The Stamp Link

Time to Say Goodbye...

2011-11-17T11:11:00.001-06:00

Greetings to all of my wonderful readers... it is with mixed emotions that I must inform you of my change in status. As of November 1st, I am no longer a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I hated to let it go, but as you can all tell from my lack of posting, I simply do not have time for it at this point in my life. I am homeschooling the boys, and enjoying our time together, as they will be grown up and gone before I know it!

With that said, I am now in the process of liquidating a large portion of my stamp supply... both retired AND current items. I have created a list of everything I'm letting go, and would be happy to send it to you. Leave me a comment with your e-mail address (or e-mail me) and I will send it right over.

JANUARY 2012 UPDATE: All of my supplies have been sold... (except, of course, for the things I will keep for when the stampin' bug hits me!)

Hugs to all, and HAPPY STAMPING!!!
Michele

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-07T08:37:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to us all! I hope you have a glorious weekend with your families. Here is the card I made for my own wonderful mom:

The base is Certainly Celery, with some of my new favorite DSP, and then Watercolor Paper. I used the WW Crayons to color the flower. You can't see it very well, but there's a pearl in the center of that flower to offset the two on the sentiment. Here, let me show you a close-up:

I love "antiqued" looking cards. I hope she likes it!

Michele

PS: This is a confession that my posts will diminish significantly over the next couple of weeks as I will have family in town (my mom, to name just one!). Please don't think I've left again for good... I promise I'll be back after I'm done hosting!

Happy Birthday to my Sister!

2011-05-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

My sister's big Five-Oh is rapidly approaching! She likes turquoise, so I knew that had to be the basis for her card. Add in this very appropriate sentiment, and voila! A perfect milestone birthday card!

...is it just me? Or are my posts getting shorter and shorter? Hmmmmm, you tell me: would you prefer MORE shorter posts or LESS longer ones where I go into detail on how I made the card? I figure you're all smart cookies... you don't need me to hold your hand through these!
Michele

Congrats to my Niece!

2011-05-05T08:06:00.001-05:00

Our niece, Heather, recently won a beauty pageant and I wanted to make a special card to commemorate her accomplishment. I got the idea for this card from my dear friend, Marelle, in Australia. She's MUCH, MUCH better at it than I am... this was my first attempt at a pop-up card:

The colors are Certainly Celery and Marina Mist. There was one mistake on the inside - a crease where there shouldn't be one. Ah, well... next time I'll do better!

Happy Stamping!
Michele

Thanks, Dr. Altman!

2011-05-03T08:21:00.000-05:00

Nothing too flashy here... I needed a simple masculine thank you card for our vet. One of our kitties had to go in for emergency surgery last week and our vet has been very wonderful through it all. I wanted to bake him some cookies and send him a note of appreciation.

Have a great week!
Michele

My Old Standby

2011-05-01T11:41:00.000-05:00

I sat down the other night to stamp a card for a good friend and I decided to pull out one of my all-time favorite stamps... this gorgeous dragonfly from Measure of a Life. Click here to see an old card I made with it that I still love. Now, here's an updated one:

The Perfect Plum DSP is from an old Halloween set, but it matched perfectly. I also used some black satin ribbon.

Here's a close-up of my watercoloring... The wings are shimmery (I used some white shimmer paint), but you can't see that in the photo. Use your imagination!

Have I told you lately how much I love being back at my stamp desk?! The neat thing is that we have recently done some updating in our basement to turn it into a cozier place to be. We added new carpet, a gas-burning fireplace, a new couch... it's such a wonderful place now to hang out and watch movies. And that's great for me, because that's where my stamp desk is! So, now you know why I've been at it more often.

Michele

More Congrats

2011-04-29T08:57:00.000-05:00

One of my cousins just finished nursing school... I love it when card opportunities just drop in! Here's the one I made for her:

I know the base of this card is Baja Breeze, but I don't remember what this Designer Series Paper is... I'm pretty sure it's retired. The ribbon is the satin Espresso.

Here's a close-up of the little flower. I used one of the teeny-tiny buttons from the Vintage Trinkets - it looks great as the center of this flower!

Let's see... what should I make next?!

Michele

New Baby Girl

2011-04-27T08:44:00.000-05:00

...no, not for the Forces. Wouldn't that just rock our world?! No, some friends back in Texas had a sweet baby girl last month and I wanted to send my congrats.

I like making anything pink since I don't get to do it too often. This little bear comes from Every Little Bit, and I watercolored her with my ever-favorite Watercolor Wonder Crayons.

I love using the textured cardstock for embellishments like this - they add that little extra touch that just makes it pop. I also "antiqued" the scalloped circle a bit by sponging the edges.

Have a great week!
Michele

...And Another

2011-04-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

I told you I love this paper, didn't I? I think I need to order a few packs of it and then just make a stack o' cards so I'm always ready for a spontaneous event!

This one is a little more elegant... perhaps for a wedding or an anniversary.

I used Bashful Blue for the base, and then Shimmery White to jazz it up. I pulled out some white flowers (goodness me, but I can't remember what Stampin' Up! calls them! I'm WAY out of practice!)... anyway, I haven't touched these flowers in forever, so it felt good to let them breathe again. This was a perfect opportunity.

And check out those pearls! Gotta love that!

Now, I just gotta find someone who's getting married!
Michele

More Paisley Petals

2011-04-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

Here's another one with that gorgeous DSP, Paisley Petals:

The base for this one is Baja Breeze, which matches so beautifully, along with River Rock. You know, I have to admit that River Rock was never really a choice color for me, but it's definitely growing on me! I truly love an antique-ish look on cards, and River Rock does a real fine job at that.

I happened to have some of the Baja Breeze flowers, so I layered them and then sponged the edges of the top one so it would stand out. An antique brad, clip, and a scrap of vanilla satin ribbon finish it off.

Hope you like it!
Michele

My New Favorite DSP!

2011-04-20T17:07:00.004-05:00

I have to declare something: I LOVE the new Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper!! Oh my gosh, but it is SO beautiful! I have made four cards with it already - two of which I'll show you now and the other two later. By that time, I'm liable to have even more to show!

I also love the new Four Frames stamp set, as you'll see on all of these. I think I could last a long time with a few packs of this DSP, the Four Frames set, and some coordinating cardstock! Sure does allow for some easy cardmaking!

This first one uses River Rock as a base, with a hint of Not Quite Navy.

This second one uses Marina Mist (one of my new favorite colors) with a hint of Bravo Burgundy.

These two new favorites of mine will be in the new catalog in a few months, but through April 30th, you can purchase them early with any $20 order. If you don't take advantage of this offer, you'll have to wait until JULY! Click here or on the flyer at left for more details.

Enjoy the rest of your week... I'll be back soon. :)
Michele

One More...

2011-04-17T21:45:00.003-05:00

I'll stop with the magnetic layouts after this one, I promise! I made this for my best friend's daughter, so it has a younger feel to it:

This is some old DSP, so I don't remember the name. I used the Big Shot to die cut the flower pieces and then I painted the top one with some of the white shimmer paint (I think that's what it's called... I'm too tired to go back downstairs to look!!). It stinks not knowing what all the names are anymore!! But I figure you come here for the pictures, not for my blabbering anyway. :)

The inside is decked out with another pearl-adorned flower.

Okay, I'm going to move on to other designs now... :)
Hope you all had a fabulous weekend...
Michele

Another Magnetic Birthday

2011-04-06T22:29:00.005-05:00

I told you I liked this new style, so here's another one, with a more vintage look. This one is for a good friend back in Texas.

I used the gorgeous Bliss Sale-a-Bration stamp set, along with Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, and Cherry Cobbler. I cropped this next photo so you could see how I mounted the flat washer on the inside and then covered it with a small circle. Very easy - and I love how it "snaps" closed!

I have one more of these that I'm working on - but it's for a young girl so it will be noticeably different in appearance. :)

Have a great weekend!
Michele

PS: Have I mentioned that I LOVE being back at my stamp desk?!! Waaaahoooooo!

Feels So Good...

2011-03-31T10:22:00.004-05:00

...to be stamping again! And thank you so much for all of your comments!! I was so pleasantly surprised that you're all still there! (who was the anonymous commenter who said their boys were thinking of my boys?? Jill, Jazen, Stef??)

I sat down the other day in an attempt to make something new for my best friend's birthday, and this is what I came up with. (I hope she forgets to read my blog!)

This was one of those "accident" cards... where you get a new idea from a mess up? Love it when that happens. Anyway, I used a small magnet and washer to hold the card closed. I believe the color scheme is Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy (see how horrible I am anymore at recognizing them?! I'm still not used to the beautiful new color palette). I used the En Francais background stamp on the bottom and then Vintage Vogue for the flowers. Of course, the flower was begging for a pearl accent! This is what the inside looks like:

I was so pleased with how this turned out that I think I'll be making a few more of them... even had my husband buy me some more washers when he was at the hardware store. :)

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
Michele

The Return

2011-03-27T22:46:00.004-05:00

I don't want to be the cause of any heart attacks, but yes, it's me. I'm still here. I don't know if any of YOU are still there, so I'll be pleasantly surprised if I receive any comments. In any case, I wanted to share a scrapbook page set I created... I started these pages a long, long time ago and just finished them today. I've been spending the last 3 or 4 days cleaning out the "utility room" (a.k.a. the room where everything got shoved for the last 2 years). A lot of my Stampin' Up! things are in there, and I suppose it gave me an urge to chisel the dust off my desk and see if I still remembered how to put ink to paper!

