Going Grad

Card recipe:
Tassel Time
Itty Bitty Background
Real Red, Whisper White cardstock
Real Red and Basic Black ink pad
Black grosgrain ribbon

A customer of mine came over tonight and these are the graduate announcements we came up with for her daughter. Her daughter's school colors are red and white. We used one of my favorite stamp sets, Tassel Time. She wanted to include her daughter's graduation photo so we used the window punch on the base of the card and slid the photo into the created slot where it sat nicely. This way the recipients of the card could take out the photo and place it elsewhere. I enjoy taking time to stamp privately with my customers and my friends. It ensures that I make the time for my favorite hobby.
The hardest part for me when having a private session is deciding on the fee. How do you decide how much to charge? We stamped 30 cards from 7pm - 10pm. What would you charge for this service?

My Secret Stamper Stikes Again!

My Secret Stamper strikes again leaving me ALL smiles! Just look at this beautiful bag...and it's full of goodies for ME! Inside the bag are the much needed ingredients for mixing my new favorite drink; A Cosmopolitan!!! Somebody's been reading my blog and knows what I like. A very big thank you and so much appreciation is being sent your way.
Not only did this cute little bag contain my beverage mix, it also included some beautiful cards all created with the Enjoy Every Moment stamp set from SU! They are just gorgeous! Now I just need to plan a class. What a great starting point!
Thanks so much S.S.
























































The inside of this beautiful card holds a gift card. What a clever idea!

A Beautiful View!

I recently chaperoned my daughter's first grade class trip to the New Jersey State Aquarium. I chaperoned my daughter and two of her classmates. They were so cute running around the aquarium looking at and reading about the many fascinating underwater creatures on display. Once we were finished inside I could not just walk past this beautiful view of Philadelphia. I just had to take a picture of the girls looking across the river at the skyline. It was a great day AND beautiful weather!

All Done!

Thanks to all of you who gave your input on your favorite design for my friends birth announcement. She agreed with the majority of responses and went with this design. I ran out of the gingham style print paper and after a thorough search of 3 different stores I resolved to use a different print for some of the announcements. I think both have a nice look to them and fit the purpose. Seven of us got together after work and stamped and assembled 120 of these cards for her. We had so much fun! It was a quick and easy way to accomplish something that could have taken her more than double the time. We started around 8pm after having a yummy dinner and we were finished all 120 by 10pm. I love it when a plan comes together!
Card recipe:
All materials Stampin' Up! unless other wise noted.
Wild About You stamp set
Bashful blue cardstock
Chocolate chip cardstock
Whisper White Cardstock
Bashful Blue and Chocolate chip ink
Paper Pizazz Print Papers from Jo-Ann fabrics

Have You Seen These???

Excellent video on u-tube. This woman is so creative. She creates cards as we watch and get inspired. Here is one from her "Make a card Monday," uploads. Hope she inspires you as she does me.
Visit her blog to see more at www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/videos.html
Keep up the fabulous work Kristina.

First Ever! Blog Candy

Here ya go..I my first ever blog candy to a random comment maker on my blog. Just leave a comment by 10pm. Tuesday, May 20th. I'm clearing out some of my stuff that runneth over. Just leave a comment and a name will be pulled randomly. The lucky person will receive the items posted, which include:

* a 30 page chipboard scrapbook
* 10 coasters
* package of bookmarks ready to be stamped
* 3 containers of eyelets
* package of scrapbooking materials
* cardmaking kit


Remember to leave a comment.

Pay It Forward Blog Candy

A few weeks ago I was the lucky recipient of some fun blog candy. It has taken me a bit of time to get to put it to use but I finally carved out some time to get to play with my new stuff. My goody package included some great print papers, vellum, white cardstock, alphabet stickers, an assortment of brads and some dyed pretties. I had to let it all simmer awhile while I thought of the best way to use my treats. Below you will see what I did. Thanks Krista for the fun "in a box!" Okay it was really an envelope but box sounded better.






















