With Love

I love this card! I know I say that alot!  Is it possible to love so many cards.  I think so!  This card was inspired by a card on Twila's blog, scroll down to the August 9th post.  I just love the simplicity of her card and the line of pearls on the bottom of her main image.  I did mine slightly different but kept alot of those same elements.  Especially the pearls!  I do LOVE this set.  I think it's my all time favorite flower set.  I know that's a pretty big statement to make but I love it and use it so often!  I embossed the 2nd layer of cardstock with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Can you believe I only used one color of cardstock on this card.  Hard to believe, yet the card looks so elegant!  The only adhesive I used on this card is dimensionals.  I sure love those little guys :)

The flowers are stamped in the new Island Indigo in color.  So pretty.  I stamped the stem in Wild Wasabi, who would've thought I'd end up liking Wild Wasabi so much.  When it was an incolor a few years ago, I NEVER used it.  Didn't even own the ink pad.  Now I use it all the time, I think it's slowly replacing Old Olive--no that will never happen.  I still love Old Olive, but I'm leaning to love Wild Wasabi too :)  The other color used on the flowers is Basic Gray.  I stamped the En Francais background stamp in Pool Party behind the flowers. Lastly I added the line of pearls along the bottom.  Finishes the card so nicely. 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Meeting Highlights

We had our monthly demonstrator meeting last week, I've said it before and I'll say it ever month.  I LOVE these meetings and I love the demos that I get to work with.  They're some of the most creative, wonderful people I know!!!  Here's the highlights of the meeting. 

 Make and Take one, a Christmas Lolly with the new stocking punch and new Christmas DSP.

 Make and take two, I love this card.  The DSP the stamp, the chocolate. What's not to love!?

On to swaps.

 This is either Kay's swap or Kay's husband (who is her supporting demo) swap.  Either way, I got the only one that wasn't labeled on the back. I think it's Don's but I'm not positive.  If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me. But it's so pretty.

 I love this stamp set!  It's another new one from the Holiday Mini, I MUST get this one!  Lots of fun embossing on it too.  Great job Kim M (or Kim #4) I think we're up to 4 Kim's in our group.

 This one is so pretty.  This one is Martha's, she's one of Amber's new downlines.  I love this card.  The top part of the leaf is embossed, so pretty!

This one is Amber's, it's sooo pretty!  I love it!!! I think my card yesterday was inspired by this card. 

 This one is Mindy's, she did a couple, she has some new downline!  Way to go Mindy!!  I love this greeting set.  Another one I MUST have :)

 This is Michelle C's, she also did 2, one of her new downline.  I LOVE this card, the button snowman is soooo cute!!!

 This is Michelle C's second one.  I love this one too.  She always does such fun simple cards.  So cute!!!

 This is Mindy's second card.  I love the vintage look on this card and the greeting again!  Thanks Mindy now I HAVE to get this set ;)

 This one is Carmelita's.  I love the stocking punch.  I love the plaid heels and toes on this card.  So cute and the rhinestone in the center, I love all sparkly things!!!

 This was one of my favorite cards.  This one is Nichole's.  I love how she embossed the vintage brad in Wild Wasabi and used it on the lace.  So pretty!  I'm stealing this idea!

This one is Michelle G's This is such a cute card, the little owl spins, so cute!!!! I LOVE it!!!

 This one is Corrina's.  I love the Dasher set.  If you only have 1 Christmas stamp, this is the one to get! 

Last but not least is Kay's.  Very pretty and simple.  She used the lace too.  I have to start using mine.  I'm trying to be better about NOT hoarding supplies this year :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Baby Leaves

So I promised meeting highlights today, and they're coming!  But I just got back from a workshop and my swaps are packed in with my supplies.  In order to give the proper credit to each card I thought I'd wait until I could unpack my swaps to show the meeting highlights.  It's possible that I could do them by memory but I didn't want to take that chance.  So look for them coming tomorrow.  But speaking of my workshop.  This is one of the cards I made at the workshop.  This workshop was hosted by the fantastic Erin, she's a pretty experienced stamper so I'm always looking for new ways to WOW her.  I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for the baby wipe technique.  If you've never done the baby wipe technique it's super easy.  You take a small stack of baby wipes, put some reinker, just a few drops on the baby wipes and you have a custom ink pad.  Stamp as you normally would and you get a fantastic result!

