Obsessed With Stamping

Remember Me?

2011-10-08T17:09:00.003-05:00

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

2011-08-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-08-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-08-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

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?

2011-08-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

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

2011-08-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-08-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

Strawberry Delight

2011-08-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-08-06T09:30:00.001-05:00

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

2011-07-21T12:09:00.002-05:00

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

2011-07-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

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

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-06-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-06-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

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!

Travel

2011-06-25T12:28:00.004-05:00

As you can see I've been MIA. Again.

My busy summers have already picked up and I have found myself coming home from my full-time job, straight to church events, family events, other events, which leave my evenings packed full with little time in my stamp room. I have found a moment or two to make a project here or there, but not to the capacity that it was before summer started. I do have some projects to share with you though, and they are coming.

My summer travel has started, in fact as I'm typing this, I am sitting in my hotel room in Quebec City, Canada. It's raining outside and a cool 56 degrees...a far cry from the 100 degree sunshine that I am missing back home in Oklahoma. It's very French/European here, and I'm quite out of my element in this French speaking city, but I'm taking it all in and trying to have a little bit of fun in the midst of my work duties.

Today's project is another clear stamp case that I've altered and filled with a few hand-made cards for my club hostess this month. Hope you enjoy it and get some inspiration from it.

Have a great weekend!

My Digital Studio-The Zoo

2011-05-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from a trip to the zoo with our nephew for his birthday last fall. It was a fun day in the sun with the animals!

Are you scrapbooking digitally yet? Ask me how!

MDS-Simon

2011-05-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

I took a break from the NY digital album to play around a little bit with My Digital Studio. I'd watched some tutorial videos on how to do different things, and while this layout started by using a technique I'd learned in a video, I ended up going a completely different direction and chose to do a simple layout featuring my sweet baby bear, Simon. I love this picture so much...it captures his cuteness, his curiosity and his loveable bear nature in this one photo.

Are you interested in My Digital Studio? Ask me for more information!

MDS-Our Hotel

2011-05-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a simple MDS layout that I created of us standing in the lobby of our hotel in NYC. It was December, so there was lots of Christmas decor set-up. Loved NYC at Christmas time, but it was so stinking COLD! :)

New York Digitally

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

I've been working (in the very early stages) on a digital album of a trip that we took to New York with some friends back in December 2008. Yeah, don't judge me--I'm behind. :) This weekend, at a scrapbook crop night with some friends, we were talking about how we wanted to start doing more digital scrapbooking. Taking so many photos, it's really the only way to keep ahead of the game anymore. And it's so easy and FUN!

I am LOVING My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up!'s digital scrapbooking software. It's so easy to use. So, don't be surprised if you see a few more digital layouts thrown into the blog here as I make progress on this album (and other digital projects).

Here's the first page that I finished:

Are you scrapbooking digitally yet? Ask me about My Digital Studio!

May Stampin' Up! Promotion

2011-05-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

May is National Scrapbooking Month! In honor of this wonderful occasion, Stampin' Up! has a wonderful promotion featuring some of their select scrapbook stamps at 30% off.

To learn more about this wonderful promotion, visit my website!

Stained Glass

2011-04-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is a card that my stamp club made this month featuring the Stained Glass technique. It's really easy and looks really neat.

Hostess with the Mostess

2011-04-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

I had a new stamp club that started a couple of months ago, and I wanted to do something special for each of the hostesses when it is her month as "hostess." This month I used one of the clear stamp containers, decorated it, then filled it with homemade cards/envelopes.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are spending time with your family and are taking time to reflect what Easter is all about.

I made these carrot treat pouches for the children's pastors at our new church. They use the Petal Cone die and the Big Shot die cutting machine. I just added a little bit of embellishment to make them more festive.

Sorry for the lighting on these, one of my photo lights fell off the table as I was shooting these and the bulb burnt out. :(

Crazy for Cupcakes Class

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Do you know someone whose Birthday is just around the corner? Would you like to make something special to help them celebrate their big day? If so, this is the perfect class for you!

Class Description:
Using the “Crazy for Cupcakes” stamp set, you will make one dazzling Birthday card with a coordinating envelope.

Using the “Simple Birthday Thanks” stamp and other sparkling embellishments, you will create a one-of-a-kind gift card holder.

What Birthday party would be complete without the cupcakes to celebrate? You will create cupcake topper pieces that stick nicely into a dozen cupcakes (cupcakes not included), neatly assembled in a decorated cello bag.

To coordinate with the cupcake topper pieces, you will also create decorative cupcake wrappers for a dozen cupcakes to polish your treats with a nice finish! (project not pictured)

Door prizes will be given and I will have cupcakes for snacking!

The Specifics:
Who: You and any of your friends who need fresh ideas for personalized birthday gifts
Where: My house (if you are local-email me for directions)
When: Thursday, May 12, 6:30-9 pm
How Much: $18 per person
What to Bring: Adhesive (tape runner-one full container), one box of mini-glue dots, scissors
RSVP/Payment: Please RSVP by Monday, May 9, so enough materials are prepared; Payment is due the night of the class. Cash or checks are accepted.
There is a 4 person minimum, and the class is limited to 12, so don’t wait to reserve your spot today! As always, it will be a great time of creating and socializing, so don’t miss out!