I was able to create a 6 X 6 scrapbook page, and 3 fun cards. Included in my package were really great colors of printed cardstock that I would not have normally put together but I wanted to use mostly the items sent to me and looking at the end result I think they worked really well together. I layered some of my projects with Stampin' Up!'s bravo burgundy and so saffron cardstock. The colors truly matched up well!






My first card uses the In Full Bloom stamp set, Bravo burgundy ink and cardstock, so saffron cardstock, and grosgrain ribbon. I used a blender pen to color in the flower on the main image. I have a friend in mind that I can send this card to. Hope she likes it.

















This card is a 3 X 6 card (long note size) that I quickly threw together but really turned out cute! This card will go to a friend who I need to let know that I appreciate their kindness. I am working hard at letting people know how important they are to me and how much I appreciate the things big and small that they do for me and my family. Hope she likes it.











This card is a bit fuzzy. So sorry for that. I'm still trying to work out the photography part of blogging. I hope to get a new camera and some lessons by July in an attempt to alleviate this frustrating piece of my sharing. Okay now to the card. This is just a cute little 3 X 3 card that highlights stampin' up!'s circle punches. I used 3 different ones and a scallop punch. I just love using these punches together and the effect they create. Not sure who is getting this but it will leave my house before this month is over.










Last but definitely not least, is this 6 X 6 scrapbook page that features my daughter. It was taken 2 years ago while she and I were out at a birthday party for one of her friends at Little Gym. The parties here are so much fun for the kids.









I would like to continue the Pay It Forward fun! To be a part of this fun, leave me a comment by Tuesday, May 20th. I will place your name in a bag, next, I will have one of my little people pick one name and the winner will get some blog candy from ME! I will post the blog candy by Monday so you can see what you will get. I am a giver so look back, leave a comment for a chance to win some blog candy.

Baby Blue Announcements!

I made these cards for a colleague of mine who is expecting her first child in June. A little boy! A group of us are getting together to stamp out 120 cards of one of these designs. I gave her all three cards for her to preiew so she can choose one so I canthen get busy cutting cardstock for our stamping night. Once her little one gets here all she then need to do is print out her little ones' info. on vellum and adhere to the inside of the card.


















Here is the recipe:
All products unless otherwise noted are Stampin' Up!
Wild About You stamp set
Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock
Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip ink
Blue and chocolate grosgrain ribbon
Blue Print cardstock by Paper Pizazz

Leave a comment: Which one would you choose? My favorite is the one with the crimped Bashful Blue layered cardstock. I think my friend is leaning toward the lion card with the rock n' roll technique.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day in 2 colors



















Supplies:
Stampin' Up! set Wild Rose
Regal rose, always artichoke, lovely lilac, whisper white cardstock and ink. Apricot appeal ink
Apricot grosgrain ribbon



Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there. I am so thankful for the joy and miracle of being a mother to the most preciuos children. They give me more pleasure than I ever imagined! I am so blessed. I hope today you find time to see or talk to those special people in your life.



We started our day early heading out to our favorite country restaurant where we sat in rocking chairs playing checkers while we waited for our table. I had my most favorite breakfast. Blueberry pancakes and turkey sausage. Yum yum. We all ate well before heading home. My husband kept the kids outside on their bikes while I stamped these cards for the mothers in our family. In an hour we will head over to my sisters for a Mother's Day cookout. It so much fun getting together with my family and making special memories with the four living generations, my kids, my siblings, my parents and my grandparents. Hope your day is also filled with special memories. Make it a good one!

My Baby Boy Is 2!

Time sure does fly in my household! My youngest child, JD turned 2 on May 9th. He's our little football player. He's everything you think of when you think of a little boy. He tackles both his 7 year old sister and his 4 year old brother down to the ground. Even with all this energy he remains my little cuttlebug! I love snuggling with my little guy. Happy Birthday J.D. Mommy loves you always.

Stampin' Up! Convention Talk

Well, what a morning I have had. I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator which is one of the best decisions I have ever made and believe that I will always feel this way. That said, each year Stampin' Up! has a convention where demonstrators come together and share, learn, connect and just have some stamping fun! Yesterday was the first day of registration for the convention. I pretty much forgot... until my downline called. I easily went online and registered for convention while she did hers too. We both got in no problem.

