LAST CHANCE!

Today is the last day you can join my happy stamping team and get the Mini Starter Kit for only $99* (retail value $124.90).  This is SUCH a great opportunity to get your foot in the door of Stampin' Up!  You can even customize your kit!!! Even if you decide you only want to be a hobby demo, and never share the great stampin' stuff with your friends and family, you will still have the wonderful support of a fabulous company, willing to help you in any way they can.  And if, after the first quarter, in the VERY UNLIKELY event you don't want to continue, that's it....you can just keep the starter kit with no obligation whatsoever.  Contact me for the secret password!!!

MY STORY
I started out as a hobby demo last July.  I had planned to just get the wonderful discount on items for my own personal use.  The Stampin' Success Magazine that comes every month, and is packed full of ideas, sneak peeks, etc., was an added bonus.  BUT......I love stamping, and especially Stampin' Up! products, so much that I couldn't help talking about it to friends, and showing off the things I had made.  That piqued the interest of many of them, so I showed them how easy it was to make beautiful cards and paper crafts.  And the rest, as they say, is history!

*Note: Starting tomorrow, July 1st, the Starter Kit will be $175, which will include over $310 worth of products. It is also customizable!

I'm Scrappin'!!!!

Okay, I admit, this probably looks really amateurish to you seasoned professional scrapbookers out there, but I am having the time of my life playing with My Digital Studio!  Hoo boy!!!  As if I didn't waste spend enough quality time sitting on my arse in front of the computer, except for when I'm making something - no, not a mess - well, okay maybe a mess- in my craft room.....but I digress.  Now I have a new addiction tool to use and learn and share with my dear friends.  Yeah, that's the ticket. :-D

My Digital Studio

Oh. My. Heck.  After returning from the family reunion/grandmother's 95th birthday celebration in Utah, I finally loaded My Digital Studio on my computer, after letting it sit, unopened, for about 90 years nine months.  I don't know why I was so intimidated by it......it is so EASY and user friendly!!!  This is the flyer I designed last night for the Open House next week, and emailed to friends and family.  

Now I am inspired to start scrapbooking with it!  As soon as I finish making the samples for the open house. ;-)

And, by the way, you are invited, too!  Just let me know you plan to come so I can prepare enough card kits!!!

Farewell, Taken With Teal...Adieu, Cameo Coral...Adios, Green Galore

NOW...... now, when they're RETIRING, I find a cool color combination I want to play around with some more. There's a lesson in there somewhere.  Like, don't put off playing with the new Color Coach.  I'm going to take all the cards out and start mixing up different colors and see what's appealing.  The new Color Coach already has a couple of color combos on each color card, but I like to think outside the box, sometimes.

BTW, that's the new Blushing Bride In Color in the background - GOJUS, as Jan Tinklenberg would say!

Stamps: Watercolor Trio
Cardstock: Taken With Teal, Green Galore, Whisper White, Cameo Coral
Ink: Cameo Coral & Green Galore Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots Textured Impressions Embossing folder, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing folder, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing folder, Designer Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Gold Glow Smooch Spray

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Yesterday, my wonderful, smart, funny, kind, cute, exceedingly tolerant, sexy husband and I (who am so NOT those things!) celebrated our 35th anniversary.  This man makes me laugh every day, and can still make my knees weak with a look.  I am so blessed to be able to share my life with him, and every year is better than the last as our love deepens.  It doesn't seem possible, but it does!

I love you with every fiber of my being, Babe.  Here's to another 35!!!

And the Winner is........

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

12

Timestamp: 2010-06-14 07:25:19 UTC

The magic number generator chose Lisa Eisner - congratulations!

lisa808 said...
I like the pink card best--the color is pretty and the popped-up image looks nice.

June 11, 2010 3:16 PM

Lisa, please email me with your mailing address and I'll send the stamp set to you right away.  You have 48 hours to contact me.

WELCOME TO THE LAST CHANCE HOP!

