New Catalog Day!!!

Yes that's right, today is the day the NEW catalog is available to order from! Isn't it purty?? the link is on my side bar so you can browse (at noon MT), if you don't have one already.

Guess what else? You can also place your last order from the catalog you've had all year, AND you can place a last minute order from the Spring Mini too!

I've updated the tabs across the top of my blog for you. You will definitely want to know what's going on! *grin There is even a new catalog kickoff promotion! Until June 30 2013, you can get the following greeting stamps for 25% off!

Sale Price	Retail Price	Description	Item
$17.96	$23.95	Sassy Salutations Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132070
$13.46	$17.95	Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126707
$14.96	$19.95	Sweet Essentials Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132085
$11.21	$14.95	Sweet Essentials Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126457
$21.71	$28.95	Petite Pairs Wood-Mount Stamp Set	128706
$15.71	$20.95	Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Stamp Set	122497

How fun is that?!

You can place your order online as soon as you're ready (after Noon today!) and if your order is less than $150, you can use my Hostess Code:VETS3JT7 . Or! You can attend my workshop Saturday and place your order there! I'll have product shares available for you to participate in as well. And, since I added something like 13 newly retired stamps to my retired stash, I went through everything and have more long-retired stamp sets I've decided to sell! Those will be available first at my workshop, and whatever is left will be posted on the tab at the top of this blog. (currently retiring stamps will not be available until Tuesday).

Falling Leaves

When I saw the Clean & Simple sketch I knew I had to play with it. It seemed to me that falling leaves worked well for the circles. So here's an autumny card on this hot summer day, haha!

Supplies:
Stamps: Wonderfall, Banner Greetings
Ink: Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizazz
Paper: Pear Pizazz & Whisper White card stocks

Purple Flowers

Today's card is brought to you by Julie's sketch, which can be found HERE on the Craft Project Central blog! I tried to use something besides flowers, but all the images I have that are current were way too big, so, flowers it is! Besides I thought it was a great sketch and have been wanting to play with it for a while.
I did stamp a greeting, but it came out very wonky in a bad way, haha, so I had to flip the Pear piece over. This time I left a greeting off!

Supplies:
Stamps: Summer Silhouettes
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant
Paper: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder & Pear Pizazz card stocks
Accessories: White stitched grosgrain ribbon

Teacher Appreciation

Last week school ended around here. I like to put together some kind of teacher gift to thank my kids' teachers for their efforts through the school year. I've been staying simple in recent years (I guess since having two kids in school...) and here's what I do...
I take the kids to the store to pick out a treat for the teacher, like movie-theater candy usually. Then I include a package of microwave popcorn. I choose out a variety of cards from my stash, and put it all in a stamped lunch sack, along with a card I've written in to the teacher, thanking them.
And here are the projects from this year, photos taken about 10:00 pm, the night before, because ya know, I didn't have any warning that school was ending soon...? hee hee...

 And the finished sacks with some cute little tags so we know who's is whose.

Supplies:

Stamps: Creative Elements

Ink: Midnight Muse, Coastal Cabana

Paper: Whisper White card stock, Midnight Muse card stock, lunch sacks

Accessories: White Baker's Twine, Designer Label Punch

Something pretty

Happy Memorial Day to my American readers! There is also a birthday in my house, and school ended Friday so we are going to relax and enjoy this day!! But I also had to start the week off with a new post for you! *grin

I've been working on filling up my display board, just like I do every spring, haha, and here is a card I came up with the other day. I used several different things but its really a very, very simple card. I just wondered what it would look like with collage type stamping over this big flowery, flourishy image. I really, really like how it turned out!! Four simple stamps on one sheet of DP and that's really all there is to it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Creative Elements
Ink: Calypso Coral, Basic Gray
Paper: Epic Day DP, Basic Gray card stock
Accessories: Pearls, Iridescant Ice embossing powder, Heat Tool

Its a bit of a challenge to see the butterflies I embossed over it, but this close-up helps. Isn't that nifty?

Hope your day is happy!

New Catalog Workshop Information!

Next Saturday (a week from today) is my New Catalog Workshop! Anyone willing to drive here is welcome to come!
Workshops are so much fun! if you've never attended one, picture yourself hanging out with women who enjoy crafts, learning about crafting, making something cute, and enjoying yummy treats. What's not to love about that? haha!

