Stampin' Tracy

Awash with Hostess Club

2010-04-25T12:40:00.005-05:00

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!

2010-04-11T08:53:00.005-05:00

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

2010-04-07T16:50:00.005-05:00

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"

2010-03-15T15:10:00.003-05:00

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!

2010-03-13T08:15:00.003-06:00

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

2010-03-09T08:09:00.004-06:00

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

2010-03-03T08:23:00.004-06:00

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!

2010-02-23T21:01:00.006-06:00

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

2010-02-17T20:29:00.003-06:00

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

2010-02-14T10:01:00.005-06:00

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!

2010-02-06T09:26:00.004-06:00

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

2010-02-01T19:59:00.006-06:00

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

2010-01-28T08:24:00.002-06:00

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!

2010-01-20T08:18:00.008-06:00

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!

Coordinated Christmas

2009-11-30T08:29:00.008-06:00

OMG. Has it really been more than a month since my last post? Oops. I could go on and on with a list of excuses (H1N1, b-day, vacation, Thanksgiving, etc). But really, I didn't have any cards I was proud of. Until now!

Yesterday I wound down from a busy Thanksgiving weekend by making my Christmas card prototypes. I was drawn to Soft Suede, Real Red, and Whisper White this year - and for the first time ever all my cards coordinate! I know my favorite - post a comment to let me know which one is yours! :)

Flocked Christmas

(Inspired by Lisa Brown)

Medallion Holidays
(Inspired by Jennifer Jackson)

Happy Christmas
(Inspired by Heather Summers)

Merry Dasher
(Inspired by Sheryl Dickinson)

Christmas Ornaments
(Inspired by Lori)

As you can see, I've used many different inspirations for my cards (meaning, I practically copied them exactly as I found them online). But I've said it once; I'll say it again - I love stamping because all you have to do is follow a pattern. If someone else came up with a really great pattern/design, why not use it! I've let these talented ladies know I copied their cards - Thanks again, ladies!!

Hostess Club October

2009-10-13T18:37:00.004-05:00

Thursday my wonderful Hostess Club ladies are coming over for our monthly meeting. We're learning Masking, a technique in stamping that allows you to cover up part of your image to stamp around it cleanly. Here are the two cards we'll be making

Birthday Balloons
Stamp Sets: Pumpkin Patch, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Post-It notes

Thanksgiving Wreath
Stamp Sets: Falling Leaves
Cardstock: Really Rust, More Mustard, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Stampin' Pads (Classic): More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Linen Thread, Masterpiece Ribbon Originals

I've really come to enjoy my monthly Hostess Club meetings. The group is so fun and we always have so much to say to each other! Sometimes it's a stretch getting 2 cards done in one meeting. :) I'm looking to start a second club soon - if you're interested in learning more about stamping, slowly adding to your stamping/scrapbooking supply closet, and love girlfriend chit-chat, let me know!!!

World Card Making Day = success!

2009-10-12T08:15:00.006-05:00

Because I ran the 10-Mile race on the actual World Card Making Day, I conducted my own celebration this past weekend. The event was free (best kind!) for guests. We made some Christmas cards, listened to Christmas music, ate Christmas treats, and had a jolly good time! Yes, it is early for Christmas, but - it snowed in Minnesota this weekend. It set the tone for our kick-off to the holidays!

I set the event up so guests would make 4 cards, all using slightly different techniques, colors, layouts, etc. But, I asked each of them to donate at least 2 of the cards they made to the Ronald McDonald House in the Twin Cities. We came up with 15 cards to donate! That means 15 people in need this season will have a beautiful hand-made card to send to someone they love.

Here are the cards. I love them all, but I will tell you my favorite at the end of this post. Please leave a comment with your favorite of these holiday cards!

Polka Dot Snowman

Stamp Sets: Snow Buddies, Chic Boutique
Cardstock: Real Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White, Watercolor
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pen, Polka Dot Real Red ribbon, various circle punches, Circle Scissors Plus

Snowy Pine
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, real Red, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Merry Moments
Stamp Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Playground buttons, Mistletoe Ribbon Originals

Razzle-Man
Stamp Sets: Snow Buddies, The More the Merrier
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Rich Razzleberry patterns
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon, Rich Razzleberry
Stampin' Write Markers: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Dusty Durango
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, dimensionals

Three Pines
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Christmas Greetings
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Garden Green, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

Naturally, I didn't spend a lot of time designing these cards. Some are old sketch challenge layouts I found in my stampin' space. Some are reconfigured cards from the catalog. Polka Dot Snowman is an exact copy (with change of colors) of a card I saw in Stampin' Success, the monthly magazine demonstrators get. But, I love the cards nonetheless! Who cares if I made the design or not? :)

My fave? I love Three Pines. It's just so classy and clean to me. I also love the not-quite-traditional colors in it.

What's your favorite?

Twin Cities 10-Mile

2009-10-06T08:16:00.005-05:00

I did it!! On Sunday, Oct. 4 I ran the Twin Cities 10-Mile Race! What a life accomplishment for me. I felt great the whole race, walked only through 2 or 3 of the water stops, and even picked up the pace a bit at the end. I finished in 1:43:15 (yes, on HOUR, 43 minutes of running!) I really wanted to finish in 1:40:00, but I had to drink some water along the way - so I guess my time if fine. My next one will be better!!

My family from all across the country came to cheer me on - Aunt Dee from South Dakota, Aunt Jean from Pittsburgh, and Aunt Donna from Atlanta all crashed on couches and spare bedrooms at the house to be part of the event. I can't thank them enough!! And of course, my husband Aaron. What a guy! The best parts of the race for me where running by and seeing him waving to me from the sidewalk. He's the best!!!!

I learned some things from running a distance race. Such as:

I can set a goal, and make it!
Having a group to support you makes all the difference.
Training pays off!
Running with a friend is the key to not getting bored.

And most important..... 5. I like running! And I'm actually good at it (for me, anyway!)

Between my husband and my aunts, I have a ton of great photos of the day to remember it by. I recently received my copy of My Digital Studio and had to use it to create a fun scrapbook page to remember my big day. Here's what I came up with:

It uses Enjoy Every Moment and Define Your Life ("Journey"). I think both these sentiments are fitting for the day! I love the simple Rich Razzleberry background and Old Olive accents. I only made one page, but maybe I'll continue and make an entire book of the event.

Thanks to everyone who supported me in training (especially Aaron!) and for those non-runners for putting up with running posts here. :)

Now - to think of a new goal. Maybe a 1/2 Marathon....? :)

Simply Scrappin' Birthday

2009-10-03T09:44:00.006-05:00

In an un-like-me event, I've planned ahead for classes in mid-NOVEMBER. I am usually so far behind on planning that few people ever come to my classes because I haven't had time to promote them. Well, not this time! I want this class to be a success - because I need a successful class, because mid-November's a good time to stay in and stamp, and because this SSK is just so darn cute!

Participants will pay $25 to me. They will get the Happy B-Day Simply Scrappin' Kit, cut ready to make 20 cards. I'll also provide envelopes, white cardstock, ribbons, and some embellishments to "fancy up" the cards. And of course, they'll get to keep the leftovers from the SSK! I hope this is a big hit - and maybe can become a regular class on the rotation (but with different themes).

Here's just one sample. The other samples I've made are just as cute - but I don't have photos of them. :-(

Happy B-Day

Simply Scrappin' Kit: Happy B-Day
Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, Brocade Blue
Designer Series Paper: unnamed, included in SSK
Accessories/Tools: Elementary Ribbon Originals

And now for a bit of random chatter.... tomorrow is my big 10-Mile race! I'm so excited, but also starting to get nervous. The weather here in the Twin Cities has been rainy for 3 or 4 days - but forecasts say it will be clear and cool tomorrow morning. I sure hope so! I'll post results & photos on Monday. (Which is coincidentally a day off work for me. Didn't that work out nice?)

And, so far the highlight of my weekend has been going to my final Twins game at the Metrodome! A baseball fan since I was born, the Dome has always been special to me - especially as an adult. When I first moved to the Cities 7 1/2 years ago, I worked as an usher at the Dome. I was there from 2002-2006 seasons and loved it. Since not working there, I've loved the Dome even more as a fan! And now the Twins will move to Target Field next season. It will be awesome and fun, but not the same. My family & I did get the PERFECT farewell from the Dome, though - we made it on the Jumbotron TWICE! Awesome! Once was with my friend Andrea. We took a photo on my phone and sent it in. They put it on the big screen. Yay! Here's the famous shot:

Good-bye Dome!!

Fall in St Paul

2009-09-30T22:01:00.003-05:00

Out of nowhere Fall arrived. A week, 2 weeks ago, we had highs in the mid- to high-70s, unusually warm for this time of year. I remember saying while running "I wish it would cool down!" And cool down it sure did! This week has posted highs barely in the 50s and gusty winds to boot. It definitely feels cold - I even turned my furnace on! Next thing you know, I'll get digging out the old flannel p.j.s.

To celebrate Fall in St Paul, I dug out an old favorite of mine, Season of Friendship. I love how versatile this set it. It easily makes fall, winter, spring, summer, (yeah, all the SEASONS, like the name of the set says....) but you can also use the branch as a background, add some other tidbits to the trees, use the leaves, snowflakes, bird in other ways, and so on. Totally worth the investment! And, in my quest to utilize others' great design ideas, this card uses Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 37.

The tree looks like the big old maple in my front yard. I'm anticipating the dropping of leaves coming soon. Last year I filled 15 lawn bags with leaves while raking. Guess that's what you get when you live in a 60-year old house.

Fall Friendship
Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive, More Mustard
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Sleigh Bells ribbon

Thanks for looking! And happy fall!!!

World Card Making Day sample

2009-09-29T08:30:00.005-05:00

World Card Making Day is coming up! Typically, WCMD is Oct. 3, but, due to my 10-Mile race that weekend, I'm postponing my celebration until the next weekend, Oct. 10. I'm inviting all crafters, customers, friends, and relatives to come over for a free stamping event. We'll make 4 cards total - 2 for guests to take home, and 2 for guests to give to the local Ronald McDonald House so families in the Twin Cities have a bit of cheer to send to their loved ones this holiday season. I hope this "give-and-get" idea really gets people interested and they come to the event!

