3 x 3 Thursday: A Happy Heart Thanks

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IMG_5037It’s 3 x 3 Thursday!  Not only do you get an adorable 3 x 3 card today but you get it’s matching full-size card!  Woo Hoo!

Aren’t today’s card’s sweet?  How can they not be when I used the adorable new Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Wouldn’t these hearts look cute on a baby card?  Hmmm….I may have to give that a try!  I just love all those little hearts.  They make me smile.  🙂

These cards were so easy to make.  I first embossed my piece of Strawberry Slush card stock.  Then I stamped my “thanks!” from the Lot’s of Thanks stamp set on Pink Pirouette card stock and punched it out with the Sweetheart Punch.  I added some layers and ribbon on the larger card and I was done!  Adorable and EASY!

I started playing with my Sale-a-bration items last night.  Woo Hoo!  Have you picked out your favorite SAB item?  What is it?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Have a great day.  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Celebrate Today!

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IMG_5042Who doesn’t love a cute birthday card?

I made this fun birthday card for a swap I recently hosted.  I used the new birthday stamp set “Celebrate Today” from the Occasions Catalog.   I love all the balloons and banners in this stamp set.  Too fun!

Don’t you love my balloon?  I didn’t stamp it.  I actually used a Stampin’ Sponge to rub color on a piece of Vellum Card Stock.  Then I die cut the balloon with the COORDINATING Balloon Framelits.  Yes!  Hooray for COORDINATION!!!  I thought I gave the balloon a fun look and you can see the confetti through it!

If you’re wondering where the “celebrate” is from it’s actually from my favorite birthday stamp set “Endless Birthday Wishes” (#137553  $13.95).  This stamp set isn’t in a catalog.  It’s one of the monthly photopolymer stamp sets that Stampin’ Up! comes out with.  Click on the link and see all of the fun stamps included in this set.  Order yours today because once they’re gone….they’re gone.

I used a color combination of Bermuda Bay and Strawberry Slush on this card.  What color combination would you choose?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Golf Anyone?

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076I don’t golf.  I don’t know how to golf.  Ok…I can play Miniature Golf.  So why would I create a golf card?  Well….my father-in-law’s birthday was last month and he loves to golf.  I was going to send him this card.  Notice how I said “was going to”.  Sheesh!  I thought about his birthday, I even made the card.  I just didn’t get it in the mail.  What’s worse is that I even brought said card to MN with me so I could give it to him in person.  Did I?  Heck no!  I can’t even hand people cards in person.  What’s wrong with me?!  Yikes!  I guess I’ll save it for next year….

This is a pretty easy punch art card.  An oval, a circle and a pennant.  That’s all you need!  Hmmm…..it’s so easy maybe I should recreate it for Father’s Day…….

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

 

You Plus Me (again!)

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013Here it is….the last valentine I made back in December.  I haven’t had a chance to create yet in January and it’s already closing in on the end of the month!  I do plan to remedy that this week.  🙂

Just like on yesterday’s cards I started with one of the Crumb Cake Note Cards, the You Plus Me stamp set and the Stacked With Love Designer Series Paper Stack.  This card is a little more involved only because you have to die cut the banners.  Other than that it’s easy peasy!

I hope you’ve been inspired to start on your valentines. 😉

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Yet Another Sweet Valentine

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015Yep…..I got carried away with the new You Plus Me Stamp Set.  These cute little cards were made using the You Plus Me stamp set yet again.

With the Crumb Cake Note Cards & Envelopes, the Stacked With Love Designer Paper Stack, the Stacked With Love Designer Washi Tape and some ink I got a whole lot of little valentines made.

We made these fun little cards in class this week.  I pretty much CASEd the ideas.  In the Occasions Catalog they show the above items used to decorate the Tiny Treat Boxes.  At the catalog premier event that I attended they showed us 010cards using the same decorating ideas that were used on the boxes and that’s where I got my ideas.  There is an endless supply of ideas that I get from other demonstrators, the web and Stampin’ Up!.  If you’ve ever considered becoming a demonstrator but think you’re “not creative enough” I say phooey!  Just borrow other peoples ideas or do what I do in a lot of cases and start with someone else’s idea a go from there.

007I would LOVE to have you join my team of SASsy (Seriously Addicted to Stamping) Stampers.   If you’re at all interested please contact me for more information.  During Sale-a-bration a new demonstrator can choose some fabulous items for their Starter Kit which is only $99!  Such a deal!  Think about it!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Snuggles and Smooches Treat Bag

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021How about a fun treat bag for Valentines day?  I used the fun new stamp set Snuggles and Smooches (#140326 $15.95).  You won’t find this stamp set in a catalog.  It’s one of the special photopolymer stamp sets that Stampin’ Up! comes out with every month.  You can check out the complete set here in my online store.

