Did You Miss Me?

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Did you miss me?  I sure hope so!  It was time to head up to the family cabin in Canada, just north of International Falls, MN and get it ready for summer.  We got a lot of work done the week we were there but it sure is good to be home.  We made the drive in 2 days each way and that was more than enough for me!  I did get a little crafting done in the car which I will be sharing with you soon.

island1The weather was cool, windy and cloudy most of the time.  We did have one gorgeous day and I was able to get out and take a few pictures.

This first picture was taken in the morning.  The lake was perfectly still which is rare as it’s a very big lake (Rainy Lake).  I loved the way the trees were reflected in the water.

The second picture was taken a sunset.  I was in the cabin and just happened to look out and see that the sun was going down and thought I’d try to see if I could get a picture.  I grabbed my phone and ran out just hoping to get a good island2picture.  I was pleasantly surprised!  Even when I took the picture I didn’t think it would really turn out but then I looked on my phone.  I caught it perfectly!

I know you all are itching to see more samples from the new catalog.  Tomorrow is the BIG day!  You’ll be able to check out the catalog online if you don’t have a hard copy.  Be sure to email me at cindy@stampbystampcreations.com if you’d like your own copy.  You’re going to LOVE it!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Busy Times

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It’s been a busy time in the Russell household.  Graduation, out of town company, Mother’s Day, getting ready to leave town….yikes!  It’s all good though!

kgrad0517My parents came into town last Wednesday for my youngest son’s college graduation and were here through Saturday.  My oldest son and his wife flew into town on Thursday night and are actually here for over a week.  Graduation was really nice.  I took a lot of pictures of the ceremony but of course the pictures of him actually receiving his diploma didn’t turn out…..which is why they have the professional photographers on hand, right?    This picture is of my son Kyle and his best buddy Arik.  They both got their teaching degrees from Metropolitan State University in Denver.  Kyle is the tall one in the back.

mothersday0517Mother’s Day was especially nice as both of my boys were home.  My oldest son Jared and his wife Margot live in California so this is the first time in a number of years that they’ve been around on Mother’s Day.  We all went and saw the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”.  So much fun!

Now I need to think about packing for our trip.  My husband, son Kyle and I are heading up to the north woods of Canada to open the family cabin with my husbands parents.  Luckily I won’t have to worry about dressing up or even having coordinating outfits since there won’t be anyone around to see me!  Ha!  I do need to make sure I have the essentials though as there isn’t a Target store anywhere near!

I hope your weekend was as good as mine. Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

High Tide

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High Tide.0517Hello!  Today’s card is one of my favorite from the “Guys Class”.  It reminds of when we lived in Michigan, right on Lake Michigan.  Well, we didn’t actually live right on the lake but we were only 10-15 minutes from the lake and a lighthouse.  But I digress….

This card was fun to make.  Not only do you get to do 2-step stamping with the lighthouse but you also get to mask the lighthouse and sand to stamp the water.  In those respects the card was a little more involved to make but my customers got to try some new techniques.

Don’t you love how the piece of Pacific Point car stock is embossed with the Seaside Embossing Folder and looks like a  wavy ocean?  🙂

You’ll be happy to know that this great stamp set (which you can now find in the Occasions Catalog) will be in the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog.  Woo Hoo!  I guess I’ll have to design another fun lighthouse card!

I’m off to Pilates and then Mom and I will be heading to the grocery store to get some items for the salads we’re making for tomorrow’s graduation party.  My son is pretty excited to finally be graduating from college.  Woo Hoo!  I’m sure I’ll have pictures of graduation for you on Saturday.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Moon Baby

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Moon Baby Girl.0417Have you checked out the Moon Baby stamp set yet?  It’s pretty darn cute.  It contains quite a few adorable images for those baby cards you need to make and it’s perfect for boys and girls as you can see from my two cards here.

I designed these cards for a card buffet so I didn’t want them too difficult.  I chose the little image with Moon Baby Boy.0417the critters and stars and I used the watercolor pencils to color them and I smoothed the color out with a Blender Pen.

I added a little stitching around critters with a marker.

These cards are pretty quick to make and are a good addition to your stash of cards.  Pink or blue.  The choice is yours.

Speaking of babies….mine graduates from college on Friday!  Yikes!  How did that happen?  Congratulations Kyle!  Love you!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Let’s Ride!

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One Wild RideDo you ride or know someone who does?  Here is a fun motorcycle card for anyone who rides.  One of my downline, Kim, designed this for a stamp camp she participated in that I attended.

