Let's back things up a bit, shall we?

Hi All!!!

I gave you a taste of Christmas last week with the stockings - but I feel like I needed to back it up a bit - maybe back to the season at hand.  Well - back to school plus one......how about some halloween eye candy?  LOL!!!

Guess What!?!?!?!?  I finally got to bring an idea to fruition this morning.......it has been a busy week so this was the first time I got to sit down in my studio to get inky.  You know where I went first for inspiration, right???  Oh yeah - the Create with Connie and Mary challenge!!!  This week it was a color challenge.  Wanna see?

What did you immediately think of when you saw it???  I mean - the "first thing" you thought of????  I immediately thought - Greeting Card Kids.  Really - that is what I first thought of.......honestly - pinky swear ;)  Want to see what I cooked up this week?  Well, if you don't turn your head.....you are about to see it- LOL!!

Isn't she the sweetest little witch?  We will start with the card and move up to her, shall we?  You know me - I always have to add a bit of creative liberty - and add a neutral or two......so I went with a basic black card base and cut a panel from First Edition - an absolute MUST have pack of designer series paper - just sayin'.  ;)  I then stamped it with the flourish from Creative Elements in pumpkin pie.  I'm gonna LOVE that stamp - I am just warning you now - I can see it being on everything - e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

And when you think of halloween - you immediately think of a "baby themed" pack of designer series paper, right?  Of course you do - so I pulled out Nursery Nest for the addition of pear pizazz.  The rich razzleberry panel is from the brights designer paper pack.  Did you notice the same flourish stamped on those panels with basic black ink???  I warned you ;)  I sewed the rich razzleberry, pumpkin pie and basic black buttons right onto the panel with linen thread before adhering it to the card - that way - you do not have to worry that  the adhesive will allow the buttons to come off - and it only takes a second to pierce holes where the button holes are and tie linen thread through them.  easy peasy - i swear. 

Now onto that adorable little witch - wanna see her a little closer???

I stamped her onto watercolor paper with black staz on ink.  She was then colored in with ink refills and an aquapainter.  I did have to add a small glow of so saffron ink around her - if I have said it once, I have said it a million times - watercolored images need some sort of "grounding" - in my opinion - for what I know....which isn't much - lol!!!  It is very subtle looking at the card, but it really does make the image pop out.  Did you see her hat buckle???  No? - go back up and look - I colored it with gold smooch ink.  She was then punched with the 2 1/2 inch circle punch.  And see that scalloped circle around her????  It is from the NEW Perfect Pennants Bigz L die - LOVE that there are two scallop circle dies on there - YAY!!!!!!  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (no shock there from me, huh? lol)  If you look closely enough - the flourish from Creative Elements is also stamped there in pumpkin pie, it is stamped off so it is subtle - but it is there  :)  All edges of the card are sponged with basic black ink - I had to dirty it up a bit.........had to.

Wait!!  There is more - I did up the inside as well.  Wanna see?

The sentiment there is from Grateful Greetings -


Well - what do you think of this little sweetie?  She sure was fun to bring to life.  Now - go stamp some goodness, it is good for your mental stability, really........... 

WHOOOOHOOOO!!!!

Guess my mojo was on target, somehow!  lol!!

I was selected as a winner of the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge this week!!!  It was my fireplace card - scroll down if you haven't seen it yet - wow - I am so surprised!!!!!
This really puts the pressure on for next week ;)

Check out the badge on my right hand sidebar - purty, huh?

Hung by the chimney with BLING!!!

HI All!!!

I checked out the Create with Connie and Mary challenge yesterday - it was a sketch challenge - yummy!  Now -  a little background on me with challenges.  I usually let my mind "sit" ona challenge for a few hours (or days) to get my idea rolling......but when I saw the sketch for this week - I immediately knew what I wanted to do......but I didn't want to jump right in head first....I needed to ponder it a while to make sure i didnt' change my mind.  WELL - there was no other thought for me.....I HAD to execute what my inital vision was.  I had to......

Do you want to see the sketch???  I bet you do......

Well - what do you see? 
ALL I could see was rotating that sketch and a fireplace is born.......I couldn't get it out of my head......Wanna see what I did with my vision?

Yes......everyone of those bricks were cut and sponged - with three colors - lol!!!  I put them on a river rock base to imitate mortor.  See?

