Unfrogettable Stamping!

Sending hope, love and prayers to a friend...

  I can't remember where I saw it, but someone once wrote that a card is like sending a hug with a fold in the middle... and that is exactly what I wanted my friend and downline Michelle to feel when she opened this card from me.  She shared some news with me recently and is in need of prayer and I wanted to let her know that I will be thinking of her and sending up daily prayers for her.  This card features the retired Hope & Strength stamp set along with a color scheme of regal rose, basic black and whisper white and is my first attempt at the chalkboard technique.  I could not locate my white embossing powder so tried it with clear and I think it turned out okay.  I hope it put a little sunshine in Michelle's day when she opened it!

  Don't forget how good you can make someone feel by sending them a hand-stamped card... why not send one today?   Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage Valentine class projects

  Can you believe that Valentine's Day is in just a few weeks?  Seems like we just got through Christmas!  I held a Valentine class today and these are the projects that everyone made.  I am loving this color combination of very vanilla, crumb cake, real red and soft suede!  Do you love Pinterest as much as I do?  I love to see all the wonderful ideas out there and be inspired by them and that is exactly how these class projects came about... I had pinned THIS tags photo on my Valentine board and used it as a jumping off point.  Sadly, the link goes nowhere but the artist is Candace Pierce so I can give her proper credit.

  This is the tag that I designed that led to the rest of the projects.  I love how it turned out!  I used LOTS of Big Shot items for this... the Two Tags die for the tag itself, Hearts a Flutter framelits and coordinating stamp set from the Spring catalog and Chevron impressions folder to add the texture.  The red glimmer paper just adds so much bling and matched my red kisses perfectly!  I sponged everything with crumb cake ink and used the full heart punch to create the banner (saw that great tip on Pinterest shared by Annika Flebbe).  First Edition specialty DSP, Victoria crochet trim, white baker's twine, 4" x 6" cello bags and linen thread were also used in addition to the Delightful Dozen stamp set.

  Here is a close-up of the card.  It features several Big Shot impressions folders - Perfect Polka Dots and Framed Tulips.  The stamp is from You are Loved and both the full heart and decorative label punches were used for this card in addition to basic pearl jewels, red glimmer paper, Victoria crochet trim and First Edition specialty DSP.

  This last project is a decor piece sized at 5" x 7" that can be dropped into a standard frame or added to a larger 12" x 12" scrapbook page.  Once again I relied on my trusty Big Shot to cut out the letters using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies along with the Scallop Square Duos Bigz die for the squares.  The large heart was punched out using the full heart punch and the smaller heart was stamped and diecut with the Hearts a Flutter bundle.  A pearl jewel, Victoria crochet trim and Naturals designer button were added for embellishment.

  Are you making your Valentine's Day projects this year?  You still have time!!  Contact me to place an order or help you design your projects based on products you already have on hand.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Valentine class with the Lovely Ladies of the Williams Home

  I had the pleasure of visiting with the Lovely Ladies of The Williams Home last Thursday for a fun Valentine class!  I used some of my favorite past Valentine sets and they each made two cards plus a chocolate favor.  I really enjoy my time crafting with these awesome Ladies!  I showed them my blog and pictures from the last class and they were thrilled... they very carefully posed for close-ups with their completed projects:

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Sale-a-Bration Kick-off Open House projects

  Despite the snow, I held my Sale-a-Bration kick-off Open House yesterday with an added second session today for those unable to get out yesterday due to the weather.  The above chocolate favor was one of the make-n-takes that everyone who attended got to make.  I CASE'd a similar favor that Becky Roberts shared a while ago on her blog. It is super easy and starts out as a Top Note die cut out with the Big Shot.  The Sycamore Street DSP (#127540) is a Sale-a-Bration item and the stamp is from the Pretty Petites set (#129639 WM or #129642 CM) which is also a Sale-a-Bration item.  The Petite Curly Label punch (#129405) used to cut it out is also available as a Sale-a-Bration option (but unlike the other items will be available for purchase after SAB is over).  You can choose any one of these Sale-a-Bration items for FREE with a qualifying $50 order placed now through March 22nd!!  To learn more about Sale-a-Bration please visit my Promotions page HERE.

  Here is the card that everyone made... isn't the pinwheel cute?  Once again I used the SAB Sycamore Street DSP along with the Pinwheel Sizzlits S die from page 33 of the Spring catalog.  The sentiments are from the coordinating Wishes Your Way stamp set also found in the Spring catalog.

