October-December Highlights

At the end of every year I look back at all I've done through the year and pick a few of my favorites to share again.  Here's the January-March selections.  Of course I'll link back to the original post so that can read more about each project if you want.  I love these trees and I'm a huge fan of non traditional colors. These cards are perfect for me.  You can read more about them here. 

I just love this fox, that's all.  You can read more about this card here. 

Finally this card, it's another movement card, the submarine goes up and down.  You can read more about this card here.  That is my look back.  If you have a favorite and I didn't share please leave me a comment.  Have a safe and happy new year and I look forward to more creations in 2016!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!   

July-September Highlights

At the end of every year I look back at all I've done through the year and pick a few of my favorites to share again.  Here's the January-March selections.  Of course I'll link back to the original post so that can read more about each project if you want. I love this cute baby card.  I love cards that move, this one spins!  You can read more about this card here. 

Sometimes life stinks, it's a fact of life.  But this cute card will make it better!  You can read more about this card here. 






















I think I have a slight addiction to flower cards LOL!  What can I say though they make beautiful cards though!  You can read more about this card here. 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

April-June Highlights

At the end of every year I look back at all I've done through the year and pick a few of my favorites to share again.  Here's the January-March selections.  Of course I'll link back to the original post so that can read more about each project if you want.  Of course there will be some punch art in the look back this one is one of my all time favorites.  You can read more about this card here.

I love the colors on this cards.  And I love that the cake is made from DSP.  So cute!!!  You can read more about this card here. 

I knew this card would be featured in the highlights.  It's another all time favorite I think!!  You can read more about this card here. 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

January-March Highlights

At the end of every year I look back at all I've done through the year and pick a few of my favorites to share again.  Here's the January-March selections.  Of course I'll link back to the original post so that can read more about each project if you want.  I love the flowers on this card and the doilies, it all just works so well to make a beautiful card!  You can read more about this card here.

These animals still crack me up!  I love this birthday card that would be perfect for anyone!!!  You can read more about this card here. 

Finally I have one more card with the Painted Petals set.  I love the watercolored look to it and the colors, it's just beautiful!!!  You can read more about this card here.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Rose Wonder Die Cut Inlay

One of the jaw dropping sets in the new Occasions catalog has to be the Rose Wonder set.  This was one of the first things on my wishlist I knew I had to have it.  There's so many beautiful greetings in this set, plus the gorgeous rose image.  PLUS it has coordinating framelits that cut out this beautiful rose!!!  When my friend sent me this sample I knew that would be the first card I made with it!  I went with a yellow rose, but really you could do this with any color.  I cut this rose out 5 times, once each in Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Hello Honey and of course the Black Glimmer (can we take a moment to be sad that it won't be continuing on, not to worry I've stocked up.....)  I used the black glimmer for the outline of the rose, then used the other colors for all the inside pieces.   

Now I'm not gonna sugar coat this, I wasn't thinking ahead when I made this card and cut everything and took all the little pieces out, not keeping anything in order or together in the 'puzzle' just in piles on my desk organized by color.  Which at the beginning I thought was a good idea.........then I started putting the 'pieces' in and trying to find which piece for where was, well......, frustrating to say the least.  Next time I'll keep pieces together and in the right place that will make it sooooooooooooo much easier!  But all the time spent on this card was worth it because it's beautiful!!!!  I know you must be thinking, 'what a pain that must be though to get all those tiny pieces out of the thinlit', indeed it would be a pain but new in the Occasions Catalog is a Big Shot Die Brush. It's a bristlely little brush that comes with a foam pad and you roll it over your thinlits after you run it through the Big Shot and ALL those tiny pieces just fall out.  I was pretty sure that this wouldn't really work that well, but I added it to my preorder anyway because at $11 it's worth trying. Oh. My. Goodness!!!!  I was blown away!!!!  It's amazing!!!!  If you have any detailed framelit or thinlit, like this rose or like the birthday pop up ones from Monday, or the butterfly one or ANY one.  YOU NEED THIS TOOL!!!!!  It will change your life!  You'll hear more about this brush from me I'm sure but make sure you add it to your wishlist!! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

Stamp Set Of The Month-January

In 2016 I'm starting a new program for my customers or really anyone in the USA who wants to participate.  I'm doing a Stamp Set Of The Month.  Every month in 2016 I'll feature a different stamp set, when you buy the stamp set of the month you'll also receive supplies to make 3 cards.  This month's stamp set of the month is Apple Of My Eye from the Occasions catalog.  Due to SU policy I can't post a picture of the set, we're not allowed to post photos or images from in the catalog until it's released but here's a fun sneak peek at the 3 cards that will be included in the kit for January. 