Here are the highlights of this particular workshop:

• Browsing the new catalog, taking one home!
• A FREE make & take using new products!
• Demonstrations using new stamps, new colors and other products!
• A chance to ask questions about products you're interested in!
• Purchase my retired stamp sets at 50% off! 
• Cards available to purchase, ready to send to your loved ones!
• Learn more about my classes, events, birthday club, product shares...and sign up for any you're interested in!
• And treats!! There will be treats!
• (my house, Noon - 2)

I am really excited about the new catalog! a couple of my local customers have already gotten their copy and one who has been not as impressed in recent years already has a long wish list ready! I really think you'll find something to love, if not lots and lots of somethings (like me).

I just need your RSVP that you would like to attend this workshop, so that I can have enough supplies prepped for your make & take. Hope to see you there!!

*If you need a catalog email me your mailing address, or you can browse it starting June 1 on my blog side bar, or! you can place an order online! Just choose me as your demonstrator to get the preferred price.

Shoebox Swap 3: Sneak Peek!

This is the last of the posts from the Shoebox Swap. And today's cards primarily feature brand spankin' new products never before seen on this blog, because they're in the new catalog!

The thing about a shoebox swap is you don't necessarily have the designer right there to help you. I didn't see the stapler that was used to attach the vellum to this card, which gives it a little extra punch of cool, but I really like this card!


Designed by Elizabeth Bellville

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Simply Stars, Banner Greetings
Ink: Real Red, Smoky Slate
Paper: Smoky Slate, Whisper White, card stock, Pool Party Textured card stock, Vellum
Accessories: Real Red Stitched grosgrain ribbon, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Big Shot

What a fun card this one is:

Designed by Holly Legare

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Really Good Greetings
Ink: Pear Pizazz, Night of Navy, Melon Mambo & Island Indigo markers
Paper: Gingham Garden DP, Very Vanilla & Night of Navy card stocks
Accessories: Daffodil stitched grosgrain ribbon, Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits

And this one is soft and pretty:

Designed by Jolene Harris

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Label Love, A Round Array
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso
Paper: Soho Subway DP, Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stock,
Accessories: Artisan Label Punch, 7/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

This one had a technique... a bit of baby wipe was pinched between the small business clips you find in the current (but not new!) catalog. Then you put a drop of Crushed Curry on one, a drop of Daffodil Delight on another and a drop of So Saffron on the third. Scrub them across the dp, darkest to lightest, then roll the wheel over the inked part!


Designed by Melanie Hopes

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Label Love, Alhambra Jumbo Wheel
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Garden Gingham DP, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry & Whisper White cardstocks,
Accessories: Artisan Label Punch, Mosaic Punch, Mini Brads

This card is so happy and sweet- she had a variety of card fronts using the same DP and provided your choice of Washi Tape to play with!

Designed by Tammi Verbarendse

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Remembering Your Birthday
Ink: Island Indigo, Melon Mambo markers
Paper: Gingham Garden DP, Island Indigo & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Gingham Garden Washi Tape

This is a bright, happy card:


Designed by Deb

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Perfectly Penned
Ink: Island Indigo
Paper: Quatrefancy DP, Pool Party card stock
Accessories: Antique Brads, Daffodil Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder

And a card featuring a fun way to use a bundle:


Designed by Anna Black

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Wildflower Meadow, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Pistachio Pudding, Melon Mambo? Crisp Cantaloupe
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White
Accessories: Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder, Big Shot, White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Are you feeling inspired yet?? I know I was! Go start creating something!! 

Newest In Colors!

As you know, with the new catalog come new In Colors. This year's colors are fabulous and yes, very trendy! Demonstrators were given a pre-order, and I got the new card stock with mine. You've seen some sneak peeks here already, but I saw this idea to feature all the new colors on Mary's blog, and then Christy did it too and I knew I had to give it a try. I started out thinking I'd CASE their layouts but as I pulled out heart after heart and tossed them in a pile, this is what was happening and I decided it was cute just like that! So that's what you get! Plus a sneak peek hostess stamp set and the sneak peek button!