These are a couple of old school photos of my two oldest boys. I have always loved these shots, so they deserve a spot in my 6"x6" Favorite Photos Album.

I may have remembered how to stamp something, but I had a hard time adjusting the photos to look decent. I'll get frustrated if I try to fiddle with them anymore, so I'm going to just leave them as is.

I'm also not going to spend time searching through past catalogs to give you the names of the things I used! The fact is, most of you could probably tell ME what I used! Ha!

So there you are... the return of Michele. I hope I can get something else posted before another 6 months go by.

Hugs,
Michele

A Boy On the Way!!

2010-08-28T12:15:00.004-05:00

No, not another Force boy... but a dear friend of mine with two adorable girls just found out she's having a boy! I was excited at the opportunity to make a card for her.

I pulled out Build-a-Roo for this one because that little kangaroo baby is just too adorable. The roos are colored with an Aqua Painter and the ink pads. Then I cut baby out and popped him up for dimension. The color scheme is So Saffron and Marina Mist with some Pawsitively Prints DSP.

The sentiment fits perfectly on a 1-3/4" Circle layered on top of a 2-3/8" Scallop Circle. And, of course, I added some Basic Pearls!

I can't wait to cuddle this new little guy! My own baby just turned FOUR on Tuesday... wow.

Hugs to all,
Michele

Aviary

2010-08-19T12:23:00.000-05:00

As you can tell by the more frequent posts, Mr. Brown has recently made a visit to my home. :) Even though I've been with Stampin' Up! for a while now, when that brown truck brings me new goodies, it's still one of the best days ever! One of my newest sets is Aviary... a whimsical set that has a lot of possibilities. Here was my first stab at using it:

The color scheme is, of course, Basic Black, along with two new In Colors: Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz. I also pulled out my Big Shot and used my new Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and long-sought-after Alphabet Simple Letters.

If you look closely, you'll see that I used the new Basic Rhinestone jewels (no pearls!). I placed one at the tippy-top of the bird cage, one in the center of the Flower Brad, and then two on the "f".

A fun card for no particular reason, except to play with my new toys... (well, and to give y'all something to look at).

Michele

Creation Inspiration

2010-08-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

One of my current favorite stamp sets is Upsy Daisy. I've used it a lot lately because it makes for a quick and beautiful card - two of my requirements for card-making!

This card uses Blueberry Crisp DSP, along with Crumb Crake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, and Pacific Point. It was nice to also pull back out my Defining Alphabet and Define Your Life stamp sets. They haven't seen much ink lately. Poor things. :)

Have a great week!
Michele

Elizabeth Al la Carte...

2010-08-15T19:29:00.005-05:00

There is an incredibly beautiful al la carte stamp that you simply must have... Elizabeth. I made a couple cards using it that are elegant, yet quick!

This card uses Woodland Walk DSP along with Soft Suede. I used two oval punches and some dimensionals to lift the sentiment. The ovals aren't the exact shape as the oval in the image (I'm not sure why they didn't make them the same??), but it is close enough to work. Of course, you could opt to eliminate the punches and just stamp your sentiment in the oval itself. Either way, it makes a gorgeous card. On an angle, you can see that I have once again used those nifty pearls.

And here's another version of the same card using a different color scheme. It has Blueberry Crisp DSP, along with Pacific Point. Both cards use the Very Vanilla satin ribbon.

I hope everyone had a terrific weekend!
Michele

Thank Yous

2010-08-13T09:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so we already determined that I'm loving the new Basic Pearls... but how about this gorgeous Crochet Trim ribbon?

I made these cards for a couple of my faithful Share followers... they participate in every single one I offer, which is a true blessing to me.

I wanted to show off some of the new DSPs on these cards, so the one above uses Blueberry Crisp, and the one below uses Elegant Soiree.

...and, in case you didn't notice, I also used more of the fun pearls!

And just to show a final touch - here's what you can do with those left-over scraps of DSPs... jazz up the inside of the card!

So, thank you again, ladies for your loyalty and faithfulness! You're the best!

Michele

Lovin' These Pearls!

2010-08-11T09:12:00.002-05:00

Having my stamp desk closer has certainly helped me find the time to stamp again... who'd have thought? Anyway, my best friend's daughter's birthday is coming up, and since they live on the other side of the ocean, I can't exactly bake her a cake myself. So I whipped this one up for her.

So there's a lot to love in the new catalog, wouldn't you agree? But the one thing I'm loving right now are these Basic Pearls (pg 188, item #119247). Look how I jazzed up this cake from the Sale-a-Bration set, Happy Moments!

There's multiple sizes, so I used the itty-bitty ones for the cake flowers (a nice pair of tweezers helps place them where you want them) and I used a larger one for the Flower Brad up in the corner!

I am also loving these new Designer Series Papers... this happy one is from Pawsitively Prints II. And, by the way, I have one more entire set from my Paper Share... a 6"x6" sheet of EVERY new regular DSP. Let me know if you want to claim it!

Happy Stamping!
Michele

It's A Thought...

2010-08-02T10:55:00.004-05:00

A little housekeeping first... I have one spot left for most of my Product Shares - first come first serve! Don't forget, also, to browse through my available Retired products. There's a lot there...

Okay... I have new cards for you! I have moved my stamp desk (which is downstairs) closer to the stairwell, hoping that the closer it is to where I'm usually working (kitchen), the more apt I'll be to get myself to it! Well, so far, so good...

In keeping with an earlier post, I will not go into great detail on how I made these... you all are smart and can usually figure it out yourself. But I will share the color scheme I used (being as how we all need to get used to these fantastic new colors!). Look for this information at the bottom of this post.

These cards all used the "It's A Thought" stamp set, along with the "Sanded" and "En Francais" backgrounds. Colors used include Crumb Cake (old Kraft), Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, and More Mustard.

Have a great week, everyone!
Michele

Retired Stamp Sets Available

2010-07-19T20:04:00.025-05:00

I am cleaning out my stampin' closet in order to make room for all the new goodies (see my new Product Shares)! Below is a listing of all the retired stamp sets I have available for purchase. Note that there are multiple lists (used, new, wheels, etc.) If you see something you are interested in, drop me a line and I'll tell you the condition and any notes about the set. Most of my used sets are in very good condition, and some are like-new with several stamps still unmounted. If you determine that you would like something, make me an offer! Buyer pays shipping. Preferred payment is via PayPal.

*I will continue to update this list, so it should accurately record what is available.*

Used Stamp Sets (All WOOD)
Amazing to Zany - set of 56
Animal Crackers - set of 5 *SOLD*
Baroque Background - set of 1
Beautiful Borders - set of 6
Branch Out - set of 7 *SOLD*
Christmas Punch - set of 7 *SOLD*
Classic Alphabet - set of 56
Classic Sketches - set of 3
Classic Stripes Background - set of 1
Close As a Memory - set of 4
Crazy Alphabet - set of 28 *SOLD*
Cute & Curly - set of 4
Doodle This - set of 5
Embrace Life - set of 5 *SOLD*
Friendship Blooms - set of 5
From the Garden - set of 1
Garden Greetings - set of 8
Garden Whimsy - set of 8
Going Somewhere - set of 4
Great Grads - set of 5 *SOLD*
Happy Everything - set of 8
Happy Heart Day - set of 7
Heartfelt Thanks - set of 9
Hit the Road - set of 5 *SOLD*
Holiday Blitz - set of 28 *SOLD*
Holidays & Wishes - set of 6
Hugs & Wishes - set of 6
It’s a Plan Background - set of 2 (double-mounted)
It’s a Stretch - set of 4
Just Like You - set of 9
Kind & Caring Thoughts - set of 12 *SOLD*
Little Birthday Cheer, A - set of 4
Little Flowers - set of 6
Little Somethin’, A - set of 6
Live Your Dream - set of 8
Lots of Thoughts - set of 6
Many Happy Returns - set of 33 (mounted on dominoes)
More the Merrier, The - set of 10 *SOLD*
Morning Soft - set of 2
Of the Earth - set of 4
On Gossamer Wings - set of 9
One of a Kind - set of 6 *SOLD*
Paisley Background - set of 1
Polka Dot Background - set of 1
Pretty Peony - set of 12
Rose Is a Rose, A - set of 14 *SOLD*
Say It With Scallops - set of 4
Scandinavian Season - set of 4 *SOLD*
Seaside - set of 5 *SOLD*
Seeing Spots - set of 6
Shapes & Shadows - set of 12
Springtime Stems - set of 8
Stippled Stencils - set of 4
Stitched Exotics - set of 9
Sweet Celebrations - set of 8
Sweet Sampler - set of 4
Tasty Sweet - set of 6
Think Happy Thoughts - set of 6
Time For You - set of 4
Together Forever - set of 6 *SOLD*
Touch of Nature - set of 7
Tres Chic Background - set of 1
True Friend - set of 6
Warm Words - set of 8
Wild About You - set of 8
Wings of Friendship - set of 4
Wonderful You - set of 6
Year After Year - set of 8
Zoofari - set of 6