This is the first sample I've come up with. I just LOVE the new Patterned Pines Hostess Set from the Holiday Mini Catalog! Customers can earn it FREE when they hostess a Stampin' Up! workshop of $150 or more (or place an individual order, like I did!) :)

WCMD Patterned Pines
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Real Read, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Merry Moments
Stamp Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Playground Button, Sleighbells Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals

This card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge 99 found on Beate's blog here. The Weekend Sketch Challenges are great! They are usually easy sketches that allow you to add to pizazz where you see fit. :)

If you're in the Twin Cities area, I'd love for you to come to my WCMD event and make this card! Please let me know if you are interested. :)

Thank You Challenge

2009-09-14T16:29:00.004-05:00

One of the things I love best about stamping is the fact that you don't need to really be all that artisitic to be good at it. Lord knows I can't draw, paint, sculpt, or do anything else that's considered traditional "art." That's why I love stamping. It's like following a pattern - which is especially easy when there are so many great challenges out there for you to work with! Today I made a Thank You card using a sketch challenge from Pal Paper Arts, a relatively new challenge Web site. I love the challenges on this site because they vary every week: sometimes there will be a sketch, sometimes color challenge, sometimes "anything but a card" challenge!

Here's what I came up with. I used a Simply Scrappin' Kit for most of it.

PPA 7 - Thank You

Stamp Set: Trendy Trees
Simply Scrappin' Kit: Petal Party
Cardstock: Pixie Pink, So Saffron, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: unnamed, included in SSK
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 5/8" So Saffron Ribbon (2009 SAB), Modern Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch

I love how it turned out - a simple Thank You for a recent customer order. And I got to use up some old stuff that was laying around. Don'tcha just love that?!

Mojo 103 Jade's B-day

2009-09-12T18:07:00.003-05:00

Tonight I'm heading to Iowa ---- wait! I mean Apple Valley (one of the most-Southern of the Twin Cities' suburbs.... so far south it seems like you're driving to Iowa!). It's my friend Jade's B-Day BBQ. I made this card for her, using Mojo Monday's sketch 103. I have been looking at Mojo 103 for days now, unable to think of how I could use that sketch for a card. Then today I dusted off my old Party Hearty set, and Voila! Perfect b-day card!

Mojo Birthday
Stamp Sets: Party Hearty, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry
Stampin' Write Markers: Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Dimensionals

I love how this card uses all new In-Colors. At first, I was completely wary of these jewel-toned hues, but the more I use them, the more I love them. I especially like these 4 together! Now if only Dusty Durango and Soft Suede would grow on me..... I hardly ever use those!

Off to party -- but not too late! I have a LOOOONG run tomorrow morning! It's my first attempt at 10 miles. Eep!

Life's Big Moments

2009-09-10T08:21:00.001-05:00

This week I found myself needing to make cards for people I work with (and school just started!) because they are experiencing major life moments. One gal is having a baby in a few weeks and a shower is being thrown at work, so I made a baby card. The other lady's father-in-law died on Labor Day, so I needed to make a Sympathy card (the first I have ever made). It was a weird juxtaposition to come home from the first day of school and make two very different cards. But I love how they turned out and I hope they give support and joy to the recipients.

Baby Shower Card
Stamp Set: Lovely Letters
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: none
Stamp Pads (Classic): Regal Rose
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plates, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Two-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Sympathy Card
Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, More Mustard, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): More Mustard
Stampin' Write Markers: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, More Mustard, Ruby Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Elementary Ribbon Originals

Now I best be hitting the road so I can get to school and deliver these cards!

Three Thank Yous

2009-09-06T14:48:00.006-05:00

My 2-4-6-8 Christmas Cards class got off to a fun start last weekend! I had 3 ladies come over and make the Seasons of Friendship card (tree with snowflakes). I modified the design, though, so that it was a Basic Gray tree stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Not Quite Navy snowflakes and on Rich Razzleberry cardstock. It was so much prettier than the original! Two of the ladies who came for the class are coming to another one - so I think my "progressive" class idea worked! -- even if it was a little confusing to begin with. Anyway, I made some thank you cards for the ladies using the Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge #143 design. I like the sketch challenges at this blog because the head "Divas" are all Stampin' Up! demonstrators, so the samples they put out there are all Stampin' Up! cards. I really like when I see cards made with the products I love!!

Anyway, to the cards... (which are about a week late, as usual. Remember, I can never create or mail anything on time!) :)

Gray Razzleberry
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

Sahara Rose
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

Passion Pumpkin
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Kaleidoscope
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Passion, Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

My favorite is the last one, Passion Pumpkin. I love how the colors came together on it! Which one is your favorite?

Two Chic Boutique

2009-08-27T08:02:00.008-05:00

When I got the new Stampin' Up! catalog back in June there was only 1 stamp set on my "MUST HAVE" list: Chic Boutique. I just love the fun line drawings, sweet sentiments, and cute birdcage! It's such a great versatile set to make some fun "anytime" cards. And I love watercoloring the images!!

Last week, I made two samples using Chic Boutique. Somehow, the layouts are similar, though not intentionally....

Chic Boutique Un
Stamp Sets: Chic Boutique, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Medallion
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Ruby Red, Pretty in Pink, Watercolor
Designer Series Paper: none
Stamp Pads (Classic): Jet Black Stazon, Ruby Red, Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink (for watercoloring)
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensionals

I love the colors of this card, and I wish I could remember if I came up with them on my own, or if I used my handy-dandy Color Coach.... (guess would be Color Coach!) I also think Medallion gives just the right touch to the background... don't you?

Chic Boutique Deux
Stamp Sets: Chic Boutique,
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Watercolor
Designer Series Paper: Bella Bleu
Stamp Pads (Classic): Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, So Saffron (for watercoloring)
Accessories/Tools:Wide Oval Punch, Masterpiece Ribbon Originals

This is my favorite card I've made in a long time. I will probably never give it away, as I do tend to hoard my faves..... :) I just think the design is great - it's actually a sketch challenge called Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. It's definitely one of those sketches to check out from time to time!

Orange-Razzleberry Birthday Mania

2009-08-25T17:46:00.004-05:00

It seems that when I get on a kick of projects, I really get on a kick. For example, yesterday after work I decided to stamp and I sure went to town. I didn't really have anything to stamp "for", so I was just making cards for fun and being inspired by sketch challenges & my stamping mess. It surprised me that I made two birthday cards (no birthdays on my horizon) and both have the same color scheme! (I must have really felt the Pumpkin Pie-Rich Razzleberry connection yesterday. Here are my cards.

Pocket Silhouette
Stamp Sets: Pocket Silhouettes, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon

I love the simple design of this card! I can see myself using this layout again, and again. It comes from the Clean & Simple Stamping blog (a great place to find simple, striking layouts). I think the white space makes the loud colors seem more subdued and the card seem classy.

Party Hearty
Stamp Set: Party Hearty
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, Pumpkin Pie corduroy ribbon, paper piercer, dimensionals

This layout is from Stamping 411 blog, a great resource for new stampers to learn the ins and outs of stamping -- but also somewhere for seasoned stampers to get some fresh ideas and great layouts!

5K blog winner announced!

2009-08-25T17:40:00.002-05:00

A great big THANK YOU goes out to everyone who visited my blog during my 5K Blog Candy extravaganza! I had 15 people leave comments (though, seemingly more people visited - nearly 700 hits have been added to the counter! Too bad for the people who didn't leave comments!)

I used Random.org to choose a winner. I numbered the comments from 1 - 15, and Random.org generated a totally RANDOM (see a pattern here??) number that corresponds to a comment which gives me the winner.

And now for the winner. Congratulations to........

# 11 Lauren
Lauren said:
"I have never posted a comment on ANY blog before, so I guess I am inspired! My favorite is the snowflake card for it's simplicity. It would be WONDERFUL for a demo or stamp-a-stack. It also reminds me to use negative space--every inch does not have to be filled with clutter!!! thanks for the inspiration!"

Thanks for the kind words, Lauren! Please contact me ASAP so I can send your goody packet off in the mail. :)

Thank you again to everyone for reading and for your support!!! Keep checking back for ideas and more blog candy (come 10K hits, that is). :)

Mojo 101

2009-08-24T20:06:00.004-05:00

Today was my first day of work! That's right folks, I have found a job for the 2009-2010 school year. I will be working as a Kindergarten Teacher Assistant in Roseville, MN. It's the same school I worked for last year, and the same school I did my student teaching at 3 years ago . Today I had some orientation things to do. It was sad for me to lose my free time during the day, but it felt good to be back in the working world!

When I got home this afternoon I had a hankerin' for stamping. BUT, I was totally at a loss of what to stamp. So I turned to my old friend, Mojo Monday. Each Monday, the folks over at Mojo Monday blog post a sketch for stampers to use to inspire the creative juices. I often turn to sketches when I can't think of a design. Today's was especially fun, because I got to use a new stamp, and make a square card, which I LOVE!

Mojo 101

Stamp Sets: Gobble Gobble, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): Soft Suede, plus Soft Suede, Ruby Red, More Mustard, & Dusty Durango Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Paper Piercer

I think this little Turkey guy is SO cute! And guess what? He's less than $10! He's just one of 4 Under $10 stamps in the Holiday Mini Catalog, available on Sept. 1. Contact me if you need a copy of the catalog!

Thanks to everyone who has posted a comment or visited in regards to the 5K blog candy! You still have ONE MORE DAY to post your comments and win the fabulous prizes. Please know, regardless if you leave a comment or not, I appreciate all your visits! Come again soon. :)

5K hits BLOG CANDY!

2009-08-18T12:14:00.006-05:00

Thanks to my loyal readers (and probably myself 1/2 the time checking to see if everything looks right....) I've got 5,000 (or in running terms, 5K) hits! For a little ol' blogger like me, I'm ecstatic at this milestone! That means people are reading my blog, and probably coming back time and time again. If you are one of those people, THANK YOU. Seriously.

In celebration of my 5K hits, I'm giving away some blog candy. To win this blog candy, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. The message should answer at least one of these questions:

What is your favorite card(s) I've posted on this blog? (feel free to browse again!)
What classes posted here are most appealing to you?
Why do you visit & come back?
What would you like to see on this blog?

What will you win, you wonder? Well... here goes:

Blog Candy

Stampin' Tracy's Stampin' Up! Mini Card Kit, Includes:
- about 40 6x6 Designer series paper sheets, assorted designs
- 4 each of 6 retired 2008-2009 In-Colors pieces of cardstock (cut to 4-1/4" by 5-1/2")
- 5 Kiwi Kiss gift card holders + envelopes
- 1 unopened, unused roll of Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon
- 1 opened, only slightly used (less than 1/4 gone) roll of Baja Breeze striped ribbon
- 1 new, unmounted Birthday Wish stamp set

Remember, just answer at least one of these questions in a comment on this post. On Aug. 25, I will randomly draw a winner from this group of comments and let you know if you won!