Like I mentioned above, when you order the January Stamp Set of the Month you’ll receive supplies to make 3 cards with this set.
I will include directions. This month’s kit is $24.  This kit will be available the entire month of January, but if you preorder the kit by January 3, 2016 you'll save!  Get the stamp set and kit for only $20!!!  If the kit will be shipped please add $5 to cover shipping costs.

Please note that the kits will not be pre-stamped.  Your finished cards may be different then the examples depending on what ink colors you have.  Ask me what ink you’ll need and get any ink pads you'll need when you order.  All items that need to be pre-punched or run through the Big Shot will be done for your kit.  I'm excited about this new program and hope you are too.  Please let me know if you have questions on it!   

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Sale A Bration is Coming!

We're just a couple of weeks away from Stampin' Up!'s biggest promotion of the year.  If you've been with Stampin' Up! for a while you know what I'm talking about, it's almost time for Sale A Bration!!!!  This is my most favorite time of year.  EVERYONE can earn free stuff!  This years SAB selection is so cute too, there's paper, stamps, project life cards and more stuff coming in February!!!  Yay!!!  If you're not sure what SAB is you'll catch on quick, but basically for every $50 (USA) you spend before tax and shipping you get to choose any SAB item for FREE!  There's no limit!!  Order $100 get 2 free, I think you see where I'm going.

This balloon is part of a stamp set called Honeycomb Happiness.  Don't you love that honeycomb embellishment on the balloon.  They are so cute!!!!  This stamp set has fun images that coordinate with those little embellishments from the Occasions catalog.  I have more SAB sneak peeks coming up but if your Occasions wishlist is longer than your arm like mine was you might want to consider signing up with Stampin' Up!  During SAB when you sign up you can choose $155 in product for only $99!  Plus all the perks of being a demonstrator.  Contact me to learn more! 

Thanks for looking see you soon!!!!!

Party Pop Up!

 Let's get to some sneak peeks!  This bundle will be a popular one, I just know it!!!!!  The stamp set is the Party With Cake Set, plus I added some balloons with our new Balloon Punch!  More on that punch in another post though :)  This post is all about the Party with Cake set and the........

 ....Party Pop Up Thinlits!!!!  This is the inside of the card and Oh. My. Gravy. It couldn't be cuter!!!  These Thinlits are so detailed and so much fun to cut out!  Anyone who receives this card will be blown away by how cut it is!!  Plus bonus for you, they're really easy make it pop up like this! 

You want to start with a pre-scored piece of cardstock.  The thinlits have tabs or arrows on the top and bottom of the thinlit.  You simply line up those tabs with your score line run it through your Big Shot (use a magnetic platform or a piece of washi tape to hold in place).  Once your done you'll simply fold your score line and the part you cut out will toward you while the rest of it folds away from you.  That's it!!!  You have a quick, adorable pop up card!!!!  So fun!!!!  Make sure you add this to your wish list and order early, this will be popular :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

I Was Helping Batman

 I had a friend who had a birthday, that I was late in sending a card for so I made this one.  I saw a card similar to it on Pintrest, I still have a few of these Batman owls on my desk from the Superhero craft weekend months ago :)  I thought this would be the perfect card!  The greeting is printed on vellum, then trimmed down to fit on a card.  I sponged some Daffodil Delight on the white cardstock behind Batman. 

