Thoughts & Prayers Sympathy Card

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029I thought this card was appropriate for today since I was in Minnesota again this past weekend for a funeral.  My husband’s elderly aunt passed away while I was in Houston.  It was a good service with the whole clan in attendance.  Before Christmas my sister had requested a bunch of sympathy cards and this is one of the ones I had designed.

Thoughts & Prayers is a great sympathy card stamp set.  It has some wonderful “inside sayings”.   My mom is always requesting cards with things already stamped on the inside so she doesn’t have to figure out what to say.  That is one thing Stampin’ Up! could use more of.

Old Olive and Early Espresso were the colors I used on this card.  I ran the background card stock through the Big Shot with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  It adds just the right amount of texture to the card.  I finished the card off with a little bit of Old Olive 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon and Stampin’ Dimensionals.  An easy card for those sad occasions.

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Geometrical: Leadership

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photoHello!  Today I have another make-n-take project from Leadership Conference for you.  For this project we used the Geometrical stamp set (W #133158 $29.95  C #133161 $21.95).  I have to admit this was one of those stamp sets that I wasn’t going to buy so I was glad I was getting it at Leadership.  Of course, now I’ve seen tons of fun samples using this set and am glad I have it!  🙂

Don’t you love these cut little tags?  They’re so fun!  Did you notice that we used my favorite tool from the Occasions Catalog on this project:  the Scallop Tag Topper Punch (#133324 $22.95)!  We also used the fun Essentials Wooden Elements (#133258 $4.95) and the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (#132995 $10.95).  So many fun new products in such a small space!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Love You to the Moon

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007Today’s card is my swap card I did for Leadership last weekend.  I used the new Love You to the Moon stamp set (W#133140 $24.95/C#133143 $17.95).  TSC!  (Too stinkin’ cute)!  I love the way that the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (free with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration starting 1/28) looks like the surface of the moon!  The other fabulous new product I used on this card is the Scallop Tag Topper Punch (#133324 $22.95).  It’s actually one of my favorite products in the Occasions Catalog.  What’s your favorite?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Vivid Vases

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photoHello!  Yesterday was a very productive day.  I got a lot of things done in my craft room preparing for next week’s classes as well as figuring out some ideas for the classes after that.  It was good to have a full day not having to go anywhere!

Today’s card is one of the Make-n-Take projects from Leadership Conference.  They always have great projects for us to make.  This one is made with the Vivid Vases stamp (#133818  $11.95).    I know when you first saw the picture you thought “this isn’t a Cindy card…”.  Well, you were right.  It’s definitely not something I’d design myself, but isn’t it cute?

I’m always a little nervous about watercoloring….afraid that I won’t do it right.  Silly me…..the beauty of watercoloring is that you don’t need to stay in the lines!  That is my tip of the day:  You don’t have to stay in the lines when you watercolor…you can of course, but you don’t have to!  🙂

Speaking of coloring….Stampin’ Up! is coming out with a FABULOUS new product for those of you who like to color.  Blendabilities!  They are alcohol-based markers that blend wonderfully.  They will launch sometime during this first quarter of 2013!  Woo Hoo!  I LOVE new products!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

MDS Monday: Shadow Box

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263Hello!  I’m back from Stampin’ Up!’s Leadership Conference in Houston.  It was awesome!  I really learned a lot and had a great time too!  Stampin’ Up! has some great new products coming out in the next few months so stay tuned!  Here’s a picture of goofy me.  Manager’s Reception was at the Houston Aquarium.  From the picture you can see that we got a bit silly in the gift store!  😀

It’s MDS (My Digital Studio) Monday and today I’d like to share with you the shadow box I made for my son and his new wife for Christmas.  I used MDS to crop and size all of the photos.  It was so easy!  MDS was perfect for the saying 031box.  First I took a picture that had the bride’s bouquet in it and cropped it down so all I saw was the bouquet.  Then I changed the opacity on the picture so that I’d be able to see the words.  Lastly I added a text box and typed in the saying.  Easy-Peasy!  You really should try My Digital Studio.  It’s a wonderful product and the best part is it’s only $19.95.  You can either purchase it as a download or as a disc.  Check it out in my store!  Let me know if you have any questions.  I LOVE this product!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Golden Valentine!

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025Hello!  I made it back from frigid MN Monday evening and today I’m off to Houston for Stampin’ Up!’s Leadership Conference.  Woo Hoo!  I can’t wait to share some of the exciting things I know I’m going to learn.

Today’s card is a shiny golden valentine for you.  I used all sorts of new products on this card.  I did CASE (copy and share everything) this card from another talented demonstrator but changed up a few things.

All of the stamped images are embossed with Gold Embossing Powder.  The two background stamps are from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  I love that stamp set more every time I use it.    The other two stamp sets are from Stampin’ Up!’s valentine specials “A Whole Lot of Love”  There are three stamp sets as well as specialty paper products.  You can check them all out here.  They’re SO cute!  The heart is the Flowerfull Heart stamp.  The postage mark is from the Love You More stamp set.

I also used the Gold Foil Sheets, the Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum and the Gold Bakers Twine.  All of these fun products are found in the FABULOUS Occasions Catalog.  Click on the catalog cover to the right if you want to check it out.  You’re going to LOVE it!  🙂

Have a great day and Happy Stamping!

2014 Occasions Catalog

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imageIt’s here!  I can’t believe that this catalog has been live for 2 days and I haven’t even given you a link to it yet!  Yikes!

Just above this post there is a link to another page on my blog that will have a link to the Occasions Catalog. Just click on “2014 Occasions Catalog”.