Brand New Stamp Sets (All WOOD)
Comfort Food - set of 4
Congrats - set of 7 (3 available)
Country Morning - set of 4
Echoes of Kindness - set of 4
Event Full - set of 6
For a Friend - set of 6
Friendship Blooms - set of 5 *SOLD*
Infinite Goodness - set of 6
Little Bit of Happiness, A - set of 4 (2 available)
Little Somethin’, A - set of 6
Measure of a Life - set of 5
Merci - set of 6
One Smart Cookie - set of 12
Organic Grace - set of 4
Polka Dot Punches - set of 4 (3 available)
Punches Three - set of 3
Sidekick Sayings - set of 5
Snowbuddies - set of 12
Springtime Stems - set of 8
Thoughts of Father - set of 3
Yummy - set of 3 (3 available)

Used Jumbo Wheels
Bold Snowflakes
Petals
Scatter Sunshine
So Swirly
Stems & Silhouettes
Sweet Stars
Watercolor Vine

Used Regular Wheels
Forever FLowers
Little Bits

Ribbon (still in original wrapping)
Ribbon Bundle with Certainly Celery Polytwill & So Saffron Grosgrain (10 yards each)
1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain in Riding Hood Red (10 yards) *SOLD*
1-1/4" Grosgrain in Pink Pirouette (10 yards)
1/2" Polka-dot Grosgrain in Crushed Curry (15 yards) *SOLD*
1/2" Polka-dot Grosgrain in Dusty Durango (15 yards) *SOLD*
1/2" Polka-dot Grosgrain in Rich Razzleberry (15 yards) *SOLD*
1/2" Polka-dot Grosgrain in Melon Mambo (15 yards) *SOLD*
3/8" Taffeta in Riding Hood Red (10 yards) *SOLD*
3/8" Taffeta in Basic Gray (10 yards)
5/8" Grosgrain in Regal Rose (15 yards)
5/8" Striped Grosgrain in Kiwi Kiss (15 yards)
I also have LOTS of the retired colors of ribbon in varying amounts... if you need something, ask.

Rub-Ons
Love & Happiness

Cardstock/Designer Series Papers (all still in wrapper)
8-1/2x11 Almost Amethyst
8-1/2x11 Ballet Blue
8-1/2x11 Barely Banana
8-1/2x11 Blush Blossom
8-1/2x11 Brocade Blue
8-1/2x11 Handsome Hunter
8-1/2x11 Mellow Moss
8-1/2x11 Only Orange
8-1/2x11 Orchid Opulence
8-1/2x11 Really Rust
12x12 Textured Rich Regals *SOLD*
12x12 Textured Earth Elements *SOLD*
12x12 Textured 2009 In Color (Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, etc.)
Delicate Dots DSP (4 available)
I also have several open packs of cardstock, so if there's a color you need, let me know and I can sell you what I have.

Misc. (All still in wrapper unless otherwise noted)
Write Me a Memory CD, Volume II
Saddle Stitch Book Kit - Boxes & Tags (Assortment 1)
Boxes & Tags Book Kit Accordion (Assortment 4)
Coluzzle (USED)
Silver Eyelets - 200 ct
I also have just about every color in buttons, brads, and eyelets - let me know what you need.

New Product Shares!

2010-07-18T13:30:00.004-05:00

A brand new Stampin' Up! catalog means there are LOTS of new goodies to get our hands on! Here are the details of the Shares I am offering. You can order as many or as few as you'd like, but if you would like to GET IT ALL, I will ship it to you for FREE! The cost for EVERYTHING is $196, which includes all the new Designer Series Papers, Ribbons, and Accessories... PLUS, you get to choose your own Level I Stamp Set for FREE! Just to give you an idea, if you were to purchase all of these items from the catalog, you'd spend over $720 + TAX!! As you know, by participating in these Shares, you can sample ALL of it for a fraction of the cost.

If you'd prefer to pick and choose, please note that the shipping charges are not included in the prices listed below. Once you tell me which Shares you'd like, I can tell you how much it will cost. My best guess is that it will be $10.70 for Priority Mail... that box should fit everything you'd like. If I can fit your Shares into a Flat Rate Envelope, the shipping cost will be $4.90. Please note that only US addresses can participate in this Share.

If you have any questions at all, just let me know!

PAPER SHARE - $36 to get it all
Each group consists of 48 6"x6" double-sided sheets of the fabulous new Designer Series Papers. The cost is $12, plus shipping. Groups are as follows:

Group 1:
Greenhouse Gala
Love Letter
Jolly Holiday
Newsprint

Group 2:
Woodland Walk
Lap of Luxury
Blueberry Crisp
Elegant Soiree

Group 3:
Celebrations
Sunny Garden
Play Date
Pawsitively Prints II

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RIBBON SHARE - $124 to get it all
There are several new ribbons to adore! Chose from the following groups, or get them all! Yardage amounts are approximate.

Crochet Trim:
1-1/4 yards each of 2 styles (Chantilly & Victoria). $4.50

1/2" Stitched In Color:
3-3/4 yards each of the 5 new In Colors. $13.50

1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain:
2-1/2 yards each of 8 colors. $23.00

1/4" Grosgrain:
3-3/4 yards each of 4 colors. $7.00

5/8" Grosgrain:
3-3/4 yards each of 8 colors. $16.50

5/8" Satin:
3-3/4 yards each of 6 colors. $16.00

1/8" Taffeta:
2-1/2 yards each of 13 colors. $23.00

3/8" Taffeta:
2-1/2 yards each of 10 colors. $20.50

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ACCESSORY SHARE: $36 to get it all
Fun new stuff! Pick and choose, or sample them all!

Designer Buttons: $10.50
1 each of 3 designs in 24 colors, for a total of 72 buttons.

Brads: $8.50
5 each of 24 colors, for a total of 120 brads.

Flower Brads: $10.50
2 each of 24 colors, for a total of 48 flower brads.

Misc. Accessories: $6.50
Antique Brads: 1 each of 5 designs, for a total of 5 pieces.
Vintage Trinkets: 2 each of 2 designs in 3 colors of trinkets, for a total of 12 pieces.
Pearls: 12 each in 3 sizes, for a total of 36 pieces.
Rhinestones: 12 each in 3 sizes, for a total of 36 pieces.

Happy Mother's Day!!

2010-05-09T09:26:00.001-05:00

I woke up to a yummy pancake breakfast-in-bed made by my very own son, Mason! What a sweetheart... Well, I hope you are all having (or had) a fantastic Mother's Day! I know I am... because by the time you're reading this, I'll be hitting the high seas with my family for our cruise vacation!

...but before I go, I thought I'd pop in and show you the card I made for my mom - who happens to be meeting up with us to join us on the cruise, along with my dad! So that makes a triple-bonus for MY Mother's Day! Oh, the memories we'll be making!! (I sure do miss them...)

There are a couple of companion cards to this one that I'll have to show you next time... I got a boat to catch!

Hugs to all,
Michele

Bitty Box Idea

2010-04-29T17:07:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the delay - I've been having trouble with my Photoshop program. Here is what my older boys made for some Valentine treats, but they'd be cute for birthday parties or just a little gift for a friend.

These came about when I made the Bitty Box for the first time - the little tab that tucks into the box to hold it closed was hard for me to pull out, and I was afraid the kids would rip the box up to get inside, so I punched out a circle and glued it to the tab giving them something to pull on. Then I realized it looked like a tongue!! ...voila!

We used various punches to make the facial features and hair. Here are a couple close-ups:

We filled ours with M&Ms!

Enjoy the rest of your week!
Blessings,
Michele

Milk Cartons

2010-04-19T22:46:00.003-05:00

I am still overflowing with gratitude at all the wonderful comments that continue to trickle in! Thank you SOOOOOO much for your support. It means a LOT to me... and, as you can see, it does have a direct reflection on my incentive to post!! :)

Here are the Valentine boxes I made for some friends in my Bible study group. I just love the Mini Milk Carton Die for the Big Shot!! It is SO easy to put together (I do recommend using scrap paper for your first one until you figure it out)...

...and I love how you can leave one end of the top unglued so they can pop it out just like a real carton! In fact, I didn't glue the top at all, I just clipped one end shut!

I stamped the bottom with the signature stamp (before folding, of course!).

And although I made several different "looks", these were the only two designs I decided were "blog-worthy"!

