Fishin'

Check out these new brads I used on this scrapbook page...I love both new size and colors!

Today is the LAST day to order the Valentine's Bundle at 20 percent off. Tomorrow begins sale-a-bration! Check out tomorrow's post to kick this event off!

With a cherry on top!

As if you couldn't tell, I'm rather fond of the new hostess stamp set "Goody-Goody Gumdrops." It's been a different image set than most sets I own so it's been a bit more challenging for me. But I like the projects I've made so far with it. This card is for one of my good friends...it's her birthday today!!!! Happy Birthday, Melissa!
Card Recipe: CS: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink: Basic Brown, Going Gray; Stamps: Goody-Goody Gumdrops; Accessories: Crystal Effects, Tombow Multi Adhesive, Chunky Glitter, Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates

Challenge Thursday--Circles

Last night I gave the new circle scissor plus a try! My first tip is to make sure you adhesive down your paper to the glass mat. There is no way you can cut a circle without applying adhesive. I love how smoothly and quickly this circle cutter works. Once you have the adhesive applied, the cutter glides very smoothly.

This was my first attempt at using the circle cutter. I love how easily you can adjust to a size smaller to get perfect mats!!! This is the Level 3 Hostess stamp set Goody-Goody Gumdrops. I stamped the owls and greeting with the stamp-a-ma-jig to be sure they all fit in the circle. I watercolored the images using an Aquapainter and only one color...Going Gray. I love the "sketchy" look of the image.
Card Recipe: CS: Basic Black, Blush Blossom; Ink: Basic Black, Going Gray; Stamps: Goody-Goody Gumdrops; Accessories: Circle Scissor Plus, Black Gingham Ribbon, AquaPainter

My goal (again) for the year is to get more scrapbooking done. I had hoped to complete two pages a day...but that's obviously not going to happen so I'll aim for five a week and then just be extra happy if I get more done a week. This is the first scrapbook page I used the Circle Scissor Plus on. I love the theme of circles on this page. As long as I used the adhesive, it cut perfectly through my pictures and cardstock!
Scrapbook Page Recipe: CS: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze; Ink: Pacific Point classic, Sahara Sand Marker, VersaMarker; Stamps: Jumbo Outline Alphabet; Accessories: Seeing Spots Classy Brass Template, Stylus, Circle Scissor Plus
So...today I challenge you to create a project (card, scrapbook page, 3-D item) that features CIRCLES. Leave me a comment on this post so I can see how much fun you've had with circles :)

Birthday Beauty Thanks

Last night I needed to do Sierra's thank you cards from her birthday. I wanted to use my new "eyelet border punch" so here's the card I came up with.

I love this Birthday Beauty stamp set...even though, it's retired. Lucky for me, one of my customers owns this stamp set and let me borrow it. The eyelet border punch is super easy to use. It seems easier to line up with the front markings than the scallop punch...but I do love them both!

SU! announced yesterday our manufacturer of the Coluzzle has recently discontinued both the Starter Set (item 102264) and the Refill Blades (item 102721). We no longer have any inventory of the Refill Blades, and they are now unavailable for order. We will continue to sell the Coluzzle Starter Set until inventory has been depleted. So if you want the Starter Set...order TODAY!!! Tomorrow I'll show you a card and a scrapbook page that are created with the AMAZING new Circle Scissor Plus!

Card Recipe: CS: Kraft, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Confetti Cream; Stamps: Birthday Beauty (retired), Thank You Kindly; Ink: Basic Brown, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom, Going Gray; Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Aquapainter

Technique Tuesday--Texturz Plates!

Welcome to the first posting of technique Tuesday. I'm going to try and post a new technique every Tuesday. Some weeks it will be a technique...other weeks it will be a product-focused technique. Yesterday I got my NEW Texturz Plates. Oh, my!!!! I'm in love! They are awesome. All the cards I did last night HAD to have these texturz plates used on them some how!!!