Doesn't this card just look so cool with that technique!!??  I love it!!!  There's lots more going on with this card too.  The Garden Green CS is embossed with the big shot with the square lattice folder, a must have!!!  The sides are torn for some extra dimension.  Then there's the new quilted ribbon on top of that, goes perfectly with the embossing folder.  This technique would make beautiful Thanksgiving decorations or more of these cards!

I'll have the swaps posted tomorrow, I'll be spending the morning unpacking and cleaning.  It seems I do that alot in my stamp room, maybe I should learn to be more organized.  I have LOTS of exciting things to show you this week so check back all week long!!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

I {heart} This Flower

I LOVE this flower!!!!  Last night was our awesome demonstrator meeting!  I can't tell you how much I love these nights.  It's so nice to get together for a couple hours with other people who share my addiction.  :)  Do you have a stamp addiction too, maybe you should join me next month.  There's always great ideas, great company and I always leave smiling, these women, and man, are the best!!  Yes we have a fella in our group, he's Kay's supporting husband and he is so much fun!  He has some pretty lofty, though achievable, goals for Kay.  It will be a blast this year to watch her achieve them, with HIS help of course!  But onto the card.  This flower was so sweet and it's so simple!!! I demoed this flower at our meeting last night, and though I wish I could claim the credit for this idea I got the idea from Dawn Olchefsky's blog.   

I won't go into too many details on this card.  The video on Dawn's blog explains it all.  I did use the Berry Blossoms DSP... I think that's the name of it.  I don't have my catalog near me or I'd look it up.  For the flower the only tool you need is the Heart Punch.  Isn't that stinkin' cute and amazing?????  Please check out her video for all further instructions.  Today is the last day of Logan's first FULL week of school.  He seems to still enjoy going, though it's rough for Mom to get ready by 7:30 when we have to be out the door.  Have a great weekend, I'll be back on Monday with more highlights from our meeting. 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

A Purple Christmas

Who says a Christmas card has to be traditional Christmas colors??  I love those rare Christmas cards that you see that aren't the reds, greens, golds, etc.  Don't get me wrong I love those cards too, but I especially love the unexpected color used on a Christmas card. Which is probably why I love this card so much.  Who uses purple for Christmas?  I DO!!!  This stocking is a punch, so cute!  I love this little stocking.  I used the embossing folder frames and sponged around the edges to highlight the embossed areas.  I embossed the bottom half of the white cardstock with the stripes embossing folder.  I saw a card similar to this on Stampin' Connection (a demonstrator only resource full of samples and ideas).  I didn't mark it and can't find it now, but that's where my inspiration came from.

The stocking is punched in Wisteria Wonder with some Elegant Eggplant highlights.  I added some shimmer on the stocking with our new silver shimmer sheets.  SO COOL!!  The stocking punch and silver paper will be in the new Holiday Mini Catalog September 1.  I also sponged the stocking in Wisteria Wonder for a little depth.  I used the bakers twine to add a little hook on the top corner.  Finish it with my favorite ribbon and it's done!!  I love it!  Simple, cute, and easy!!!   

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Berry Blossoms......