Again, if you have any questions about how these work, feel free to drop me an e-mail.

Hugs to all my wonderful, loyal readers!
Michele

Bookmarks

2010-04-17T11:04:00.001-05:00

WOW. You ladies are amazing. Here I thought everyone forgot about me!! To receive all those nice words was just incredible. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

You know, the only incentive I have to do posts at all is for the kudos I receive! I'm not selling much anymore (but I certainly don't turn down orders!), therefore this blog doesn't really generate any monetary benefit... many, if not most, of you are fellow demonstrators anyway. So, I suppose as long as I continue to get kind words like you left on that last post, then I'll stick around!! :)

Here are some bookmarks I made back in February for Maddox to give to his friends as Valentines. I spent a little too much time on them, seeing as how they are 3-year olds, and what 3-year old really needs a bookmark?! But I'm a Stampin' Momma, and Stampin' Momma's, as you know, just GOTTA make things cute!

And here's a close-up of my favorite - the little monkeys:

So, regardless of whether these bookmarks actually found their way into a book, or if they were promptly discarded into the bin, it's beside the point. The point WAS... to STAMP, by golly! And for the record, I LOVE the new clear mount stamps!! How 'bout you?

Hugs,
Michele

Been A Long Time...

2010-04-15T21:38:00.005-05:00

Well, hello! Yes, it's been a long time... a very, very long time. Probably the longest stretch I've gone without updating this blog. My loyal readers know how my life has changed in the last year - and today does happen to mark the ONE YEAR anniversary of our move to the mountains! We are loving life out here in Colorado, loving homeschooling, loving being together as a family. As much as I hate that it takes time away from some of my passions (stamping definitely being one of them!), I will never sacrifice my family time for anything. I do believe it says so to the left there under my picture! So, without further ado, let me show you a card I made a few weeks ago... and this post is for you, Liz. (you can all thank her, as it was her persuading that got me on here tonight!)

Now, one of the things that keeps me from blogging is the time it takes to edit the photo, add the watermark, and then track down all the supplies I used to make the cards so I can include it in the post. I'm okay with the editing part, but I wanted to get your thoughts on how horrible it would be if I did NOT include a list of supplies? If you really like a card and can't determine what I used, you can always leave me a comment and as long as you give me a way to contact you, I will ALWAYS respond and answer your specific questions. Would that be okay with you? ...if there's even anyone out there that still reads my blog! :) Let me know your thoughts.

Hugs to you all... I hope you're having a glorious spring!
Michele

(it appears that my signature has been deleted... just something else for me to work on. *sigh*)

Valentine Treat Cups!

2010-02-11T00:56:00.004-06:00

I SOOOOOO need to be in bed right now, but I made a couple Valentines for a niece and nephew tonight, and they are just too cute NOT to share RIGHT NOW! Both of them use the new Heart Shaped Treat Cups (you can find out more information on them here), as well as the Tall Tales DSP.

Okay, this first one is for my niece...

Isn't it just adorable?! Here is the inside...

I'll tell you more about that "trap door" in a minute. Next is the one I made for her brother:

Here's the inside of that one:

Now, in order to get the candy out, I have found that the simplest way is to make a little "trap door"... this idea came from my friend, Tiffany Bauer - a very talented stamper. Thanks, Tiff!

It's not hard to do... but it's way too late for me to go into detail. Tiffany has a video that you can watch, and I just slightly modified her idea. If you have specific questions, leave a comment with a way to contact you and I'll get back to you when it's NOT 12:23am. :)

I've got some more Valentine goodies to show you... hopefully I can do that BEFORE Sunday, but my mom is coming to town in a few days, so I'm on full house-cleaning alert at the moment. Can't wait to spend the week with her! I sure do miss her...

Okay... I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams!

Very Vintage

2010-02-05T11:39:00.002-06:00

I had a wonderful time playing with the new Vintage Vogue set that is in the new Occasions Mini! Three of my nieces all have birthdays within a week of each other, so I just cranked them all out at once...

The one above is my favorite of the three... it uses an Old Olive and More Mustard color scheme with some Bordering Blue thrown in (I think that was the blue - I don't have the card anymore. Either that or Brocade).

This one (above) wasn't as vibrant as it looks in the photo - it really was nicer looking. It's a Pumpkin Pie, Cameo Coral, and Certainly Celery combo, with some Lovely Lilac (again, I think that was the color... I really must get these posted BEFORE I mail them out!).

Finally, this last one was Pale and Perfect Plum with Old Olive and Rose Red. The wheeled Very Vintage background showed up well on the Pale Plum.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage, Well Scripted
Ink: Colors listed above, plus Versamark
Cardstock: Colors listed above, plus Whisper White
Accessories: Flower Fusion, Rhinestone Brads

I'm Back...

2010-01-29T17:56:00.006-06:00

Oh boy, what a holiday!! Yes, it's been over a month since I have posted... but we have been having so much fun! Skiing, Sledding, Snowboarding, Schooling, Swimming in Sulphur Springs... hmmmm, there's a pattern here... so why on earth hasn't there been any Stamping going on?!

Well, I have made a couple of birthday cards for my nieces, and I will show those to you in my next post. In the meantime, I need to catch you up on a few things!

First of all, the new Occasions Mini Catalog is in full swing! If you haven't received your copy, please let me know and I can get one out to you. Stampin' Up! just keeps outdoing themselves... this time, we get CLEAR STAMPS! Yippee!! I have had the opportunity to play with these, and I am hooked. All of my stamps from now on will be clear! Stampin' Up! really did this right... they wanted to be sure their clear stamps would provide the same quality images as the wood blocks, so they used the same foam backed rubber and designed it to stick to clear acrylic blocks! I promise you, the quality has not been sacrificed one bit! As an added option, you can afix a label to the BACK of your rubber stamp so it will show through the acrylic block. And storage... Oh, the storage is a dream!! The boxes are the same size as your typical DVD boxes! And as if that weren't enough reason to entice you to give them a try... how about this? They're CHEAPER than the wood mount! Of course, the wood mount stamps are not going anywhere... you just have a new choice from now on. If you haven't tried our clear stamp sets yet, give me a holler and I can help you pick one out with the appropriate clear blocks. Simply telling you about it can't do it justice...

I also need to let you know that we are smack dab in the middle of Stampin' Up!'s biggest annual promotion - Sale-a-Bration! This is the time of year when you get LOTS of freebies! For every $50 you spend, you get to choose a FREE stamp set! They've made it even better this year, because in addition to the new Sale-a-Bration stamp sets, they've also added a list of over 75 stamp sets from the main catalog of which you can pick and choose as your freebies! To view this list, click on the flyer at left and proceed to page 11. It is also a great time to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, as you can enjoy a 15% discount on the starter kit and also receive an extra FREE set of your choice (valued up to $47.95) from the Idea Book & Catalog!

Moving right along, Stampin' Up! is doing their part to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. For every I {heart} Hearts stamp set they sell through the month of February (either wood OR clear), they will donate $2.00 toward relief efforts. This stamp set is adorable, and perfect for this time of year... and weddings, and anniversaries... so it's good all year round! Click on the flyer at left for more information.

Lastly - and I'm a little late in letting you know about this one, so hurry if you're interested because they are available only while supplies last - for a limited time, you can enjoy these Heart Shape Treat Cups! They coordinate perfectly with the new Sweetheart stamp set (click on the flyer at left to view full size) and the Full Heart Punch. Grab some padded envelopes (require extra postage) and send these out to your dearest Valentines! Look at the darling cards you can make:

Before I forget, I also have one more Ribbon Share available as well as two Accessory Shares. If you are interested, view this post for the details and contact me for payment information.

Okay, I think that's enough news for today... That's what I get for waiting a whole month to post! I hope you all had a tremendous holiday, are looking forward to a great football game next week, and have a chance to check out all of these great deals! Let me know if you have any questions at all.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

2009-12-24T10:22:00.000-06:00

I want to wish every one of my readers a very Merry Christmas! I wish I had the time to send a card to each and every one of you... but because we're once again making homemade Christmas gifts (see this post for last year's), I'm afraid it would take me til next June to get all the cards out that I wanted! In any case, here is the card I made for our family and closest friends... I think I made around 85 or so:

The snow is our gorgeous Shimmery White cardstock. Can't see the sparkle in the photos, but it's there! As I mentioned before, this stamp is so perfect for our family... take a look:

Michael prefers the more "traditional" colors, so I also made some in Old Olive:

We are enjoying a truly white Christmas... something we rarely, if ever, experienced in Texas. In addition, we all went ice skating on the lake! That was a definite first for us! I hope that you spend the next few days joyfully celebrating our Savior's birth surrounded by those you love.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: The More the Merrier (Level III Hostess), Many Merry Messages, Serene Snowflakes
Ink: Real Red, Bordering Blue, Old Olive, Versamark
Cardstock: Bordering Blue, Old Olive, Shimmery White
Accessories: White Organza Ribbon

Share Preview!