Thanks for reading! And good luck. :)

2-4-6-8 Christmas Cards

2009-08-14T17:43:00.008-05:00

I'm planning my Christmas Class already! I'm calling it 2-4-6-8 Progressive Christmas cards. Participants get TWO stamp sets, will make FOUR different designs, will make a total of SIX-ty cards, and get EIGHT great hours of stamping! (Prices range from $30 to $75, depending on how many of the 4 sessions you sign up to come).

Here's the cards we'll make.

Delightful Decorations
Stamp Sets: Delightful Designs, Four Christmas
Cardstock: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall
Stamp Pads (Classic): Ruby Red, Crushed Curry, Old Olive
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge punch, Ornament Punch, Crushed Curry Ribbon, Linen Thread, dimensionals

Dasher
Stamp Sets: Dasher, Grateful Greetings
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Paper Piercer, Linen Thread, Sleigh Bells Ribbon, dimensionals

SnowflakeStamp Sets: Simple Snowflake, Christmas Greetings
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Real Red
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Snowflake Punch, Real Red Striped ribbon, Playground Button

Season of Friendship

Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Grateful Greetings
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Mistletoe Ribbon Originals, Horizontal Slot Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Two-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

I love making Christmas cards -- it's how I first got into stamping to begin with -- and the Christmas cards in the Holiday Mini this year are just TOO CUTE. I think this class will be a hit - can't wait to find out the response!

Card Buffet

2009-08-14T17:09:00.009-05:00

A new class is on the horizon! I read several threads on Splitcoast Stampers (the best resource for stamping & building your SU! business, IMO) about offering card buffet classes. These classes are pretty straight forward & simple: people reserve a spot, then come and can make as many or as few cards as they want, and pay a la carte. I thought it was a great idea, so I'm going to give a whirl. I plan to hold my Card Buffet class on Aug. 30. I have 5 different cards people can choose from. I hope I get a good turnout! :)

Circle Circus Buffet
Stamp Set: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Whisper WHite
Stamp Pads (Classic): Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: Rich Razzleberry ribbon, various circle punches, dimensionals

Upsy Daisy BuffetStamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Old Olive & Ruby Red Stampin' Write markers
Accessories/Tools: So Saffron 5/8" ribbon (SAB), Paper Piercer, dimensionals

Birthday Buffet
Stamp Sets: Party Hearty, Full of Life
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Whisper White
DSP: Kaleidoscope
Stamp Pads (Classic): Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, So Saffron
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" ribbon

Flower Buffet
Stamp Set: Chic Boutique
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Real Red
Stamp Pads (Classic): Real Red
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Daisies #2 Die, 3/4" inch punch, So Saffron corduroy button, Real Red 1" stitched ribbon

Medallion Buffet
Stamp Sets: Medallion, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White
DSP: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo
Stampin' Write Markers: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: Modern Label punch, black brads, Melon Mambo ribbon

Like many cards I made, I took inspiration from others. Let me give credit where credit is due now!

Upsy Daisy card is inspired by this card I found on www.splitcoaststampers.com.
Birthday Buffet is the layout from Clean and Simple Stamping FTL51.
Flower Buffet is another card inspired by Splitcoast Stampers. The original is here.
The Medallion card is a near-exact copy of Robin's card at Trinity Designs.

I hope this class goes well. I'd love to make it a bi-monthly or quarterly event! Hope to see you there. :)

First Hostess Club Projects

2009-08-12T20:19:00.008-05:00

A Hostess Club is a great way to build your business, get consistent orders, and share the love of stamping with some friends! All clubs are run slightly differently, but here's my take on it: I have 9 ladies signed up (I am also participating, so we have 10 "hostesses"). Each month we'll choose a new "hostess." That person doesn't have to do anything except show up and bring a snack. BUT, that person will get hostess benefits!! To earn hostess benefits, the workshop must total $150 or more. That means each of us needs to order a minimum of $15 toward the workshop total. That way the hostess gets a free hostess set and some free merchandise from the catalog. NICE!

Anyway, we had our first meeting last night and 6 of the 9 ladies came over to stamp. I taught them watercoloring using Stampin' Pastels, Classic Stampin' Pads, Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Stampin' Write markers. Here are the projects we made!

Classic Stampin' Pad Blue Birds
Stamp Set: The More the Merrier (hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Melon Mambo, Watercolor
Stamp Pads (Classic): Brocade Blue, Melon Mambo, Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pens, Modern Label Punch, Black Brads, Melon Mambo ribbon

Stampin' Write Cupcakes
Stamp Set: The More the Merrier (hostess),
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Watercolor
Stamp Pads (Classic): Elegant Eggplant, Stazon
Stampin' Write markers: Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Sahara Sand
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pens, Scallop Edge Punch, Linen Twine

Watercolor Wonder Crayon Pumpkins

Stamp Set: The More the Merrier (hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Watercolor
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon
Watercolor Wonder Crayons: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun (Earth Elements)
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pens, Paper Crimper, Button Bouquet, Linen Twine

Pastel Snowmen
Stamp Set: The More the Merrier (hostess), Simple Snowflake (under $10!)
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Camoe Coral, Summer Sun, Watercolor
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon
Stampin' Pastels:Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Only Orange, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories/Tools: Word Window Punch, Snowflake Punch, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" ribbon

So, that was our first night of club stampin'. I had a lot of fun, and I hope the ladies did, too! I haven't decided what technique we'll learn next month, but I'm leaning toward embossing. If you'd like more info about hostess clubs or would like to join, please contact me!

I have instructions on HOW to watercolor typed up. I can't figure out how to attach a document to blogger, so let me know if you want this tutorial/instruction sheet & I'll email it to you. :)

Meee-ow!

2009-07-31T13:30:00.004-05:00

My Aunt Dee is one of my favorite people in the world! She's so friendly and helpful and caring. She definitely always makes you feel like the absolute most important person in the room. (Which can be tough in my family, with my dad and his 4 brothers and sisters, their spouses and children, plus me, my husband, my brother & his family.... there's a lot of people to contend with!) She's the best! I don't get to see her as often as I'd like, but she loves cats, and has an orange one. So, I made her a cute kitty card using a new set from the 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.

Cat Card for Dee
Stamp Set: C is for Cat
Cardstock: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
DSP: Cottage Wall
Stamp Pads (Classic): More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive
Accessories/Tools: Circle Scissors Plus, Wide Oval Punch, Corner Rounder, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain

I love it! I am also proud to say I picked out the colors all on my own! (I can tend to be tied to my Stampin' Color Coach Wheel most of the time). The Circle Scissors Plus is not working 100% accurately for me. I always end up with a little tail, much like on this card. Though, I'm sure it's not the actual Circle Scissors.... it's probably more user error than anything. If anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear them! :)

Total CASE from Stampin' Success

2009-07-27T17:10:00.002-05:00

As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I get a free subscription to Stampin' Success, a magazine full of business ideas, card ideas, and other good Stampin' Up! information. Usually I admire the cards in the magazine, then put it in my magazine rack and forget about it. Well, this month I saw a card I just HAD to make. In the magazine, this layout was used to feature a mosaic design tutorial. I don't care so much about doing a mosaic on my card, but I thought the large flower was so cute! I just had to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) it!

Big Flower Thank You

Stamp Set: Trendy Trees

Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
DSP: Thoroughly Modern
Stamp Pads (Classic): Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
Accessories/Tools: Circle Scissors Plus, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Crushed Curry ribbon

I love how it turned out! Maybe this is a technique I can teach in my new Hostess Club - circles or punches or something like that. At any rate, it made a super cute thank you card, one I desperately needed to send to a customer for an order. :)

Old Meets Noveau

2009-07-23T12:47:00.003-05:00

My friend Andrea and I cleaned and organized my stamping area last week. She couldn't stand the mess! (It really didn't bother me all that much). Anyway, the result was nicely organized-by-color scraps in Ziploc baggies. It is actually quite handy! Thanks Andrea!

While we were cleaning out my big pile o' paper, I found a 1/2 made card that I never finished. It was the card below. I had the base, the scalloped layer and the DSP layer all done, but I never finished it! I whipped up this cute card using a new stamp set called Chic Boutique.

Old Meets Noveau

Stamp Set: Chic Boutique
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Whisper White
DSP: Sweet Always (and how I miss you so!)
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon Black, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip (mostly for blender-penning)
Accessories/Tools: Crushed Curry Stampin' Write marker, Scallop Edge punch, Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Masterpiece ribbon originals

This card is cute, and serves its purpose as - yet another! - thank you card. BUT, it makes me desperately miss the Sweet Always paper. I only have but scraps left (which are now organized, thanks to Andrea!), but it was definitely one of my faves from the old catalog. I don't think I like any of the new paper as much ....... YET! :)

Keep your eyes peeled for 5K blog candy coming soon!

Trendy Trees in In-Colors

2009-07-22T11:02:00.003-05:00

I just can't seem to get in a rhythm with stamping and blogging, which seems weird because I'm on summer break and don't have a lot of other pressing issues! I guess the running, the painting of the whole house (my wish) from top to bottom, going on vacation, having visitors, cleaning the house, and just plain sitting around gets in the way.

I did have a few uninterrupted, solid hours of stamping last night. I made many thank you cards (after all, they are what I use the most). I have pictures of them all taken. I shall post every day for the rest of this week! (I hope...) Here's my first:

Trendy Trees
Stamp Set: Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Rich Razzlberry, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
DSP: Cottage Wall
Stamp Pads (Classic): Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede
Accessories/Tools: Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker, Word Window punch, Rich Razzleberry grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

I love this card. I think it's cute, it's fresh, it is getting me used to the new In Colors. But mostly, I love this card because I finally figured out a way to use Trendy Trees and not get upset that the leaves weren't lining up with the trunks! (I don't have a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig.... they scare me!) So, for this card, I stamped the trunks on the base Whisper White. Then on scrap Whisper White, I stamped the leaves, cut them out, colored in the trunk area with the Soft Suede Marker, then popped them up on the card using dimensionals. This is totally how I am going to use this set from now on. Frustrations be gone!

I'm working on ideas for a Christmas card class coming up. I want to call it "2-4-6-8 Christmas Cards" and I hope to meet for 4 months - Aug through Nov - to make a few at a time and get our cards done! The details are still being worked out - as are the samples (many of which I plan to make using the cute stamps from the Holiday Mini, which I don't have yet) - but once I get the details and the samples done, I'll post here for a sneak peek! I'm excited about Christmas in July, even though I'm thoroughly bummed at how fast the summer is going. :-(

Mid-July ALREADY?!