Monogram Notecards

2011-04-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Many months ago, I saw this beautiful set of monogram note cards that Robin Merriman had created, and I loved it so much, I printed off the post to save in my file of "Someday when I have time" ideas. :)

Last night, I was thumbing through that pile looking at ideas for a project I wanted to make for a new friend. Immediately I knew that was the project I wanted to replicate, so I dug out the materials and got to work. Mine is an exact CASE, other than the splash of color I used. Hers were so gorgeous, there simply was no need to try and "improve" it. And I made my own box, while she bought hers.

Spring Bag Topper

2011-04-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is a quick, easy bag topper that I created using the Top Note die and a small cello bag. Great project to try if you need a bunch of fast party favors!

Baby Wipe Thank You

2011-04-12T20:53:00.005-05:00

I've had these cards finished for quite some time, just haven't taken pictures to post. These are card that I made using the Baby Wipe technique, which is so simple and so stunning!

I whipped up a bunch of thank you cards to have on hand for orders or other reasons just to say thank you.

Happy Birthday Blog!

2011-04-07T21:04:00.004-05:00

Happy 2nd Birthday to my blog! Today marks the second year that I have been sharing my creative ideas with you. I can't believe it's been 2 years already. :)

Perfect timing too--today marks the roll-out of my NEW blog background layout! I had ordered it back in the fall through Laycock Designs and it was finished just today, on my blog's Birthday! If you are a google-reader subscriber, please take a moment to go check out the design layout...Michelle really did an awesome job on it. I'm so happy with it!

For the project today, I'm sharing a card using a retired stamp set, but it was fitting for the reason I made it. I purchased an ice cream gift card and needed a card to place it in so I pulled out my retired "Sweet Scoops" stamp set and whipped up a quick card. Enjoy!

Inset Embossing

2011-04-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Pt 2 of the Big Shot Club projects was to create a card using inset embossing. I've seen a lot of this technique floating around on blogs but hadn't tried it until now.

We punched out the hearts and border strip and adhered them to the card first, then ran the card through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice folder. What a great, easy technique!

Embossing Folder

2011-04-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love the Big Shot! It's one of my favorites in my craft room. Recently I started a Big Shot club, which has rejuvenated my love for the versatile machine!

The first month we focused on the embossing folders. This is a simple, classic card that we made using the Elegant Lines folder. So easy. Run the card through and top it off with a few embellishments and viola! You have an elegant card!

MIA, News and other Misc Info

2011-04-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

I've been MIA. Again. I hate it when I don't get a chance to post things on my blog and share new ideas with you. March was a BUSY month! But I have some wonderful news!

For the past 8 years, Mike has had a job doing something that he absolutely hates. A job that he's been miserable in...the kind that keeps you from wanting to get up in the morning because you hate your job so much. For 8 years we have been praying for the Lord to open the door for Mike to do full-time ministry in the church as a Worship Pastor. It's been a long 8 years and I'll spare you all of the details of the trials and waiting and trials and waiting that we've endured and gone through. But if you know me personally (not just through my blog), then you understand why we are SO excited to announce that Mike FINALLY got the job of his dreams!

He just accepted a full-time Worship Pastor position at a church near our home and we are BEYOND excited! God is faithful and He gives us the desires of our heart.

So, along with the new job has come new responsibility and for a while that new responsibility has kept us both really BUSY! Working a full-time job (me) and coming home, making dinner, doing church stuff has left me little, if any, energy for creating in my craft room. I have missed it. Now that we've had a few weeks to catch our breath and regroup I'm trying to make time for the craft room again.

That's the story for the MIA. I'm working on some projects to post soon from my Big Shot club. Stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Hubby!

2011-03-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

Today is my hubby's Birthday! For the first time since we've been married, we both took the day off work and celebrated. We went and watched a movie, went shopping and then ate dinner with the family. Part of the weekend celebration included dinner with my family at Ted's, hubby's favorite Mexican restaurant.

Happy Birthday Honey! Hope it's awesome!

Happy St Patty's Day!

2011-03-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patty's Day to ya!

Hope it's a great one. This is a card that we made at our March stamp club meeting featuring the Rock-n-Roll technique. Simple card for a simple technique!

Baby Shower Dos

2011-03-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I hosted a baby shower for my sister, who is expecting a little girl in early May. This is her second, but her first is 10 years old, so it's been a little while since there's been a little baby in our family.

Her nursery theme is black, white and red ladybugs, so I used that for the shower theme as well. We had a really fun time and she received some great gifts!

Hello Friend

2011-03-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

A second project that we created at my recent punch art class was a card featuring a punch art girl. We used the Greenhouse Gala DSP for her dress and the color scheme of the card.

Froggy Bookmark

2011-03-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

I recently held a punch art class, and this is one of the projects that were made. The frog was pretty simple and inspiration came from quite a few frogs that I've seen over the web.

Simple Thank You

2011-03-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

For the final thank you card for my customer, I created a clean, simple card. This card features the Sale-a-Bration stamp set "Bliss" with a touch of bright color using a strip of Designer Series Paper in Daffodil Delight.

Vintage Thank You

2011-02-28T06:00:00.001-06:00

This is the second thank you card that I made for my customer. It has a more vintage/rustic feel, and uses one of my favorite stamp sets, "Friends 24-7." I added a subtle background using "En Francais," and a splash of color using a Marina Mist mat.

Elegant thank you

2011-02-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

I was asked by one of my customers to create some thank you cards for her. She didn't give me many stipulations and allowed me to use my own creativity.