2009-12-23T10:27:00.003-06:00

I will be posting my Christmas card tomorrow, but I wanted to give everyone a heads up on the Shares I will be offering at the first of the year. For those of you who have had the opportunity to see the new Occasions Mini Catalog, I know you're just as excited as I am about all the FABULOUS things in it! Clear stamps, space saving punches, Easter & Valentine kits... just to name a few!

So let's start sharing! I can't accept money for these yet, but I can certainly take orders and then send an invoice after the new mini catalog goes live on January 5th. Here's what I'll be offering:

Paper Share:
Includes Sending Love Specialty, Shades of Spring, and Sweet Pea... 72 6"x6" sheets total.
$20 including Priority shipping

Ribbon Share:
Includes 3 yards each of all 9 colors of 5/8" Satin Ribbon.
(Basic Black, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, and Basic Gray)
$25 including Priority shipping

Accessories:
Includes Sending Love Epoxy Brads: 2 each of 2 designs in all three colors (Pretty in Pink, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip) for a total of 12 pieces
Includes Corduroy Buttons: 2 each of 3 styles in both colors (Pretty in Pink and Real Red) for a total of 12 pieces
Includes Sweet Pea Stitched Felt: 2 three-petal flowers, 5 french knot circles, 4 leaves, and 2 six-petal flowers for a total of 13 pieces
$18 including Priority Shipping

If participating in all three, take $5.00 off total price.

If you are interested in participating in any/all of these shares, send me an e-mail indicating which one(s) and I will send a PayPal invoice on January 5th.

Get Well, Uncle Bill!

2009-12-14T10:39:00.000-06:00

Oh my WORD! Is December REALLY half over?!! What happened? How come I don't have my Christmas cards in the mail yet?! I'm telling you, there really should be about two more weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas... don't you think?!

Although I've obviously been neglecting my blog, I promise you I have not been sitting on my rump. Somehow, homeschooling the boys, making Christmas presents, keeping up with laundry, cooking meals, getting the kids to swimming, music, juggling, and Scouts, and chasing a three-year old around seems to take up all of my time! Who'd of thought?

Okay, so I did have to put my busy life on pause the other night so I could make a card for my Uncle Bill who had open heart surgery last week. He's doing well and should be released from the hospital on Tuesday. Praise God! Here is the card I whipped up for him.

Nothing fancy... but I did wad up the stripe in back to age it a bit. I like that technique. Okay, I'd stay and chat, but there's about 3 baskets of laundry on the couch that won't fold itself, sticky dried up juice spills on the kitchen floor, a 10-year old wandering around instead of doing his schoolwork, the dog is ringing the bell to be let out, and I have about 50 people coming over this afternoon for a Birds of Prey presentation (no joke... heaven knows where they're all going to park)! :)

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Naturals Ivory
Accessories: Vintage brads
Tools: Cutter Kit, Modern Label punch, Designer Label punch

Really Red Christmas!

2009-11-30T22:38:00.004-06:00

I apologize, this one was especially hard to photograph. But the basic idea is a "really red" card!

I added some clear rhinestone brads for bling, along with some silky smooth satin ribbon.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We traveled back to Texas for the week and it was wonderful to visit with our old friends and neighbors... and my family, too! It was the DRIVE that we could've lived without... 15-16 hours straight through with 3 kiddos. Do you feel my pain?!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Snow Swirled, Serene Snowflakes
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Versamark
Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: White Satin Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone brads

A Christmas Request

2009-11-24T08:44:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine back in Texas asked if I could help her design a Christmas card. What an honor it is to be asked such a thing! I created a few for her - some of which you've seen - but this is the one she liked the best:

As you can see in the picture, the "ornaments" on the tree are done in silver so they sparkle a little bit.

I'm going to be "off the air" for a few days as we're traveling back to Texas for Thanksgiving! It will be my first time back "home" since we moved here in April! I'm excited to see several old friends... Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Snow Swirled
Ink: Mellow Moss, Basic Black, Silver Encore
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Whisper White Organza ribbon
Tools: Key Tag punch

The Quilts

2009-11-22T11:36:00.001-06:00

I normally reserve this blog for Stampin' Up! stuff only... but I thought some of you might be interested to see what has kept me from you for so long! The move up here to the mountains has given me the quilting bug! It's a new hobby for me - and I needed a new hobby like I needed another hole in my head, but I have really enjoyed these projects. I am making quilts for the boys! They are sometimes called "rag quilts", and they consist of two layers of cozy flannel with some batting in between for our chilly nights.

This is the first one I made - it's for Morgan:

This next one is the one I made for Maddox:

I'm still working on Mason's (in my spare time - HA!!), but here is the fabric he and I picked out for it:

Fun, fun, fun! Sorry for you card-only folks... but this just goes to show you that there are so many great hobbies out there! Life's too short to have only one...

Special People...

2009-11-20T09:10:00.000-06:00

Everyone has special people in their life whom they want to remember on special days... this is one such day for me. Today marks the birthday of my late high school sweetheart. Every year, I like to send a card to his parents to let them know they are on my mind. Here's the one I made for them this year:

This adorable acorn stamp is fun to layer with circle punches... but be sure to line them up just right so the letters look right - you see that the "g" gets split between the punches:

No more real secrets on this one, so I'll let the recipe speak for itself.

We miss you, Scott...

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: The More the Merrier (Hostess Level III), Woodgrain background
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Black StazOn
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain ribbon
Tools: 1-3/4" and 1" Circle punches, Horizontal Slot punch (for ribbon)

Even More Christmas!

2009-11-17T09:05:00.002-06:00

Here is the card that my guys liked the best... I like it too, but it's not my favorite.

I really like this little snowman scene because there's 5 of them and 5 of us! Michael is the debonair one with the top hat, I get to be the cute one with the earmuffs, Mason looks like his daddy, Morgan has the silly Santa hat on, and Maddox is the chubby one down front! Isn't it perfect?!

The card I think I will use for Christmas actually has this same stamp on it... I'll show that to you soon.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: The More the Merrier (Hostess Level 3), Serene Snowflakes
Ink: Black StazOn, Versamark, Night of Navy
Cardstock: Real Red, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Whisper White Organza ribbon (I told you I LOVE this ribbon!)
Tools: Word Window punch

More Christmas Cards!

2009-11-15T11:32:00.000-06:00

Here's another idea I came up with for Christmas... I really like it, but it's quite a bit of layering.

The image I used here is from Serene Snowflakes (one of my very favorite holiday sets this year), but it could be almost anything. And, I actually prefer it turned on it's side like this:

But with this snowflake, I think most people would be turning it upright (like the first picture). I'd need to use something that has a definite top and bottom if I wanted to have it sideways like this.

Anyway, I like this one quite a bit, so I'll probably make a few! (...I didn't even ask the guys if they liked it. I'm the one doing all the work, right? I should have the right to veto, shouldn't I?!)

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Serene Snowflakes, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Naturals White
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Edge punch

Christmas Cards!

2009-11-13T18:47:00.003-06:00

I've been making a lot of Christmas cards lately, trying to pick the one that I want to use. I'll start showing you the ones I've come up with so far over the next few days.

This was the first one I made, and I really like it, but the guys in my house didn't vote for it. It's actually a CASE of a card in the Holiday Mini - page 26. I love the soft look of it, but I suppose it was too soft for the men in my life!

I think they were leaning toward the more traditional Christmas colors, so I made another version of it in green...

...but they didn't go for this one either. :)

Ah well, I've got more! I'll be back soon...

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Serene Snowflakes, Christmas Greetings
Ink: Silver Encore, Versamark, Bordering Blue & Night of Navy (card #1), Mellow Moss & Always Artichoke (card #2)
Cardstock: Kraft, Shimmery White, Bordering Blue (card #1), Mellow Moss (card #2)
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brads
Tools: Corner Rounder punch

Happy Birthday, Michael!

2009-11-05T22:38:00.003-06:00

Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful comments about my new desk! I'm still thrilled with it - I've been making all kinds of cards! My only problem now is that I don't have enough time to get them uploaded, watermarked, and prepared for posting! ...always a complaint, huh?

Okay, so today was my wonderful husband's birthday. I made him a cute little card that I honestly think all of you will appreciate more than he did. :) Ah well, cards just aren't his thing!

Aw, isn't it cute?! Do you want to know what he said when he opened it?! He said, "Look boys, Mom made me a card that says she likes my nuts"! I'm NOT JOKING! Of course, many giggles erupted from my boys at that. I am so completely surrounded by testosterone in this house.

In any case, it was a fun card to make. I suppose it's fair for them to take it out of context to increase their enjoyment of such girl-ish endeavors. :)

Oh, a side note, I made the background by inking up the acorn from the Level 3 Hostess set, The More the Merrier, with my Versamark marker. May be a little more work than I tend to do, but hey, Michael's worth it... most of the time. ;)

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Animal Crackers, The More the Merrier
Ink: Versamark, Black StazOn, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware (retired finish), Always Artichoke Grosgrain ribbon

My New Stampin' Desk!!

