Remember Me?

Hi. My name is Amy, and I'm a stamper. Remember me?

It's been nearly two months since my last creative project was posted to this blog. I'm still alive...and stamping--some. Dictionary.com defines "funk" as a dejected mood. I've been in a funk. For a while. A creative, inspiration fairy lacking funk has been hovering in my craft room for quite some time. I don't like it.

I've been traveling a lot. I was traveling 8 weeks during the summer. I also wrapped up a two week work trip to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago. It was a great trip--I had a wonderful time. Now that I'm back in the office, I'm in the process of packing up and changing locations down the hall. It's forced me to go through my office and do some serious purging. Not long ago, I did the same thing to my craft room. I feel so much better now that it's clean and has some workable space in it...for whenever I'm ready to come back to it full-time.

This apathy has lingered far longer than I expected, or hoped. I'll be honest...there was even a point in the last few months where I thought seriously about laying the stamps down and giving up on it altogether. My stamp clubs were the only thing that kept me motivated enough not to quit. And my dear hubby. He reminded me how much I would miss it if I gave up on it completely. And he's right. I would really miss it. So I've continued to trudge on. And it's not like I haven't been stamping. I have. Just not very often. I've thought about my blog a LOT in the last two months and how much I've neglected it. I think I was to the point that something in my life had to give, and the blog was the thing that went first. Probably because it was the easiest thing to ignore.

The holidays are approaching and that always motivates me to get in my stamp room and be creative, so I am looking forward to those creative juices to start flowing again.

All this to say that I'm still here. I will be back with projects to post, I promise. For those that are still coming back to the blog, thank you! I appreciate you and the fact that you look forward to the projects that I share.

It's fall and the leaves are changing. And I hope that means a change in this funk that I'm in too. :)

Until next time, happy stamping my Friends!

Lacy Layout

This is another project that I had displayed at my Open House. It features lots of new items from the Idea Book and Catalog, including the new In-Colors, the scrumptious Designer Printed Brads, and the Lace Ribbon Border punch, just to name a few.

Do you have these new fabulous products? No? What are you waiting for? Head over to my online store and treat yourself to some new goodies!

Simple Circles

This is one of the projects that we made at my Open House a few weeks back that I am just now getting around to posting. It feautres three of the new In-Colors. The great thing about this card--since there is no sentiment included on it, it can be turned either direction for a tent-style card opening from the bottom, or turning it to open from the side.

Hello Friend

The new "My Friend" stamp set is so bold and big-I just love it. It's very easy to use this stamp set to create easy, fast cards when you are on the go. The new In-Color "Wisteria Wonder" coordinates beautifully with Elegant Eggplant.

Feeling Charmed?

This is a very simple insert I made for the Simply Adorned Charm I have. It features the new Pool Party and Island Indigo In-Colors.

Kiss the Frog

I am not kidding when I say that this frog made me squeal with delight when I saw him! I just want to take his little froggy cheeks and squish them together while I kiss him. He is the sole reason I bought this stamp set...and the fact that Stampin' Up! donates $3 for each one of these stamp sets ordered to the Ronald McDonald House! How awesome is that?

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to my website and order this hunky little frog! Stat! :D

Baby milk

Today's post features the adorable mini milk carton die and the delicious new "Flirtatious Specialty" DSP. Isn't it so cute?

Strawberry Delight

Summer time always makes me happy because fruit is in season. I absolutely love eating strawberries, so when I saw this card, I knew I had to recreate it for my Big Shot club.

We used the "Many Thanks" sizzlit die for the feature die on this card.

Hello Doily

I finally arrived home last night after a whirl-wind three weeks of back to back travel. I changed time zones six times in three weeks. My body was loving me for that one. :) They were all wonderful trips, but I will admit, I am exhausted! It is always great to be back home in your own bed.

The past month that I have been so busy with travel for my full-time job, I have really taken the phrase "using inspiration from others" to heart. Most of the projects that you will see over the next few days were all inspired by, or exact replicas of projects that I have seen others create. Why re-invent the wheel, right?

They are also projects that I created for a recent Open House that I hosted. The first one was inspired by Lyssa--I just love her work! If you don't follow her blog, you should, it's amazing!

Hers was a black and white card, so I tweaked it a little and made mine Chocolate Chip and then put mine in a frame to set on a coffee/end table.

It features the brand new "Hello Doily" stamp which is so gorgeous and trendy! I've seen so many wonderful projects with this stamp already.

More travel

I'm traveling, yet again, with my full-time job. I'm in California right now and will be leaving straight from California early tomorrow morning and heading to Orlando for another meeting. I have been busy in my stamp room making projects (before I left) but did not have a chance to take pictures and upload them before I left. I will have a three day stretch at home next weekend before heading out for one more trip-to Phoenix. I will do my best to take pictures and get them uploaded during that 3 day stretch. It's at the top of my list...even before doing laundry and repacking!

Hope you are having a great week!

