Cards

Beautiful You

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beautiful-you-1216The new Beautiful You stamp set that you’ll be able to find in Stampin’ Up!’s new Occasions Catalog starting tomorrow just called to me.  I don’t know why.  It’s not the usual type of stamp set that catches my eye.  I think that part of the reason I’m drawn to are the sayings.  Especially the one I used on this card.  Live, Laugh, Love is kind of my mantra.

The figure I used on this card is my favorite of the three different ones in the stamp set so I set out to design a card using it and my favorite saying from the set.  This is what I came up with.  A very simple design which I water colored.

I started with Shimmery White card stock, ink pads and my Aquapainter.  At first I tried coloring the image with my new Watercolor Pencils but as I mentioned yesterday I just haven’t quite mastered them yet.

Instead of inking the sentiment with both a black marker and a Bermuda Bay marker I first inked the stamp in the Bermuda Bay ink pad and then I used my black marker right over the Bermuda Bay ink.

I can’t wait to share the new Occasions Catalog with you tomorrow!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping

Happy New Year!

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new-yearHappy New Year!  Happy 2017!  Are you ready for the new year and all it has to offer?  Are you ready to try new things, meet new people and live life to it’s fullest?  That’s all any of us can do.  I hope you’re ready to embrace the new year as I am.

I’m going to work on taking my business to the next level and sharing more crafting ideas with you.  I want to do more business online as well as continue holding classes in my home and holding workshop/classes in your homes.  As with many people this time of year I also want to lose weight and get in shape.  I also want to make sure I appreciate what I have.  So let’s go!  Let’s get ‘er done this year!

One of the things I’m excited about in this new year is Stampin’ Up!’s upcoming (only a few more days!) Occasions Catalog.  There are some fantastic things in it and one of my favorites is the Birthday Bright Project Kit.  It’s the perfect way to get a head start on all of those birthdays you have on your calendar in the next few months.  Check out Stampin’ Up!’s video below.  I know you’re going to fall in love with this kit as much as I have!

You can purchase this fabulous kit starting on Wednesday, January 4th.  Don’t miss out!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Time is Running Out

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Well, it’s the last day of 2016.  Are you sad to see it go or are you more than ready for the New Year?  I know that some people are more than ready for the new year.  They’ve had enough of 2016 and all it entailed.

Overall 2016 was pretty good to me.  I did lose a close friend to cancer but my family and I are all healthy and doing well.  I still love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and all it entails.  Best of all, I earned Stampin’ Up!’s Incentive Trip to Phuket Thailand next summer.  Woo Hoo!  Of course I couldn’t have done that without all of you so THANK YOU!

thailand

I’m hoping 2017 will be another good year both for my family and friends and for my business as well as for all of you.

Time may be running out for 2016 but there’s still a few more days to take advantage of Stampin’ Up’s Year-end Closeout deals.  There’s also only a few days left of the Holiday Catalog.  Look for the fabulous new Occasions Catalog on January 4th.

Have a great day!  Celebrate the end of 2016 safely and I’ll see you in the new year!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Grinch Tag

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grinch-1116Christmas is almost here!  Yikes!  Are you ready?

Remember how I mentioned that I thought I was on top of my Christmas preparations but knew that I had to be missing something?  Well, I haven’t missed anything life threatening but little things are popping up here and there that could have gone a bit smoother.

I was watching TV with my husband the other day and in the middle of the show I shout “Crap!”.  I was getting my hair done the next day and I had forgotten to get my hairdresser a Christmas gift.  Lucky for me I had cards on hand and wrote her a check (which I’m assuming she’ll appreciate more than a box of candy…).  A little lame but it worked.

Then on another day we get yet another package from Amazon.  (I’m not sure we’d survive the holidays without Amazon Prime!).  Of course, like all of the other Amazon packages we’ve received it’s addressed to me.  The thing was, none of us were expecting a package.  Finally my husband and older son opened it and it’s a computer keyboard that my younger son wanted.  Well…my older son had already bought one for his brother.  Hmmm….  Ah…..I had given the same list to my sister-in-law when she asked for ideas for son #2.  Dang!  I blew it!  Of course, it’s not the end of the world, just a tad bit frustrating.

But on to today’s project!  Didn’t this little Grinch turn out rather cute?  Well, I suppose that the Grinch really isn’t cute but I think this tag turned out pretty well.  The only part I had to draw by hand was his mouth area.  The eye area is a stamp found in the Jar of Haunts stamp set.  It’s perfect for the Grinch!