Greetings, and welcome to Stampin' Addicts Last Chance Blog Hop, featuring stamp sets that Stampin' Up! will be retiring the end of this month when the new catalog comes out.  I'm always sorry to see some things go, but also excited, because I know I will find new favorites to love!  I am offering blog candy, too, so be sure to check the bottom of this post for details.

This is stop number 17 on the tour, and if you've been following in order, you just arrived from Kim's blog, Stitchin' n Stampin' on Paper, which featured Bella's Bloom.  Weren't the card holder and seed packet holder fabulous?

I am showcasing Spring Song, which is just too cute for words.  I love that the birds are kind of a neutral image, which can be used on cards for just about any occasion.  The first card has a Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  I painted over him with Champagne Mist Shimmer paint to try and give him an iridescence, like the flying jewel he is! (Click on the photos to see larger images.)

Stamps: Spring Song, Tiny Tags, Bella Toile - Cardstock: Shimmery White, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Basic Black - Ink: VersaMark, Blush Blossom, Soft Suede, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Rose Red, Basic Black - Accessories: Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Gold Smooch Spritz, Curly Label Punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Blender pens

The little birdie image on the next card made me think of a finch, so I looked up images of Goldfinches to try
to get the coloring right.  I think he looks kind of cold, like he's huddling on that branch.  You probably can't see it, but I used a dot of Crystal Effects on his eye, and it looks like he's really looking at you with his shiny little eye!

Stamps: Spring Song, Teeny Tiny Wishes - Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Kraft (Crumb Cake), Summer Sun, Shimmery White, Vellum - Ink: Basic Black, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Garden Green - Accessories: Hemp Twine, Blender pens, Crystal Effects, Distressed Texture Plate, Big Shot, Paper Cutter w/ scoring blade, Paper Piercer, Color Spritzer Tool

For my last card, I used the hummingbird image again, but wanted to go a little bolder in the color scheme.  I looked for hummingbird photos, and thought the Rufous Hummingbird would go nicely with the (retiring) Cameo Coral base that I wanted to use.  The image was stamped on Watercolor Paper, using black Staz-On ink, then I used a blender pen and ink pads to color the bird and blossoms.  That background paper is called Pink Flamingo, and it's also retiring the end of the month. This card is going to my grandmother for her 95th (!) birthday next week!!!

Stamps: Spring Song, Elements of Style, Teeny Tiny Wishes - Cardstock: Cameo Coral Textured, Basic Black, Whisper White, Watercolor Paper, Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper - Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, VersaMark, Basic Black, Really Rust, Soft Suede, Real Red, Cameo Coral, Garden Green, Summer Sun - Accessories: Blender Pens, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

The next stop on the tour is Cheryl's blog Love to Stamp & Scrap, where she is featuring Embrace Life.  Check out her cards and card organizer!

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Thanks so much for coming by!

This blog tour was organized by the good people at Stampin' Addicts, where the motto is "Positively Creative! Positively Stampin' Up!"  This is the best online community to visit if you love Stampin' Up!!!  It's free and open demonstrators and customers alike....anyone who loves Stampin' up! If you've never been there, be sure to check it out.  We'll be lookin' for ya!

MY BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY:

I'm giving away this Happy Moments (new, unmounted clear mount) stamp set.  All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me which card you like the best, and why!  I'll use Random.org to choose a winner Monday morning and announce it then.  Please, no "anonymous" comments - you must at least give your name, otherwise I won't know who you are!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (Things Old & New)!

Well, I was a good girl and finished the color change-over in my paper organizer.  Lookie:

I even changed out my markers and insert.  It was a tough job, but it's done!  You may notice a couple of unlabeled slots - I don't have Riding Hood Red or Wild Wasabi yet.  They should be here in a few days, and then my collection will be complete. :-D

So, as a reward for my hard work, I made this cute little card!

I used something old (background paper is from the Welcome Neighbor paper pack from Sale-A-Bration), and somethings new.....the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions embossing folder, the Friends Never Fade stamp set for the flower, and the Perfect Punches stamp set for the greeting.  Oh!  And the new Cherry Cobbler color for the mat and flower (along with Daffodil Delight & Always Artichoke).