Berry Blossoms DSP I think I love you!  Ok enough of my personal moment with the Berry Blossoms DSP, but seriously it's a fantastic package of paper and if you haven't stocked up this month with the buy 3 get 1 free promotion you still have a couple days left.  I've been wanting to use this die for a while and I finally got the opportunity to use it.  I find I'm having a lot more stamp time in the morning, during Megan's nap while Logan is at school.  Really though, I should be getting other things done, but uninterrupted stamping time is rare now a days :)  This little pocket die is so cute!!  It's the prefect size for slipping a note into a lunch box, or pocket, or briefcase.  It's so so so cute!!  I'll get to the button in a minute-awesome isn't it!!!!???  Make sure you check out that ribbon.  Quilted Satin Ribbon-seriously!  It's in the new mini and you're going to LOVE IT!  

For the button, I was inspired by none other than the totally amazing Heather Summers!  A couple days ago on her blog she had a video of how she made paper buttons.  Well if you follow my blog you know me, I'm a button lover but not user and end up collecting more than I use.  So in my efforts to NOT hoard the buttons this year I'm going to make some too.  This idea was BRILLIANT!  After I watched the video, I ran to my craft table, cleared a tiny corner to work in (see I really should have spent that time cleaning instead of crafting)  :)  And I made a button.  After I made the button I had to make the pocket to put it on, it just snowballed from there.  I won't go into too many details on how the button is made, I really encourage you to check out Heather's blog, she has a great video on it.  And they're so easy!  

So after the button, after the pocket die, I had to make something to go in the pocket die right?  DUH!  So I made this little note card.  It's super simple and really self explanatory so I won't go into the details of that.  I got alot of work done yesterday, I think I even figured out what our Christmas card is going to look like this year.  I like to start them in Septmenber or October so that I can work on the leisurly through the holiday season, though that doesn't always work and there's always a late night stamp session closer to Christmas :)  But my thoughts are good!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Thanksgiving Leaf

I don't typically make Thanksgiving cards.  So I sometimes struggle with Thanksgiving cards.  I do however like to make Thanksgiving decorations.   Place cards, centerpieces, etc.  But with this new Gently Falling set from the Holiday Mini I thought I'd give cards a try.  I'm not loving it.  I think it needs more, but I'm not sure what that is :)  It's still a cute card and I still like it I just don't love it.  The card is very simple.  I used Pear Pizazz and Soft Suede for the card. 

I used the Textured Jumbo Wheel over the image to give it a little more texture.  I do love the Lace Border punch behind the DSP and I do love that DSP.  The DSP is from the Spice Cake package in the new Holiday Mini.  That paper is so pretty!!!  I added a little hemp twine and a Happy Thanksgiving greeting from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  I spent most of yesterday cleaning, organizing and finding my desk.  NOW that it's found I can use it again .  I have lots to prepare for this week so I'll have lots to show you!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!

First Day!

This will be a short post.  After last week, I'm pretty exhausted.  Logan's first day of school and his 5th birthday party were both last week, well in the last 4 days.  His party went great though, I think everyone had a good time.  I'll have MDS pages of his party soon.  But for today I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from Logan's first day of kindergarten.  The page was kept simple, the background made to look like a chalkboard.  I wanted to keep the focus on all the pictures.  This page was so easy and fast to do.  I love it!!!  That's it for me.  I'm going to go do some stamp therapy today :)  If you have any questions on the page, please leave me a comment or email me.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Rooooar!

I'm so glad that you stopped by today.  Today's card is one that I especially love!  Logan's birthday is Sunday and he's having a Dino Birthday Party, so I made him a dino card.  My Mom made Logan a punch art dinosaur card that she gave him last week.  So I thought I'd give him one too.  I made a T-Rex with my punches.  I think he's super cute.  I love the big head and the sharp teeth, the little claws, and though you can't see it his little clawed feet.   

Most of his body is made from the wide oval punch.  It makes up his head, body and tail.  The teeth are the points of the small star punch.  His arms and legs are the wide oval punch, cut in half.  His hands and claws are the boho blossom punch.  That's about it.  The spots and eyes are small circle punches.  I used the cupcake punch for the clouds.  His so cute wondering through the grass. 