I've seen a few people stamp the flower image from the "Elements of Style" stamp set and then run the image through the Butterfly die on the Big Shot, so I immediately wanted to try this for myself.

I stamped the image, used Stampin' Write Markers to color in the image (Melon Mambo, Garden Green, and Daffodil Delight), then ran it through the butterfly die. Added a sheet of vellum with "thank you" stamped on the bottom and a splash of Garden Green card stock to make the butterfly pop. I ran the strip through the Elegant Lines embossing folder and added a few pearl acents for the body of the butterfly for a little extra zing.

Punch Fish

2011-02-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

Well, when it rains at my house, it pours. First we had all the snow, etc. Then, I came down with a sinus infection and fever that lingered for a week or so, so I haven't had much time in my craft room. I still have some of the cough lingering, but at least the fever is gone. However, part of the joys of sharing your house with someone is that you share everything else with them too, including your illnesses. Now hubby is sick with fever/sinus infection. Boo.

I made this card a few weeks ago and realized I hadn't shared it with you yet, so I'm taking today to do just that. It is a CASE of a card that Marie Shaughnessy made, which I adored the moment I saw it. I've searched her blog for the original and can't find it. But it was definitely her card that I CASEd.

Punches used include: Oranament (fish), scallop border (fish), 5 petal (fish), two-step owl (branch for greenery), snowflake (coral), circles (for bubbles), and heart (for lips).

Birthday Card Swap Pt. 3

2011-02-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the final group of cards that I received in a recent birthday card swap.

Created by Paula Frieders:

No name was given:

Created by Susan Miller:

No name was given:

Birthday Card Swap Pt. 2

2011-02-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here is the second batch of birthday cards I received from a birthday card swap.

Created by Ann Fitton:

Created by Angela Khan:

Created by Tricia Kaplan:

Created by Susan Miller:

Come back tomorrow for one final swap post!

Birthday Card Swap

2011-02-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Remember the Crazy for Cupcakes card that I made for a birthday card swap? Well, I finally got the rest of the swap cards in the mail, and boy were there some good ones! I thought I'd share the other cards that I received in the swap in case you need some inspiration with some birthday stamp sets.

Created by Kimberly Morris (and happens to be one of my favorite cards):

Created by Dee Yates:

Created by Laura Thorpe:

Created by Ronnda Clarkson:

Come back tomorrow for more card swaps!

Party favors

2011-02-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

You may remember this party favor table piece that I messed around with when I first got the petal cone die. Well, I was inspired by Heather Summers and made a more classy one from her inspiration (I have searched her blog to find the post but can't, but I know it came from her). I used the Red Glitter paper, which really helped make the red accent pieces pop. And the little cupcake punch gave the cones just the right touch of Birthday flair!

I also made little matchbook treat pouches using the retired Night and Day DSP, and filled them with candy for the guests to nibble on while sitting at the tables.

Post Birthday Party

2011-02-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, before Snowmaggedon 2011 blew through Tulsa, was my 30th Birthday party. I forgot to share pictures with you from our evening, so I'll do that now. Since it was my 30th, I wanted to do something special to celebrate with my friends. So, we had a night of dinner and dancing at The Blue Cottage, this cute little event center in the area.

I wrapped packages in black and white wrapping paper for the centerpieces, and made little matchbox treat pouches for favors and set them on the tables. Added a few balloon bouquets around the room, and we were set. We ate, danced and had a good time just being with friends. It was a wonderful start to a new decade!

I took a LOT of pictures, so I am only posting a few below from the night...

Snowmageddon 2011

2011-02-02T14:05:00.004-06:00

Sorry for the lack of project posts the last few days. We've had a blizzard blow through Tulsa, so I've been busy keeping warm, snuggling with Simon and drinking hot chocolate while I grow tired of my movie selections. :)

Mike had to go to Texas for the week for work, so it's been different being snowed in, not having him here. It's a whole new meaning for preparing for a blizzard when you are the only one responsible for making sure your house doesn't fall apart (i.e. open cabinet doors, run faucet, etc etc).

My yard got hit with 9-10" of snow in the places that don't have drifts. Many of the drifts are up 3-4 feet. The drift on my front porch is easily 3-4 feet and I can't open my door to get out. That's alright. I couldn't drive anywhere even if I wanted. There is 18" of snow all the way from my garage door to the street. FUN!

Work has been canceled, so I've stayed in my PJs each day, watched countless movies/TV and stayed close to the internet for my only hope of life on the outside. :) Surprisingly, I haven't done a single thing in my craft room. Crazy, I know. UPS was supposed to deliver a large box of my goodies on Tuesday, but the tracker says "Inclement Weather Advisory," so I won't be getting it any time soon. Boo.

Here are a few pictures of my front yard. Hope you are keeping warm and stamping your hearts out.

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-01-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm no longer in my 20s...today is my 30th Birthday and I am so excited! My Birthday is one of my very favorite holidays. I always get asked if I'm nervous about getting old. Personally, I don't think 30 is old. When my mother turned 60, I realized that SIXTY isn't old. :) I guess it's all a matter of perspective. At some point many years ago, I'm sure I thought 30 was old.

Today's card is another Birthday card-one that I created with my club members this month. It uses the baby wipe technique, a technique that I had never tried until I started planning for this card. I had some extra ink refillers laying around my scrap room from a Christmas class I'd taught, so I thought it would be fun to try. This technique is SO easy! I love the end result. If you haven't tried it before, you must! Simply squirt random drops of ink refiller on a baby wipe (place it on a foam plate to keep it from seeping through). Using another ink color, repeat the process to fill in the white area of the baby wipe. You can add as many colors as you want. Then press your stamp onto the wipe (this is your ink pad) and stamp the image on your card stock! So EASY!