I die cut an oval using the Layering Ovals Framelits for the face and for the mouth area I die cut a heart from the Sweet and Sassy Framelits.  I trimmed the heart a little to make it be a little less heart shaped then I drew the mouth area on it.

I stamped the eyes on the oval and then I stamped them again on a scrap of Crushed Curry card stock, cut them out and adhered them over the stamped image on the oval.

The little hat of course is punched from the Jolly Hat Builder Punch and the nose is a 1/4″ circle.

It’s a fun little tag if I do say so myself.  There’s still time to whip a couple of these up for those last minute packages.  🙂

Have a great day!  Don’t stress too much!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Totally Trees Beach

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totally-trees-1216I guess I should have been looking at this card while we had our frigid cold snap last week!  This would have warmed me up….dreaming of sitting on a sandy beach with the sun shining down on me.  Oh, well.  I can dream now!  🙂

This warm and easy card was made using Stampin’ Up!’s Totally Trees stamp set.  I really like this set and am so sad that it will be gone as of January 4th.  Yes, it’s retiring along with the Holiday Catalog so if you want it, you better order it SOON!

I’m sad to see it go because I’m in love with this palm tree.  The other trees are very nice but this one makes me smile.  How can you not smile thinking of a warm beach (and possibly a frosty drink!)?   I’m pretty sure there’s more than a few of us who would like to be relaxing on a warm beach about now instead running around crazy trying to get ready for the holidays!  🙂

Don’t be sad that you’ve missed out on this stamp set and the others that are retiring as of January 4th.  You only have a few more weeks to get ’em before they’re gone!  Shop now!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Sneak Peek: Sealed With Love

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sealedwithlovesu-1216Christmas is just a few short days away but have you started thinking about Valentines Day yet?  Ha!  Of course you haven’t unless you’re a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and have a chance to play with some of the new products in the upcoming Occasions Catalog!  🙂

Stampin’ Up! posted this photo in our weekly email.  Aren’t these projects cute?  I have just a few more Christmas things to take care of this week and then I can sit down and play.  I do have my projects designed for my first two classes of 2017 but I’d like to just sit and make some cards for the fun of it!

The three projects in the photo use almost all of the products you can find in the Sending Love Suite.  There is an adorable stamp set with COORDINATING framelits, ribbon, embellishments and of course a Designer Series Paper Stack!  Plenty of fun products to make all of those Valentines you’re going to want to send out!  You can see them online starting on January 4th or let me know and I can pop a catalog in the mail for you now!  You’re going to love the new Occasions Catalog.  There’s a little something for everyone!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Washi Tape Thank You

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endless-thanks-1016Is there still a cold spell in your neck of the woods?  We’re warming up a bit here in Denver and tomorrow we might hit 50 degrees!  That will feel so good after single-digit and below-zero temperatures!  🙂

This card feels warm and springy and will be perfect for those holiday thank you notes that you’ll want to send out.

It’s been so long since I actually designed this card that I’m not sure where I originally found the idea.  I know that I liked that the design used washi tape.  I love the look washi tape but can never really figure out how to incorporate it into my cards.  This was definitely a fun design.

I used the Endless Wishes stamp set on this card and it coordinated well with the Affectionately Yours washi tape.  I just love the font in this stamp set!

I started with the strips of washi tape.  To get the leaves peeking out from behind the tape I simple covered (masked) the tap with a piece of computer paper which is light-weight and thin.  You don’t want to use a thick piece of card stock because you may have trouble getting the image to stamp right next to your mask.

I did have to cut out the Calypso Coral florals by hand….no punches or dies for this.  🙁

I should try this design with some of the other washi tape sets.  I bet the card would look totally different.  Hmmm….

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Christmas Pines Noel

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christmas-pines-1016Check out these pine cones?  Aren’t they great?  They’re so festive and dimensional with the two separate pieces.  Of course that bow is pretty darn cute too!

Are you wondering how I lined up the pine boughs on the card front and the white card stock?  It’s pretty easy.  Using just a little bit of TEMPORARY adhesive, adhere the white card stock where you want it lined up on the card front.  Now stamp your pine boughs.  Part of the pine bough will be on the card front and part on the white card stock.  There may be a little strip right around the edge of the white card stock that doesn’t get stamped but when you add your border of Cherry Cobbler it covers up the space!  My border is a little narrow so it doesn’t cover quite as well as a wider border would but it still is a neat technique.