Isn’t this card fun?  My favorite part is the Silver Foil embossed with the Hexagons 3D Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Wow!  That’s a mouthful.  That’s the official name….I just call it the Hexagons Embossing Folder…so much easier!

Right now you will find this embossing folder in the Occasions Catalog but I’ll let you in on a little secret….you’ll also find it in the new upcoming 2017-2018 Annual Catalog along with 4 other 3D Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folders including the Cable Knit one from this past Holiday Catalog.  Fun stuff!

It is Technique Tuesday so let me give you some tips on using these fun folders.  First of all, when you run them through your Big Shot you don’t need a bottom Standard Cutting Pad.  The folder is so thick you only need to use the top one.  This second tip will give you a really deep, dimensional embossed impression when used with regular cardstock:  before you place your card stock in the embossing folder lightly spritz it with water.  Try running your folder through the Big Shot with and without spritzing the card stock.  You’ll be amazed!

Well, enough chit-chat for today….my parents arrive tomorrow for my son’s college graduation so I guess I better get ready.  Yikes!  Then on Thursday evening my older son and his wife arrive.  We’ll have a houseful for a couple of days but it should be fun!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Custom Tee

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Custom Tee.0517It’s May and it’s time for my annual Guy Class.  It’s the class where we make 5 cards for guys.

Guy cards are hard to come up with.  I do think I came up with a pretty nice selection this year though.

Here is one of the guy cards from classes this week.  I used the Custom Tee stamp set and the coordinating T-Shirt Builder Framelits.  I thought these coordinating items were pretty cute when I saw them in the catalog but they’re even more fun to play with!  This little dress shirt turned out so stinkin’ cute!

You first stamp a t-shirt.  Add the row of buttons to the t-shirt and then die-cut it out.  Next you want to stamp the collar and die cut it.   Stamp the tie, color it and adhere it to the die-cut t-shirt before adding it to the t-shirt.  Then finally add the collar to the t-shirt and you have your dress shirt!

Be sure to check out these fun products while they last.  They’re on the retiring list so they won’t be available after May 31st!  Get ’em while you can!  There are so many fun little images in this stamp set.  Not only can you make shirts for guys, but you can also make girly t-shirts too and add flowers and lace collars!  These are definitely versatile products!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Pop of Paradise Flamingo

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Pop of Paradise.0417I LOVE Flamingos!  I can’t seem to get enough of them!  I’m not sure why.  I was so excited yesterday.  I was walking around Kohl’s thinking I could probably use a new nightgown and what did I come across?  A navy blue nightgown with pink flamingos on it!  Woo Hoo!  My day was made!  🙂

Another exciting thing is that the Pop of Paradise stamp set and this adorable flamingo will be in the new catalog!  Yeah!  Guess what?  There is another flamingo stamp set in the new catalog too!  How great is that?!  It’s a 3-step stamping set and it’s not quite as whimsical as this one.  Don’t worry…you’ll be seeing samples with it because it will definitely be one of the first stamp sets I will purchase!

Do you want to know a sneaky little trick I used when stamping the flamingo?  I inked up the whole stamp with Flirty Flamingo ink.  Then I simply took my Basic Black Marker and colored the beak and the legs….right over the pink ink!  Don’t you love quick tricks like this?

Do you have the Petal Burst Embossing Folder?  It’s another favorite of mine.  It makes the greatest background for any kind of card!  I’m thinking I’m going to have to start a special post on Fridays….Friday Favorites.  It will be the perfect way to share my favorite products with you….of course I’ll probably never run out since I have so many favorite things!  Ha!

Have a wonderful day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

3 x 3 Thursday: Cool Treats

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Cool Treats3x3A cute and fun little card for a hot summer day….oh, wait….it’s a cool spring day!  Whatever….it’s a cute little card perfect to include with a gift, stick in a lunch box for a special someone, hide in a desk….you get the picture!

This little card was made using the Cool Treats stamp set and the COORDINATING Frozen Treats Framelits.  The good news is that both of these items will be in the new, upcoming 2017-2018 Annual Catalog.  The bad news is that you won’t get to purchase them in a bundle and save 10%.  The other bad news is that you won’t be able to purchase the Tasty Treats Specialty Designer Series Paper in the new catalog either.  But more good news…The Tasty Treats Specialty Designer Series Paper is still available (as of this writing) so if you want it….get it now!

Looking at this little ice cream cone is actually making me want one.  The Peekaboo Peach stamped ice cream is looking a lot like Orange Sherbet to me!  Yum!  What color/flavor would you stamp your ice cream?