But - let's move to the fore front, shall we?  Those adorable stockings are a HUGE sneak peek item in the holiday mini catalog - which is 43 pages of  creative heaven.........{{sigh}}.
The stamp set is Stitched Stockings.....and there is a coordinating punch - Stocking Builder Punch - LOVE it!!!  Check them out - a little closer ;)

The one on the left was stamped with poppy parade.  The cuff, toe and heel were punched with the BRAND NEW silver glimmer paper - aahhhhhh........  :)  The middle stocking was stamped with baja breeze.  It was blinged up by adding small adhesive rhinestones and - did you see it?????  NEW BLING BABY - Dazzling Details......dazzling diamonds meets glittler glue........Oh yeah - that's right!!  Now onto stocking number three.  It was stamped with lucky limeade.  The toe and heel are poppy parade covered with that new dazzling details glitter glue.  And the htree buttons are from the trinkets button brads.  They are adhered to a soft suede mantle stampes with woodgrain background and sponged.   I adhered a little bow of baker's twine with a small dot of crystal effects.

WELL.....that about sums it up - I think ;)  I would love to know your thoughts on this - right below in the comment section....go ahead.......I double dog dare ya!

New Scoring Board Stamp Camp Project

Hi Stampers!!!

Here is the project you can make for $8 with the purchase of the BRAND NEW Scoring Board that Stampin' Up! is releasing in the Holiday Mini Catalog on September 1st - it is AMAZING!!!!

So, if you are intersted in the camp, check your email if you are on my mailing list or leave me a comment at the bottom of this post.  For local attendees only unless you are able to pick up supplies from me.

The makings of a summer

Howdy everyone!!!  Have you missed me?  I sure have missed each and every one of you!!!  I promised in the last post that I would be back with some scrapbook pages I made for the baseball player that stayed with us this summer.  So here I am for that :)

If you follow my blog and have seen pages of my daughter - you know I put a sticky note over her face....I haven't done that here (except the pages that have her in them)......Brooks is a 21 year old, 6 foot 4 inch, extremely well built....so I don't think anyone will try to kid nap him from the web.......my little girl, another story.....I know I am strange about the Internet and pictures.....but I can't help myself.......

The entire album used the same supplies - crumb cake, garden green, basic black and very vanilla card stock.  I also used some retired Stampin' Up! sets to create the designer series papers and the baseball accents.  Everything in the book is Stampin' Up!, I believe, so if you have any questions....just ask.  :)

Here is the title page:

Brooks encompasses the love of baseball and determination.  I sure hope this scrapbook will bring back fond memories of his stay with us for life.

Here is a close up of the date strip - I created it with the computer, as well as all of the journaling, using typewriter font.

Here are the second two pages, from the home opener -

More to follow in later days - I would love to know what you think of these pages......... Happy Stampin'!

WOW! It has been a while........

I can't believe how long it has been since I was able to stamp something that I can share - and boy have I missed it!!!  If you know me personally - you know that we hosted a baseball player for the summer from Colorado so we have been engulfed in his games  -it has been a really fun summer - busy, but fun!!  Well, he turns 21 on Sunday so I needed to whip him out a card to mail with his birthday gift.  I have some serious stamper's block going on - awful!  I have been stamping all summer, I made him a scrapbook of his season/summer here but not much cards unless it was for a class or club.  So - you know I had to turn to a challenge........What better challenge that the Create with Connie and Mary challenge - this week was a sketch challenge. Wanna see????

Kind of feminine, I think....but I think I manned it up  - wanna see what I did?

I know - I took some creative liberties here.  I flipped the sketch.......took the three elements that would be at the top of the flipped sketch and put it at the bottom - one element instead of three.......please don't beat me.....pretty please.......

I am on a time crunch here- but I will tell you I am LOVIN' the new designer series paper, Well Worn.  And the sentiment came from the hostess set, many birthday wishes. I adhered it to the new denim ribbon with a safety pin from trinkets.  Oh Yeah - the denim ribbon.......I bet you are all thinking that it will be stiff....like blue jeans - it isn't.......so pliable.  I am really liking it too.  shocker, uh?  LOL

Here is a closer look at the main image - the scallop circle is cut from the new pennant die.....a MUST have!  I also inked the chipboard numbers with the not quite navy craft ink spot. 

Everything on the card was roughed up and dirtied up - what do you think?  Make sure to keep checking back - I am going to share his entire scrapbook with all of you.  minus the sappy journaling at the end - LOL

Product Shares - Click HERE

Join my Stampin' Up! Family - Click HERE

Inspired Creation......