This was a very popular card in my classes and workshops.  It’s funny because it’s not necessarily my favorite.  It just goes to show that not everyone likes the same type of cards.  I need to remember that when I design.  Just because I don’t love it doesn’t mean that my customers won’t.

Right now I’m working on designing cards for my Love & Friendship class that I’m having in January.  It’s pretty fun playing with new products.  I can’t wait for you to see the new Occasions Catalog and the 2017 Sale-a-bration Brochure!  Fun stuff!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Sale-a-bration Sneak Peek: Hey, Chick

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hey-chick-1216This 2017 Sale-a-bration stamp set has got to be one of the cutest stamp sets EVER!!!!  OMG!  I’m in love!

This stamp set has three different chickens, a little egg with feet and three sentiments.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE it?!!!

This little chicken with the crazy hair is probably my favorite.  I can’t wait to play with this stamp set some more.

I designed this adorable (if I do say so myself!) card for my team holiday gathering last Saturday.  We had brunch, chatted and made three different cards.  This one was my favorite by far.  How can you not fall in love with this chick?  🙂

This stamp set will be available starting January 4th.  It can be yours for FREE with a $50 purchase!  Sale-a-bration:  a stamper’s favorite time of year.  Purchase the products you love and get FREE products!  Woo Hoo!  FREE stuff!  It doesn’t get any better!  Are you ready for Sale-a-bration and the new Occasions Catalog?  I sure am!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Holly Berry Happiness

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holly-berry-happiness-1016This is another of my favorite cards from this fall.  Simple, yet elegant.

As soon as I saw the Holly Embossing Folder in the Annual Catalog I knew I wanted to use it on one of my Christmas cards.  Of course it goes perfectly with the Holly Berry Happiness stamp set.  🙂

What do you think of this design?  I copied it straight from the Holiday Catalog.  Have I mentioned how much I love the samples in Stampin’ Up! catalogs?   You don’t have to look too far for inspiration.  It’s right at your fingertips!

holiday16_p26c-110-2This card was also the perfect chance to use washi tape.  I really like washi tape but I have a hard time trying to figure out how to incorporate it into my card designs.  I thought using it on this card turned out pretty well.  What do you think?

Yesterday I hit the post office to mail my holiday packages.  I only had to wait 35-40 minutes.  Not too bad at all.  Ha!  If it had been any other time of the year I would probably have been fuming!  Good thing it’s the season of good will.  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Christmas Pines

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christmas-pines-1116It’s time for another easy Christmas card in case you haven’t completed yours.  This one is made with the Christmas Pines stamp set.

If you have this stamp set did you notice that there are two sets of pine boughs?  One is a little thicker than the other.  When you use them together (it’s easy to do because they’re photopolymer) you get more of a 3D look.  You can see the double stamping more on the ends of my boughs.

I just stamped the boughs a few times in the corner, added my sentiment, bow and some dimensionals and my card was done!  Simple yet elegant.  My favorite!

I was a bit under the weather yesterday and spent most of it reading and messing around.  I did get the out-of-town gifts wrapped and ready for the post office though.  Now today I get the pleasure of standing in line at the post office.  I figured that today should be a little better than yesterday would have been but who knows.  I don’t have any other big plans other than shopping for stocking stuffers and a quick trip to the grocery store.  The big thing is that I need to remember to purchase Christmas stamps at the post office so I can mail my Christmas cards.  I did get the majority of them written out on Sunday so I’m pretty pleased.  Usually I’m pounding through them the weekend right before Christmas so I’m ahead of the game this year!  🙂

I hope you’re on top of all of your Christmas preparations.  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Merriest Wishes Tags

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merriest-wishes-1-1116 merriest-wishes-2-1116I had my Christmas Tag Class a few weeks ago and these were a couple of the easier tags we made.

With the Merriest Wishes stamp set and the COORDINATING Merry Tags Framelits making Christmas tags doesn’t get much easier.

On the first tag I die cut the tag from Whisper White card stock then heat embossed the sentiment with the Copper Embossing Powder.  Punch out a 2″ circle from a Copper Foil Sheet (love these!) and adhere it to the back of the tag.  I added some ribbon and I was done.  OK…you caught me.  The Whisper White Striped Satin Ribbon is retired so in class we used the Whisper White Thick Baker’s Twine.  🙂

The second tag we made using this bundle was even easier because there was no stamping involved.  Die cut the tag from the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper then punch a 2″ circle from Emerald Envy card stock.  Add some ribbon and baker’s twine and you’re done!

