Spring-ful Thinking Thank You

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

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

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

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

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

Homemade Valentine's Day

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

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

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


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

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

Fun party in the 'burbs!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Very Thankful Class

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

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

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

Here's what we'll be making!

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

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

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

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

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

Valentine's Day Class

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

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

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

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

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

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

Too many projects to blog!

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

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

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

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




















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

Thanks for looking!

Coordinated Christmas

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!!