Crazy for Cupcakes Birthday

2011-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is my 30th Birthday, so I thought today and tomorrow's posts should be Birthday related. :) I recently signed up to do a Birthday card swap with a group of friends I made at convention this year. I chose to do a swap using the "Crazy for Cupcakes" stamp set (one of my favorite birthday sets).

Requirements included two embellishments (Rhinestone accents and glitter were mine), although they consider punches an embellishment and I did quite a bit of that...I made 14 cards! :) I had a lot of fun doing this card and look forward to participating in more swaps that this group does. Now I just have to wait to get the other swaps back in the mail. Can't wait to see what everyone else created with this stamp set.

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-01-27T18:00:00.000-06:00

What a fun surprise this afternoon! My very first blog award ever! :) I feel so special. ha ha Donna, from Donna's Designs, was sweet enough to brighten my afternoon.

By receiving this award, I am supposed to link back to the person who gave it to me--thanks Donna! Then I'm supposed to tell you 8 things about myself and pass the award along to other blogger's whom I have recently stumbled upon.

Without further adieu, here are the 8 fun facts about me:
1.) I can write backwards. I was so bored in high school that I taught myself how to write backwards, and it has stuck with me. On a side note, I can also recite the alphabet backwards fairly quickly. Try it-it's fun! ;)

2.) I have traveled to 27 States and 5 countries, and Turkey is by far my favorite place that I have traveled-so beautiful! (I have MANY more on my wishful thinking list though)

3.) I am a list maker. I make lists for everything. And my favorite part is checking things off the list. I feel accomplished when I get to mark something off my list. :)

4.) I have an obsessive, addictive personality (hence the name for my blog) and when I find a TV show that I like, I become very obsessed with it by going back and watching every episode, finding video interview clips with the cast, researching about the show online, etc. It's sad, really. I might need a counselor for all of the hours I have wasted watching TV.

5.) There are two things that are guaranteed to make me cry: a-Stories about animals, particularly ones that don't end happily. I can't watch sad animal movies, read or watch news stories about animals that don't have a happy ending. I honestly can't even think about sad animal stories or I will start crying. b-Men and women in the military, particularly seeing them in the airport saying hello or good-bye to their loved ones. The sacrifice that they make for my freedom moves me to tears, literally.

6.) I am always a day late and a dollar short on any fad that comes through: fashion, technology, you name it. I don't start warming up to the idea of change and something new until it's on its way out the currently hip door.

7.) I consider myself a "penny pincher," a trait I definitely got from my dad. However, there are three things I will splurge on: stamps, my hair, my nails. (All things that make us feel better, right?!)

8.) I am a social butterfly. I love to be around and meet lots of new people. I am actively involved in a lot-I like to maintain a busy lifestyle. My husband is the exact opposite. He is a homebody, and likes to stay home...all the time. It is difficult for him to enjoy my socialite lifestyle. But that is why we are perfect for one another. He graciously keeps up with my parties and get-togethers. And I make sure to set aside time for just the two of us. We have been together 12 years and I still love him with all of my heart. :)

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for--my Stylish Blogger Award picks:

Carla--The Southern Stamper
Renee--Stamping for Sanity
Carla--Carla's Scraps
Valita--Valita's Designs and Fresh Folds

Altered Notebook

2011-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is an altered notebook that I made for my December club hostess. Yeah, I know...I'm a little late in posting this, but it's better late than never, right? :)

I used Night of Navy for the base and used Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper for the accents. Some of the ribbon I used is retired, but it matched the color scheme, so I used it.

Babies Galore!

2011-01-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

It seems like all of my friends are either pregnant, just had babies, or have young babies...lots of baby stuff going on.

Recently, I went to a friends baby shower--well technically it was called a Sip and See (I'm learning so much these days) since Baby A had already arrived. I decided to try my hand at the Big Shot Fabric Adhesive Roll and some fabric that I had left over from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I had a lot of scraps left from the Candy Cane fabric that I thought would be perfect for placing the Beautiful Butterflies dies on a little onesie.

Here's a little tip if you are planning to use the Fabric Adhesive Roll: Use a full square or rectangle to adhere to the roll instead of little scraps. Any adhesive that is not covered in fabric WILL adhere to your ironing board if it isn't. :) Yep, I know that from personal experience. :D Good thing ironing board covers are cheap. ha ha

I thought the onesies turned out really cute and I made coordinating "thank you" cards to tuck in with the gift.

Sale-a-Brate with Stampin' Up!

2011-01-25T07:00:00.001-06:00

Today marks the start of Stampin' Up!'s annual Sale-a-Bration promotion! It is the best time of year to get FREE stuff, and hey, let's be honest...we all love FREE stuff!

To see all of the wonderful Sale-a-Bration products that you can get for FREE, simply check out the brochure, or visit my website!

I would love to schedule a free workshop for you and your friends if you live in the Tulsa area. Contact me today to book your workshop to get more FREE stuff!

Happy New Year gifts

2011-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

My time got away from me before I left work for a two week vacation and I didn't get a chance to finish my Christmas gifts for my co-worker friends. So I made them New Year's gifts instead.

