mount, and I will probably get more. I can't wait to show my customers the clear mount. :)

Too many projects to blog!

Hi Strangers! Happy New Year. It's been tooooooo long again since I blogged, but I have had too much going on to even have time to stamp, let alone take a photo, then upload it to the blog. BUT, I have something to share today!

I've been working on a 1st Birthday scrapbook for my nephew Will. His first birthday was Dec. 23, 2009 - and naturally my scrapbook is just getting done now. Eek! I consider it a 13-month present for him, rather than sticking to the traditional 12-month/1-year present. :) At least he's only 1 year old and won't know the difference if my present is late.... a year or two from now, he'll surely know when he doesn't get a present on time! Whew! :)

I have been using My Digital Studio for the scrapbook, and I've learned a lot about the program in the meantime! It's basically user-friendly and has lots of great options. I love that everything coordinates (in true Stampin' Up! fashion) and the Digital Kits are really the best. Once I figured those out, the pages came together quite nicely. MDS comes with some predesigned layouts... I opted for making my own -- most of which I copied out of the Stampin' Up! catalog or Stampin' Success magazines. I've never scrapbooked before, so coming up with original designs is tricky for me.

Anyway, here's my favorite 2-page spread. Isn't Will a cutie????




















I am about to send this off to the printer, so hopefully time will free up for me to do some actual stamping!

Thanks for looking!