You’re going to LOVE it! It’s full of fun new stamp sets, accessories and dies for the Big Shot! I know I say this every time a new catalog comes out….but how does Stampin’ Up! keep outdoing themselves? Here’s another link just so you don’t miss it! 🙂

Check it out and let me know what your favorite new item is! Have a great day! Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Saturday: More Watercolor Wonder Note Cards

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imageWe’re still trying to stay warm here in the frigid homeland.  They’ve already cancelled school on Monday for the entire state because of predicted wind chills. Brrr!

Here’s a couple of very simple cards for Simple Saturday. You just can’t go wrong using the Watercolor Wonder Note Cards and Envelopes for simple cards. All I did for these was stamp a sentiment from the Loving Thoughts stamp set. That’s it! Simple!

Have a warm day! Take care and Happy Stamping!

Happy Watercolor

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imageHello from frigid Minnesota!  We’re having a heat wave here in the homeland as the temp will actually get above zero!  I decided that I needed to post a spring-type card today to make me feel warm!  Ha!

Today is the first day that you can order from the fabulous new Occasions Catalog! Have you made your wish list yet? Today’s card is made with some of my favorite items from the new catalog. The gorgeous paper is the Watercolor Wonder Designer Paper and the stamp set I used is Happy Watercolor. I also used the new Petite Petals Punch and the new Basic Metal Buttons. Oh…I almost forgot to mention the fabulous Scalloped Tag Topper Punch. On the card we used just a thin strip of paper in the punch. It will fit a piece up to 2″. I’ve already made a few things with this fun new product.

We made this cute card at my upline’s Christmas gathering. Pretty darn cute, isn’t it?!

Take care, Happy Stamping and Stay Warm!!!!!

Happy New Year!

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Happy 2014 dear friends!  I hope your new year is filled with joy and happiness and lots of fun projects!  Enjoy 2014!

Take care and Happy Stamping!

Valentines!

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001Christmas is over so it’s time for Valentines, right?!

Stampin’ Up! has an EASY way for you to make your valentines this year.  Check out these cute little “Sweet Sayings” Card & Envelopes.  The cards are already printed with the cute design on them.  All you need to do is add a little decoration!  The envelopes come in the fun colors of Real Red, Pool Party & Crisp Cantaloupe (which are the colors on the cards!).  12 cards, 12 envelopes all for only $5.95 (item #134609).  These are only available through January 27th or while supplies last.

I decorated my notecard with little pennants from the “Language of Love” stamp set and a quick sentiment from the best stamp set in the world….”Teeny Tiny Wishes“!  I thought about dying a piece of baker’s twine red but went simple instead and just drew my string for the pennants.

Yep, it’s still December but it’s time to start thinking hearts!  😀

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Saturday: Another Sneak Peek!

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 Here are the o016ther two cards I made using a few of the new products from the Occasions Catalog!
I absolutely LOVE these Watercolor Wonder Designer Note Cards & Envelopes!  They’re gorgeous and they make it SO easy to whip up a card!   Yesterday I whipped up a quick set of all-014occasion cards for a gift.  This has got to be one of the first things you order when the catalog comes out on January 3rd!  🙂
The Just Sayin’ stamp set is so much FUN!  And with the coordinating framelits you can’t go wrong….especially when you can purchase them in a bundle.  I know you’re going to love the Occasions Catalog as much as I do.  If you haven’t received yours in the mail just let me know and I’ll be happy to send you one!
Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

MDS Christmas Card

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Snowy Holiday Christmas 2013-001‘Twas the night before Christmas…..

I guess it’s about time that I showed you the Christmas card I made this year using My Digital Studio.  It was such a quick and easy way to get my cards done this year.

The hardest part to making the card was deciding on which template to use.  Once I made that decision I just drag and dropped in the picture and my card was done!  🙂

This is my family at my son Jared’s wedding in October.  My son Kyle (the tall one!) performed the ceremony.  It was very nice.  We wish you all a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Happy Stamping (or should I say Happy MDS-ing?)!

Simply Saturday: A Sneak Peek!

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010012How about a sneak peek for Simple Saturday!  The Occasions Catalog is coming and it’s FABULOUS!  I just had to share some of the new products with you!

Aren’t these adorable cards?  They’re both made with three new products and ink!  The first products you see are the Watercolor Wonder Designer Note Cards.  Aren’t they gorgeous?  I love the chevron design.  These are just two of the five designs.  I’ll show you two other designs next Saturday.

The other two new products kind of go together.  They’re a new stamp set called Just Sayin’ and it’s coordinating framelits.  I LOVE stuff that coordinates!  😀

The note cards are actually made from watercolor paper so they’re a little thicker and have some texture.  Like I said before, they’re gorgeous!  These little cards were so fun and easy to make.  You’ll have to give them a try!  You can order your new products January 2nd!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

An Easy Flower Shop Card

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004Last week I had an All-Occasion Stamp-a-stack class.  We made 15 cards (3 each of 5 different cards) for any occasion.  We needed to get the card stash ready for 2014!

This card was made using the Flower Shop stamp set.  The sentiment is from the hostess stamp set Express Yourself.

One flower is stamped directly on the card front and the other two are stamped on scrap paper and punched out with the Pansy Punch.  One of the punched flowers is adhered to the card front with adhesive and the other is adhered with Stampin’ Dimensionals to give the card a little pop!  Of course you can’t go wrong with a PINK card now, can you?  😀  Isn’t Strawberry Slush a great color?  I love it!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!