Supplies:

Stamps: Banner Greetings

Ink: Coastal Cabana

Paper: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar & Coastal Cabana card stocks

Accessories: Very Vintage Buttons, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Shoebox Swap 2: Big Shot & Sneak Peek!

Today's cards come from my upline meeting/shoebox swap, and all use sets that are in the Spring Mini but will also be in the new catalog which is always a happy thing!

First up I have Cathee's card. I like how simple it is, and yet there's a lot to see!


Designed by Cathee Anderson

Supplies:(to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Oh, Hello
Ink: Calypso Coral, Gumball Green, Basic Gray
Paper:  Epic Day DP, Very Vanilla & Daffodil Delight card stocks
Accessories: Square Punch (for pennant edge) Ovals Collection Framelits, Adorning Accents Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals

And then I have Judene's card. A clean&simple, but very fun card! Also, she featured a couple sneak peek items- the cute ability to make an embellishment in any color you might need! See the adorable little flower? She made those using our new clay and molds, and now we have a Crushed Curry flower! I was excited to play with these. I was concerned that the dried clay might be like ceramic, which would not hold up in the mail, but its kind of rubbery and soft. Yeay for playing with new products!!

Designed by Judene Hale

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Oh, Hello
Ink: Crushed Curry pad, refill & Marker (to add color to rose)
Paper: Gingham Garden DP, Crushed Curry, Night of Navy & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Paper Doilies, Simply Pressed Clay, Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds, Ovals Collection Framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals 

One more cute card featuring the new clay embellishments is from Carol. Such a pretty, springy card! She even used a stamp from a Best Of collection! Have you ordered any of those??

Designed by Carol Osborne

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Secret Garden, Best of Butterflies
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Calypso Coral
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Simply Pressed Clay, Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds, Big Shot, Secret Garden Framelits, Top Note Bigz Die, Pearl Basic Jewels

What do you think? Are you excited to see the new catalog? I know I am excited to get more new products, haha!

Shoebox Swap 1: Currently Fabulous

Title comes from the fact that I did not design these cards, they come from my upline/shoebox swap mentioned on Saturday, and these use mostly current products that will also be in the new catalog!

This card is absolutely fabulous! So simple but gorgeous!

Designed by Pam Morgan

Supplies: (to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Paper: Epic Day DP, Vellum card stock, Whisper White card stock, Brushed Gold card stock
Accessories: Elegant Butterfly Punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, Staples, Dimensionals

This card is so bright and happy, I love it for a baby card!

Designed by Sheila van Uitert

Supplies:(to the best of my memory/guessing ability)

Stamps: Oh Baby (single stamp!! - Available til July 31)

Ink: Black Stazon

Paper: Quatrefancy DP, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black card stocks

Accessories: Large Rhinestones, Floral Fusion Sizzlits, Big Shot 

 

This card took some time, but check it out!!

Designed by Ashley

Supplies:(to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Create A Cupcake
Ink: Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Melon Mambo
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Melon Mambo & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Cupcake Builder Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, Modern Label Punch, White Organza Ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels, Stripes Embossing Folder, Big Shot

I think this one is so pretty. It uses the same colors and DP as my card (the same sheet of DP too) but gives a completely different look!

Designed by Heather Faldmo

Supplies:(to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies, Sweet Essentials, En Francais
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party
Paper: Epic Day DP, Calypso Coral, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon, Square punch (for pennant sides of greeting)

You know I'm going to love this one- this is one of my favorite stamp sets ever!

Designed by Julie Wadlinger

Supplies:(to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: The Open Sea
Ink: Midnight Muse, Pool Party
Paper: Print Poetry Paper Stack (spring mini), Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Mini Brads, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Linen Thread, shrinkydink

This card I didn't make quite like the original because I was running out of time and put it together after I was home. You can see the original HERE.

Designed by Michelle Stoll

Supplies:(to the best of my memory/guessing ability)
Stamps: Make a Cake, Remembering Your Birthday
Ink: Pool Party, So Saffron
Paper: Very Vanilla, So Saffron & Early Espresso card stocks
Accessories: Pearls, Linen Thread, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Big Shot

With all these fabulous samples, are you inspired to join my team? Maybe you're simply inspired to go create something lovely! Now's your chance...! *grin

Week 18!