They are super easy to use with the Big Shot. Here's the sandwich I used: Multipurpose Platform, Texturz Plate, Cardstock, Silicone Rubber, Impressions Pad...BEAUTIFUL!!!! Check out page 203 in the catalog to see how fun these new texturz plates are. This card uses my favorite new stamp set "Thoughts & Prayers" found on page 58. I love that ALL stamp sets are now die-cut! How nice is that?!?! :)

Card Recipe: CS: Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Very Vanilla; Ink: Close to Cocoa, More Mustard; Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers; Accessories: Big Shot, Flourish Texturz Plate, 1/16" punch, sponge dauber, Vintage Brads, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Mommy Moments Beginning

Well, it's come time to create a blog specifically for "family" posts...I've been debating this for quite some time. What made me finally decide to create one dedicated to the kids because I found that I have way more family pics from this past week that just don't make sense posting them on my "stamp" blog...so it's time for something new! I'm happy with my cooking blog being separate so I'm sure that I'll be happy with this. Here you will find the posts about the kiddos. If you're looking for posts about my latest recipe, look here! So be sure to subscribe to one, two, or all three :) Beginning tomorrow, watch for daily posts...even with a few new, exciting additions to this blog.

Friend to Friend

I love the "Love You Much" bundle that is available through Jan. 31. Each of these products is available separately in the current catalog...but when you buy the bundle you save 20 percent! Can't beat that :)

Thanks to those of you who made it to the new catalog open house yesterday! It was great seeing so many of you again. Our door prize winners were: Shauli (Fresh Cuts stamp set), Kat (On Board Simon Upper), Lucie, Kay (Flight of the Butterfly stamp set), and Emily.
My first shipment from the new catalog arrives on Monday!!! Can't wait to play with the new toys. Be sure to check out my events page to see what upcoming classes I'm offering.

Princess Party

Wow! What a week of fun and preparation! Sierra had her "2nd birthday" yesterday with 30+ of her friends. We enjoyed lunch together and then had some fun with box towers/castles,

musical thrones, graham cracker castle decorating,


pin the crown on the princess,
and her special request...a pinata.

(this was Sydney's first time swinging at a pinata :)



After most everyone left, Sierra had fun opening the presents. After each one, she would make some really cute comment..."oh, just what I wanted" "isn't this so cute" "I love it" "can I play with this right now?"


It was a great day...and so fun to share it with such good friends.

Love the new catalog!

See you at the Open House today from 2-6 p.m. You'll love the new catalog!
Can't attend?? Contact me to receive your own copy of the catalog! There are many ways to get one for FREE!

Glitter Window

What a busy week!!! Here's a card we did for our demo meeting this month. The glitter window is made by punching a circle and then adding packing tape to the back of it...sticky side so it faces the front. Pour on the glitter...tada...glitter window! We used the stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the heart on the inside.

Birthday Princess

Our princess is 5! What a fun day we had today. We started the morning with number 5 blueberry pancakes complete with candles.


Presents followed. She was so excited about everything.

We went out for a birthday lunch at her favorite restaurant where they sang to her and gave her balloons and a free meal on her next visit.

This afternoon she kept asking if the phone was ringing for her...she loved it when the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents called to sing and wish her a happy birthday! Now she's looking forward to her "2nd birthday"...her friend b-day party this weekend! :)

Rock Star!

It's birthday day at our house for a special 5 year old so our day is pretty busy, but I just wanted to stop in today to share a card made with a new stamp set.

This is a new Level 2 stamp set called "A Little Somethin'. All 6 images in this stamp set coordinate with punches offered by SU! So of course, you know I was all over this stamp set. This star was just heat embossed in silver EP on Basic Black CS. It's a very simple card...but I LOVE how it turned out.