The grass though, it looks like it probably took a while didn't actually.  Just take a strip of cardstock and snip with your paper snips.  It goes quickly, when your done, cut and snip at angels to get the grass different heights.  The card is a 'fancy fold' card.  As I'm typing it, I can't think of the name of it, I love it though, I'll be making more cards like this, perhaps I may even have a tutorial :) 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

A Complete CASE

I saw this card on split coast stampers and I LOVED IT!!!!  I had to recreate it!!  I think, except for a few minor details the card is the same.  I LOVE IT!!  I can't say that enough.  By far one of the prettiest cards I've made....this month.  Ok enough of me tooting my own horn :)  This card uses that same Calypso Coral/Poppy Parade combo that I promised you'd see again.  I love the border punch on the bottom. That border punch is so pretty!  It's defiantly one of the MUST HAVES from the new catalog.  Once you use it, you'll love it!  There's that ribbon again too.  I'm going to need to start buying it in bulk.  Wouldn't that be awesome!!!?!

The flowers are stamped and then cut out and attached to the card with dimensionals.  Of course it's 2 step stamping, so I stamped the base of the flower first in Calypso Coral then the line image stamp over that in Poppy Parade.  I did find with this stamp set, that the stamp a ma jig really helps.  I'm normally not a perfectionist and I don't use it to much, except to make sure my greetings are mostly straight.  But with this image I found that I really did need to use it to line it all up right. 

Check back tomorrow, I'm so excited to show you tomorrow's card.  Don't worry it's not a card using the Calypso Coral/Poppy Parade combo :)  It is pretty awesome punch art though.  So come back tomorrow!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Coral Birthday

My new favorite color combo is Calypso Coral and Poppy Parade.  You can expect to see this combo a lot from me!  I know tomorrow for sure ;)  I really love the way the colors go together and truth be told I just like using that beautiful ruffled ribbon.  This card is pretty straight forward, not much going on.  I kept it quick and simple!  I used the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder to emboss the white cardstock.  I heat embossed my greeting in white embossing powder.  

For the flower, I used the Extreme Elements stamp set and stamped the splatter in Calypso Coral.  In Poppy Parade I stamped the flower from Flower Fest.   The final look gives the flower a whole new kind of look. It's so pretty in person!  Well that's really I all have today.  Yesterday was supposed to be Logan's first day of school, but on Monday afternoon we got a call from his kindergarten teacher.  She said the kindergarten class starts on Thursday.  So we don't have the first day until tomorrow.  We did get to go to the school yesterday and meet her.  She's very nice and I think Logan will do very well with her.  His kindergarten class is big and roomy and not at all what I was expecting.  It is really nice and far surpasses my expectations.  Logan will do great and we're all excited for tomorrow!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Happy Thoughts

I LOVE this set!!!  Field Flowers was on my wishlist when the new catalog came out.  When I found out that I had won the So Shelli Challenge in June on Shelli Gardner's blog with this MDS page, I knew which set I wanted (well it was down to 2) :)  In the end this is the set I chose and I'm so glad that I did!!!  This is the first card I made with this set.  Just playing around with it.  But I LOVE this card.  The DSP is so pretty too.  Don't forget to stock up on your DSP this month with the Buy 3 get on FREE deal!!  I know I'm stocking up :)  But back to the card.  It's actually a pretty simple card.  Not to many complicated things going on here. 

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the images, though on my little bud, I didn't do a great job, but it just adds to the dimension on the card.  IF I were a perfectionist I would probably have fixed that, but I'm not and I'm ok with it.  I love the little scalloped border under the ribbon.  So pretty, and it really helps 'blend' the card together.  You know how it is when you have a 'seam' that you want to cover up or 'hide'  This worked perfectly!  And can I just say how much I LOVE the ruffled ribbon.  Stampin' Up! if you're listening, I'd like that in every color, thanks!!   Colors used on this card are Wisteria Wonder, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant.  I can't even tell you the last time I used my Elegant Eggplant :)  Well with Halloween coming up, I'm sure I'll use it more.  Dark Purples are always good for Halloween :) 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

I Dig You!