Start with one of Stampin’ Up!’s fun Gift Bags.  I used the new Polka Dot ones (#135503 10/$3.95) or they have Chevron ones (#131370 10/$3.95).  Place your treats in the bag and seal the bag with any washi tape.  Then decorate!  I used banners.  Once my banner was complete I adhered it to the bag with Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430 $3.95).  I also added the little hearts at the bottom for a little cuteness.  You can use the Sweetheart Punch (#133786 $15.95) and the little heart punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (#133787 $16.95) to punch out the stamped hearts.  They don’t fit perfectly but it’s better than cutting!  🙂

These little treat bags are fun and easy and you can use them for any occasion just by changing the decorations!  What are you giving for Valentines Day?

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Black & White

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065I’m back from the frozen tundra!  Man, it was COLD in the MN Homeland!  Brrrr!  Of course, having grown up there you’d think I’d know that January isn’t exactly the best month to visit Minnesota!  Sheesh!  Quit your whining!  Despite the frigid temps and the frosty wind chills we had a nice visit.  But I’m back and ready to get stamping!  🙂

Today’s card is one of the ones we made at December’s birthday card class.  The great thing about this card is that it can be used for many different occasions.  I really like the And Many More stamp set because it has so many sayings in so many fun fonts.  The Back to Black Designer Paper is perfect for this…a black and white card!  Ha!  Lots of fun designs.  Don’t forget that little pop of color with the Real Red Candy Dot.  Any color would work.  Even PINK!  🙂

What occasions would you use this card for?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Hey!  Did you notice that I’ve finally updated the catalogs on my blog?  Click on the pictures at the right to check out any of Stampin’ Up!’s current publications.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Love is Kindess

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017Today’s card is sweet and simple.  I used the new Love is Kindness stamp from the Occasions Catalog.  I also used the new Wild Wasabi Blendabilities Markers.  Yep….Stampin’ Up! came out with four new colors of Blendabilities in the Occasions Catalog.  Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Bermuda Bay and Soft Sky.

Don’t you love the Blendabilities?  They’re easy to use and make such a difference on your project.  The hardest part about using them on this card was deciding which color to use!  Two factors went into my decision…..which colors have coordinating ribbon and what’s my favorite color?!  Ha!  Yep!  MELON MAMBO!

A girl’s gotta love PINK!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Another Sweet Valentine

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011Here’s another sweet valentine made using  the Crumb Cake note cards and the You Plus Me stamp set.  Yep!  I used the coordinating Stacked with Love paper stack too! 🙂

I used my Banner Framelits to die cut the banners.  The little heart is stamped and then cut out by hand.  Sorry….no punch or framelit.  The gals that come to my classes like to whine when they have to cut something out by hand.  Sheesh!   😉  Stampin’ Up! has spoiled them with all the fabulous punches and dies they offer!

You really should try these cute little valentines.   They’re really fun to make!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Designer Paper Stacks Storage Tip

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Yesterday I mentioned one of the new designer series paper stack from the new Occasions Catalog.  I love these little paper stacks because they’re just the right size for a card.  The problem I was having with them was how to store them.  I’d throw them in a drawer but then I didn’t know what to do with the scraps.  I have a system for my 12 x 12 paper and scraps but I didn’t have anything for these smaller pieces.

002Lightning struck the other day.  I had an empty wood-mount stamp case on my desk and it hit me…..I could store my stacks in the case along with the scraps.  Then everything would be all together!  Woo Hoo!   I must be a genius (NOT!).  I was so excited.   To know which stack was in which case I slipped a piece of the paper into the plastic sleeve on the case.  Now my stacks are organized and they look good on the shelf too!  🙂

Do you have any organization/storage tips to share?  I’d love to hear from you.  2015 is the 004year of organization for me!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Valentine: You Plus Me

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It’s January, it’s cold outside….real cold!  Do NOT ask me what I’m doing in MN in January.  Just call me crazy.  I can assure you….if we didn’t have family in this beautiful state we would not be here in January.

009Anyway….since it is January and we have to deal with the cold it’s probably time to start thinking about all those Valentines you want to make this year.  The You Plus Me stamp set is pretty darn cute and you can purchase it in a bundle with the COORDINATING Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack.  Not only does the designer paper coordinate with the stamp set but the Stacked with Love Designer Washi Tape coordinates with BOTH!  Woo Hoo!  You know how much I love COORDINATION!  🙂

I made this adorable little valentine using one of the Crumb Cake note cards.  I actually made a whole mess of little valentines using the Crumb Cake note cards.  They went so fast and turned out so cute!   You really must check out all these products.

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

Perpetual Birthday Calendar Project Kit

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Kits make our lives SO easy!  In the new 2015 Occasions Catalog there are 5 fabulous new kits!  Oh, my!  I already have classes scheduled for two of these new kits!  My first kit class of 2015 is going to be the Perpetual Birthday Calendar Kit.

006Who doesn’t need to keep track of birthdays?  Way back when, Stampin’ Up! used to carry a perpetual birthday calendar that was spiral bound.  I have one that I’ve never done anything with.  There’s always something new coming out that I want to play with!  When I saw the Perpetual Birthday Calendar Kit (#137950 $15.95) in the new Occasions Catalog I knew it would be a perfect class for January.  We had the birthday card class back in December so now people can get all those cards ready to send out when they know who’s birthday is coming up!