View the new catalog at my open house on Saturday, Jan 24, from 2-6 p.m. Come any time and stay how long you want. You'll love browsing the new catalog, stamping with NEW stamp sets, and seeing stampin' friends! Everyone will get to make two cards with NEW stamps. You'll receive a gift just for attending...bring a friend, and you'll both receive two gifts! Door prizes will also be given away every 45 minutes. Class calendar will be ready for you to see what fun we're going to have the next 6 months. Stamp Club Members, you'll receive your FREE catalog for being a stamp club member at this event. You won't want to miss the fun! No need to RSVP...see you then. Can't attend but you want to see the catalog, e-mail me or phone me!

Card Recipe: CS: Basic Black, Basic Gray; Ink: VersaMark; Stamps: A Little Somethin'; Accessories: Lg. Star Punch, Silver EP, Heat Tool, Dimensional, Black Gingham Ribbon

It's Here!!!!

You can view the new catalog TODAY at Noon (MT)!!!

Monster Jam 2009

Last night Dave & JR enjoyed a night of fun with Nick & Courtney at the Monster Jam. I think this will definitely be on the schedule every year for awhile. JR's favorite part was when Gravedigger won two trophies. Since they went last year, they learned a few things...buy tickets ahead of the event (they had GREAT seats this year), buy nachos early in the night so they don't run out, the hot chocolate is hot but very nice for a chilly night, and be prepared for cold weather and lots of noise. You can see the pics from last year here.

Intense

The kids received a wii for Christmas...a lot of time has been spent practicing so they can race Uncle Roger better. This afternoon the kids did very well against him! You could tell they've been practicing :)

Farewell, Well-loved Stamps!

As I mentioned the other day, I'm most sad about the canvas background stamp retiring. Here are my next two favorite stamp sets that I've used more often than not...

Summer by the Sea...I {heart} this stamp set. It became one of my favorites when I first learned to stamp on tiles. I've since found SO many uses for it! My stamp clubbers are probably glad to see it finally retiring so they can use a different stamp once in awhile! (LOL!!)

Crab & Company...I had to have this stamp set when it first came out! It's so perfect when you live so close to the beach like we do. I've used it many times. Although, I have yet to use it for a Christmas card (I love the santa hat and the "sandy claws" greeting it comes with). The matching wheel is perfect for ANY beach page I'm scrapbooking. Farewell, my well-loved rubber friends!

ETA: You're right, Candi, I did use this stamp set for a Christmas card in 2007...thanks for the reminder :)

Farewell, Hostess Stamp Sets!

I've really enjoyed the hostess stamp sets that have been available in the Fall-Winter Catalog the past six months.

Window Dressing--How fun has this level 3 stamp set been?? I love the fun things I've been able to create with it.

Organic Grace---wish I had started using this set sooner! I love it!


Best Yet--Love the words in this set...not your typical word set but VERY useful! Definitely the most popular level 1 set w/ my customers. The second card also uses one of my all-time favorite stamp sets--Summer by the Sea. I will miss using this stamp set for all of my watercoloring needs!

Deer Friends--Most popular level 2 Hostess set with my customers. Such an easy set to use! I love that I found a use for it as a non-Christmas card :)


Punches Three--How adorable is this stamp?!?!? I love the fun things I've been able to create w/ this stamp set.
Check back Saturday and Sunday as I say farewell to some of my very beloved stamp sets that will be retiring on Sunday. Then Monday...watch out for NEW stamps!!!!!

Mommy Moment

At our adult preschool night meetings, there's always a specific topic of discussion. Last night was about positive relationships with your spouse and your children. In one of the many discussions we had, one was about getting your kids to talk after school. One of the moms said she asks her kids, two specific questions...what was the best thing that happened at school and what was the worse thing that happened at school? I thought they were excellent questions since the usual response to my question "How was school today?" I get the "fine" with the "don't ask any more questions, mom" eyes. So today I tried it out!!! Here were the answers:

JR..worst...someone broke my pencil (which preceded into a discussion about why someone else was even holding his pencil) :)
best...he couldn't really come up with one at first...but then he remembered that he helped one of his friends with his work in class so that was a good thing.