Now for the story. Today is the first day that we can book a room from the blocked rooms.....so I was trying to book a hotel room for the convention on Stampin' Up!'s website. I logged on just before 9:00am ET and started calling the Housing bureau simoultaneously. Neither worked for me! In between this I was also trying to do my job... at work!!! I was becoming a mess as I frantically searched and searched for the link for the hotels.... not to be found. I decided to check out Splitcoast where I found out that I was not alone in this frantic quest. Many people were searching for the link and also on hold with the housing bureau. Finally someone found SU!'s link and posted it on splitcoast. That was so very helpful and kind. I logged on that way.... still not seeing it on SU!'s website. And I found no rooms available for the time frame I needed. At that same time I got through to housing who confirmed... no blocked rooms left. The woman on the phone was ever so nice. She gave me so much information to help me find another hotel room...yes higher rates. But it is what it is.

I must also tell you that 2 months ago I did actually book a room in Utah (at a hotel not on the blocked list) because I did want to ensure myself and my (1) downline a room to share. I first tried for the hotel across the street from the convention center and at that time, 2 months ago they did not have rooms available then. I am sure that the blocked ones were sitting pretty and waiting for today. so I decided to book a room a couple of blocks away as a "Just in case!" I was hoping to get one of the blocked rooms across from the convention center but you all know the ending to this story. So, I am saying this to say that I am glad that I booked earlier when I did although it is going to cost me a pretty penny.

Well, at least I can say that I am off to convention. Here is last years' photo of me in Denver..... so much fun! I hope you all find your rooms at great prices where ever you can. Good Luck!

Baby Girl... Pink Giraffe

I pulled this out of my archive because it's one of my favorite cards. This card was so much fun to make. I just love all things pink! My daughter's closet is full of it as proof! This card was created for a friend's new baby girl using Basic Grey cardstock and Stampin' Up!'s Pretty in Pink, Green Galore, and Whisper White cardstock, along with the Wild About You stamp set. A must have for anyone who has a baby, kids, or is having a baby or knows someone who has a baby or is having one and so on. I embossed the giraffe creating a dimension and smooth texture. Very simple and easy to make. I just LUUUUV keeping it simple! Enjoy!

3D Flower Tutorial

Last week I was introduced, by my upline's, upline whose name is Gail, to this beautiful 3D flower that Pam Morgan demonstrated on the Stampin' Up! Cruise. Well here is a little tutorial on it. I hope it is easy to understand and inspires you to go and create your own. I used it on a card which makes it quite impossible to send to someone so you might want to place yours on a basket, tote, or box of some sort or do as Shelli Gardner does...hand deliver it!




















To create a flower of your own you will need the following supplies:

scallop punch
brads
taffeta ribbon
paper piercing tool
favorite adhesive
favorite cardstock
Glue dots (oops not in picture)
scissors









1. Punch out 3 scallop circles



















2. Cut a slit from the center of one scallop circle. Cut a slit from second scallop circle, then cut off one of the scallops, creating a triangle. Cut a slit from the third scallop circle and cut off two of the scallops.














3. On first scallop circle overlap the scallops on either side of the slits and adhere them with your favorite adhesive.
On second scallop, again overlap the scallops on either side of the triangle and adhere. Do the same for the third scallop circle.
4. Gently push down the center of each cone/circle with your pointer finger. Layer the three circles with the largst on the bottom and smaller on top, placing a glue dot under the smaller circle, lay it on top of the medium circle. Place a glue dot under the medium circle and place it on top of the larger circle.
















5. Use the paper piercing tool to poke a hole through the center of your 3D flower.



























6. Cut a 4" piece of taffeta ribbon. Place a brad through the center of the ribbon.





7. Poke the brad through the 3D flower, close the brad, and tie the ribbon. Cut the ribbon to size.































Here is another view of the finished card. Please feel free to leave a coment and let me know what you think.