6 days and counting to the Dino Bash, er I mean Logan's Birthday Party.  He's already been given lots of early birthday gifts, including but not limited to: a bike, a Wii and a Build a Bear.  So we needed to get a head start on our Thank You notes.  Logan was given the Dinoroar stamp set from my Mom, so we used those for our Thank You's. Also very fitting for the Dino party this Sunday.  Most of the work was done by Logan, I did cut everything and help glue but the stamping, and color was all done by Logan. 

He used the water color pencils to color the dinosaurs.  These pencils are so fantastic if you don't have them you should get them :)  You can use them to watercolor with or just color with them like Logan did.  I did have a thought about spritzing them with water and let the colors blend but then I thought we were getting to complicated.  Besides these are Logan's cards and he did a great job coloring them.  For the card we also used the Extreme Elements stamp set.  We used some staples on the card to make it more 'manly'.  I do like the look of staples on a card and it's such an easy accessory to add!  The whole pocket card came together nicely.  What's in the pocket?

The Thank You note from Logan.  I pre-typed and printed out most of the note.  So all Logan has to do is personalize it to each person. These cards are super cute!  The perfect stamping activity for any kiddo!  The party prep continues this week, AND Logan's first day of kindergarten is tomorrow!!  It's already back to school time.  Logan seems very excited! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Late...but Good!

What a day it's been!  This morning we were up bright and early and out the door even earlier!  This morning we were meeting friends for a Birthday Breakfast for Logan.  His birthday is in a little over a week.  So that meant getting ready and out the door early.  Of course it wasn't until then that I realized I didn't do my post a head of time like I normally do :)  Well there was no time this morning to get it done so it would be posted late.  After breakfast, a few errands and finally home here it is.  I hope it was worth the wait :)  If you know me or follow my blog you know I LOVE punches.  So when this sweet set came out I HAD to have it.  And wouldn't you know, my husband even liked it and bought the set AND punch FOR me!  Of course the catch is that I have to use them on our Christmas cards :)  This was the first card I made.  I like it, not sure about the colors, but I like it!  Can you see any other new products on this card????

What about a closer look?  There's Silver Glitter paper!!!  AND mini jingle bells!  How stinkin' cool is that!!!?!!  I have big plans for this set, I can't wait to show you more.  We're gearing up for a BUSY week next week, Logan starts Kindergarten on Tuesday!  He's having a Dinosaur birthday party on the 21st, on of which is being planned kind of last minute.  So while Logan's in school, I'll be getting ready for a Dino Bash!  I have lots of new stuff to play with, some from the Holiday Mini, some from the IB&C but all NEW!  I can't wait to show you, just gotta figure out when I'm gonna stamp......

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Be Back...

Just a quick note, I don't have post this morning but I'll be back this afternoon with one :)

Sweet Stocking

This stocking is so cute!  I'm so glad Stampin' Up! came out with a stocking die!  You'll be able to get it next month when the Holiday Mini is released (unless you're a demo and you may already have it!).  This went straight to my wish list when I saw it!!!  This stock is easy to put together too.  For this one, I cut out 2 of the red stocking bases, glued them together leaving the top open, and one of each of the white accent pieces.  I ran the white pieces through my big shot again with the poinsettia embossing folder.  Then I used a Real Red and Daffodil Delight marker to color just the embossed parts.  It almost looks like DSP!  I added a little faux stitching with my white gel pen around the edges.  Finally I added a ribbon 'hook' at the top to hang your treats wherever you please!  I added a little chocolate bar in there but how sweet would it be to put some candy canes in there!

If you love this stocking as much as I do, then you won't want to miss my September 10 class!!! Welcome Holidays Class!!