Before Sierra could "play" along, I had to define best/worst to her so we came up w/ the happiest thing and the saddest thing.

Sierra...best (happy)...was drawing a really good giraffe today with pink spots
worst (saddest)...when Nathan got hurt and his elbow bled (I had no idea that Sierra even knew this happened to a boy at school...but this definitely shows Sierra's personality!)

So fast-foward to dinner...we're telling Dave about our new "questions" mommy asks after school. JR then says "Actually, my worst thing today was when I farted in class. Everybody laughed even though I said excuse me." Our conversation then turned into how embarrassing things happen to all of us sometimes. You can bet, though, I did get a bit of snicker out of it myself. Can't wait to hear tomorrow's best and worst :) Give it a try!

Barrettes

This month's magazine for demos has a fun idea with bobby pins and build-a-brads. This morning as Sierra was getting ready, she was looking for some pink barrettes for her hair. We couldn't find two the same so I whipped these up quick.

I stamped the mini hearts from the "Love You Much" stamp set and then punched them out with the heart to heart punch. The pink ink is so light that I could not get a good picture of them, but you get the general idea even if you can't see the colors. Happy Stampin' Day!

Organic Grace

Here's a sneak peek at Friday night's class...

This card is made with the Organic Grace Level 1 Hostess set. I just mounted this set for this card and I LOVE this set. So versatile for all occassions. I'm truly going to miss using my canvas background stamp in my classes. I always use it (maybe it's a good thing it's going so I can try something else!!!) The main image's background is called "faux linen" which was created with a sanding block. Another FUN technique we learned last week at technique night.

To My Valentine

Thursday night's technique class we played with the sanding blocks. One of the MUSTS when you work with chipboard is a sanding block. On this card, we inked the chipboard with Real Red Craft ink, heat set the ink, and then sanded the edges. I love the distressed look the sanding gives to the chipboard. AND it matches perfectly with the Kraft Cardstock. Lately, I just can't get enough of the Kraft CS! I LOVE it!!! On this card, I also used the Love You Much stamp set with the matching Heart-to-Heart punch! So much fun! Have you made your valentine a card yet?? Stampin' Up! has some adorable valentine's sets that are currently available! Contact me to get your own.

Love You Much

I made this card for our demo meeting last week. I love the simpleness of it! You can't tell from this picture, but crystal effects has been applied over the Real Red marker...it looks so classy!

Have you ordered you Love You Much Bundle???? Get it before Jan. 31 to receive a 20 percent discount on the products included...love you much stamp set, candy lane dsp, and heart-to-heart punch! Watch for more fun projects posted this week using this AWESOME bundle! My favorite part of the bundle is the AWESOME heart-to-heart punch!!!!
Card Recipe: CS: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White; Ink: Basic Black, Real Red marker; Stamp set: Love you much; Accessories: Crystal Effects, Vintage Brads, Crafter's Tool Kit (paper piercer)

Birthday Invitation

Princess Sierra's 5th birthday is quickly coming...and she's getting her first "friend" birthday party. Here's the invitations that we made together. She stamped all of the background hearts on all 30 invites! She's so excited!

Card Recipe: CS: Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion, Whisper White; Ink: Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion; Stamps: Sweet Celebrations, Oh, My Word (retired Hostess set); Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Sponge
Here's the cardmaker hard at work :)

Weekend Family Fun

Being that the kids were sick off and on this week, we didn't get outside much during the week. Saturday afternoon we enjoyed some time in the garden. We even cooked dinner over a fire. Our most exciting news is watching our oranges change on our orange tree!! It will be our first year of our own oranges. :)

December

All supplies used in these calendars are from Stampin' Up!...although, some of the stamps and paper may not be available anymore. If you have a specific question about a technique or product, just leave me a comment. Thanks for letting me share these calendars. Can't wait to get started on the ones for next year!