Here's the page for Week 18. It is very simple, but I like the pink and gray, and I love the font, haha.

Supplies:
MDS

During the month of May, print prices are discounted. I went ahead and printed off my weekly pages that I've done so far and stuck them in an album! Its so fun having completed pages sitting on my shelf! And my kids love it! I see us having a fun little family activity on New Years Eve. *grin You should get some pages printed too!!

A Shoebox Swap!

Today my upline had a quarterly meeting, and I finally got to attend. This time it was a shoebox swap and I was super excited because it was a huge help in filling my display board with the new catalog! After the retired lists struck, it was looking awfully dismal... haha!

A shoebox swap means that everyone designs a card and brings enough supplies for everyone else to make it. The supplies box stays put and people move around putting together each card. There were 18 cards there and they're all so fun and pretty! Today I'll show you my card, and I might share the other cards in the coming days too...but first I need to know who designed which card!!

I stewed about this a lot. A silly lot! I tell my friends "stamping is fun, not stressful" all the time, and most of the time it is, but since this was for other demonstrators I wanted it to be impressive, haha. You'd think that after 9 years of doing this I'd be confident in my skills, but maybe not.

Anyway!! Here is what I put together:

Supplies:
Stamps: Creative Elements
Ink: Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake
Paper: Epic Day DP, Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pool Party & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Very Vintage Buttons, White Bakers Twine, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

I showed both sides of the DP, so people could choose, and both possible word choices. There were plenty of comments that people liked it so I was happy about that, hahaha....

I had a lot of fun today! You know you could join my team and attend these fun meetings along with me...its a great chance to learn a lot from other people's experience, and to spend time with people who GET your hobby. *grin. Until May 30th, you can get a free $30 extra towards your Starter Kit! What are you waiting for??

Week 17 - Lemonade!

Today's weekly page made me laugh... I didn't take a lot of pics this week, so I settled on these two. Then I was looking for some fun, doodle-y kind of images to put with it. I ended up creating a page using the Lemonade Stand content disk (Sale-A-Bration only) for two pictures of my kids having a lemonade stand! *giggle Anyway, its fairly self-explanatory...

Supplies:

MDS, Lemonade Stand content disk

 

And don't forget- Stampin' Up! offers fresh downloads every Tuesday! Go HERE to see the latest, and don't miss the freebies! *grin!

Stamp Set Class: Lovely As A Tree

Happy Monday to you! Today we're supposed to be WAY above normal temps and it should feel like summer! I suppose that's not all bad, right? *grin

Last Friday was my May Stamp Set Class, and obviously from the title, I featured Lovely As A Tree. This stamp set was one of the first my mom bought from Stampin' Up! and she didn't even get it from me! haha! And! its going to be in the new catalog again, haha! I have plenty of samples here on my blog using this set HERE, but since it is neither autumn nor winter, I tried some new ideas with the set! Yeay for changing things up!
And again, with this style of class I'm sticking to the basics and working my way up to more tools and supplies, so that even a novice stamper can find ways to use their stamp set with what they have! We did make a retiring-supplies card, but two of them can go on my display board!

This card uses the sponging technique to make a springtime scene.

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Stamping Sponges

This card uses the 'thumping' technique, which is just tapping different green markers all over the leafy area for a summery tree.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Gumball Green, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede markers

Paper: Pear Pizazz, Always Artichoke, Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Natural Ribbon

And this final card uses two accessories and the Big Shot! It uses the exact same layout I have for Christmas cards, but with the brown in place of red it makes a good thank you or masculine card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Old Olive

Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Linen Thread, Natural Buttons, Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Mother's Day Dress #2!

Happy Mother's Day to you!
Today I have a very quick post with another dress I am in love with. This time with a cute jacket, and more of that same embossed detail, which is hard to see... I have to say, the embossing is my favorite idea ever, haha!

Supplies:
Stamps: Creative Elements
Paper: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray & Whisper White cardstocks, Sunshine & Sprinkles DP
Accessories: Dress Up framelits, White Organza ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Mother's Day Dress #1!

