Suite Sentiments

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suite-sentiments-1216Happy All Kings Day or First Day of Epiphany.  Since Christmas is officially over now it’s time to start thinking Valentines!  What?  Yes.  Valentines!  🙂

I designed this card in the middle of December for a swap.  When I was first trying to come up with an idea I was at a loss.  Then I started looking at the sentiments in the Suite Sentiments stamp set and had my brilliant idea.

So, maybe you don’t think this is as clever as I do but I’m thinking airmail….airplane.  BINGO!  There’s a little paper airplane in the Shooting Star stamp set that I knew would work perfectly!  Woo Hoo!  Of course I then had to figure out the actual design of the card and this is what I came up with.  Simple, yet adorable.  🙂

There is a die for the airplane which definitely made things easier.  I first embossed the plane on Real Red card stock with White Embossing Powder.  I did cut this one out right along the embossed outline of the plane.  Then I just die cut the plane from Whisper White card stock and adhered the two together.  It needed the extra border to show up on the designer paper.

My first valentine of the season.  I hope you like it! 🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

2017 Occasions Catalog

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The new Occasions Catalog is here and after a frustrating day yesterday (see yesterday’s post) Stampin’ Up! is ready for you to check it out and place those orders!  You can check out the catalog here but the video below gives you a fun little overview of some of the fabulous items you’ll find in the catalog.  Enjoy!

Have a great at and Happy Stamping!

They’re Here!

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The 2017 Occasions Catalog and the 2017 Sale-a-bration Brochure are here!  Woo Hoo!  New products!  I LOVE new products!  Have you checked them out?  Click on the link to the right and see what they’re all about!

If you’re on top of things and were trying to place an order this morning you may have had a small problem.  ALL of Stampin’ Up!’s systems were down.  Computer, phones, you name it.  The only way they could let us demonstrators know about it was through social media.  Yikes!

All is well now though so go ahead a place those orders!

hey-chick-1216As I’ve mentioned before, my favorite Sale-a-bration item is the Hey, Chick stamp set.  It’s TSC!  Too Stinkin’ Cute!  You can find it on page 17 of the Sale-a-bration Brochure.  This is a card I’ve previously posted and I can assure you that there will be more!

If you’ve already had a peek at the brochure have you picked out your favorite item?  I’d love to hear what your favorite its.  Leave a comment!

nailed-it-catalogOne of my favorite new items in the Occasions Catalog is the Nailed It stamp set and the COORDINATING Build It Framelits.  There are never enough products perfect the males in our lives.  Stay tuned for an adorable gift card holder that I made for Christmas with these products.

Do you have a favorite item in the Occasions Catalog?  Or maybe a favorite product suite?  Let me know!

The important questions is “Have you started your wish lists yet?”.  If not, get started!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

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

Watercolor Pencils

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There are so many great products in the new Stampin’ Up! Occasions Catalog that comes out in just a couple of days.  One of the products I was excited to check out were the Watercolor Pencils!  I’m so glad we have a new coloring option.  I really miss the Blendabilities Markers.  I’ve played a little bit with the pencils but I’m by no means an expert.  I need to work with them a little more.

Here’s a great video that gives you a little overview on how to use the pencils.  You’re definitely going to want to put them on your wish list!

Have a great day 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!

Happy Holidays!

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christmas2016I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!  Our Christmas was good.  Too much food, more than enough gifts and great fellowship with family and friends!  This is a goofy picture of my boys and I.  The second picture is my baby kitty Tasha by the tree.  She really enjoyed her little catnip toys.  🙂

Did Santa bring you everything on your list?  It was a practical gift year for me.  Lots of things for the kitchen that needed replacing.  🙂

Now it’s time to start thinking about cleaning up from Christmas and packing for our trip to the MN Homeland to see family.

I should probably also start thinking about getting ready for the new Occasions Catalog christmas2016-1and SALE-A-BRATION!!  Woo Hoo!  I really wish I could have carved out more time to play with some of the new products from the publications.  Oh, well.  I’ll just have to do it when I return from the frigid Homeland.  Lucky for us it doesn’t look like the temperatures will be too low while we’re in town.

Are you ready for the new Occasions Catalog and Sale-a-bration?  Have you started making those wish lists?  You better get those lists made!  It all begins next week!

Have a great day!  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!

 

Lefse!

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lefse1 lefse2What a fun day yesterday!  I learned how to make lefse!  For those of you who are not Scandinavian lefse is like a potato tortilla.  You spread butter on it and roll it up to eat.  Yum!  You can also sprinkle cinnamon sugar on it.

I’m pretty sure that I don’t have a drop of Scandinavian blood in me but growing up in Minnesota with all of those Scandinavian Lutherans I got to eat it and I love it!

Last year my friend Sallie brought me a few pieces after she made it with some gals from our church and this year she invited me to join her!  I was so excited!

Sallie is the fourth person from the left with the light colored hair.  She takes good care of me.  This morning she brought me a tin of Christmas cookies knowing that I haven’t begun my holiday baking yet!  Hey!  I have almost a week, right?!  🙂

Have a yummy day!  Take care and Happy Stamping (and holiday baking!)!

Here’s to Cheers!

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heres-to-cheers-1-1116Can you believe that Christmas Eve is in one week?!!!  Yikes!  The holiday parties are winding down but if you have a few left then today’s project will be perfect.

It’s a wine tag made with the Here’s to Cheer’s Bundle.  An all tag bundle:  stamps and COORDINATING framelits!  How perfect for holiday giving!  You can make wine tags as well as regular gift tags for gifts.  There’s even a stamp for a food gift that says “Wishing You a Scrumptious Christmas Season”.

Of course my favorite is the wine tag.  🙂

This tag was pretty easy to make.  The hardest part was getting pieces and parts to adhere to the glimmer paper.  Most everything heres-to-cheers-1116on this tag is glimmery!  Why not, it’s CHRISTMAS!!!  You just need to make sure and use a good liquid glue.

I like how the ribbon slides through the tag and adds a little more “wrapping” to the tag.

Well, it’s darn right cold out here in Denver this morning.  My phone says -2 degrees.  We’re spoiled….it doesn’t usually get this cold.  I know….I’m from the MN Homeland but I’ve been in Colorado for over 21 years and I guess my blood has thinned.  Yes.  I’ve become a weenie.

I do have to go out later this morning.  I’m hanging out with some gals from church and we’re making lefse!  I can’t wait!  I love to eat lefse but I’ve never made it.   It should be a fun time.  I hear that some eggnog will be involved too!  🙂

Stay warm!  I know I’m going to try to.  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!