The new Holiday Mini catalog will be released on September 1 and it's one of the best mini catalogs ever with new dies, new punches, new sets, new paper and a brand new scoring tool and MORE!!! You won't want to miss this class!!! You'll make 4 projects using all brand new mini catalog products! You must RSVP by September 5 to attend. This class is $15 or FREE with a $35 order at the class!!!  To reserve a spot, contact me TODAY!

This class will be held at St John's Cathedral at 10am in Albuquerque, NM. Hope you can come!!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Gently Falling

When I first saw this stamp set in the mini catalog, I liked it but it didn't go on my wish list.  Then when I found out I'd be getting it for free-along with a ton of other new stuff for free :)  (a fantastic perk of being a demonstrator) I was super excited and now I love the set.  I don't have many, if any, leave sets so I was so happy to get this set.  Over all this card is pretty simple.  The DSP is new, isn't it beautiful?  I knew I wanted to use the DSP so my card went from there.  I used the oval die and my 1 1/4 inch circle punch to do the oval and the scallops around the oval.  I stamped the greeting.  I just love the greetings in the Friendly Phrases stamp set! I used my color spritzer to add a little dimension to the oval.  I perhaps went a little over board with the Early Espresso ink, but I still like it. 

For the leaves I rock and rolled them to give them that two toned color.  If you've never rocked and rolled it's so much fun!  First you stamp it in your lighter color of ink, then you gently rock and roll the edges in the darker color of ink.  When you stamp it you're left with a two toned image, it's so easy and beautiful!  For the leaves I used Pear Pizazz and Garden Green for one.  Another I used So Saffron and More Mustard.  For the last one I used More Mustard and Cajun Craze. I tied the ends together with some linen thread.  One more little detail on this card, I'm not sure if you can see it too well in the pictures but the Early Espresso ribbon on the card is new.  It's Quilted Satin Ribbon!!!!  OH MY GOODNESS!!!  It's fantastic!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!! 

The Last Cards

I have the last 3 cards from my class on Saturday to show you.  But first let me share with you what happened with my Mini Catalog order.  If you read yesterday you know I was supposed to get my order on Friday. UPS failed to deliver it Friday though.  Monday morning I checked the where-abouts on the computer and it said 'out for delivery'.  Around 1pm UPS drives up, goes to the back of his truck, searches then comes out and drives away?  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!  So I call UPS, again!  Ask the where my order is, they are not helpful.  We'll about 2:30pm the UPS driver calls me, says "I was going to deliver your package, but couldn't find it my truck.  I looked on my lunch break and did find it, can you meet me to pick it up?" WHAT!!!! NO!!!!   I couldn't believe he had even asked me that!  I (as politely as I could) said "I'm not going to meet you anywhere, it's not my responsibility to pick it up, you were supposed to deliver that box on Friday, I would like it delivered today please"  Even if I had wanted to go pick it up, I have 2 kids under 5 with me, one of which was sleeping.  I'm not going to pack them up into the car to go meet some guy I'd never met.  (UPS changed drivers on me.  I used to have the nicest guy, now I'm stuck with guys barely out of high school delivering my orders).  Anyway, my order was finally delivered to me, in it's entirety-thank goodness.  So I'll have new stuff to show you tomorrow!  I can't wait! 

This is the other Christmas card that my guests got to make.  The only thing they had to do was stamp the greeting, and stamp and punch out the ornament.  I really love doing hybrid cards with buttons.  The post office gets a little picky with too many buttons on a card, but this is a great way to get the look of buttons while still keeping the post office happy.  It's a win-win!

I love this card and it was so stinkin' easy to finish.  All they did was tie the ribbon on!  Isn't that fantastic!  I love the stacked birds and I LOVE how the get lighter on the way down or darker on the way up :)

Finally for the last card.  Another one of my favorites!  The ribbon and rhinestones were added at the class. PS I think the So Saffron Taffeta might be my new favorite ribbon, isn't it beautiful!?!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!