The kit is pretty fun.  You have a sheet lined with all of the days for each month.  Some have 30 days, some 31 and one has 28.  Other than that they’re blank.  There’s a COORDINATING (yes, I’m smiling while I type that word!) Perpetual Birthday Calendar stamp set (#137167 $23.95) with the months of the year and 01212 little patterns that you decorate the month sheets with.  There are also banners and other shapes as well as a die-cut alphabet.  The kit comes with a covered board and clip so you clip each month to it.  It also comes with glitter and sequins to help you decorate the months.

I completed my calendar this last weekend.  The hardest part of it for me was figuring out what I wanted to do for each month.  The kit does come with pictures but they’re small and in black and white.  Of course I couldn’t follow the directions exactly!  Ha!  In the catalog they list color suggestions so I stuck with those.  Now that I’ve made one of these basically following the directions I’m thinking of making one and just using any colors I want!  I know….I’m a rebel!

These finished kits would make great gifts.  (Mother’s Day isn’t too far off!)  The nice thing about the kits is that they come in a really nice box that will be perfect for gift giving!  Order one (or two!) today!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Wood You Be Mine?

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001Here it is!  My favorite item from the new 2015 Occasions Catalog!  The Wood You Be Mine stamp set.  How can I not LOVE this stamp set?  Being from MN and the land of Paul Bunyan the lumberjack from this stamp set just seemed to scream “buy me”!  Ha!

I had to make this card for my husband for his birthday last week.  I just changed the saying.  A few days before his birthday he was reading online that metrosexuals aren’t “in” these days….lumbersexuals are.  Ha!  Grow a beard and dress in flannel.  My husband also cuts a lot of wood when we’re at the cabin so this little lumberjack was perfect for him.

When you stamp the image of the lumberjack (ax included) you get the plaid portion of the shirt and there’s a separate solid stamp for the color of the shirt.  Since it’s a photopolymer stamp set you can line things up perfectly!  I colored the rest of the image with my Blendabilites.  🙂

I did a really neat technique for the background.  I first stamped the Hardwood image on Chocolate Chip card stock with Early Espresso ink.  Then I took my Hello Honey ink pad and dragged it over the card stock.  I started at the top on one side and dragged down and then repeated on the other side.  It really warms up the look of the “wood”.  Give it a try!

Now go grab a flannel shirt and let’s get some stamping done!  Have a great day!

 

The 2015 Occasions Catalog and Sale-a-bration are Here!

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Occasions Catalog.2015Woo Hoo!  A new catalog!  I LOVE new stuff.  It’s always so exciting to see what new products Stampin’ Up! has come out with.  You won’t be disappointed.  This catalog is FABULOUS!  Just look at that gorgeous bouquet on the front cover.  They’re paper flowers and it’s a kit!  I can’t wait to play with that one!

I have been playing with some of the new products from this catalog.  They’re great!  Come back tomorrow to see my very favorite stamp set from the catalog.  This catalog has products for birthdays, valentines, weddings, babies, graduations and MORE!  You’ll have to check it out.  If you don’t have a copy in your little hands yet you can see all the products in my online store.  Just click on the 2015 Occasions Catalog link.  I’m actually traveling today which is why I don’t have a direct link set up yet.  I apologize about that but I’ll have one up soon.

Sale-a-bration2015Sale-a-bration starts today too!  Woo Hoo!  FREE stuff!  Yep!  When you spend $50 on Stampin’ Products you get to choose an item from the Sale-a-bration Brochure for FREE!  There are some great items in here to choose from.  Not only are there fresh new products to choose from but one of options you can choose is a package of Blendabilities Markers for your FREE item.  How great is that?!

Wow! It’s a special day in the Stampin’ Up! world!  Don’t miss out!  Start shopping and making those lists!  Sale-a-bration only runs through March 31st!  🙂

Have a great day and Happy Stampin’!  I’m heading to the Minnesota Homeland to see if I can survive those below zero temperatures!  Ha!

Big News Birthday

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I never seem to have a birthday card (or at least the right birthday card) around when I need one and when I do have one I forget to mail it.  Sheesh!  I held a birthday card Stamp-a-Stack class back in December so people could stock up on their birthday cards.  We made 15 cards (3 each of 5 different designs) so it was a good start to their birthday card stash.  Since we make so many cards at one time they need to be simple or at least pretty easy.  I really have a hard time designing simple cards.  I love layers and ribbon and dies!

067Today’s card is pretty simple and it still has ribbon on it!  🙂  Not only ribbon….it also has washi tape!

The stamp set is Big News from the main catalog.  The ribbon is the beautiful Blackberry Bliss Striped Satin Ribbon and the washi tape is the Color Me Autumn Washi Tape from the Holiday Catalog.

Today’s the last day to order from the Holiday Catalog and it’s also the last day to get some really great deals from the Year-End Closeout Sale on the Clearance Rack.  Here’s the link to my store if you want to shop.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!