You knew those dresses were going to come back for Mother's Day, didn't you?? Today and tomorrow's cards I am super excited about!!

First up, this sweet apron over a classic print dress!

I distressed the DP with some Crumb Cake sponging to age it, and clear embossed this fun detail onto the apron, using the edge stamp from Creative Elements. I seriously love it! You might have to click on the picture to see it better...
Come back tomorrow to see another fun idea!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Creative Elements
Ink: Basic Gray, Versamark, Crumb Cake
Paper: First Edition DP, Marina Mist, Basic Gray & Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Dress Up framelits, Big Shot, Crochet Lace, Vintage Trinkets, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Masculine birthday

Today's card is perfect for a man, and full of retiring products, lol. Its a quick and simple one too, but with just a touch of color to fancy it up. I'm enjoying getting good use out of all my soon-to-be-gone items, and having something to share with you most days!
Today's card also uses the current Retro Sketch, tho I did turn it on its side for my card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Countryside, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, River Rock card stocks
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Linen Thread

Welcome Summer!

Or spring...whichever...lets just bring some sunshine! It keeps raining here, which is not really bad at all, I'm just missing the sun today.
I had fun with the latest Clean & Simple sketch. It really was such a quick, easy card and I love how bright and happy it turned out! What are you creating today?

Supplies:
Stamps: Creative Elements, Summer Silhouettes
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Melon Mambo & Whisper White card stocks

Note Cards of Thanks

On Saturday my daughter chose to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. {More info on that HERE.}

This is a really big deal so all of her aunts, uncles and cousins were invited, along with some other relatives who live nearby-ish, and of course her grandparents. Not all were able to come, but in addition to traveling and bringing food for a pot-luck lunch afterwards, some gave her little gifts as well. This means she needs to send out a lot of thank you cards!

I came up with two styles of thank you notes, completely inspired by Becky. These are such a great idea, especially for kids with a lot of writing to do. I've made them before for my kids to use and my daughter just loves them. So here's the bunch...

(please forgive the lighting!!)
and here are the closeups:

Supplies:
Stamps: Greeting Card Kids, Collage Curios, Forever Young (all retiring!!)
Ink: Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Bashful Blue (retiring!!), Certainly Celery (retiring!!)
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue (retiring) and Certainly Celery (retiring!) card stocks
Accessories: Sycamore Street Ribbon (retired), Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon (retired)

Week 16!

Today I have another weekly page for you. I thought it was time to change up my color schemes and picked an elegant brown/gold combination. The bronzy-gold color is one I 'created' myself using the picker tool. I found that shade somewhere in the lids of jam jars and thought it went very nicely with the DP.

Blog Hop: May Day!

Welcome to our Blog Hop!! This month's theme is May Day projects, because, after all, today is May Day! Be sure and hop all the way through and see everyone's fabulous May Day creations!

I think flowers are what comes to mind for me when I think of May. I didn't find a sketch that worked for the flower stamps I have, but when I found THIS sketch I thought this fun, flowery DP would work nicely. And since I need a birthday card very soon, that's the greeting I chose!

Supplies:
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Midnight Muse
Paper: Patio Party DP, Baja Breeze & Midnight Muse card stock
Accessories: Bitty Buttons, 1 3/8 inch square punch, Glue Dots


Next, I had the idea for this page and thought it suited a May Day theme well, so I saved it to share with you today! The sunshine is finally here (hopefully to stay!) and the flowers are blooming! I stamped the "raining flowers" in Tempting Turquoise onto the Tempting Turquoise card stock for a bit of happy fun. I traced a buttons container to make the Daffodil Delight sun and sponged it a bit with Daffodil Delight ink. Then I dragged the Daffodil Delight 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon across the page as sunburst lines. Finally I added the sweet Paper Daisies and the Brights Buttons!
This page is my daughter's spring picture, just like THIS one of my son. My daughter got two pictures because she forgot to take off her jacket and asked for a quick retake, haha!

Supplies:
Stamps: Million Dollar Moments
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight card stocks
Accessories: Daffodil Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Daisies, Brights Buttons, Glue Dots
(everything marked in italics are all retiring at the end of May, or while supplies last! Grab them fast!)

Now go see what everyone else has created for May Day!