The Batman owl was already premade but he's easy to recreate.  Punch 2 owls one in Smoky Slate and one in Black.  The black one you cut the top and bottom off.  Add a scrap of Daffodil Delight for the belt and Use the XL Oval for the cape.  Attach eyes and beak as normal.  So cute!!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Vivid Vases

I know you're probably hoping for a fun sneak peek at some new stuff, and don't worry it's coming I promise!  Next week will be a Christmas treat with sneak peeks of all new stuff coming in the Occasions and Sale a Bration catalogs.  I have a couple other cards to share this week that aren't sneak peeks but really cute cards!!  This one I just love love love love!!!!!!  There's isn't anything about this card that I don't love!  The brick wall embossed background the glimmer paper the flowers.  It's all a keeper!!!!

To make those three vases stand out I water colored them and cut them out.  I attached them with dimensionals and added Crystal Effects over them to make them glossy.  They're so pretty!!!!  I just love them!!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!! 

Customer Appreciation Highlights

All year long I host classes.  Once a year, in December I do my customer appreciation.  Of course I appreciate my customers all year but this is the class made for them!  There's no fee for this class, everything is free, just my way of giving back.  Everyone got a pretty mug for their hot cocoa.  The mugs were bought from the dollar store and I tied some gold ribbon around the handle.   

 I also went all out baking for this class!  I made fudge and some decorated sugar cookies.  Everything was was very popular, I didn't have any leftover cookies and most of the fudge was gone too :)

Finally to treat my guests I had a big hot chocolate bar!  There was pretty much anything and everything you might want to top or mix into a cup of hot chocolate. 

In addition to the syrups and whipped cream there was also marshmallows, candy canes, mints, chocolate chips.  Oh my!  This was my last class of the year.  As much as I love my classes I'm looking forward to a small break between this one and my Sale a Bration camp in January.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

Blushing Bride Glimmer Balloons!

 This was the 4th card that my guests got to make at my class.  This new set in the Occasions Catalog called Balloon Celebration is a MUST HAVE!!  OMG, it wasn't on my original wish list but I'm so glad I got it!!!  The images are so pretty and soft, like watercolored images.  And they all can be stamped together for a fun collage type look.  I just love it!  I used some softer colors for this card, Soft Sky and Perfect Plum. 

I also used a new Balloon Punch!!!! Yay!!!  It punches 2 different sizes of balloons, so fun!!!  To add a little sparkle to this card I used the NEW Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper.  Oh my goodness this paper is soooooooo pretty!!!!  I'm in love!  This set will be lots of fun to play with!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Customer Appreciation

December gets soooooo busy for everyone!!  I like to use my December class time as a time to thank my customers for all their support over the last year.  For a few years now I've set aside my December class as a customer appreciation class.  This class is free, everyone who comes gets to make 4 simple cards.  It's a nice break from all the other business of life in December. 

The cards are all pretty simple, but so fun and cute!  This year my customer appreciation class was so much fun!!!  I'll have more pictures later this week but there were lots of activities to keep us all busy.  I started with a food drive for a local children's home here, El Ranchito de Los Ninos. If you're not familiar with them they are an alternative to foster care where brothers and sisters can grow up together when living with their biological families isn't an option.  Their agency receives zero federal or state funding and relies solely on donations from caring people in the community.   I asked everyone attending to bring a little something for them. 

I also had a hot chocolate bar (more on that) and lots and lots of sneak peeks from the new Occasions Catalog and Sale a Bration catalog.  All in all it was a really fun class.  The 4th card they got to make was using some new products from the Occasions catalog, I'll share that tomorrow!  

Thanks for looking, see you soon!

Sneak Peek: Balloon Builders

 There's this new awesome stamp set in the Occasions Catalog called Balloon Builders.  It's like punch art stamping!!  The stamp set includes lots of different shapes of balloons and you use them to 'build' your own creations.  So cute!!  I LOVE all the samples in the catalog, I'll be CASEing them all!!  This one wasn't in the catalog, and it was the first thing I thought of with this set. 

These little pups are just adorable and it was so easy and fun to create them!!  I used a couple different browns on the dogs (Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip).  The girl dog I added a bow and the boy dog got a bow tie.  Super cute, so much fun!!!  I can't wait to play with this set more!!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!