2009-11-02T07:40:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to share this with you... because it is something I am truly excited about! If you follow my blog, you know that I used to have a wonderful stamp room when we lived in Texas. I was sad to give that up, but I am thrilled with my new space. I want to thank all of you who gave me suggestions on new stamping desk ideas, but I managed to come up with this solution on my own. Since my space had to be out in the open (in a corner of our downstairs game room), I wanted something that I could close up so it wouldn't look so cluttered. I started by purchasing a computer armoire on Craigslist, but after getting it home and halfway down the steps, we realized it wasn't going to make the turn at the base of the stairs! Aaaargh! But it was a blessing in disguise... because THIS is what I found instead:

A gorgeous roll-top desk and matching file cabinet! It was even a little cheaper than the armoire, and it matches our wood trim so much better. We have another roll-top upstairs where the boys do their schoolwork, and it looks so nice that I decided to look into one as a possible stamping desk. Because it is designed for a computer, it allows me to put my Ott Light and heat gun right inside while the cords get threaded out the back. I plan to put a decor element on the wall above the desk... probably the Life Milestones one, which says, "Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments." I will post updated pictures when that's done.

You may think there's not enough room to spread out, but I'm finding out that less space is actually BETTER for me... there's nowhere to just leave things out like I used to. My desk would get so cluttered from just leaving it in a pile - now I take a couple minutes after each card and put things AWAY where they belong! And when everything has a place within arms reach, it's so much easier to do! Plus, I do have a pull-out tabletop on either side if I need some extra room - which I have not needed.

Now, here's one of my MOST FAVORITE THINGS about this desk... ribbon storage!!

I have NEVER, NEVER, NEVER had such a PERFECT spot to store my ribbon before! Isn't it beautiful!! It's the second drawer on the right - I just pull it open, find the one I want, and take the whole spool out! It is brilliant... believe me! I've fought with all kinds of ribbon solutions and this is so simple, yet so perfect! I truly believe this was worth the price of the desk all by itself!

Now here's the top drawer... I am still playing with finding the perfect spot for things, but so far, all of my scissors are in here, along with other things I use a lot... my color swatch deck, sanding blocks, sponges, etc.

And here is the bottom drawer on the right. It's deeper than the others, and it keeps all of my Big Shot dies nice and orderly, along with some extra things in the back.

The left side of the desk is where a computer tower or printer would go, but I use it for my punches and cardstock scraps (you may remember my cardstock scrap box from before - it is still very much a part of my stamping station!). I am not totally satisfied with how I have my punches stored (all in a bin like this), but I'm waiting for another brilliant idea on how to improve it. Any ideas? For now, this works fine. Underneath that shelf is a big hollowed out area where my extra grid paper and other larger items fit nicely - like my Circle Scissor Plus and glass mat.

Okay, now for another one of my VERY FAVORITE aspects of this desk... the pull-out keyboard tray!

Instead of a keyboard, I use it for my paper trimmer and Stampin' Scrub! Oh, how convenient it is to have these two staples always available and very accessible! It is fantastic!!

Like any roll-top desk, there are ample cubbies and bins just perfect for all of my stamping accessories... here is the right side of the desk top which holds my markers, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, embellishments, embossing powders, etc. The biggest drawer on top has my watercolor pencils and pastels, while the smaller ones hold my "specialty" ink pads - Versamark, StazOn, Encore, etc. Eventually, when I'm sure I have everything where I want it, I will have nice labels on the drawers.

On the left side of the desk top, there is a nice, deep drawer that is PERFECT for storing envelopes!! It was like this desk was built just for me! The other drawers on this side hold all of my adhesives (snail, dimensionals, glue dots, etc.), and there's a wide shallow drawer with pencil-sized wells in it that store my bone folders, gel pens, blender pens, and even my Tearing Edge. And speaking of enough space, I still have an entirely empty drawer!

On top of the desk, I have a couple other storage spaces - this beautiful treasure box holds all of my "rejects" - pieces that I have punched and not used, or even small stamped pieces. I like to dig through it every now and then to see what kind of cards I can make with my cast-offs. And it's a fun box for my nieces to go through when they come over.

On the other side, I have a caddy with glass jars that hold things like my Flower Fusion pieces, Die Cut Blooms, and even Chipboard. I found this caddy a couple years ago at "First Monday Trade Days" out in Canton, Texas. I love the look of it, and I'm happy to put it to good use!

To the right of the desk is the little filing cabinet that came with the desk. It holds all of my cardstock, and I keep my Big Shot on top of it within easy reach!

Against the wall is a ledge that is perfect for the ink cabinet that Michael built for me back in Texas, and I have a couple of these antique printer trays where I store the retired stamps that I refuse to part with. Eventually they will both get hung on the wall, but for now they just rest here.

Finally, I must mention that we also have a large storage room downstairs where I have all of my other "less used" stamping supplies. I have claimed several shelves in there, and there's even a bookshelf to house all of my stamp sets. What I'm in the process of creating is a personalized "catalog" using images of the stamp sets I own cut from old catalogs. I will put them in sheet protectors in a binder so I can flip through it to find just what I want to use. This will make it so easy to go retrieve the desired set from the storage room! It's also good for finding just the right sentiment since they're scattered all throughout the sets. Once I finish this book, I'll show you a picture of it... but that may be awhile - I'm spending all my free time stamping right now! Yippee!

Well, that's it!! What do you think?! Cozy, huh?! (Don't forget that lovely view I get from the downstairs window!) I'd love to hear your comments!

Great Friend

2009-10-31T09:55:00.003-05:00

Happy Halloween everyone! How many of you have over 2 feet of snow on the ground? Well, we sure do. :) It snowed all day Wednesday and Thursday - enough that all of the schools were closed and the city basically shut down. But... much to the dismay of my boys, OUR school was in session!! Ah, the beauty of homeschooling! :)

Okay, I just have to tell you once again how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new stamping desk!! It has sparked in me a renewed passion to get down there and STAMP! I have taken photos of it and will be posting them soon so you can all see it, but for now, just enjoy the fruits of my labor...

This is a beautiful set called Great Friend. I like it primarily because of the wonderful sentiment... "You're a friend who makes good times great," but I also love butterflies, so this set is right up my alley! I also want to reiterate how fabulous it is that we have the new In Colors in MARKERS! The sentiment was colored using markers, including the new Rich Razzleberry! Thank you, Stampin' Up!!

For a product spotlight, I must mention again how wonderful this beautiful Whisper White Organza Ribbon is. Each spool has 15 yards of this graceful delicacy - enough to embellish at least 36 cards! It is truly my favorite ribbon right now, and if you haven't tried it out for yourself, add it to your list for your next order! You won't be sorry! (Item 114319, $5.95)

Have a safe & happy Halloween!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Great Friend
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Versamark, Old Olive
Cardstock: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DSP
Accessories: Organza Ribbon
Tools: Curly Label Punch

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-28T06:42:00.000-05:00

I'm up very early this morning... got a call at 5:30am that all of the Jefferson county schools are closed - we're buried in snow. I'm still wondering why we got that call because my kids are homeschooled (...and our school WILL be in session)! But anyway, I couldn't go back to sleep, so here I am spending my morning with all of you!

I whipped up some quick Halloween cards over the last couple days... I like some better than others, but it was fun to just play.

With the exception of this last one, they all use the Batty For You set along with the Arachnophobia wheel and some Cast-A-Spell Designer Series Paper. The last one uses the Haunting wheel, which I embossed with Versamark and clear powder. The cardstock colors are Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Perfect Plum, & Basic Black.

Now... another update... I did manage to sell the "too big" computer armoire, and in hindsight, I'm so glad it didn't work out! I found something SO MUCH BETTER!! I can't wait to show it to you... right now, I'm still trying to get everything in its place, but I promise to share my new duds real soon!

Happy Halloween everyone - be safe!

What?!? Michele Stamped a New Card?!

2009-10-20T21:22:00.003-05:00

Yes, indeed-y! I'm a little rusty at it, but I did manage to turn this one out last night...

It's quite simple, as you can see, but I wanted the focus to be on the little butterfly. This stamp set is a Hostess Level I set called "Of the Earth". I colored the stamp with the markers and even added a bit of a two-tone look to the flowers by using Lavender Lace as well as Elegant Eggplant. The sentiment is a nice quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The greatest gift is a portion of thyself." What a fitting thing to put on a homemade card, because to me, every time I give a homemade card, I think of it as giving a part of myself... my time, my talent, my love.

I hope everyone is having a great week! We're scheduled to get some snow overnight, so I'm going to get cozied up by the fire for the rest of the evening... maybe with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book! Oh, this is the life! :)

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Of the Earth
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Really Rust, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive
Cardstock: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, The Write Stuff Specialty DSP
Accessories: Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon
Tools: Scallop Edge punch

Another Deal of the Week!