  This close up shows how the pinwheel comes together - held by one tiny little brad.  Using DSP is great with these because you get to see both patterns!  Once put together, the pinwheel was attached to the card with a stampin' dimensional but if you want it to twirl you could put the brad through the background paper.

  Did you know that if you join my team during Sale-a-Bration you get to choose 25% MORE in your starter kit thanks to Stampin' Up! celebrating their 25 year anniversary?!  For the cost of $99 plus your local sales tax (shipping is FREE!) you get to choose $156.50 in merchandise... yes, it is totally customizable!  Jodi took advantage of this deal and joined my team yesterday - I'm so thrilled to have her as a new member!!!  Who else wants to join and earn a discount on all of their purchases and build a stamping business that is flexible with YOUR circumstances?  Contact me for more details!!!

  Thanks for stopping by... if you would like to place an order to earn a FREE Sale-a-Bration item please visit my online store HERE or contact me! 

Fabulous Valentine easel card

  Happy Friday!  It's a snowy one here in Central Virginia which makes my kids very happy!  This week on the Sisters in Stamping blog we are featuring Valentine's Day cards since it is coming up shortly.  I decided to create an easel card - by scoring it twice (at one-half and one-quarter the length of the card base) you can fold it up so that card stands up.    I used the Valentine sentiment from the Delightful Dozen stamp set and the largest heart from Hearts-a-Flutter from the Spring catalog with the coordinating framelits and the Big Shot to cut it out.  I also cut out a smaller heart using a framlit and real red card stock.

    Here is a close-up of the heart embellishment... love that little bling from the rhinestone jewel!

   To create a "stand" to help the card stay up I added a heart embellishment using various punches and a stampin' dimensional.  The great thing about this card is it folds up nice and flat to fit into a regular envelope!

  For more inspiration for your Valentine's Day cards, please hop on over to the Sisters in Stamping blog.  I hope you have a fabulous weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Simply Paper Design Challenge #1 - January 2013

  My sister Cindy Blekas and Michelle Arthur (both extremely talented members of my downline) host a design challenge each month on Cindy's blog that is called the Simply Paper Design Challenge.  As part of my New Year's resolution I am participating in more challenges so here is my card for January's challenge...

I decided to use last May's sketch for my card:

  Rather than using those In Colors (which have since retired), I decided to showcase the exclusive Sale-a-Bration Sycamore Street DSP (#127540) and coordinating Ribbon & Button pack (#130812).

  Do you see the super large rhinestone jewel in the center of my flower?  That is a new product being offered in the Spring Catalog!!  I love that the Mixed Bunch stamp set has a coordinating Blossom punch so I don't have to cut out any flowers... makes it really easy to put this card together!  If you take a look at the tangerine tango card stock layer in the background, I added texture using the new Honeycomb impressions folder also found in the new Spring catalog and I just love that Essentials stamp set that includes this Happy Birthday sentiment (will be featuring that in my upcoming Essentials class!). 

  Want to make this card?  Host a workshop with me and you'll get to stamp it as your make-n-take if you like!  Contact me to book your date!

The Sale-a-Bration Party has BEGUN!!!!

  Wooo hoooo!  Today is the first day of a two-month long Sale-a-Bration promotion during which you can earn FREE exclusive products with each qualifying $50 order!!  (Check out the offerings HERE). Be sure to scroll down to see some fabulous card samples!

  Better yet, host a workshop or private class and you can earn even more rewards as a hostess if you reach a minimum of $150 in orders.  Hit the $400 mark and you earn a bundle that includes 3 exclusive items - you'd have to spend $150 to earn it otherwise!!  So what are you waiting for?  Contact me to book a date to have your girlfriends over for a fun night of stamping!!  Don't have time to do that but want to earn hostess benefits?  You can if you show a catalog around and collect orders... everyone placing an order for a catalog show will get a hand-stamped card as a thank you from me as if they had attended a workshop and stamped a make-n-take and you as the hostess will earn a gift from me in addition to the hostess benefits you earn through Stampin' Up!

  Here are a few samples that I received in a recent swap to inspire you... the selections are fabulous and I know you're going to want to earn several of them before it all ends onMarch 22nd!!!