November Paper Pumpkin

 It's about time for the December Paper Pumpkins to begin going out.  I look forward to these kits every month.  They're so much fun to complete and they made great gifts!!  Did you know you can buy a gift subscription to Paper Pumpkin for anyone?  They make great Christmas gifts!  November's kit were fun Holiday cards.  Logan made a few with me too! 

I usually stick with the original plan for the Paper Pumpkins, sometimes I pull out my kits when I'm not feeling terribly creative but still want to craft.  You can sign up for Paper Pumpkin here. 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!

Take A Breather

This is the final card from craft weekend and I think, after much thought this one is my favorite.  I wasn't really sure where I was headed with this card but I went along with it, I'm so glad I did.  I started by watercoloring the submarine and the background.  Both are done on watercolor paper.  If you're going to do lots of watercoloring you really have to use the watercolor paper.  The submarine is pretty straightforward coloring, I used Crushed Curry and Delightful Dijon.  The background is soooo pretty and really easy!  I started by making sure my paper was pretty wet, not soggy or dripping but wet enough that the color would move freely.  Once you have a layer of water on your background you can add color, I just smooshed my ink pads on a large clear block and I used a large wet paintbrush to pick up the color.  I used Tempting Turquoise and Bermuda Bay.  Just add a little color here and there, the water already on your paper will move the ink around you don't have to do much, in fact the less you do the better it looks.  You can let it dry on its own or hit it with a heat tool.  I used the heat tool for mine because I was impatient.  Finally I added some 'flicks' of color by picking up more color with a wet brush and 'flicking' it on the paper.  You get a fun splattered look. 

The really fun part of the card, the submarine goes up and down!!!!  Isn't that adorable!!!!!?!?!  I just love it!!!  I love the greeting I added too, perfect for a friend who might be a little over stressed.  The front says "Take a Breather"

The inside is come up for air.  So cute!!!!  This concludes all the cards I made at craft weekend way back in November!  This is my favorite, do you have a favorite, let me know in the comments I'd love to hear what you love! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Reindeer

Christmas is just around the corner.  If you're still in need of a few Christmas card ideas I have a really adorable one!  This sweet deer has become a favorite of mine for nearly any occasion!  He's so cute and he's so much fun to color!  If you've missed him in the catalog, he's in the baby section in the Made With Love Set.  

I generally cut him out but if you didn't want to do the fussy cutting you could easily mask the baby greeting and use him for anything!  I love the blushing bride trees on this card!!!  I love using non traditional colors for Christmas cards, plus it's so subtle that your attention stays on the reindeer.  The front of the card (under the watermark---oops!) says 'All Is Calm' also from the Wonderland set with the trees.  Inside the card........ 

.....it says 'All is bright"  this little reindeer has a sparkly bow and nose, thanks to the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details.  I wish the glitter showed better in the pictures.

What a cute fun card right!!??!  I just love it!!!  I have one final card from craft weekend tomorrow!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!! 

Miss Ewe

We're down to the last 3 cards from craft weekend and they happen to my my favorite three!!!!  This card is sooooo cute!!!  I was inspired by a card on Pintrest, that I can't seem to locate.  I just love all the sheep stamped over and over with one empty spot.  So sweet!!!

I used my blender pen and Pool Party ink and lightly outlined all the sheep.  I love the subtle blue and I think it makes them 'pop' a little. 

Thanks for looking see you soon!!!!

Gumball Shaker

Of course Pintrest is a huge source of inspiration for me, I saw a gumball machine shaker card and I was excited to try it.  Shaker cards are interesting.....too much filling, it doesn't shake, too little it looks empty. I've been on the too much side, so for this one I scaled back my shaker filling and unfortunately I think now I'm on the too little filling side.  Shaker cards....they're a mystery!  

The card is cute, and there's still plenty of gumballs to shake around but I think if I did this card again I'd add a few more more shaker pieces.  The base of the shaker card is from the Sparkly Season set in the Holiday Catalog.  Circle framelits make up the shaker area.  I'll keep making shaker cards, I gotta perfect the 'filling' sometime! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!