2009-10-19T12:54:00.008-05:00

A new deal has just been posted! You can take advantage of these special offers now through October 25th:

Basic Jumbo Grommets - originally $6.95,
NOW ON SALE for $4.49

1/2" Library Clips - originally $6.95,
NOW ON SALE for $3.99

Circle Designer Brads - originally $5.95,
NOW ON SALE for $3.99

Mini Library Clips - originally $12.95,
NOW ON SALE for $8.99

You can click on the images or links above for more information, and all of these items are featured on page 179 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. Remember, you can order them at any time through my website, or contact me and I can order them for you.

As an update to an earlier post... I have been looking on Craigslist for a nice computer armoire, and I found a really nice one! We got it all the way home and halfway down our staircase when we realized that there was no way it was going to make the turn at the base of my steps! My arms and back were aching by the time we got it back up the stairs. Unfortunately, it is now sitting in my kitchen as I just re-listed it on Craigslist. I am bummed that it didn't work out, but it just wasn't meant to be, I suppose. So, the search continues...

New Deal of the Week!

2009-10-16T11:41:00.006-05:00

Wow! This one is big!! Forgive me for being late on letting you know about it, but there's still time... order these terrific Big Shot Dies at these INCREDIBLE prices BEFORE 9:50am Mountain Time on October 19th!

Flower Burst Embosslit Die - original price of $11.95,
ON SALE for $5.99
This gorgeous flower has an Eastern influence and looks stunning with the Eastern Blooms stamp set. Embosslit dies add volume and dimension because they not only cut out the shapes, they also emboss portions of them!

Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die - original price of $42.95,
ON SALE for $25.99
This die is part of Shelli's signature collection and it creates beautiful standard-size cupcake holders and napkin rings from cardstock, Designer Series Paper, or other materials!

Pop Up Three Tier Cake Bigs XL Die - original price of $39.95,
ON SALE for $25.49
Take a look at this basic example to see what this incredible Die can create:

Remember you can place your order anytime through my website, or contact me and I can place it for you.

Happy Shopping!

Coasters

2009-10-11T22:24:00.003-05:00

Those of you who have been following my blog know that I haven't been stamping much lately... this move to Colorado has given me the quilting bug! Must be the crisp air? Anyway, I wanted to show you one of the little things I've spent time on... fabric coasters! This is nothing compared to the flannel rag quilts I've been making for the boys (of which I promise to show you soon), but these are super fun to whip up, and they make darling gifts.

I make a set of 6 that all coordinate together. Here's a closer look:

Then, I like to bundle them up with a bit of Stampin' Up! ribbon, like this:

Darling, huh?!

Requesting Help!

2009-10-09T17:20:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! I am needing your help... I am in the market for a nice crafting-cabinet-type thingie (similar to the one shown here, only not in yellow!). My loyal readers may remember my private stamping room back in Texas. Well, I don't have that anymore. (Instead, I get to look at beautiful mountains, so it's a good trade!) But, my white tables do not look so good in our basement corner and I'm wanting to find something that works better. I would prefer one of those armoir-type cabinets that can close up when not in use. Here is a website I found, and although theirs are gorgeous, they're a bit too pricey for me right now.

So, does anyone have a good place for me to look? Leave a comment - and if someone directs me to the place I buy from, I'll send you an extra special goodie in the mail! (so be sure to leave an e-mail addy or another way for me to contact you!)

From one crafter to another, I thank you!

October Deals!

2009-10-01T22:18:00.006-05:00

Although I'm not stamping so much these days, I do feel the obligation to let you know when there are great deals to be had... so, until October 12th, you can get these punches at these great prices:

Trio Flower punch for $10.99
5-Petal Flower punch for $10.99
My Way punch for $11.99

These are all found on pages 186-187 of the current Idea Book & Catalog and they normally cost $15.95. Take advantage of the discount - no minimum purchase and no limits. You can even order them online through my website at any time. And while you're there, don't forget to visit the Clearance Rack to find lots of great deals at prices up to 80% off!

In addition, now that the fabulous My Digital Studio is available (YIPPEE!!), they have included it in the new Demonstrator Starter Kit! For $185, you can start your own Stampin' Up! business (or support your own hobby!) and receive over $295 worth of wonderful Stampin' Up! products... INCLUDING the new My Digital Studio! If you have any questions about this opportunity, please feel free to ask me.

Holiday Mini Paper Share

2009-09-11T23:40:00.008-05:00

It's time for a Paper Share again! The wonderful new Holiday Mini Catalog has 4 different Designer Series Papers - 2 are regular and 2 are "Specialty." See the images below for a glimpse at each package, and you can click on the thumbnails for more information. Participants in this share will receive twelve (12) 6" x 6" sheets from each of these 4 packages, totalling 48 sheets of Designer Series Paper. The cost is $18, which includes Priority Shipping.

If you would like to participate, please contact me and I will send you a PayPal invoice.

Happy Birthday, Mason!

2009-09-10T18:06:00.002-05:00

First of all, I want to thank you all so much for the incredible messages of support after my last post. I was awed by the love out there and for the understanding you have shown. My family has become so close since we have moved to Colorado and I wouldn't trade it for the world!!

Secondly, I wanted to give you a glimpse of where I've been and what I've been focusing on the past several weeks. It began 10 years ago when one of my cousins got married and I realized that it would be the last time we'd all gather together... so I did something about it. I started organizing a family reunion, and every two years we all meet in Oklahoma for what we all consider one of the best weekends of the year! Here's a glimpse of our whole group:

Believe me when I say that it is a TREMENDOUS event with INCREDIBLE people, and I look forward to many, many more!

Okay, so another big event is that today is my oldest son's birthday! Mason is 12 today and I just finished his card. He's flying out to meet my husband in San Francisco (who's already there on business), and they're going to spend a fun-filled weekend together, just the two of them! Mason is looking SO forward to it! But it's his first time flying alone... so Mom's just a wee bit nervous! :)

I'm going to tuck this into a new book I bought for him and wrap it all up with a note that says he can't open it until the plane is taking off... it will give him a "hug" from Mom and a fun book to read on the flight. I will miss him!!

Also, I will be doing a PAPER SHARE on the new Designer Series Papers that are in the Holiday Mini... I have yet to calculate the cost, but I just wanted to give you a heads up in case anyone wants to jump on board... more details to come very soon...

Well, that's my update for now... I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying some wonderful family time!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Sanded background, Oval All, Extreme Elements
Ink: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Silver Metallic Thread, Real Red Brads, Black Grosgrain ribbon
Tools: Curly Label punch, Large Oval punch

"Where's Michele??..."

2009-08-23T21:17:00.007-05:00

Hi, my loyal friends and readers... I have been contemplating writing this post for some time but have put it off for so long because, quite simply, I don't want to write it! You have all seen my posts dwindle down to almost nothing. I feel a tremendous amount of guilt for that because I WANT to give you more. I WANT to continue to inspire you. I WANT to share with you how fabulous I think the Stampin' Up! products are... (and they really ARE fabulous - just wait til you see the Holiday Mini that goes live on September 1st!) ...and quite honestly, I thrive on all the wonderful compliments you shower me with!!

...but the bittersweet truth is that I just can't. I can't keep up the pace I set while I was in Texas. I love it here in Colorado and we're enjoying more family time together than we EVER have. Just LOOK at this beauty!! I made my own postcard from a photo I took a week ago on our way up to Mt. Evans.

In addition, I no longer have a room dedicated solely to stamping and paper crafting like I used to. I have a corner downstairs for all of my precious supplies, and I get down there to drool over them every chance I get, but those chances are fewer and farther between.

Many of you also know that tomorrow, August 24th, I will begin homeschooling our boys. It is my full intention to shower them with every ounce of energy I have in order to make their remaining school years the best that they can possibly be. In the evenings when I do have time for me, I plan to stamp some and I will always show you what I have made. But I won't (and haven't for awhile) stamp every day... I also like to sew, quilt, read, and spend time with my incredibly handsome husband. Therefore, stamping will have to take its rightful place among this list.

I just wanted to give all of you an explanation as to why I've been scarce these days. Please note that I will not be giving up my demonstratorship - I love it too much! So please continue to ask me questions, place orders through me or my website, and share your love of stamping with me... the best way to reach me is through e-mail.

In closing, let me just reiterate that I'm LOVING it here in Colorado - there's no place I'd rather be. Life is good, we're all healthy, and I hope that you are too. I'll catch you when I can... and I do so hope you understand.

Growing Up Promotion!

2009-08-09T14:42:00.003-05:00

Here are two great deals for the kids in your life... and the kid in YOU!

Promotion #1:
From August 1–September 30 only, you can get the exclusive Décor Elements™ Growth Chart — plus, receive a free applicator tool!

Promotion #2:
From August 1-31, spend $35 on stamp sets from the Growing Up section of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (pages 74-90), and choose a FREE package of Designer buttons — a $7.95 value!

Click on the flyer above or contact me for full details!