Hi All!!

I wasn't able to get in on last week's Create with Connie and Mary Challenge - and it just felt "off."  I really look forward to their challenges......so I wasn't going to let another week get away from me - lol.  And guess what?  This week's challenge is actually a two week challenge and they offer a color and/or sketch challenge.  I decided to just go with the color challenge today......here is the color challenge they proposed:

Well - I don't know about you but I immediately had one of those "thank goodness this stamp set didn't retire" moment......because I knew instantly I wanted to use Inspired by Nature......and after laying out the colors - I thought that I wanted to make a sympathy card.  It just came to me......simple as that.  :)  Wanna see what I did?

Well?  How did I do?  I had to throw a little bit of old olive ad soft suede in there for the sake of the flowers.....I hope I didn't violate any color challenge rules ;)  I stamped the flower image onto very vanilla and cut it out before adhering it down with stampin' dimensionals.  And can I say - welcome back basic gray satin ribbon.......y.u.m.m.y.!  The flowers were inked up with stampin write markers before stamping, see?

The colors used for the flowers were old olive, so saffron, pumpkin pie, soft suede and chocolate chip.  The smaller flower was stamped off before stamping it over the sentiment panel.    The sentiment, inside and out,  are from Thoughts and Prayers - another "thank goodness this didn't retire" stamp set.  ;)  And the new edition designer series paper making the new catalog - what else do i need to say about that???  This is one awesome collection of paper!  Oh did I mention that I prettied up the inside as well?  I didn't - well......here it is:

I would love to hear what you think of this little baby below in the comments section.  No one will bite you there ;)  Have a wonderful day!

Ready for some PRODUCT SHARES????

HI All!!

Are you ready for some product shares for the new catalog????  The new ribbons and designer series paper are to die for......I think.  :) 

Let's start with the ribbon share that I am offering:
For ONLY $34.50
You will get two yards of each:

     5 new in colors - the ruffled ribbon

     10 new 1/2 inch polka dot scallop ribbon

     2 new denim ribbons











That is a total of 34 yards of brand spanking new ribbons!!


Now for the Designer Series Paper Shares:

For ONLY $27.00  you will receive 96 6x6 sheets of designer series paper from pages 183-186.  (The Designer Series Paper Stacks on the bottom of page 186 aren't included in this share)


****IF YOU PURCHASE BOTH THE RIBBON AND DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SHARES, YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE 6X6 ASSORTMENT OF THE BRAND NEW 2011-2013 IN COLOR PATTERNS DESIGNER SERIES PAPER STACK.  (Page 186)

be sure to contact me right away to reserve your shares - regcorn@zoominternet.net
*if youa ren't local, shipping rates will be additional.

WANT 30% OFF ANYTHING IN THE NEW CATALOG???

Did that get your attention?  It sure would get mine??

 Stampin' Up! is offering a $99 kit for July that gives you a FREE bonus Christmas Keepsake kit - an additional $40 value!!!!    Doesn't this look AMAZING.........

And your first order earns you 30% off  - so if you have a long wish list for the new catalog or are finally wanting to get the Bog Shot or My Digital Studio - this is the time to get them at a serious discount!! 

This is an excellent opportunity - you can do anything with it from only join for the kit to join up for the one time 30% off to joining to get your supplies at a continuous discount to making a career out of this opportunity.  I am here for you - what ever direction you decide to take.

WOW!!!

Here are the Promotion Details:

Dates: July 1-31, 2011


Promotion Details: A limited-time $99 Starter Kit ($180 Value--See Kit Contents below!) is the perfect choice for the hobby stamper and lover of Stampin' Up! products.

•SAVE!!! Enjoy the new Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog using a one-time 30% Off Start Up Discount on product orders of $150 or more (placed within 45 days of start).

•Get 20% off future Stampin' Up! orders, oodles of exclusive resources and the opportunity to pre-order new products.

•Receive Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Discounts and Benefits through Dec. 31, 2011 with NO obligation to to purchase anything further or hold a workshop.
•PLUS Get a Christmas Keepsake project kit (example below) absolutely FREE--a $40 value! This exclusive kit contains everything you need to create a beautiful Christmas Keepsake Box to hold your most treasured Christmas memories. It will be available with your first demonstrator order in August and must be redeemed by Sept. 30.

Here is what is included in the $99 starter kit:

Contains over $180 in products and business supplies--including new products from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! You CAN substitute a similar item of equal or lesser value.



