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!