I made bundles of four coasters using the Medallion stamp, which is one of my favorites and looks so pretty on the tiles. I tied some ribbon around the bundle and put a little Happy New Year tag on them (not included in the picture).

So easy to make and great for replicating!

Loving Day

2011-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

One of my friends that I've had the longest (I didn't want to say oldest, because she isn't the oldest in age), got married this past summer. You may remember this card that I made for her that she wanted for her sister as a "thanks for being in my wedding" card.

When I was working in My Digital Studio over my Christmas vacation, I came across a few pictures that I had taken and wanted to put together a page of their special day. Her wedding was outside and so pretty.

Audrey and Dell got married on Loving Day, which is so perfect for them and I loved that they chose that day--so special.

Welcome Baby Card Bundle Pt. 4

2011-01-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the last set of baby cards that I created using the Nursery Suite Quick Accent Kit. Enjoy!

Welcome Baby Card Bundle Pt. 3

2011-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the third installment of baby cards that I made using the Nursery Suite Quick Accent Kit. Simply created using the kit, punches, dimensionals and a smidge of ribbon, I whipped up 16 cards in no time at all!

Welcome Baby Card Bundle Pt. 2

2011-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I showed you the first bundle of 4 cards that I made using the Nursery Suite Quick Accent Kit. Today, I have 4 more cards. I made 16 cards total with this kit and had plenty of pieces left for more cards if I want them later.

Simple to create and only takes a couple of minutes for each one. Punches were the only tool used in creating these quick, easy baby cards.

Welcome Baby Card Bundle

2011-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Nursery Suite Quick Accent Kit is perfect for creating simple, easy baby cards. Using this kit, I put together 16 cards based on a Birthday card class I did a couple of months back using the Celebrations Quick Accent Kit. Assembling cards has never been more easy!

The backs of the pieces already have adhesive on them, but I did use a lot of dimensionals on the card sets to give them a little more life. The only tools I used on these simple cards were a few punches.

I had enough pieces left from the kit to make more cards, but I thought 16 cards was plenty for right now...

Today's post includes 4 of the 16 cards. I will post the remaining cards throughout the week, so come back tomorrow for more baby card inspiration!

Mini Calendar-December

2011-01-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the last month featured in the "Mini Calendar" series...hope you have enjoyed the layouts that I have shared with you the last two weeks. It's not too late to order and create your own "Days To Remember" calendar. The great thing about this calendar is that you can tear the layouts out (they are perforated) at the end of the year and have a mini scrapbook already complete!

The December layout was created using this card for my inspiration. It features that delicious Red Glimmer Paper, which you can now purchase from our current Occasions Mini Catalog!

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-November

2011-01-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

The turkey used in this November layout can easily be created by snipping off the ears of the body of the Two-Step Owl punch, then adding a couple of circle layers behind him. So easy, and he's just so stinkin' cute! :)

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-October

2011-01-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays--I love the costumes, the candy, the decorating, the pumpkins!

Using the 1-3/4" x 7/8" oval large punch and the 1-1/4" circle punch, I made some pumpkins. I punched three of each shape and layered them together, a long time trick that people have used to create punch pumpkins, and it's so easy!

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-September

2011-01-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Finally fall! One of my favorite times of year--I just love the weather, the hot cider, the fair, the decor...although it's still very hot in Tulsa during September and doesn't really feel like fall until late September/early October.

This layout features a stamp set from the recent Holiday Mini Catalog and is no longer available, but you could easily substitute the leaves from my layout with the leaves from the "Leaves #2" die (used with the Big Shot).

The letters were knocked out in mere seconds running the "Alphabet Simple" dies through the Big Shot.

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-August

2011-01-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

August is the last official month of summer, and it's still VERY hot in Tulsa, so I decided to create a very outdoorsy felt layout. I pulled the grass stamp from the "Inspired by Nature" stamp set and stamped it a few times for some grass, and stamped the butterfly from "Butterfly Prints." Added a couple of layers and viola! A finished layout in just a couple of minutes!

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-July

2011-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Feeling patriotic? This July layout does feature a stamp set that is retired, but you could easily use our fabulous star punch to create a great 4th of July layout!

The blue paper on the base of the layout is a 6"x6" square from the Blueberry Crisp DSP pack, and the two firecrackers make the perfect framed photo corners for this layout.

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-June

2011-01-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Finally into the summer months, June is the month that my dog (and the love of our lives), Simon, has a Birthday! For the first few years that we had him, we'd have a party for him (yes, we're one of those crazy families--but we don't have kids, so it's okay, ha!) and invite family over for cake while Simon opened his presents.

So, I decided, I wanted to create a dog layout for the month of June, and here it is. :)

Stop by again on Monday for the continuation of my mini calendar! Have a great weekend!

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-May

2011-01-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

The butterflies from the "Beautiful Wings" embosslit die can bring any page to life by folding their wings up to make them 3D. I added a few strands of the Pearl Accents for some of their bodies and to class them up a bit. I also used the "Sunny Garden" DSP for background paper, which adds a splash of color to the page.

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-April

2011-01-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Easter everyone! Today's post features the month of April. I love the cute little Easter eggs punched by the 2" x 1-3/8" oval punch (formerly the wide oval) out of polka-dotted Designer Series Paper. They make the perfect eggs nestled up by the little chick from the "A Good Egg" stamp set.