Top Ten New Stamp Sets

We are only 8 days into the new Stampin' Up! calendar year, and I'm fairly certain that I have already gone through the brand new Idea Book and Catalog cover to cover at least 100 times. :) It's full of tags marking my favorite project ideas, new stamp sets and accessories that I've added to my wish list. I thought you might enjoy a break down of my top ten favorite new stamp sets...which you'll be seeing lots of projects with these stamp sets in the near future. So, without further adieu, here are my favorite stamp sets, in no particular order:

1. Turtle & Co--When I saw the adorable little frog in this stamp set, I let out a squeal. He is so cute I just want to pinch his cheeks, and would be great for a child's birthday card or a friend who loves frogs. Plus, BONUS! When you purchase this stamp set, $3 of the cost goes to the Ronald McDonald House, a fantastic organization.
Wood Mount (WM): 122870, $19.95; Clear Mount (CM): 122872, $14.95


2. Merry and Type--The bold, crisp images in this Christmas stamp set would be perfect for simple Christmas cards when you are scrambling to get all of the items on your Christmas To-Do list marked off.
WM: 122550, $25.95; CM: 122552, $18.95


3. It's a Wrap Occasions--Need cute, but quick gift ideas? This stamp set coordinates perfectly wrapped around Hershey's nugget candies! Put a few in a box and you have yourself an impressive, home-made gift in just minutes.
WM: 123590, $27.95; CM: 123592, $19.95


4. Up, Up & Away--If this adorable stamp set doesn't scream fun in the sun, I don't know what does! These lovely hot air balloons would make a great addition to an outdoor scrapbook page, or a birthday card.
WM: 122755, $26.96; CM: 122757, $18.95


5. Sweets for the Sweet--If you know me at all, then you know how much I LOVE sweets! It is my favorite food group, so you can imagine how excited I was to discover this tasty stamp set. This would be the perfect addition to a candy-themed party, or even if you have a sweet tooth, just like me.
WM: 122510, $25.95; CM: 122512, $18.95


6. Pennant Parade--Pennants are all the rage these days and the Idea Book and Catalog is chalk full of them. This stamp set is so versatile, you can use it as pennants, a tree, an ice cream cone...the possibilities are endless! And bonus--it coordinates with the brand new Pennant Punch. Score!
WM: 122740, $21.95; CM: 122742, $16.95


7. Button Buddies--If you are the person who likes clean and simple cards, then this stamp set is for you. Simply stamp the image, then add one of our cute buttons that fit perfectly into each of these stamps.
WM: 122735, $29.95; CM: 122737, $21.95


8. Hello Doily--I love, love, LOVE this background stamp. It's elegant and stunning and creates simply stunning projects. A must have for sure.
WM: 122845, $17.95


9. My Friend--This stamp set is large and in charge. I love the boldness of the "hello," and the background floral image is perfect for setting a scene on your projects.
WM: 122585, $27.95; CM: 122587, $19.95


10. Petite Pairs--Everyone should have a good sentiment stamp set, and this one is perfect for hitting the highlighted events. The cursive font is just delicious.
WM: 122495, $28.95; CM: 122497, $20.95


Need your own copy of the brand new Idea Book and Catalog? Email me today!

New Arrival-A Brand New IBC

Today marks the start of a BRAND NEW Idea Book and Catalog! It is chock full of wonderful new ideas filled with delicious color and fabulous designs.

This card is one that features several brand new items including the new Petite Pennants punch (lots of pennants in the catty), the new Lace Ribbon punch (it's huge, so I cut it in half to make two borders), the new In-Colors, and a brand new "Pennant Parade" stamp set.

If you would like to purchase your very own copy of the brand new Idea Book and Catalog for just $10, contact me today! Enjoy!

Simple thank you

This is probably the simplest card that I've ever made. I simply cut out some butterflies using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and the Big Shot Machine and placed them on a mini card and stamped my sentiment. Easy to replicate if you need some thank you cards or other fast simple cards. You can easily make the size of the card bigger or add more butterflies.

Friends Treat Box

This Friendship treat box coordinates nicely with the Friends card that I posted yesterday. It uses the same DSP, card stock and stamp sets. Now I just need to fill the treat box with goodies and give it to a friend. :)

Friendship card

I'm so very sad that the "Friends 24-7" stamp set is retiring in just a couple of days. I absolutely love the floral design image from this set and find myself using it a lot. I know that another stamp set will quickly fill the void, but right now I'm still sad. :) This is a card that I used featuring that image.

Farewell "Friends 24-7." I will miss you.

Kissing Technique Mini Card

The kissing technique is one of the easiest techniques out there, and it was the feature for my latest monthly stamp club. This was a very simple mini card that we created, which would be perfect to tuck into a gift bag, attach to a small gift or leave as a note for a friend.

Happy Anniversary

Today is my 7 year Anniversary with my best friend and soul mate and I'm spending it alone in Canada. :|

Happy Anniversary Mike! I love you more today than each day before and am having the time of my life spending it with you!