2009-07-14T16:18:00.004-05:00

What happened to the summer? It seems like it is flying by, waaaay too fast, which is evident by my lack of posting. Jeepers. Vacations, painting the living room, workshops, open house -- things just got in the way!

Here's an oldie but goodie. I made this at a workshop last month to show the versatility of the Simply Scrappin' kit. I love how this kit coordinates with Best Wishes & More (which I got free at the Mpls Regional this year).

Simply Scrappin Card
Stamp Set: Best Wishes and More
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
DSP: None
Simply Scrappin Kit: Petal Party
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" Pumpkin pie Grosgrain ribbon

Simple and pretty. I ended up sending this one to my mom. She loved it - so much so that she said she's ordering a variety pack of cards from me! I'll probably just make them and give them to her for Christmas or something. Or maybe start a side business. She knows lots of people, she could be my marketing executive! :)

In Color Thank You

2009-06-30T09:01:00.004-05:00

I had a workshop over a week ago, and just now I made the Thank Yous (of course, I mean, it would be unlike me to have some ready to go! I am always running behind!!) Anyway, the workshop was with some really loyal customers, so I wanted to send them a Thank You card using new catalog items. I don't have much yet, but I do have Teeny Tiny Wishes and the cardstock. (I ordered Circle Circus, but it is STILL on backorder!) Here are two I came up with!

In Color #1
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper WHite
DSP: None
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, polka dot Rich Razzleberry ribbon

In Color #2
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Whisper WHite
DSP: None
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, polka dot Crushed Curry ribbon

Obviously, these are very similar cards, but I like how just swapping one color makes a total difference in how they look! I also made one that is Razzleberry, Curry, and Dusty Durango - very fall-like and earthy! (sorry, no photo of that one).

I am also going to use these cards as Make-N-Takes at my upcoming catalog kick off. I think it's a great way to get guests to use and see all the In Color cardstocks and play around with matching them up!

Summer Birthdays

2009-06-25T17:02:00.003-05:00

I was always jealous of summer birthdays as a kid. I mean, they get to have outdoor parties - the pool! - and the weather isn't cold and during school they get a special day even though it ISN'T their birthday. Much nicer than fall birthdays. Half the time it's snowing on my Nov. 7 birthday. Yuck!!

Anyway, end-of-June sent 2 birthdays my way: Mother-in-Law and friend Andrea. Here are the cards I made for them.

Mother-in-Law
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Kraft, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red, Pink Pirouette
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon

I love Upsy Daisy and I tried some "rock and roll" technique on it this time. I'm not 100% crazy about how it turned out... I think generally it looks better when the colors are closer together in shade. Maybe if I did Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette, then it'd look more blended...? Anyway, I love how the sentiment in Upsy Daisy fits right in there above the flowers. :)

Friend Andrea
Stamp Set: The More The Merrier, On Your Birthay
Cardstock: Kraft, Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
DSP: None! Can you believe it?
Stamp Pads (Classic): None, but I did use a Stazon and the new In-Color markers
Accessories/Tools: In-Color markers, Large Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Finally! I got to use my Sneak Peek items. I ordered them a while ago, and rush-shipped them for some reason, but only just got to use them now. I am still considering the new In-Colors. I like them, don't love them. IMO, nothing will be as good as Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, and Pink Pirouette! I'm sure I'll use those colors even in their retirement. Anyway, Andrea loves cupcakes, so I thought it only fitting to use this stamp for her birthday card. And who doesn't love the fact that there are now In-Color markers? Sure made coloring in these babies easier!

I'm off to Kansas this weekend... hope I don't melt!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-18T12:49:00.006-05:00

I have 3 dads in my life: my dad, my stepdad, and my father-in-law. I sat down to make their cards yesterday.... now I'm realizing they will probably be late (I have to mail to SoDak and Kansas). Hope they don't mind!

For Dad
Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Cardstock: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
DSP: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun, Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pen, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Horizontal Slot, Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon, Chatter rub-ons

My dad likes beer. A lot. So this is so fitting. I wrote Happy Father's Day inside the card with a little note. I'm SO dissappointed the Rub-On doesn't show up too well (not even in person!) Guess I should have done it inside on the Kraft or on a different color and mounted it on there.

For StepDad
Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Whisper White
DSP: Walk in the Park
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun, Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pen, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon

Notice a theme? My stepdad also likes beer! I put 2 on his card to joke about our recent trip to Chicago.... BOGO beers at happy hour!

For Father-in-Law
Stamp Set: All Holidays
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Whisper White
DSP: Urban Garden
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: Paper Piercer, Kiwi Kiss ribbon

Yes, this design is a total ripoff of my monogram cards I made, but I like how it looks with this bold sentiment. I couldn't figure out what else to do with it! And this paper is so masculine and dad-ish.

Now I best be off to the post office to get these in the mail! More tomorrow (or the next day!)

Top Note Photo Card

2009-06-17T08:31:00.003-05:00

I have a workshop this Saturday for Stephanie, and she specifically asked me to come up with a photo card we could make. I thought and thought and thought about it for hours. I kept thinking about photo cards at like Target or Snapfish that you get for Christmas where the photo slides in and out of a pocket. I couldn't figure out how to make that pocket. Then, da-da-da-dun!, Big Shot to the rescue. Here's what I came up with:

Photo Card
Stamp Set: Great Friend
Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White
DSP: Walk in the Park
Stamp Pads (Classic): So Saffron, Regal Rose
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die, 5/8" Rose Red ribbon

All I did was cut the DSP to 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 (same as one "face" of the card) then run it through the Big Shot using Top Note. Then I basically assembled it like a scrapbook. The photo *can* come out of the card (I only affixed tape on the very edges of the DSP), but I taped a butterfly on it, so now it won't! I also decorated the inside with the leaf branch from Great Friend and added the XOXOXO sentiment from Fundamental Phrases.

I hope Steph likes it! I also hope it's easy enough for new stampers to make, yet fun and different enough for experienced (it's a mixed group). Anyway, thanks for looking! Oh, and for those curious, the photo is my husband and me at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum last summer.

School's Out!

2009-06-11T14:06:00.004-05:00

I feel sheepish! It's been almost a month since my last post again. ACK! Maybe now that school is out I can focus on stamping (which needs to happen or I'll lose all my customers!) and getting my creations up on my blog (which needs to happen or I'll lose all my readers!)

Anyway, yesterday was the last day of school and I made all the teachers (5 of them) I work with a monogram gift set. I'm so mad, though! I forgot to take pictures of them. Drat! I have to say, they turned out pretty. I used different DSP for each one, and I couldn't decide which one was the prettiest! (which is fitting, I guess, if you think of your cards like kids.... you love them all equally but differently!)

So aside from that stamp-a-thon, I have only made a few thank you cards here and there. This one is my favorite! I will miss, miss, miss my Baja Breeze! It's by far the most used ink EVER in my collection. I hope I love the new In-Colors as much. (I have them already, thanks to the preorder, and I'm still on the fence. I need to USE them to love them, I think).

Trendy Trees Thanks
Stamp Set: Trendy Trees
Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White, Baja Breze
DSP: Sweet Slumber Specialty
Stamp Pads (Classic): So Saffron, Ruby Red, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, 5/8" So Saffron ribbon (from SAB)

This weekend DH and I are off to Chicago to see the Twins play the Cubs at Wrigley Field. My first trip to Wrigley! I'm so excited. I'll post some creations next week. Summer vacation is the best!! :)

Monogram Gift Set

2009-05-17T19:56:00.004-05:00

I made this super cute set of cards for BFF's birthday. She loved them!!! It got me thinking.... why not offer a class to make a cute monogram set of cards? I'm thinking $20 or $25 for 12 cards + envelopes and participants will get a pack of DSP (of their choice) to use and take home left overs. What a steal!

On a side note, I can't believe I'm 3-in-3-days on the posts! Hope this is making up for lost time and gaining me some momentum.

Monogram Gift Set
Stamp Set: Lovely Letters
Cardstock: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Kraft, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Designer Series Paper: Parisian Breeze Specialty
Stamp Pads (Classic): Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (craft)
Accessories/Tools: Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Texture Plates and lots of ribbon!

You can find the tutorial for the cute box it all goes in if you click here. Thanks Colleen for a great tutorial.

And thanks, Readers, for your encouraging and congratulatory words about my running! I know this is a stamping blog, but I run about as much as I stamp, so I appreciate you letting me talk about it. And now I'm going to train for a 10 MILE race! :)

Scallop Dress

2009-05-16T08:32:00.004-05:00

Hello again! Two posts in one week, I'm on a roll! It helps that I had a lot to stamp this week and really put the nose to the grindstone. Sometimes I like having specific projects to work on... I always do better with a goal in mind. Of course, the flip side of that is then it really feels like work and I get frustrated with the amount of it I have to do. But anyway, I survived a busy work week and busy stamping week. Here's another creation.

Scallop Circle Dress
Stamp Ses: Oval All
Cardstock: Whisper White, Ruby Red, Pink Pirouette
DSP: Bella Rose
Stamp Pads (Classic): Ruby Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot, Scallop Circle Die, Scallop Oval Punch, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, RHR Button Bouquet

These cards are all the rage over on SCS, and I like how my version turned out! To find out how I made this card, click here for Patty's tutorial and samples. I made a bunch of these cute cards as thank yous for a recent successful workshop. I hope the ladies from the workshop say "Those are so cute!" and come to an upcoming workshop I'm planning with this idea. :)

Thank You...

2009-05-14T17:10:00.004-05:00

Thank YOU, readers, for being patient with me while I dawdled in my posting! I'm so sorry it's been a month. Eek! Lots has happened... I ran my 10K (6.2 miles) in 1 hour, 1 minute, 36 seconds (a 9:55 pace for those interested). This was well faster than my goal time of 1 hour 10 minutes! I also ran the Twin Cities Komen Race for the Cure on Mother's Day. I raised over $500 for Race for the Cure, so had to make some Thank You cards for the generous people who donated. Here's what I came up with:

Race for the Cure Thank You
Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Three Little Words
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: Candy Lane
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Top Note, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Horizontal Slot, Certainly Celery ribbon from SAB bundles

It turned out just perfect, I think! I wanted something springy and pink (since it was the Race for the Cure). The crabapple trees are just blooming now in St Paul, so I thought these kinda look like them. I also LOVE this layout. I'm sure I saw it somewhere on SCS, but who knows where.... I spend hours browsing cards on there. :)

Thanks for looking! I promise not to to take so long before the next post. :)

Hip Hip Hooray

2009-04-18T09:35:00.003-05:00

The weather here is FINALLY so nice! I haven't been stamping much since I've been outside enjoying it. (And training for my 10K, which is coming up next Saturday! Eep!!) But, I did have this card done and ready to go since yesterday was my BFF Andrea's birthday. We are celebrating today! I think this card is super cute.

Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Sahara Sand, Water Color
Designer Series Paper: Sweet Slumber Specialty
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon Black, plus Sahara Sand, Ruby Red & Baja Breeze for watercoloring
Accessories/Tools: Riding Hood Red striped ribbon, Blender Pens

I used a watercolor technique I learned at Regionals a few weeks ago. I actually do have the Sahara Sand and Ruby Red markers (I only have a handful of markers...), so rather than just just coloring the image in... I tried what I learned! Color the marker on the plastic stamp box, then draw the juice into your blender pen. Use that to watercolor in your image. I think it turned out really soft and subtle, especially the hippo. It's definitely more "watercolory" (if that's a word) than just coloring it in with the markers!

BLOG update: As of this morning I'm at 2929 hits! I hope I can make it to 3000 by the end of the weekend. :) and I am still thinking of some good stuff for my 5K hits blog candy. :)

Glitter Mania

2009-04-15T19:49:00.004-05:00

Can I just say how proud I am for stepping out of my stamping comfort zone and trying new things this week? First I made the cute Mother's Day card below. Then I got out the sticky sheets & glitter I bought long ago and was too scared to use. Thanks to Minneapolis Regionals, I'm totally turned on to glitter! It helps that my first attempt, below, turned out super cute, I think. :)

Stamp Set: None!
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: None!
Stamp Pads (Classic): None!
Accessories/Tools: Sticky Cuts Sweet, Fine Supernova glitter, Bright Delights rubons

I think I'm going to give this card to a friend whose boyfriend just broke up with her. It seems like the perfect sentiment & nice and cheery to help her through it. :)

BLOG NEWS!!! I'm so excited to see I've got over 2,800 hits on my blog! I've already decided that there will be blog candy when I get to 5,000 (hopefully sometime this summer...) BUT first, I want to see a 3,000 on my hit marker. Please pass my blog along to your friends so they may check me out while blurfing!!

Mother's Day

2009-04-10T13:37:00.005-05:00

I'm actually ahead of the game!! I have my Mother's Day card already made, and here it is a month early. This is sooo unlike me. I totally inherited the "late" genes of my dad's sisters. BUT, this week's Technique Lovers Challenge (TLC215)on Splitcoaststampers.com was the perfect card to make for my mom this year.

Outside

Inside

Stamp Sets: Best Wishes and More, All Holidays
Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Summer Sun, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, 5/8" So Saffron ribbon (from SAB), 2-way glue, Dazzling Diamonds, vintage brads

I hope my mom doesn't read my blog and get a sneak peek of this card! (But I hope she DOES read my blog, she's my mother afterall). Anyway, this is such a fun spring card, I may demonstrate it at an upcoming workshop. I have 2 right before Mother's Day, so perfect!

A busy stamping weekend

2009-04-06T19:06:00.008-05:00

I had so much fun this weekend! On Saturday I went to the Minneapolis Stampin' Up! Regionals meeting. I took my lone downline, Kris, along. We had a fun time listening to the great ideas, making some awesome stuff, and trying out new techniques. It got me really thinking about fun classes I can do coming up this spring. It also made me crave going to Salt Lake City for the national conference, but I can't go! Wouldn't you know it.... the ONE week I signed up to teach summer school is that week. And I already signed my contract. Drat!

Anyway, on Sunday I met with my St Paul Stampin' Meet Up group. I formed this group on meetup.com to try to meet more crafty people and eventually grow my potential customer base. I set out on our meeting to make thank you cards for the gals who ordered from me during Sale-A-Bration. Yes, as always I'm running late. Here are my five gorgeous creations!

Garden Greetings

Flight of the Butterfly

Cheep Talk

Great Friend

Pocket Silhouettes

Unfortunately, I don't have time right now to include the details! It's Opening Day 2009 and baseball is finally back! I've got to grab me a HoneyWeiss beer, sit on the couch, and watch the Twins. (I try to balance out my girly habits - like stamping - with more masculine ones - like beer and sports!) I will update this post later with the details of stamps, paper, etc. I'll just say for now, many are challenge sketches, including the Cheep Talk card being Weekend Sketch Challenge 75 from Mary Jo Albright's blog.

Happy baseball season!

Fun New Stuff

2009-03-24T17:28:00.005-05:00

A few days ago the UPS man dropped off a wonderful package for me: my Big Shot & preorder from the Occasions Mini. With my two successful (read: promotion!) workshops this past weekend, I haven't had much time to play around with my new stuff. But, amidst prepping for workshops, I did find time to make some cards. These 2 are my faves from last week.

Oval All
Stamp Set: Oval All
Cardstock: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze
Designer Series Paper: Parisian Breeze
Stamp Pads (Classic): Baja Breeze
Accessories/Tools: Oval Scallop Punch, Baja Buttons, embroidery thread

This is actually an SFYTT sketch by the talented Jen del Munro. God forbid I actually come up with a card design on my own! I'm totally stuck in an old sketch rut. But... I guess that's OK since these sketches are so awesome. I just hope they sink into my brain and unleash some original creativity soon.

First Top Note
Stamp Set: All Holidays
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, RHR Red, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Sweet Slumber Specialty
Stamp Pads (Classic): Baja Breeze, Ruby Red (marker)
Accessories/Tools: Baja Breeze Ribbon, Big Shot Top Note! :)

This card is a sketch challenge, too (no surprize!) It's WSC 72 by Jenn Balcer. But even more exciting than this actual card and the Big Shot and the sketch challenge is that this very card will be some (or all, depending on how much time I have to finish) of the swaps I take with me to the Mpls Regionals on April 4. I love it!

My next task is to make Thank Yous (I never seem to have enough!) for my 2 workshops this weekend. Neither was a terrifically LARGE workshop, but both were totally fun! Thanks to Lena & Jenn! I had an awesome time at your parties. :)

Sketch Challenge Catch-up

2009-03-19T08:36:00.004-05:00

As always, I'm running behind on challenges. I just can never seem to get them done on the day that they are posted. But, I am obsessed with finding card sketches online, and I've found some really great ones. Keep tuned for my sketch finds!

Today's sketch posts are the old standbys... Mojo and SCS. But they are good nonetheless!

Mojo 77

Stamp Set: Great Friend
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Basic Grey
Designer Series Paper: Walk in the Park
Stamp Pads (Classic): Regal Red, Basic Grey
Accessories/Tools: Vintage Brads, 5/8" Regal Red ribbon

So, I didn't realize the pink-ish color in the DSP was Cameo Coral... I thought it was Regal Rose. But, I don't think you can tell it doesn't match 100%. Maybe if there were more of t he pink color it would stand out. Anyway, I love, love, love this card. It's definitely going to my BFF Andrea someday. :)

SCS 220
Stamp Sets: Good Friend, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White, So Saffron
Designer Series Paper: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pacific Point, So Saffron
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 5/8" So Saffron ribbon (SAB)

I am not sure who I am going to send this to, so I haven't filled in the ( ) yet. Though in April my nephew is turning 2, my BFF has a birthday, my brother- and father-in-law both have birthdays, and more! So I'm sure it will get used. :)

I am still on Spring Break today (through Friday), and my car is getting the tires rotated and brakes fixed. So I am homebound! I plan to use the day to stamp (like, maybe I should get started on my swaps for Regionals on April 4!) and play with my Wii Fit. I love that thing. :)

Sale-A-Brate at Jenn's workshop

2009-03-18T13:36:00.005-05:00

Well, I'm sad to report that no one is coming to my Say It With Scallops class. Boo! But I am staying quite busy (even with spring break this week!) prepping for 2 workshops this coming weekend. The first is for Jenn, a gal I met at Holly's Workshop. Jenn is doing a more "traditional" workshop, where we'll make 2 cards and 1 scrapbook page using a simply scrappin' kit. I think I've said before, I love to do lots and make-and-takes! I used to get so bored watching an old demo of mine just demonstrate what to do. I like to let them DO it!

Anyway, here are the samples.

Botanical Blooms
Stamp Sets: Botanical Bloom (SAB), Sincere Salutation
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories/Tools: 1/8" circle punch, Wide Oval Punch, Satin Kiwi Kiss ribbon

I think I'll add some Raspberry Tart DSP to this design at the workshop. It needs a bit more.

Polka Dot Punches
Stamp Sets: Polka Dot Punches (SAB), From the Heart
Cardstock: So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue
Stamp Pads (Classic): So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue
Designer Series Paper: Delicate Dots (SAB)
Accessories/Tools: 5/8" So Saffron Ribbon (SAB), Full Heart Punch, BIG SHOT, Bigz Scallop Envelop Die

Can I just say how excited I am to use my BIG SHOT for the first time at a workshop! I hope people love it, because I already do, and I just got it on Tuesday. Anyway, this super cute card is basically cased exactly from Patsy Waggoner, who won the So Shelli Contest with this design. I think we can see why!

I have the hostess's approval for these cards. She says she loves them! I do to... and I hope they drum up some interest so I get LOTS of SAB orders! (I am like $300 away from getting a promotion to Supervisor... come on people, BUY!) :)

Say It With Scallops

2009-03-07T13:29:00.006-06:00

I finally made my samples for my Say It With Scallops class coming up in a few weeks. Talk about cutting it close. I like this stamp set, but I do find it hard to come up with creative ideas for layouts. So, most of my layouts were borrowed from my stack of layout ideas I keep around. I think one is a modified Mojo, one is a CASE of something on SCS, and the other two came from some other Web site. Naturally, I'm too lazy to get up and go get the papers from the basement. I'll update later. :)

Hi Card
Stamp Set: Say it with Scallops, Good Friend
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
DSP: Sweet Slumber Speciality
Stamp Pads (Classic): Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Square Punch, 1/2" Punch, RHR striped ribbon

Congrats Card
Stamp Set: Say it with Scallops
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Whisper White
DSP: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Buttons

For You Card
Stamp Set: Say it with Scallops
Cardstock: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Square Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, White Taffeta Ribbon, Jumbo Brad

Thank You Card
Stamp Set: Say it with Scallops
Cardstock: Chocolate C hip, Regal Rose, Pink PirouetteWhisper White
DSP: Sweet Always
Stamp Pads (Classic): Regal Rose
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Square Punch, Scallop Edge Punch,

I hope some people sign up for this class. I've had a string of busts lately, classes with no participants. I know the economy has to have something to do with it. I'm trying to keep the costs of my classes really low so people can indulge a bit & not feel too guilty.