Doin' a Happy Dance!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it - I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!  The Man in Brown brought my boxes (yes, that's boxES, plural!) of pre-order goodies today, and I'm in seventh heaven!!!  

Getting the new colors has motivated me to organize my paper sorter - out with the old, in with the new.  So, before I play with the new goodies, I am being a harsh task-master disciplined and getting that done.  Playing with the new embossing folder, scallop rectangle Clearlits, markers,  and stamps sets (be still, my heart!) will be my reward.


Meanwhile, here's a card to look at, so this isn't just a boring post about new things that I can't show you yet (heh heh heh!). Don't say I never did anything for ya.  You know I love you all!!!

Happy Graduation

Longtime friend's daughter just graduated.  We had some doubts about this day ever coming, but she did it, and seems to be getting her act together (you GO, girl!).  I know this wasn't in her school colors of Cardinal and Navy, but I've been on a Sahara Sand bender lately, lol.

Striped paper is from the Patterns Pack III (Level 1 hostess set in current catalog). Stamped image is from the Watercolor Trio stamp set.

Retiring List Mega Blog Hop

It's that time of year again, which always fills me with excitement, as well as a little sorrow.  Excitement, because the new, big Idea Book and Catalog starts July first (and it's 16 pages larger than last year, wooHOO), and it is jam-packed with new goodies.  Sorrow, because some of my favorite things (especially some accessories) are going away (sniff, sniff).  But I can't get too sad about it, because there are new favorites coming, of that I have no doubt!

Which leads me to the blog hop.  Stampin' Addicts is at it again - this time organizing a MEGA hop featuring stamp sets that will be retiring at the end of this month.  This gives you, dear reader, a chance to see the stamp sets in action, and a chance to order before they are gone forever.  And, speaking of gone forever, everything on the retirement lists are on a "while supplies last" basis, so don't wait until the end of the month to order!  In fact, since the price of cardstock is going up in the new catalog, NOW would be a good time to get a supply of your fave colors that aren't retiring, as well as the ones that are.  If you don't have a regular demo that you order from, I'd be happy to help you! Just click on the "Last Chance" button on the upper right.

Fund Raiser Cards and Boxes!

Here are a few more cards for the fundraiser, along with the box they will go with.  The first two are thank you cards, and the second two are friendship/thinking of you cards.

I wanted  to make each one unique, yet somewhat a matched set, so I mixed up the designer paper backgrounds, stamped images, and colors a bit.

The box was so fun to make, and really has a WOW factor, I think. I got the instructions from Sudsol, posted there by the very talented Sandi McIver.  She used the Haiku DSP from a while back, so I just changed it to Tea Party DSP.

I'm going to miss the retiring designer papers, but at the same time, I am soooo excited to play with the new papers that are coming out soon!

The box below is for the cards I posted on June 1st.

More Cards for the Fund Raiser

Over the next few days I'll be posting pics of the cards I'm still working on for the Breast Cancer 3 Day fundraiser.  These two cards were quick and easy to do, using the masking technique, and the new gold Smooch Spritz.  Here's a close-up of the sparkly "sand":

I made another one using the reverse side of the Island Oasis Designer Series Paper frame.  Which one do you like better?

I am so sad to see Trio Flower Punch, which I used for the centers of the flowers is retiring the end of this month.  If you want 'em, you'd better order them soon!!!

Breast Cancer 3 Day Fundraiser

This is such a worthy cause! I may not have a lot of $$ to donate, but I am donating some card sets to a raffle/silent auction.  This is one of the sets.  Each set will have matching envelopes and gift box.

I got inspiration for the cards from Lyssa Zwolanek's card HERE (thanks, Lyssa!).  Love that Presto Patterns DSP!!!  Here's a close-up of it:

Stamps: Ribbon of Hope, For All You Do, Song of Spring - Stampin' Up, "Hope" and "You are an inspiration" sentiments H&M Stamps
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette (it's coming back, yippeeeee!), Rose Red, Whisper White
Patterned Paper: Presto Patterns Designer Series Paper
Ink: Rose Red
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Pretty in Pink 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, pink pearl brads