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-March

2011-01-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

YAY! March means that it's spring time again and the sun is shining heavily and the birds are chirping while the flowers are starting to bloom! Oh how I love spring. But alas, I'm stuck in the winter right now with only thoughts of spring to get me going. :)

This was a really simple layout, but I wanted the leprechaun green to be the focus of this layout.

I used a square of the Garden Green Designer Series Paper, and an added touch of small hearts placed in the shape of a shamrock. Happy early St. Paddy's Day to ya!

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-February

2011-01-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

Continuing on to February in our Days to Remember calendar, this month features the delicious Red Glimmer Paper which is featured in the new Occasions Mini Catalog, which is now available! Doesn't this adorable paper just scream Valentine? Just a few stamped hearts and sentiments from the "XOXO" stamp set (also an Occasions Mini gem) to touch it up.

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Mini Calendar-January

2011-01-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

The start of a new year marks the start of a new calendar. For a my desk at work, I altered Stampin' Up!'s "Days to Remember Calendar" which features 6x6 layouts and calendar pages. You simply alter the 6x6 layout pages and then use the calendar pages to coordinate for a year of calendar fun. The great thing, is after you are done with the calendar, you simply tear the layout pages out and have a year-in-review mini scrapbook!

For each layout, I placed a mat for a wallet size picture to add later. For the next 12 posts, I'm going to share my calendar with you!

For January, I used a few punches to create a cute snowman, and added some Dazzing Diamonds to the edges of the torn snow pages for a little sparkle snow.

For other months featured in this calendar, type in "calendar" in my search bar. Looking for a specific month? Type the month name!

Snowy Christmas

2010-12-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

This year's Christmas was a little different for us--two days before Christmas we had to take my husband to the ER, one side of his face had gone numb and we were concerned. We later found out that he was suffering from Bell's Palsy, something my dad had a few years ago, so we were pretty familiar with it. So Christmas was a little hard this year and somewhat discouraging. We have been trying to make the most of it, and are trudging on moving forward, but needless to say, Christmas just wasn't the same at our house this year.

So instead of posting pictures from Christmas this year, I pulled some from last year, when it actually snowed Christmas Eve, well into the early hours of Christmas Day. It was a snow white Christmas, the first in Tulsa for many years. We ventured out to play in the snow last year, and Simon (our dog) loved it!

So I used a few pictures from last year's snowy Christmas to make a layout in MDS this year. Looking at these pictures make me smile thinking back on those memories. We are looking forward to moving ahead in 2011.

Happy New Year to all of my wonderful friends and readers! Hope it's the best yet!

Winterfest MDS

2010-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Since I've been on vacation for two weeks, I have had the chance to play around with My Digital Studio quite a bit, and I'm really enjoying learning all of the neat things that you can do with it!

Mike and I recently tried out a local Winterfest here in downtown Tulsa, went ice skating, the whole bit. It ended up being a little more cheesy than we'd expected and more small scale than we'd prepared for, so we got a hot chocolate and drove around town looking at Christmas lights. It ended up being a great night and I took a few pictures to remember the evening and used those for my inspiration for this MDS layout.

Occasions Mini Sneak Peak Pt. 3

2010-12-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

I'm turning 30 in January and I am really excited...not that I'm turning 30 (although I don't mind that part) but excited for my birthday. I love celebrating and it's always a great time to get friends and family together. Since it is a milestone Birthday, I'm planning something a little nicer for my celebration and will have an evening of dinner and dancing with friends. I am making my own center pieces (which I will show you closer to time and when they are complete)...When I saw the new Petal Cone bigz die to run through the Big Shot in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I thought it would make great party favors to lay on the tables at my birthday celebration. Here's one that I created to play around with. It's pretty simple--just Basic Black card stock with a small Real Red flag. I filled it with red candies to bring out the red color.

I will probably tweak them a little before the actual celebration, but wanted to share this one with you anyway.

Occasions Mini Sneak Peak Pt. 2

2010-12-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today's Occasions Mini catalog sneak peak features two brand new items: a birthday stamp set "Bring on the Cake," which is chalk full of birthday sentiment stamps, and a cupcake punch! Angels are singing everywhere at the sight of this delightful punch. I only used part of the punch, but it comes with a candle and cherry to top off the icing as well.

Using the many marvelous Stampin' Write markers makes coordinating your cards so easy! I used Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight to color in the Birthday sentiment.

Occasions Mini Sneak Peak Pt. 1

2010-12-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

With December nearing its end and the New Year approaching, that can only mean two things: 1) A new mini catalog is coming (January 4), and 2) Sale-a-Bration is just around the corner!

I have a few sneak peek items that preview some of the new product from the Occasions Mini Catalog that will begin January 4 and run through April 30. After playing in my craft room all week last week (I've been on vacation!), I have lots of projects that I am excited to share with you.

Without further adieu, here is my first sneak peek which features the "XOXO" stamp set, which is available in wood mount or clear mount. A couple rows of rhinestone jewel accents help spice up this sweet Valentine card.

Frosty the Snowman

2010-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

We've all seen these little Snowman treat bags floating around-they are so cute! I made a batch of them up this week for the members of my Stamp Club for Christmas. I filled each one with some hot cocoa packets and some Christmas candy.

This uses the Fancy Favor die and the Top Note die, which are my two favorite dies for the Big Shot machine. There are so many endless possibilities using just these two dies! Love them!