I guess if no one signs up, I've at least got 4 really cute cards to send out sometime. :)

More Mojo fun

2009-02-22T10:42:00.005-06:00

I just must post more of my Mojo creations. I'm finding that I just love their layouts (for the most part... I skip any that require me to cut a big circle, as I've not any tools to do so!) and create awesome cards when I don't have to think about where to put stuff! I have nothing but a run at the gym planned for this lazy Sunday, so I hope to work through a few more.

Mojo 73
Stamp Sets: Cheep Talk, Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White, So Saffron
DSP: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Button, Blender Pen

My first time using my new fave set! (Cheep Talk). I know the many discussions out out there about "all the birds" in the new catalog, but I LOVE them. Birds are very hip and in now, and I think nothing says SPRING like a cute bird.

Mojo 72
Stamp Sets: Three Little Words, Best Yet (hostess fall 2008)
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Rose Red, Whisper White
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Pirouette, Rose Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Button Bouquet

How can you NOT love this Raspberry Tart paper? There isn't a design in it that I don't like, and I'm on my 2nd package of it already!! So bright and cheery... just what a Minnesotan needs in February (after a snow storm, yuck!)

Thanks for looking! I will post more Mojo creations (and upcoming classes/workshops) soon!

Getting my MOJO back

2009-02-21T10:24:00.004-06:00

Eep! It's been a long time since I posted, for which I am sorry! I finally got a permanent job at a school, so I've been busy working. I'm not a classroom teacher, but I do get to work with kids. I'm a Teacher Assistant, which means I pull out small groups of kids and work with them on reading and math. It's about 6 hours a day, and just perfect for me now! Hopefully a teaching job will come along next year for me.

Anyway, I actually had Monday and Tuesday off this week, so I used the opportunity to catch up on some Mojo sketches. I hate to toot my own horn, but I love how these cards turned out! Of course, it's probably due to the cute sketches! I'll post a few here and there, not all at once, to keep the blogs short. :)

MOJO 74

Stamp Sets: Sweet Little Sentiments, Darling Dots
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Sahara Sand
DSP: Sweet Slumber Specialty
Stamp Pads (Classic): Baja Breeze, Ruby Red
Accessories/Tools: Baja Breeze ribbon, 1 1/4" circle punch

I think it turned out so cute! I plan to send this card to my grandma (which I try to do once a month... even though she has macular degeneration and can't really see the cards, I know she appreciates getting them!)

Thanks for looking! Check back for more MOJO soon!

It IS award season, after all....

2009-01-29T10:31:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-26T12:02:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-25T11:07:00.006-06:00

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!

2009-01-20T14:09:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-19T17:47:00.002-06:00

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

2009-01-11T10:25:00.005-06:00

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

2009-01-07T14:13:00.006-06:00

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

2009-01-05T15:27:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-04T19:12:00.007-06:00

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.

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

2008-12-17T10:14:00.009-06:00

Oh boy, it's been a while again. I can't seem to do more than one thing at a time.... Either I'm working a lot (which I did last week & the week before), or I'm sick (last week), or I'm stamping. I can't do all things at once. Today I was happily given a day off (no sub calls), so I can get caught up on some stuff. I have been making my Christmas cards like crazy for the past 2 weeks.... finally almost done! (Now to write on them all............)

I decided to make 8 each of 7 different designs. That way I don't get too bored doing one same design. AND, I get to use lots of my stamps, which makes it the most fun! Anyway, thought I'd share my creations with you! I know which one is my favorite (I'll tell ya later). Which one is yours???

#1Frosty Day Merry Christmas
I love the color combo of orange and green for Christmas - so nontraditional! The Frosty Day paper is just too cute to pass up. And of course, I used scallops: my new favorite tool. I used this card from Amy's blog as design inspiration.

Stamp Sets: Deer Friends, Season of Joy
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa
Stamp Pads (Classic): Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa
DSP: Frosty Day
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge, scallop circle, dimensionals

#2 Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Holly Jolly Christmas (by Burl Ives) is my FAVORITE Christmas song! I love the part "Kiss 'er once for me!" So, when I saw this set, I had to have it. This santa is so cute and cheery! I think this is an underappreciated set in the catalog this year.

Stamp Set: Holly Jolly Christmas
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Real Red
Stamp Pads (Classic): Real Red, Stazon Black
DSP: Real Red DSP (hostess set)
Accessories/Tools: Baja Breeze Ribbon, Stickles Diamonds

#3 Celebrate the Season
This set is leftover from last year's cards... and I always seem to have trouble figuring out what to do with it. But, when I saw this card on SCS, I knew I could use it as inspiration to make it my own. These colors are so cute together!

Stamp Set: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Stamp Pads (Classic):Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
DSP: Ski Slope
Accessories/Tools: 3/4" circle punch, dimensionals, silver brads

#4 Season of Christmas
A new favorite set of mine! I could stamp these little trees all day long. I knew I wanted to do something with this set for Christmas, then I found this card on SCS, and its "mother" card on Michelle's blog. I took those two ideas and came up with this card. I love it. I hope this set sticks around a long time.

Stamp Set: Season of Friendship
Cardstock: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Craft
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
Accessories/Tools: 1/8" circle punch, wide oval punch, dimensionals, Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

#5 Merry & Bright
This card makes me smile. The little snowman from Merry & Bright is the cutest one around. I can't believe he's retiring! I borrowed this set from my upline, so I better order mine - and at 10% off. Yay! This design is totally cased from Jenn D. at Stamp Your Heart Out. While she used my favorite set (Season of Joy) I thought the layout was perfect for Merry & Bright.

Stamp Sets: Merry & Bright, Best Yet (hostess)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Holiday Traditions
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, circle scallop punch, 1/16" (or is it 1/8"? I can't remember...) circle punch, corner rounder, white ribbon, blender pens

#6 Big on Holidays
I didn't want to totally case one of my own cards from my card class, but I had some materials from said class left over. So I made a new creation. I like it... scallops, ribbon, DSP, blender pens. What more could a girl want?

Stamp Set: Big on Christmas
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Whisper White
DSP: Holiday Traditions
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon Black, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, blender pens

Last, but not least, #7 Always Christmas
I made this card for a swap at SCS, but I liked it so much I decided to use it for my own Christmas cards! I love it when you can use a non-Christmas set and make it Christmasy. Versatility is good!

Stamp Sets: Always, Season of Joy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Stamp Pads (Classic): Real Red, Old Olive, Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: Sponge, antique brads

Whew! This post took an hour (I have a verrrrrrry slow computer). I hope you enjoy these cards. Please leave a comment of which one you like best! I will let you know my favorite soon. :)

Snowman Soup and Reindeer Poop

2008-12-06T09:35:00.011-06:00

Yum, yum. Don't those treats sound just delicious this time of year? Of course I'm talking about things I'm making for my craft show tomorrow. I'm really proud of these. They are verrrrry cute (IMO) and I've priced them affordably, so I hope they sell. (If they don't, guess what you're getting for Christmas, Mom!)

Snowman Soup These Snowman Soups are made with 1 packet of hot chocolate, a handful of mini marshmallows, 3 Hershey Kisses, & 1 mini candy cane.
The poem says:
"Was told you've been good this year.
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You'll need to warm the spirit.
So here's a little snowman soup,
Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow.
It's sure to do the trick!"

I used Merry & Bright stamp set's snowman, because he is soooo cute. Each package is just a little different, but I used lots of DSP & scallops to decorate them up. I think $2.00 is a good price for these. Right now I have about 15 done, but I hope to get another 15 made today. We'll see how that goes. (Depends on how long I play on the computer!) I also bought this cute basket at Michael's yesterday (50% off!) to put them in at the show. It's very Christmasy, but is leaving glitter all over my house! Grrr.
Reindeer Poop
Reindeer Poop is even easier to make than Snowman Soup (and cuter, I think, but maybe because I like that kinda cheeky humor!) The Reindeer Poop is just a mix of chocolate-covered raisins & chocolate-covered peanuts in a small baggie.
I used the deer from Merry & Bright and some DSP and circle & scallop punches to pretty them up a bit. I think they are just darling. I got a basket for these, too, (also leaving glitter all over!) which is really small, so it looks like I have a lot of these, but really I only have 10 or so. I ran out of candies. If I finish some other crafting stuff today, I'm going to get more candy to make about 10 more of these.

The poem on this one says:
"You've been naught
So here's the scoop
You're getting nothing
But reindeer poop."
Cute, huh?

I'll price these at $1. If these don't sell, I'm giving them all to my father-in-law who LOVES Raisinettes. :)

I must leave now and go work on more craft fair goodies. I still have "Christmas fudge," candy jars, candle tea-lights to make, and I want to try the wine bottle decoration, like at Sharon's blog. Plus, I have to add the (c) to all my cards, as I JUST got my angel policy stamp yesterday. Eep! I'm going to be busy today. :)

Busy busy busy! Craft show is coming!

2008-12-02T08:40:00.005-06:00

Hi everyone,

It's been so long since I've posted, and I'm sorry! With the holiday, I didn't do much stamping anyway, and since that calmed down, I've been working like a mad woman! I have my first craft show coming up on Dec. 7. I feel like I have nothing to display....I hope it's just me being nervous and not the truth.

Anyway, you'll have to bear with me, as I'm sure the next few posts will be about the craft show. I want to show off all my goodies ---- and get feedback! (Are the prices too high? Is it cute? Would someone actually buy it? Will I make any contacts or sales at this thing?!)

Here's the first of my completed goodies. Enjoy!

Picture Frames
I got these 3 for $2 or something like that at Ikea. I just covered with DSP, added a little stamped image, and voila! I love them. I hope others do, too. I plan to see them for $5.00 a piece. I think that's reasonable, right? The cheapest frames at Target are $5.00 and I've bought plenty of those.... Anyway, if they don't sell.... guess what my family is getting for Christmas? :)

Which one is your favorite? I particularly like the Christmas one. I added some Stickles to it and it's just gorgeous in person! I also really like the light green & brown one that says "The Best is yet to be".... but maybe because I LOVE Autumn Vine DSP.

Anyway, I would love feedback. If I had more time before the show I would run to Ikea and get some more frames, but with only a few days & many more projects to finish, I don't have time. Boo!