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Eastern Medallion Thinlits

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Layering Eastern Medallion ThinlitsOMG!  These are my new favorite thinlits!  You have got to try them out!  I finally had a chance to play a little with my Eastern Palace Suite the other day and fell in love!  You know how much I love the word COORDINATION….well, I think my second favorite word is now Eastern Medallion ThinlitsVERSATILITY!

WOW!  You can do SO much with these thinlits!  There are 14 thinlits in the set.  You can nest them in all sorts of different ways.  It’s amazing!

These are six of the thinlits.  You can see how they layer…and that’s just the beginning!  The two middle sizes are the same size and the two Eastern Medallion Layer #1smaller ones are the same size so they are interchangeable.

Then you have more thinlits that fit some of the stamp images.  I’m telling you…VERSATILITY!  Wow!  Check out the other photos on the page to see what the die cut images look like and you’ll get an idea of the endless possibilities!

Eastern Medallions Layer #2Eastern Medallions Layer #3Eastern Medallions Layer #4Eastern Medallions Layer #5Eastern Medallions Layer #6To add even more versatility to these already versatile thinlits I need to let you know that they will also nest with the Layering Circles Framelits!  I can’t take it!  There are too many possibilities for me!  🙂

Can you see how much fun you’ll be able to have with the thinlits?  I can’t wait to sit down and play some more!  If you have a Big Shot you’re definitely going to want the Eastern Medallion Thinlits!

Now that I’ve shown you how fun these thinlits are you’re probably going to want me show you some sample!  Ha!  Well…you’re just going to have to wait.   The samples I created are the ones I’ll be writing up instructions for and providing to those of you who purchase one of the Eastern Palace Bundles that you can purchase this month.  Don’t worry though….I’m sure I’ll be playing with these new toys again in the near future!  They’re SO much fun!

Be sure to check out all of the details about the Eastern Palace Bundles in my online store.  I know you’ll love them!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

The Eastern Palace Bundle is HERE!!!!

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The Eastern Palace Bundles are available for you TODAY!  Yes!  Get a sneak peek of a whole suite that will be in the upcoming 2017-2018 Annual Catalog.  Ooooo…..you also will get a sneak peek at 3 of the new 2017-2018 In-Colors!  They’re included in both bundles!

EasternPalaceStarterBundleThe Starter Bundle is perfect for the beginner stamper.  It comes with:

*Eastern Beauty Stamp Set
*Eastern Palace Specialty Designer  Series Paper
*Eastern Gold Vinyl Stickers
*Fresh Fig Classic Stampin’ Pad (new In Color!)
*Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin’ Pad (new In Color!)
*Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin’ Pad (new In Color!)
*Very Vanilla Note Cards & Envelopes (new! and FREE!)

The Starter Bundle is the perfect way to get a taste of the Eastern Palace Suite.  The Eastern Gold Vinyl Stickers are so fun!  They will add a whole new dimension to your cards.  They’re nice and sturdy.

EasternPalacePremierBundleAre you an avid stamper?  Then the Premier Bundle is for you!  Along with all of the items included you the Starter Bundle (except for the Vanilla Note Cards & Envelopes) you will also receive:

*Mini Tassels Assortment
*Eastern Medallions Thinlits Dies
*Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes
*Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock (new!)The Very Vanilla envelopes and cardstock are FREE gifts for you!

Be sure to follow my Eastern Beauty Pinterest board where I’ll post all sorts of samples using these fabulous products!  Then hop on over to my store and purchase your bundle TODAY!  These bundles with the free gifts are on only available until May 31st so don’t miss out!  When the new catalog comes out you won’t get the free gifts.

Speaking of FREE gifts…when you order one of these bundles from me I will email you detailed instructions for 3 different cards that you will be able to make with the bundle you purchase!  Be sure to include your contact information when ordering from my store.

The more you see of the Eastern Palace Suite the more you’re going to LOVE it!  Get those new products ordered today and have fun!

 

The Eastern Palace Suite is Coming!

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20170414_164258868_iOSThe Eastern Palace Suite is coming!  Starting tomorrow you can order products from this fabulous bundle that will be in the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog!

Yes…customers like you can start playing with new products NOW!  I know you’re going to love this new suite of products.  Don’t form an opinion upon first glance.  This suite is SO versatile.  You can get so many different looks from the products.  Just check out these cards from fellow demonstrator Debbie Henderson.   One suite of products gives these three totally different looks!