 
Bloomin' Marvelous card by Christy Stanford

 

Pretty Petites card by Jan Carlson

(also featuring the Petite Curly Label punch and Vine Street texture folder)

 

Patterned Occasions card by Marica Goldschmidt

 

Feeling Sentimental card by Mercedes Weber

 

Madison Avenue card by Michelle Miller

(also featuring the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Bundle pack and Vine Street texture folder)

* * * * *

  So which is your favorite Sale-a-Bration item?  Can't choose just one?  Neither can I so don't feel bad!  When you're ready to place your order, hop on over to my online store or contact me and I'll be happy to place it for you!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

 

 

Valentine Ghirardelli chocolate treats for SCIC #62

  One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to participate in more challenges around the blogosphere so I can be more creative.  I love to find new color combinations, sketches and ideas for paper crafting!  I created these Valentine Ghirardelli chocolate holders using my Big Shot along with the Scallop Envelope bigz die, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit and several textured impressions folders.  It is a CASE of one I created last year (see that post HERE).  The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

  I pulled my colors from the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #62 for January 2013.  I fell in love with the softness of the color combination of baja breeze and pretty in pink with crumb cake and whisper white!!

  I will be making these Valentine treats with the Lovely Ladies of The Williams Home later this week and I know they're going to love them!  I used three different Big Shot impressions folders - Lacy Brocade (carryover from Holiday catalog), Fancy Fan and the new exclusive Sale-a-Bration Vine Street.  In case any of the Ladies wants to make one of these for her grandson I will take real red card stock for the hearts - wouldn't want it to be too girly!

  For step-by-step instructions on how to make these yourself please check out my blog post from last year HERE.   The DSP strip is from the Twitterpated pack and the only addition is the sentiment - stamped on whisper white and cut out with the word window punch. 

  If you like the look of the Vine Street texture folder you can get this for FREE with a qualifying $50 order beginning TOMORROW when Sale-a-Bration begins!!!  Contact me to place an order or place it through my online store HERE (click on Shop Now).

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Secret Garden card

  Earlier this month I held my first team meeting of the year and everyone got to make this card featuring the Secret Garden bundle (stamp set and coordinating Big Shot framelits dies, bought together for a 15% savings), Feel Goods stamp set and Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP.  All of these products can be found in the new Spring catalog!!  Does it look familiar?  It is based on my Fabulous Friday project that I shared HERE.

  I love not having to cut out the individual stamp images - the framelits do that for you with the Big Shot!

  Jennifer was our Presenter at the meeting and shared how she created her beautiful Big Shot jewelry at last year's Christmas gift exchange using Shrinky Dink plastic.

  Check out these beauties all created with our Big Shot dies, stamp sets, ink and accessories!!

  And Jennifer was kind enough to give me this gorgeous butterfly pendant as a gift.  Thanks so much, Jennifer, for the awesome presentation and also for the beautfiul gift!

  Would you like to learn how to make these?  Contact me to book your workshop for a demonstration or private class to make some yourself!  Thanks for visiting, have a great day!

 

One more Bloomin' Beautiful card

  While creating my Fabulous Friday project yesterday I actually ended up designing two cards featuring the Bloomin' Marvelous Sale-a-Bration (SAB) set.  This is the second card - it features the Sycamore Street DSP (another SAB selection) and the new bitty butterfly punch from the Spring catalog that coordinates beautifully with the butterfly image from the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set!  I created the butterfly trail using my paper piercing tool and then added a strip of whisper white card stock with texture added using the Big Shot and Square Lattice impressions folder and added a small rhinestone jewel to the butterfly to finish off the card.  I had already created a similar card for a mail-in swap so decided to go with my other card for the Sisters in Stamping blog submission.  I really love the colors (pool party, island indigo and whisper white) on this card - it just makes me happy!

  Here is a close-up of the pierced butterfly trail.  To get the two-tone effect on the butterfly image:

- use a pool party ink pad to add ink to the stamp

- use an island indigo stampin' write marker and go along the outer edge or wherever you want to add shading

- huff on the stamp to re-moisten the ink and then stamp on whisper white card stock

Use the punch to cut out your stamped image and attach it to your card panel with a stampin' dimensional.  Easy-peasey!

  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

* Don't forget to RSVP for my Jan. 26th Sale-a-Bration Kick Off party by Jan. 20th if you are planning to attend *