Check back for pictures of other projects soon!! :)

$30-for-30 Birthday Cards

2008-11-23T10:27:00.008-06:00

In January, I'm conducting a birthday card class that is $30-for-30 (same set up as my Christmas card class). Even though it is SOOOOOOO far away, I decided to make my samples this weekend, rather than stamping for my craft show, which is coming up soon & I have nothing made yet. Eep!

Anyway, here are the cards! All use Party Hearty stamp set.

Card #1 Celebrate You
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pad
Regal Rose & Whisper White card stock
Sweet Always DSP
White ribbon (which is, admittedly, from Michaels, as that was all I had on hand)
Scallop Circle Punch
Diamond Stickles

Card #2 ...And Many More
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green & Apricot Appeal Classic Stampin' Pads
Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green & Whisper White card stock
White ribbon (which is, admittedly, from Michaels, as that was all I had on hand)
(**Note: I cut my tag by hand, and I think it looks pretty good! If budget allows, I'll get a punch; if not, freehand is what we'll do.)

Card #3 Party Hearty
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive & Whisper White card stock
*I would like to get a paper crimper & crimp the Chocolate Chip cardstock on this one & it needs a bit of Bashful Blue ribbon at the top, I think, but I don't have any right now.

Card #4 B is for Birthday
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Real Red & Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pads
So Saffron, Real Red, Baha Breeze & Whisper White card stock
Baja Breeze 5/8" striped ribbon
Ticket corner & 1/2" punches
*It's kinda plain, which I like, but I also want to "busy up." Maybe a background stamp is in order?

Card #5 You Take The cake
I used:
Party Hearty stamp set
Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pads
Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Whisper White card stock
Sponging on white cardstock
Pewter brads
*My ideal color palate would be Rose Red, Taken With Teal, & Old Olive. But I don't have Rose Red or Taken with Teal so I improvised. It looks OK. But I may borrow or buy the colors I want.

So, those are the cards for the Birthday class. Guests will make 6 of each design. It is imperitive for me that guests feel they are getting good value from my classes. So, the $30 fee includes Party Hearty set, all the cardstock & accessories (like brads & ribbon), and use of my ink pads. Unfortunately, this time I won't be providing envelopes (that put me waaaaay over budget for my last class). But I will offer a free pack of envelopes with an add'l $30 order at the class. So, avid stampers will get their envelopes either way.

I truly believe my classes very good deal for my guests, and feedback from my last $30-for-30 class was very positive about that fact. It's a lot of prep for me, and a lot of overhead, but my theory is if it gets people stamping & enjoying what they do, then my job is done and done well.

Registration for this class isn't due until Dec. 29, but like I said, I want to get the word out! I am expecting a large crowd for this one again. :)

I'm so thankful!

2008-11-20T21:10:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving is coming, and there are many things I am thankful for. But stamping related, I am especially thankful to the people who came to my Christmas card class last weekend. So, to show my appreciation to them, I am making Thank You cards. Here are a few:

Season of Friendship Thanks

I used:
- Sage Shadow, More Mustard, and Close to Cocoa cardstock
- Season of Friendship & Flight of Butterfly sets
- Autumn Vine DSP
- Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, More Mustard, and Really Rust stamp pads

I love this set. This is the first time I've used it. I think the card turned out great!!! But I cannot foresee myself making a lot of them, as cutting out that tree is a bear!

I think next time I make a card similar to this one, I will add some brads or some other element to dress it up a bit. It's pretty, but kind of lacking a bit.

Flight of the Butterfly Thanks

I used:
- Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron & Whisper White cardstock
- Flight of Butterfly set
- Pink Pirouette & Riding Hood Red stamp pads

Talk about simple! I guess I was in a very non-embellishment mood the other day. I like it; it's pretty. And not at all something I would have picked out to make. (I got this set free from the Sampler when I placed my big first demo order.... It wasn't my first choice of a WOW set.... but my mama didn't raise no dummy. I picked out the most expensive set in the Sampler for free! Why waste a free set on one that costs $12.95?)

I have a few more, but I guess I didn't take pictures of them yet. So, you'll have to wait. Besides, I need to get packing for my workshop tomorrow! Yipppppeeeeee!

Molly's Workshop/Party

2008-11-18T07:48:00.007-06:00

The countdown for my first workshop is on! Friday I go to my friend Molly's for a workshop/party at her house. She is the person who introduced me to stamping 6 years ago.... so I am highly grateful that she's allowing me to come be the demonstrator! Since we are friends & this is my first workshop & she's quite experienced at stamping, I let her choose the stamp sets she wanted to see & a few techniques. I designed the cards around that. We both agreed that make and takes are way better than demos, so I'm doing 3 make and takes. I'll have the paper & ribbon cut for all the guests. They will just put together. Much more fun than watching me! (and will hopefully increase sales, right???)

Card #1 Pocket Silhouettes

I used:
Pocket Silhouettes & Sincere Salutations stamp sets
Pink Pirouette & Whisper White cardstock
Sweet Always DSP
Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, & Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pads
Chocolate Chip ribbon
Large Oval punch & Scallop Edge punch (note: I know this isn't an SU punch on my sample.... my SU punch is arriving via UPS today!)

Anyone recognize my favorite layout again??

I wanted to highlight the punches with this card. I hope they are a good upsell. I love them, so I should be able to show my enthusiasm for them. :)

Card #2 Pun Fun
I used:
Pun Fun stamp set
Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White cardstock
Washington Apple DSP
Stazon pad,
So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, & Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pads (for Blender Pen coloring)
Pewter brads

At my class this weekend, everyone LOVED the Blender Pens, so I wanted to make sure I included a demo/use of those. This card is kinda plain for me, but it is an easy make-and-take since it will be just gluing the paper down & inserting the brads. I would think most of the work will be put into using the Blender Pens ---- and I hope they all fall in love with the BP and have to buy a set. :)

Gift Card Holder
I used:
Season of Friendship, Deer Friend & Best Yet stamp sets
Baja Breeze, Real Red & Whisper White cardstock
SkiSlope DSP
Baja Breeze & Real Red Classic Stampin' Pads
Scallop Circle punch
1 1/2" Circle Punch (eep! Not SU!)
will use: rub-ons

I got this design from Dawn's blog. It's fun to watch her tutorials as the background music (especially in this one) make me smile! So funny.

Anyway, this is my "in case" demo. I am only going to do it "in case" she has 9 or more people at her party. The count is teetering at 8-9 right now. I figure with 9, 3 at each of 3 stations will be nice & easy to manage... but 4-5 at each of 2 stations would be harder. However, if only 6 show up, I will not demo this one. Though I love it! I am getting my rubons delivered via UPS today, so I am going to put some of those babies on here, too. You know, since they are on sale and all. :)

I also hope to borrow a roller wheel from my upline to highlight on this... think it would go nicely to do the background. However, my only Christmas roller wheel is retired. So I need to borrow one.

Top photo is the outside, bottom is the inside. Obviously. I didn't realize until I was done that Best Yet has a Christmas stamp... so I think I'll encourage the use of that one instead. :)

Thanks for looking!

My 2nd post of the day = cute cards made while DH is away!

2008-11-17T21:45:00.004-06:00

Oh my gosh, I totally didn't mean for my blog title to rhyme. Sometimes I'm such a dork.

Anyway, as promised, I'm posting again with some of the cute cards I yesterday while watching my favorite movie, "Inventing the Abbotts" (a movie I can only watch while DH is gone because he thinks is "so boring." I don't think he understand the allure of Joaquin Phoenix!)

This first card is one I made for a swap I'm hosting (that is mailing out this week... nothing like the hostess waiting till the last minute!) The design is a CASE from a birthday card I got from my upline, but I love this layout (which you will see in future posts, I'm sure.... I made quite a few similar to this yesterday. Does anyone else fall in love with a layout and then beat it to death??)

I used:
Upsy Daisy & Best Yet stamp sets
Riding Hood Red & Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pads
Washington Apple DSP
Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, & Not Quite Navy cardstock
and some white ribbon I had from Michael's (shhhh, don't tell!)

I love it. I hope the gals in my swap like it.

My other card is for my good friend Betsy who had a little girl last Monday. I was so busy with my classes this weekend that I didn't have time until yesterday to make her a card. I love this card because it suits Betsy to a tee! But I also love it because it's not traditional "baby" images or colors. In a workshop or class, this would be a good set (Always) to demo its versatility! --- side note: I made Christmas cards with this set, too! Anyway, The it's a top-open card, another trend I'm stuck on right now, maybe because it's so easy to cut the cardstock in 1/2 that way... :) The only thing I wish I had done differently in this card is stamp the sentiment on a sheet of cardstock & glue it to the DSP. It gets kinda lost (and is kinda crooked, like all my sentiments... I should change the name of my blog to "crooked stamper.")

I used:
Always& Best Yet stamp sets
Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, & Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Sweet Always DSP
Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, & Chocolate Chip cardstock
and, again,some white ribbon I had from Michael's

I mailed it off today, so the picture is all I have left. Sometimes I have that empty nest feeling with my cards! I hope Betsy invites me over to see the baby (Brynn) soon. Of course, that will just feed my baby fever that is burning out of control right now! If only DH was ready for kids like I am. Sigh.......

I made some really cute cards that I'm going to demo & make-and-take at Molly's workshop on Friday. But the light in my house is bad for nighttime photos, so I'll have to post them up tomorrow morning. I'll just give a tease that my favorite layout makes an appearance!

Christmas card class = success!

2008-11-17T17:10:00.005-06:00

My first class turned out to be a tremendous success! I had 2 sessions... one Friday night with 4 people and one Saturday morning with 10 people. I found it much easier to manage the group of 4 than the group of 10.... which is true when I'm teaching, too. It's easier to manage 20 kids than 30 kids. :) But I think both groups were extremely productive (some people even finished all 30 cards in 2 1/2 hours or so!) and the creative juices were just flowing in my house! I love how many of the ladies took my sample designs and created something of their own. The best part of the class was showing off my new blender pens, letting guests use them, and seeing how excited they were about them! I sold one set immediately that night, and I'd be betting many of the ladies buy a set in the next month or so (some are thinking about orders to place soon, probably including blender pens!)

I got 2 bookings from the class, which I'm so excited about. They aren't until the new year, but that's expected this time of year. One wants to do a class/workshop at her house... where it's set up like I did my class in my home. People order the set ahead of time, the hostess gets the paper needed, then I come over and teach them how to make cards. Sounds way fun to me! They want to use Pun Fun, which is one of my favorite sets. So, I will post about that workshop/class when I know more.

I was so excited to get to meet new people, too! Two of the ladies on Friday night were brand-new friends to me! I had never met them before! I placed a classified ad in the neighborhood newspaper & they found me there. Great future customers, too. One placed an online order the very next day! And the other bought a catalog that night.