Be sure to check back tomorrow and see the two different bundles that will be available to you for purchase.  One of the things you’ll definitely want to notice is that there is a FREE gift included in each bundle!  Yep!  A FREE gift of new products you’ll find in the upcoming catalog!  WOW!

I hope you’ll take a good look at these products…I know you’ll love them!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Saturday: Mediterranean Moments

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snow42917Hello!  It’s Simple Saturday.  Actually, I should call it Snowy Saturday!  Yep…this is life in Colorado.  Just when you think it’s safe to put your winter clothes away you need them again!

Simple Saturday is about cards….not weather!  Today’s card was made using the Mediterranean Moments stamp set.  Did you know that this stamp set was inspired by one of Mediterranean Moments.0417Stampin’ Up!’s Million Dollar Sales Achiever?  Susan Nygaard helped design/inspire this stamp set.  How fun is that?

This stamp set has four great line-art images.  They’re perfect for coloring or just stamping as I’ve done here.  A stamped image, a sentiment, a couple of layers and a little bit of baker’s twine and my card is done!

One of the great things about this card is that you can leave off the sentiment and have it on hand to use for any occasion.  Stamp a bunch of these and give them as a gift!  (Mother’s Day is just around the corner!)

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

3 x 3 Thursday: Daisy Delight Sneak Peek!

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Daisy DelightI didn’t need another flower stamp set….yet here we are….

Of course I needed the new, upcoming Daisy Delight stamp set!  Not only is it fresh and fun but there’s a COORDINATING Daisy Punch!  Woo Hoo!

Look how cute and fun this little flower is!  Doesn’t it say summer?  Yes, here in Colorado we’re looking towards summer already….the calendar says spring but they’re predicting 3″-5″ of snow on Saturday!  Really?!  It’s almost May!  Well, welcome to spring in Colorado…

If you look close at the daisy on the card you will see that I actually stamped and punched the daisy twice to get the full flower.  I just adhered the centers together and I have a full flower.

The Daisy Delight stamp set and the Daisy punch are part of the Delightful Daisy Suite in the upcoming catalog.  In this suite you’ll also find fun ribbons, faceted gems that work perfectly for the flower centers and the most GORGEOUS designer paper ever!  Ok…maybe not ever but the Delightful Daisy Designer Paper is fabulous….I know you’re going to love it.  So when you get your new catalog be sure to check out the suite on pages 126-127!  🙂

Speaking of the new catalog….be sure to contact me if you’d like to receive your very own copy!  I’ll be ordering them next week!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Coming: Eastern Palace Suite

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Oh, wow!  One of the suites from the upcoming new 2017-2017 Annual Catalog will be available NEXT WEEK!  Yes!  Next week you can purchase the fabulous new Eastern Beauty Bundle AND coordinating products!  Want a sneak peek?  Check out this fun video!

a6655abfb71aa57750fb0c6e08795b98This is a card that my downline Janet designed for our team meeting last Saturday.  Isn’t it fun?  I tell you…the Eastern Medallion Framelits that COORDINATE with the Eastern Beauty stamp set are AMAZING!  The framelits nest and fit within each other so that you can create tons of different medallions.  I can’t wait to play with them!  Yes…that’s correct….I haven’t had a chance to play with this suite of products that I have and it’s killing me!  Dang!

I’m working on a big project for church but when that’s done I’m getting out my Eastern Palace Suite!  I need to make some fantastic projects to share with you!  🙂

Stay tuned for more details on all of these gorgeous products that you can purchase starting on Monday!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Lift Me Up

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Lift Me Up.0417Hello!  Yes, it’s been awhile.  I tell you….things get crazy around here and I forget to post on my blog.   Classes last week and planning for a team meeting for last Saturday kept me on my toes as well as doing a project for church.  The week just flew by.  I hope your life isn’t quite as busy as this.

My disclaimer for this card is that the card base is Night of Navy, not Crumb Cake.  I just laid the card on Crumb Cake card stock to take the picture….although you probably could make the card as it looks in the picture…maybe I’ll have to try.  🙂

The Lift Me Up stamp set and the COORDINATING Up & Away Thinlits will be in the new 2017-2018 Catalog.  Woo Hoo!  The not so good news is that you won’t be able to purchase them together and get a 10% discount so if you like this set and want to purchase both items in a bundle and save money you should purchase them in the near future.  Don’t miss out on a deal!  🙂

There are a lot of fun little pieces to this stamp set and framelit set.  This is the first card I’ve made with it but there are tons of great ideas out there and I can’t wait to play more.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!