My first attempt

2010-12-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have a confession to make:

I purchased My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up!'s digital scrapbooking software, about a year and a half ago, and I recently just opened the packaging for the first time and loaded it onto my computer. I think the idea of learning a brand new software product was overwhelming to me, and quite honestly my interest level was pretty low. The only reason that I purchased it was because the demos who attended convention last year were able to get it for half price--STEAL! And I knew some day I was going to wish I had purchased it at that great price.

So last night I sat down at the computer and gave it a shot at creating my first scrapbook layout. I was so surprised at how EASY it was!! And I was surprised at how much content came already installed on the program--I thought I was going to have to invest more money buying more downloads. Now, you CAN buy additional downloads of stamp sets, background papers, embellishments, etc, but there is enough in the original software to keep you busy if you are leery of investing a lot more money into it. And downloads are CHEAP! Most that I've seen range from 95 cents to $9.95.

So, without further adieu, here is my first attempt at creating a scrapbook layout in My Digital Studio. I'm sold--if you are having doubts like I was, don't hesitate any longer! It is a great way to get caught up on scrapbooking if you are as far behind as I am! It took me about 20 minutes to whip this up...as I learn the program, my speed will pick up, and so will yours!

Snowflake Card

2010-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

You may remember last year when I did the 12 Weeks of Christmas projects, this treat bag that I made using the "Serene Snowflakes" stamp set and a brown paper bag. This year I created a Christmas card using the same layout but changing the colors to Real Red and Old Olive. A few rhinestone accents and some Dazzling Diamonds give it some of the sparkle that I love for Christmas time.

Peek-a-Boo

2010-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

I just love the reindeer from the "Holiday Lineup" stamp set. When you see Rudolph's face, that is exactly the face I make when I look at this stamp set. :D

I have wanted to create a "peek-a-boo" (my description, not a professional one, ha!) card for some time, so this is the card we created at a workshop I did this week.

More milk please?

2010-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is another mini milk carton that I created to use for a demonstration at a workshop this week. I used the Deck the Halls DSP for the base and Cherry Cobbler for the accent pieces. The word "Merry" was stamped in Cherry Cobbler three times using the stamp-off technique. A little pearl accent was enough to jazz up this adorable little milk carton, and used a little paper clip from the library clip assortment to hold the carton closed.

Merry Christmas Retro

2010-12-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today's card layout was inspired by Renee's. She does great work, you should check her out! I saw my Designer Series Paper pack lying on the floor and the Melon Mambo sheets were laying on top, which is what triggered the start of this card. I used the "Tree Trimmings" stamp set for the focal point and "http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/SearchResults.aspx&dwbsdemoid=2047586" for the sentiment (one of my favorite go-to sentiment sets, btw).

A little bit of dazzle was added using a 2-way glue pen and some Dazzling Diamonds around the edge of one ornament and some of those fabulous Rhinestone Jewels on the opposite ornament.

Christmas Ceramic Tiles

2010-12-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

For my Christmas Gift Giving class a couple of weeks ago I mentioned making ceramic tiles as one of the projects. Here is one of the tiles that I made. The gals made it out the door before I got a chance to snap photos of theirs. This is such a fast and easy gift to make and really inexpensive!

Mojo Monday 167

2010-12-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

This week's Mojo Monday included 3 stars on it, but ironically I have every single Stampin' Up! punch except the star! Can you believe that? I should get it already. :) So I adapted the layout a little and placed a bow where the stars were supposed to be. Hey, there are no "rules" stating I can't interpret the layout on my own. ha ha And if you follow my blog or know me at all, then you know that "bows" are a rarity for me. I very rarely, if ever, put a bow on my card...I always use knots. Simply because I'm not a very good bow maker. :D Knots are so much easier for me and I learned a long time ago not to focus on the things you aren't good at, but dwell on those that you can excel at.

So, here's my Mojo Monday interpretation:

I'm sorry about the darkness on my pictures lately...one of my bulbs burned out for my photo tent, and I haven't had a chance to run to the store to get a replacement.

Movie Night

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

My friend's birthday was a couple of weeks ago, and for her gift I am taking her to see a movie and lunch. So this is a card I made for her with some movie popcorn and a movie ticket stub on the front.

I made the popcorn using the Boho Blossoms punch and added some sponging with Daffodil Delight for the "butter." :)

Boughs of Holly

2010-11-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

This card is a CASE of this one...when I first saw it, I knew immediately that I wanted to try my hand at it because it is simply stunning!

The ornament was made using the ornament punch through the Crumb Cake card stock. Then place a piece of the Designer Fabric behind it using plenty of Sticky Strip to hold it in place. Add a cotton ball to make the ornament "poof" through the punched ornament hole, use more sticky strip to hold the layer of card stock on behind it and viola! You have a gorgeous card! The branch is one of the trees from "Lovely as a Tree." You can't go wrong with this stamp set.

Try it--you'll be surprised how easy this card is!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you! Hope you are enjoying a day of family, food and rest! I have never been one to enjoy the Thanksgiving grub (I'm weird, I know!)...I'm not a big turkey or ham eater, so my Thanksgiving meal would consist of grilled cheese sandwiches growing up, and I was perfectly okay with that! I have broadened my horizons some in the past few years, but still pass on the main dishes and save room for pie! :D But, it is always nice to spend time with the ones you love and be thankful--we truly are blessed and have so much to be thankful for!

I used my handy-dandy Color Coach to offer a color combination for today's card. I wanted something "fall-like" so it was easy to skim through the Coach until the right combo caught my eye: Bravo Burgandy, Old Olive, and More Mustard! I admit, this is the very first time that I have used Bravo Burgandy for anything! :) And I like it!