Page                Item                       Description

57                 123225                    Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*

69                 122740                    Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*

177               102277                    Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

177               105216                    Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

177               103133                    Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

177               119706                    Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock

180               101179                    Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad

182               107311                    Whisper White Note Cards (20)

185               124339                    Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*

195               124142                    Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*

203               122129                    Blender Pen (1)

205               118486                    Clear-Mount Block C

206               104332                    SNAIL Adhesive


*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!


Business Supplies

The business supplies in these promotional mini kits will be the same business supplies that are in existing starter kits; no alternative selections can be made for business items.

•Getting Started DVD

•Getting Started Guide

•Guest Invitation Postcards (100)

•2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (8)

•2011 Summer Mini Catalog (8)

•Stampin' Up! logo vinyl

•Décor Elements applicator

•To My Hostess Envelopes (10)

•My Digital Studio Marketing DVD

•Recruit Folders (5)

•Recruit Brochures (20)

•Customer Order Forms (50)

Email me right away for any further questions (regcorn at zoominternet dot net).

I will "Awash" your Birthday with Flowers :)

Howdy All!!

I can't believe I finally got some time to stamp this week!  I gotta tell you - I am going to start scheduling it in my calendar!  Anyway - You know how it is - The Create with Connie and Mary Challenge rolls around every week.......and I love to participate in their challenges  ;)  So - of course when I get the chance to stamp and I haven't doen their challenge yet I must start there, right?  hehehe......  This week was no exception.  They are hosting a color challenge ove rthere this week - check it out:

Wow - that looks like summer, right?  Summery flowers........bright summery flowers......I bet you know where I am headed here.  ;)  Wanna see?

Well?  How did I do with that one?  I had to add the accent of black - it just seemed to fit and it is a neutral, right?  lol.  Don't you just love that sentiment?????  It is from the upcoming hostess set Happiest Brithday Wishes.  Just wait until you check out the new hostess program starting with the new catalog - can I say - "Anyone want a BIG SHOT FOR HALF PRICE??????"  Really - you just wait  ;)

Sorry - off in dream land again......
Back to the task at hand.  The flowers from Awash with Flowers were stamped with tangerine tango and tempting turquoise and then I stamped their outlines with black staz on.  Hence - the addition of basic black  :).  The bottom strip of old olive was also stamped with a leaf image from the same set.  I felt the bottom was missing a little pizzzazz - so I added three tempting turquois brads from the brights brad pack and lined them up with the mat pack and paper piercer - A STAPLE IN MY STUFF - lol.  Wrap basic black satin ribbon around the panel and tie a simple knot and there you go - a birthday card front.

HOLD ON - I still think is is missing a little something........a little more blingage, perhaps????  Ok - take a closer look:

I added smooch ink to the flowers to bring them to sparkly life.  you like?

Well - that about sums it up today.  I have a full day of this and that to accomplish.  lol  Now, GO STAMP.  ;)

Winner - Winner -

Chicken Dinner!  LOL!!!

just wanted to drop in and let you all know the card from the last post was selected as a winner of the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge this past week :)  Scroll down for the deets.

Happiest Wishes!!

Hi All!  wow - it has been a while, huh?  Sorry about that - I have been busy getting things ready for my retirement party Wednesday and with life in general.  I have really been neglecting the challenges over at Create with Connie and Mary - and boy have I missed doing them - so when I had a little time today to create - I headed straight over there.  :)  And this week, they are hosting a sketch challenge - take a peeky:

And I had to pull out my preorder goodies for the new catalog......I just had to.......hehehe......  Wanna see what I came up with today?  Well - If you don't want to see - turn your head ;)

Don't you just {luv}} that new designer series paper????  It is from a new set called "Just Add Cake."  There are some awesome patterns in that pack - I can't wait to get the chance to play some more with that.    You recognize the cupcake stack on the tag element, right?  It is from one of my favorites - Crazy for Cupcakes.  The tag itself is from the Two Tags Die - another favorite and must have item in the 'ol collection.  (I bet you are seeing a pattern forming here......lol!)   And the blingage - yummo on the glimmer brads returning to the New Idea Book and Catalog!!!  I added my two little somethings in the upper left hand corner instead of the lower right. like the picture, because I really felt my card needed some balance in that upper corner......let's call that - creative liberty ;)  I love the little flowers adorned with a simple brad - cute, huh?