Anyway, I made the cutest doorprize for the Saturday event. It's a little spice jar from Ikea (4 for $2.99). I cut out a circle of Holiday Treasures DSP and affixed it on the lid, then stamped in Ruby Red one of the cute stamps in Deer Friends & punched out with 1 1/2" circle. Since I don't have a bigger cirlce punch, I had to improvise and do two 1 1/2" cirlces with the back of the Holiday Treasures paper to make a mat. Along the edge of the lid I put Holiday Treasures paper & Chocolate Chip 1/4" ribbon. Filled it with Kisses & cute!! The picture is so dark, sorry. I was ready to give it away when I realized I needed a picture! So, I didn't think about how to get the BEST picture. :)

I have more to post about the weekend, but I think I'll do a separate post, as to keep posts from becoming novels. :)

An Award!

2008-11-16T21:57:00.004-06:00

The other day I was nominated by The Scrapmaster for a Kreativ Blogger award. And this is how dumb I am.... I was sitting around waiting for someone to email me and say "YOU WON!" It wasn't until tonight I realized being NOMINATED is the same as winning. And thus, I get to display my beautiful new award:

So, to keep the creativity flowing, I am to follow these rules ...
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Here are my 5 nominees (don't wait for an award ceremony! You are already a winner!!)
1. Not Just Another Stampin' Blog
2. Scissors Cut Paper
3. Blogging Jenn
4. 123 Stamp With Me
5. Stamp a Little Longer

I have a lot to post from this weekend... first class (how it went), cute cards I've made, and other projects. But it's late & I'm tired. No job tomorrow for me, so I'll do my major posting then.

Tracy

Samples for Christmas Card class

2008-11-11T13:36:00.005-06:00

When I got home last night, I had a suprise! A 32-lb. box from SU! Yahoo!!! I couldn't wait to bust it open and play with all the new goodies. And since it was all stuff for my class this weekend (and I promised my gals photos of samples of the cards), I made fun Christmas Cards, all made with Big On Christmas set. Here they are:

1. Let it Snow
Supplies:
- Bashful Blue cardstock
- Kiwi Kiss cardstock
- Chocolate Chip cardstock
- Tangerine Tango cardstock
- Whisper Whit cardstock
- Frosty Day DSP
- Tangerine Tango ribbon
- Stampin Pastels

I am not fond of how I colored this in. Next time I'll use better colors (since these are In-Colors and not in Stampin' Pastels) or do something different.

2. Happy Holidays
Supplies:
- Old Olive cardstock
- Ruby Red cardstock
- Whisper White cardstock
- Holiday Treasures DSP
- Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain
- Jumbo wheel Christmas chatter
- Old Olive wheel ink

If I have enough Chocolate Chip, I am going to add a mat underneath the DSP to make it pop a bit more. But I LOVE this card. I colored in with blender pens, which I love. And the Christmas tree is stamped on DSP & cut out.

3. Noel
Supplies:
- Chocolate Chip cardstock
- Real Red cardstock
- Whisper White cardstock
- Ski Slope DSP
- Baja Breeze ribbon
- Crayloa colored pencils

So pretty! I love these colors together for Christmas, and I never would have thought of it, if not for Ski Slope. :)

So, those are the cards. I pretty much CASED them from cards I saw on SCS. I hope they are not to hard for beginners (Noel & Holidays are pretty easy... Snow takes more effort to layer all that paper). I tried to show a few ways to color, too, with pastels, blender pens & Classic Stampin' pads, and just regular colored pencils. Because, I mean, if in doubt, use colored pencils until you can afford the other stuff. :) I did for years & no one knew the difference.

My goal is to have all the paper cut, ribbon trimmed, and in bags for my guests. But that means cutting over 100 cards and their pieces. Yipes! I better get to work. :)

I can't wait for Friday & Saturday! Fun fun!!

Weekend projects

2008-11-09T17:37:00.005-06:00

Sunday evenings are so depressing to me... weekend over. Back to workday routines. (I do have a job tomorrow, too, so back to work. Blah!)

I got 2 big projects done this weekend though!
1. Book to Look Board
With my first class coming up and my first workshop shortly after, I took some inspiration from SCS and made a Book to Look Board. I think it turned out pretty! Sure, not all the materials are SU! materials.... but you know what? I don't have enough money right now to buy ALL my stamp supplies again. I will use what I have. And if the Book to Look board works.... then I'll have some money to buy new stuff!

So the idea is the person books a show with me, then she can choose a card from one of the envelopes. Once that person's show is held & closed, I will add her prize to her order, on me. I would totally go for something like that if I was on the fence! I love a good free gift. My gifts are:
Classic Stampin' Pad, pack of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock, pack of envelopes, designer brads, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, or Stampin' Write marker.

Supplies used:
Pretty in Pink 12x12 cardstock
Soft Sky 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock
Always Artichoke 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock
chipboad letters from Archivers
Envelopes from Michaels
Scrapbook frame from Michaels

2. Christmas card swap
Pretty self-explanatory. I love this set! I can't believe there aren't more users of it. Of course, I may love it because "Holly Jolly Christmas" is my favorite holiday song! :) I had to make 9 of these cards. I love them. I may use these as my personal Christmas cards, too.

Supplies used:
Season of Joy stamp set
Holly Jolly Christmas stamp set
Bashful Blue cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Real Red cardstock
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad
White grosgrain ribbon

That's all for me tonight! My husband FINALLY made me a birthday cake, so I'm off to eat it. Yummmmm.

Stampin' UPdate Nov. 9

2008-11-09T09:56:00.002-06:00

Good morning friends,

I write this UPdate a year older.... It was my birthday on Friday and I'm but one more step closer to the big 3-0. Oh dear... Luckily, I took the day off work, relaxed, had a fun dinner and dessert with friends, and got to do some stamping. I guess getting older isn't such a bad thing.

Holidays are coming! There's no better way to de-stress from all that shopping, decorating, baking, socializing... than to be creative and get together with the girls. Keep these events in mind as you're navigating your way through the next 6 weeks or so:

NEW! December class: Create-a-Calendar. Dec. 5 or 6. I am SOOOO excited about this class. I can see stampers and scrapbookers alike loving this opportunity. For just $20 you get a bound calendar to decorate & create a beautiful gift for yourself or someone you love.
Stampin' Basic Training. Join me for one, or all, of the scheduled days for "trying out" stamping. I'm opening my Stampin' Up! room to you! Use any of my sets, all my ink pads, most of my accessories.... go crazy! The low $10 fee is just to replenish cardstock & decorative paper. Come play! The dates are set for: Nov. 17, Dec. 10, Dec. 19, and Dec. 20.
For those really planning ahead.... January's class will be $30-for-30 Birthday Cards.Jan. 9 or 10. Imagine, you could have all your birthday cards DONE, ready to go by the first part of January. Sweet! Preregistration is required & cost includes a set of stamps to take home. See flyer for details.

And I have to share two GREAT deals Stampin' Up! is offering from now until Nov. 30. Don't miss out!
--> Hostess incentive (extra FREE stuff!) October 1-November 30, 2008. Host a $350 workshop and choose one stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler for free. They are all SO cute! Contact me immediately if you want to host a party! I would love to come to your home & show you about stamping.

--> Rub-ons Promo. Starting Monday, Nov. 10, if you spend $20 in other merchandise from the catalog (like, one stamp set), you can order as many rub-ons as you want for 20% off. What a fantastic deal! That makes the price just $8.76!! These rub-ons are so versatile, you can use them in cards, scrapbooks, on glass (like candles or mirrors), or anywhere! Super cute & super affordable: What more could you want?! You can order online at my web site or contact me to pay by check.

There is lots of info in this post. If you want to learn more quickly click here.

Tracy :)

Birthday mania!

2008-11-07T07:54:00.009-06:00

Today is my birthday. And it's snowing here. (BOOOOOOOO!) So I decided to take the day off, which I can do, for if you recall, I am a substitute teacher. I just say "no" if someone calls, and I get the day off! Yippee!! I plan to spend the day in my sweatpants, stamping and making myself a birthday cake (which only slightly depresses me, but my hubby is too busy working to do so). I may even take a nap. And later I have an appointment to get my eyebrows waxed. Later tonight my friends and I are going out for Thai food and desserts. Yummmmm. To get me in the mood, I've decided to post my favorite birthday cards that I've made. They are my surrogate birthday cards until the mail comes today. November is a busy birthday month in my family, so I made these for other people, but they are still cute, and in the mood for today!!

Party Hearty card
Party Hearty set
Whisper White cardstock
DP from Archivers
Brads from Archivers
Chocolate chip Classic pad
Pumpkin Pie Classic pad
Ruby Red Classic pad
Old Olive Classic pad

Birdday card #1
Pun Fun set
Whisper White cardstock
Real Red cardstock
Tempting Turquoise cardstock
DP from Archivers
Basic Black Classic pad
Real Red Classic pad (for watercoloring)
So Saffron Classic pad (for watercoloring)
Pumpkin Pie Classic pad (for watercoloring)

Celebrate card
Just Celebrate set
Brilliant Blue cardstock
Old Olive Cardstock
Pumpkin Pie cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
DP from Archivers
Ribbon from Archivers
Basic Black Classic pad
Brilliant Blue classic pad (for watercoloring)
So Saffron classic pad (for watercoloring)
Soft Sky classic pad (for watercoloring)
Pumpkin Pie classic pad (for watercoloring)

Birdday card #2
Pun Fun stamp set
Whisper White Cardstock
Basic Black Cardstock
Bashful Blue Cardstock
DP from Archivers
Ribbon from Archivers
Basic Black Classic Pad
YoYo Yellow Classic Pad (for watercoloring)
So Saffron Classic Pad (for watercoloring)
Real Red classic Pad (for watercoloring)
Pumpkin Pie Classic Pad (for watercoloring)

Manly birthday card
Pocket Silhouettes set
Sincere Salutations set
Not Quite Navy cardstock
Old Olive cardstock
Close to Cocoa cardstock
Bashful Blue cardstock
Not Quite Navy classic pad
Silver brads

So, those are my cards. As you can tell, I've been in a watercoloring mood lately. :)

Thanks for looking!

New blog

2008-11-06T19:02:00.000-06:00

I was blogging over at wordpress, but cripes! That site is far inferior to blogspot. So, now I'm over here. If I can find a way to easily bring my posts from there to here, I will. Or I may start over again. :)

Who knew blogging would have so many options??