Hmmm…as I’m writing how easy these are to make I’m thinking that I should whip up a bunch for gifts this year……Do you have any homemade gifts that you’re giving this year?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

My Balloon Adventures

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balloon-advnetures-1216Yesterday I had a team gathering of my SASsy Stampers and Friends.  I’ve added the “and friends” because I know a number of demonstrators who don’t have an active upline or who are simply my friends and I want to include them in my group.  There were a total of nine of us (which is pretty good for this time of year!).  We gathered together, chatted, had brunch and made some cards!  I’m kicking myself now because I wanted to take a picture of the group and I forgot!  Sheesh!

We did have a good time.  My three newest recruits were there so I had everyone go around the table and introduce themselves and tell how they met/knew me.  It was fun to hear some of the stories.  Naturally we got off topic a number of times but itsn’t that half the fun!  🙂

If you’d like to be part of my SASsy Stampers team Sale-a-bration will be the perfect time to join!  For $99 you will get to choose $125 worth of merchandise AND 2 free stamp sets of your choice!  Sale-a-bration runs from January 4 – March 31.  Start thinking about it!  I’d love to have you join my team!  Contact me with any questions you may have!

balloon-adventures-onstage-1Now, on to stamping!  I designed two projects for this gathering using products from the upcoming Occasions Catalog and one project using a product from the 2017 Sale-a-bration Brochure.  This project may look a bit familiar.  I took one of the cards that we made at the OnStage event I attended in Phoenix last month and made it my own.  You can see that I didn’t change much on the front.  I changed the card base color and added a few layers.  You know me and my layers!  Ha!

The only differences on the inside of the card are the colors of the balloons and the designer paper I used on the edges.  You can view the original card here.  Sometimes it’s nice not to tax your brain coming up with balloon-advnetures2-1216your own design.  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!  Don’t forget to think about joining the SASsy Stampers!  🙂

Silver Bells, Silver Bells….it’s Christmas Time in the City….

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seasonal-bells-1116I told you that I start singing when certain words or phrases are written or spoken.  I can’t help myself!  My MIL is the queen of this!  Of course most of the songs that she starts singing are REALLY old and I’ve never heard of them.  Ha!

This is a card that I designed for my Christmas Card Buffet and I also used it for a few workshops/parties.  Simple, yet elegant.  That’s the kind of card I really like.  A card that says “wow” but doesn’t take three hours to create.  The Silver Foil Sheet is what gave this card the “wow” factor.  I could have used Smoky Slate card stock but it just wouldn’t have been the same.

Be sure to use Black StazOn Ink when stamping directly on the Silver Foil Sheets.  It won’t smear.  Speaking of Silver Foil Sheets…I think I would have actually used another layer of Silver Foil between the white background and the blue card to tie things together.  I think it would have given the card a more finished look.  I didn’t do it for class just to make things a little simpler.  Another little tip when using the foil sheets is that you should use Mini Glue Dots or Fast Fuse Adhesive.  You need a strong adhesive when working with the shiny, glossy surface.

It’s been a chilly few days here in Denver.  I thought I was back in the Minnesota Homeland there for awhile with high temperatures in the low teens and lows actually below zero!  BRRRR!  Lucky for us it’s warming up today and I can put the parka in the back of the closet until the next cold front arrives!

Have a warm and cozy day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Christmas Trees

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greetings-from-santa-1116Simple yet beautiful!  The perfect card for this time of year when we’re all running here and there trying to prepare for the holidays.

Isn’t this little trio of trees cute?  The tree is from the Greetings from Santa stamp set.  I added a little falling snow and I have the perfect Christmas card.

What is your Christmas tree like?  Here’s a picture of our tree at night.  I love keeping all 20161207_210326-2of the room lights off and just have the glow of the lights on the tree.  I don’t really like decorating the tree because I know that sooner rather than later I have to take all of the decorations off the tree.  I know…kind of weird thinking.  I do like looking at all of the ornaments though.  Most of them are dated or I can remember when or where we got them.  I use to try to find an ornament each year for my sons that had something to do with what they did in the past year.  For example, the year we moved to Colorado they got little clay figures that were skiing and snowboarding.  I try to get my husband and I an ornament each year too.  If we haven’t gone a trip I’ll just get something that I really like.

What type of decorations do you put on your tree.  Leave a comment and let me know!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!