Oh - you are wondering where that stamp for the main sentiment and in the lower portion of the card are from?????  Sorry - I was getting to that.....  Both of those stamps are from a new upcoming hostess set, Happiest Birthday Wishes.  Oh - the NEW hostess program - you are going to love it....that is all I am going to say - check back when the new catalog goes live to check it out....trust me, it is sooooo worth the wait.  ;)  Anyway, getting back to those stamps....the main one was stamped with poppy parade ink and punched with the 1 3/4 inch circle punch.  And the scallop circle mat - that is from the pennant die.....so sad to see this retire - just for that scallop circle alone.......so get it while you can.  The bottom of the card looks like it has been wheeled with a wheel, doesn't it???  Well, it hasn't.  It is one stamp that I stamped repeatedly across the bottom with wild wasabi classic ink.  This is one of the awesome benefits of the clear mount stamps - I was able to stamp that without having to use my stamp a ma jig.  Of course, the same effect could be achieved with wood mount stamps and the stamp a ma jig - I just got to skip that step.  A simple bow of poppy parade ribbon completes the front of the card.

I also had to pretty up the inside, as well.  I had to.......  hehehe

I started with a whisper white base and then added some stamps, designer series paper and voila - a cute card center.  well, at least I think it is cute - nothing like tooting my own horn, huh?  lol!!!

Let me know what you think.  I honestly had a hard time not ripping, tearing, sponging, distressing, etc.....but I think I pulled it off.....or maybe not ;)

You Say Goodbye.....

......and I'll say hello.   Hello.  Hello.  
I don't know why you say good bye and I say hello.

Ok - I will stop there.  Of course I can't imagine that you aren't ALL Beatle fans.......

Wondering where I am going with this - aren't you???  I know I would be wondering if I weren't on this end?  lol!

WELL........I needed a baby card to welcome a special little girl (congrats Jennifer!) into this world and I pulled out a retiring favorite of mine - Animal Stories.  Get - good bye - hello????  retiring - baby????  get it???  hehe.......


Wanna see what I made?  If you know me and it is a brand new little baby girl - it is going to be pink, right?  All pink - all the time.

I started with a crumb cake card base...yummo......  I then stamped the animals from animal story in pink pirouette, pretty in pink and regal rose onto whisper white card stock and then matted them with their corresponding colors of card stock.  Before adhering them down I tied a knot of wide striped grosgrain ribbon around it - this ribbon makes such a statement!

I then stamped a couple of tiny tags before punching them and adhering them to the ribbon with a piece of  white baker's twine.  simple baby love.

I used some new sneak peek items for the new grandma.......but that will have to wait for another day ;)

I'm sailing away.......

Set an open course for the Virgin Sea.
'Cause I've got to be free......
Free to face the life that's ahead of me.

That has to be one of my ALL time favorite Styx songs - ever!  If you are familiar with it -keep humming away as you read along.  :)

I have a little goodnesss to share with you today......and it all began with a sketch.  I know - shocked, right?  Me starting with a sketch or color challenge.....I can't help myself....that is what inspires me.  you should try it out sometime......hehe

Anyway - back to my little creation for the day.  The sketch originated with the Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition.  They offer up the best challenges.  Head over and check it out.  Here is the sketch:

Now I know you are probably wondering what stamp set I used for this little baby.....When I saw the sketch - I IMMEDIATELY thought to use Open Sea......but all of you are probably tired of my obsession with the nautical stuff.....so I sat on the sketch for a few days and couldn't get my mind to bend from my original vision.....so I stopped fighting it and went for it.  What do you think?

I adore "dirty" cards.  do you?  The stamps are all from Open Sea except the sentiment with is from All Holidays, which is on the retirement list.....WHAT???  I love this set - it covers just about All Holidays.....get it?  i couldn't help myself......   I just can't believe it is retiring :(  The designer series paper is from the mini catalog as well - Nautical Expedition and the baker's twine....oh how I love the baker's twine........  wanna take a closer look at the ship?  If you don't, turn your head because I am about to show you:

And I just couldn't resist the inside:

Well- that about sums it up for the day - let me know what you think - i {{luv}} comment love.....lol!!

It's so hard to say good bye........

Well - the day has come - the retirement lists are released. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE RETIRING STAMP LIST

CLICK HERE FOR THE RETIRING ACCESSORIES LIST

CLICK HERE FOR THE RETIRING DEFINITELY DECORATIVE LIST
The definitely decorative line is being greatly reduced next catalog year - don't let these goodies get away :)

Have a great day!