The flowers for the vase were made with the "Autumn Days" stamp set, and the Happy Thanksgiving was a perfect image pulled from "Teeny Tiny Wishes." The clean and simple layout was touched up just a bit with a pair of More Mustard buttons and a small dash of Old Olive 1/4" ribbon for the vase!

Glitter Glass Ornaments

2010-11-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

You may remember when I posted the glitter glass ornaments that I created to put on my tree last Christmas...Mine were done using a Real Red ink refiller. This year, as one of the projects in my Christmas Gift Giving class, each person made a dozen glass glitter ornaments. And the best part was that each person got to choose their own color for their ornaments! I was so excited to see how everyone's turned out, with the wide selection of colors used--they were gorgeous! Here are the different colors that were represented (plus Real Red, which I didn't photograph since I'd already done so a year ago with mine).

Pumpkin Pie:

Cherry Cobbler:

So Saffron (which I love b/c it looks gold!):

Rich Razzleberry:

Night of Navy:

Door Prize Cards Pt 2

2010-11-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here are the other two cards that I made for door prizes at my Christmas class last week. Enjoy!

Christmas Class Doorprize

2010-11-22T06:30:00.000-06:00

I held a Christmas gift giving class last week, and we had a blast! We made glitter glass ornaments, fabric pendants, and ceramic tiles. I will be posting pictures of some of the projects as the week progresses, but first I wanted to share with you some coordinating cards that I made for a door prize. I made two sets of four with coordinating envelopes. I will post two cards today and save the other two for later this week.

The fabric pendant was made with some of our delightful Designer fabric, and these cards coordinate with the Candy Lane DSP.

A big THANKS to all of the gals who came out and participated in this class!

Online Spectacular Promotion

2010-11-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Stampin' Up! has gone and done it again--spoiled us rotten with fabulous discounts on select product! For this week only, now through November 30, you can get select product up to 50% OFF, including My Digital Studio, our fabulous Designer Fabric, and much more!

PLUS, you get FREE shipping on any order over $150 (pre-tax)! What a bargain! What are you waiting for? Hop on over to my website and start shopping!! You don't even have to get out of your jammies to make progress on your Christmas shopping.

Happy Shopping Friends!

Altered Notebooks

2010-11-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

You may remember this altered notebook that I gave to my downline a couple of month's ago...here are three more of the same layout using different DSP color schemes that I made for the hostesses in my club.

Mojo Monday-Christmas style

2010-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've participated in the Mojo Monday sketch challenge. I thought today was as good as any to try it again, so this is what I created...it features the snowman stamp from "Holiday Lineup," and some of the Candy Cane Christmas DSP from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

Never Before Seen Promotion!

2010-11-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever considered how much fun it would be to have a job of stamping and creating without the pressures of a boss or time lines or any other mundane job function? Well, YOU CAN!

Stampin' Up! has just announced a never before seen promotion where you can join the Stampin' Up! family for half off! For only $87.50, you get an amazing deal of over $310 worth of stamping goodies and business supplies to get you started on the FUN! What's the catch? There isn't one! Earlier this year, Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up!'s co-founder and CEO challenged all Demonstrators to recruit 10,000 new Demonstrators in the year 2010. This is a Simply Amazing deal that they have offered to help us reach that goal (we are 85% there!)

If you've ever even considered it, I would love to chat with you about this exciting opportunity with no obligations. Just answer your questions and show you what a great job it really is! Stamping and creating are passions that I have and I love to share what I'm passionate about. :)

You may be asking yourself, what are some of the benefits to being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. Here are just a few of the many perks:
· Earn additional income while sharing creativity.
· Make new and lasting friendships.
· Enjoy access to nearly unlimited creative ideas.
· Receive a free subscription to an exclusive monthly magazine.
· Receive two free months subscription to your own business website.
· Opportunity to earn free products and incentive trips.

Like all great promotions, it doesn't last forever...only 2 weeks. November 30th is the last day to take advantage of this wonderful deal! Let me know when you'd like to meet with me to chat about this fantastic opportunity. I would love to have you join my TEAM!

You can also visit my website for more information.

Scrapbook Class

2010-11-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last month I held a scrapbook class and these were a few of the layouts from that class that I liked best:

Christmas Card Marathon Pt. 4

2010-11-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

This card is a CASE of this one--I loved how simple it was, and the card just popped out at me when I saw it. I changed the DSP to Christmas themed paper and the "Do not open til Christmas" stamp from the "Tags Til Christmas" stamp set worked perfectly.

Did you know that right now you can get the "Tags Til Christmas" stamp set for 20% off right now when you pair it with the Decorative Label punch in a fabulous bundle? Don't wait! This promotion is only good through December 16th!

Christmas Card Marathon Pt. 3

2010-11-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Part 3 of my Christmas card marathon...this is a technique that has been around for a while but I finally got around to making a card with it: using the stamp from "Autumn Days" alternating the stamp a few degrees each time to make this delightful, colorful wreath! Added a touch of color with a small bow to the base of the wreath, and one small rhinestone jewel for some Christmas sparkle!

Christmas Card Marathon Pt. 2

2010-11-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the second Christmas card that I made in my Christmas card marathon. This is a CASE of a card I saw on the display boards at convention. There was no name attached to it, so I'm not sure who the credit belongs to, but it caught my eye--I loved it!