Mom's Birthday

2009-08-09T14:31:00.004-05:00

My mom's birthday was last week, and I decided to make her a card that WASN'T red this time (that's her favorite color)...! Here's what I came up with:

I used the wonderful new Medallion background stamp along with an elegant Rhinestone brad and the Organza ribbon. Colors are Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, and Whisper White.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Heather's Creations

2009-07-29T23:16:00.004-05:00

There's a saying here in Colorado that we get 9 months of winter and 3 months of relatives. It's not far from the truth! We just finished up a week of hosting some of Michael's family... his mom, step-dad, sister, niece, and nephew. A good time was had by all!

My niece, Heather, wanted me to show her how to stamp, so we took some time together and created a little box and a birthday card for a friend of hers back in Mississippi. Heather plans to put a pair of earrings in the box... clever girl!

We decided to play with the Big Shot, and Heather chose to use Green Galore and Pink Passion along with the Beautiful Butterflies Die to make her gift. With a few minor exceptions, these were completely Heather's designs. I just showed her some possibilities and she took off! A future Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you think?!

The watermark really should say, "Stamped by Heather" but I don't have that font on my mac, and I am too tired to choose another one. So do me a favor and give a big shout out for Heather anyway!

Final Deal of the Week!

2009-07-27T11:13:00.002-05:00

First of all, to explain my absence... I've had 5 extra people with us all this past week. In Colorado, there's a familiar saying that we have 9 months of winter and 3 months of relatives - and it's true!

The final deal of the week is on the Heart to Heart Punch - you can get it for only $10.99, that's over 30% off! Get yours before next Monday!

Deal of the Week!

2009-07-20T23:05:00.003-05:00

Oooooh, this is a good one! Save over 30% on the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware! Get it this week for only $18.99 (instead of $29.95)!

Offer good through July 26th, so don't delay!

Happy Birthday, Dawn-E!

2009-07-14T07:51:00.000-05:00

A dear friend of mine - my maid of honor, in fact - is having a birthday next week. I affectionately call her Dawn-E because E is her middle initial. I don't think she watches this blog, so I think I'm safe in showing you the card I made for her:

I used the new Rich Razzleberry In Color for this one - I like it! It's so... um... RICH! I paired it up with the new Chic Boutique stamp set with the sentiment that says, "It seems only fitting... to wish you a happy day!" What a cute set this is. Oh, and look! Since the Fire Rhinestones are on sale, I decided to pop some on here!

Oh, it felt so good to stamp again! I've been neglecting it far too long.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Chic Boutique
Ink: Black StazOn, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide Grosgrain ribbon, Fire Rhinestones, Crystal Effects

Deal of the Week!

2009-07-13T16:26:00.003-05:00

This week, the special deal is on the Square Fire Rhinestone Brads! Through July 19th, you can order them for just $6.99 (instead of $10.95).

And just to explain my absence... I have started a quilt for Morgan. I'm not a quilter, so it's a new hobby for me, and I rather enjoy it! But I am here at my stamp table right now because I need to make a birthday card for a dear friend... hopefully I'll show you something new in the next day or so!

Deal of the Week!

2009-07-07T14:16:00.005-05:00

Carry your Big Shot in style! The Deal of the Week this week is the Big Shot Doctor's Bag! Through July 12th, you can get it for only $49.95! That's nearly 30% off!

Shop online anytime, or let me know if I can help you with an order.

Sara's Birthday

2009-07-06T08:33:00.000-05:00

I created my own little cocktail to toast my mother-in-law's recent birthday:

I think it looks kinda like a strawberry margarita, don't you?! In any case, I used some Crystal Effects to make the drink look more refreshing. Here's a close-up:

Obviously, this is the Cheers to You stamp set, with a little bit of polka-dot texture using my Big Shot and a Texturz plate.

Happy Birthday, Sara!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Real Red Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red brads
Tools: Big Shot, Backgrounds I Texturz Plate

More New Colors

2009-07-03T14:08:00.004-05:00

I'm still trying my hand at these new In Colors - it always takes me some time to adjust! Here's another one I played with:

This one uses Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo... and notice how the flower is colored in using our FABULOUS NEW In Color Markers!! I just LOVE that they finally made these for us! I also used some of the new Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot grosgrain ribbon and a rhinestone brad.

I also want to take a moment to let you know that I am once again sending out e-mail newsletters of upcoming promotions and specials that I run. I sent one out a couple days ago - if you did not receive it and would like to, just drop me a line and I will add you to my list.

I hope you all had a great week! It was an exciting Stampin' Up! week with the new catalog arriving and all!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: It's a Stretch, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Black Staz-On
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories: Bermuda Bay Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestone brad
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8", 1-1/4", 1", and 1/16" circle punches

Deal of the Week!

2009-07-01T20:44:00.009-05:00

This week (thru July 6th), you can purchase the Scallop Edge punch for only $10.99! You can contact me to place your order, add it to an existing order, or shop online!

The NEW Catalog!

2009-07-01T10:29:00.002-05:00

It's here!! The new Idea Book & Catalog has arrived! Click on the thumbnail at left to start browsing!

And don't forget about my Paper and Ribbon Share - save a lot and sample it all!

Paper & Ribbon Shares!

2009-06-30T18:22:00.002-05:00

The start of a brand new Idea Book & Catalog means it's time for more SHARES! Although the new catalog won't go live for another day, I wanted to give you advanced notice so you could be better prepared with your wish list -- and by participating in these shares, you can save money to be spent on other goodies!! (and be sure to look at the "Want it All" special at the bottom of this post!)

Paper Shares
I will have 4 different groups to choose from. Each group contains 6"x6" squares of each paper in those particular Designer Series Paper (DSP) packs. For instance, if a share contains 3 different DSP styles, then you would receive 36 squares (12 from each style). This is an EXCELLENT and AFFORDABLE way for you to sample many packs without paying full price for any of them!

Group 1 - $12
Nouveau Chic
Cottage Wall
Thoroughly Modern

Group 2 - $12
Kaleidoscope
Tall Tales
Razzleberry Lemonade

Group 3: (Holiday Group) - $15
Holiday Lounge
Merry Moments
Autumn Traditions
Cast-A-Spell

Group 4: (Specialty Papers) - $10
The Write Stuff Specialty
Storybook Specialty

Ribbon Share
I will only have one Ribbon Share group, and it will include ALL of the NEW ribbons that are in this catalog. The cost is $32 and a detailed list of what will be included in this share is below:

Real Red 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Soft Suede 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Dusty Durango 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)
Pumpkin Pie 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Old Olive 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (2 yards)
Basic Black 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (3 yards)

If you ordered a whole spool of each of these, you'd spend over $130. Share the cost and save $100!!

And for those of you who want it all... take advantage of this SPECIAL OFFER:
Participate in ALL of the above shares and save $11 - Total cost is only $70! (and shipped via Priority Mail)

All prices include shipping and tax. Contact me to place your order and I will send you a PayPal invoice. I will keep these shares open throughout the month of July, but I will place the orders as soon as each group fills up. Be among the first and get your shares the quickest!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-06-27T20:49:00.005-05:00

Yes, today is my birthday! I'm 23! :)

I received so many e-mails wishing me a happy day (and it was!), but I only received ONE homemade card!!! Okay, okay... I know it's because I moved and no one has my address anymore. But I wanted to show you the card I received from my dear friend Marelle from Australia:

Isn't she so talented?! You may not be able to see the detail, but she did some faux silk on this one, along with some gorgeous plum cone flowers from the Inspired By Nature stamp set. I think they are just divine!!

Thank you, Marelle... you are so dear to me. And thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful e-mails!

Hugs to all!

Happy Birthday, Carey!

2009-06-21T22:58:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of those days where the card you're trying to make turns out even better than you imagined? This was one such card...

One of my dear friends in Dallas recently had a birthday and I made this card especially for her. I have never used this A Rose is a Rose set before, but I knew it was the perfect one for Carey. She is so beautiful and so loving... and roses just remind me of her. I also have never used this gorgeous Organza Ribbon - oh, my!! Is it ever elegant! I am going to have to find some more cards to use this on... I absolutely love it! As if that ribbon didn't do enough (which it did!), I also dazzled up the rose a bit as you can see below.

Well, this was a fun card to make... I do recommend using the Stamp-a-ma-jig on this set to get it lined up just right. If you're not familiar with this tool, you can see a tutorial on how it works by clicking here. I hope Carey had a fabulous birthday... and Carey, if you're reading this, when are you going to come out here and visit me in these beautiful mountains?! :) Love ya!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: En Francais Background, A Rose is a Rose
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Rose Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Organza Ribbon
Tools: Wide Oval punch, Glue Stick, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stamping Sponge

Classic Father's Day

2009-06-18T09:32:00.001-05:00

I told you I'd make time to show these to you! I have 4 fathers to make cards for... actually, I could count a couple more that I'd like to send cards to, but these 4 are the highest priority. I pulled out a set that has never seen ink before... Classic Sketches, and made these 4 classic cards!

The Plum one is for Michael... purple is his favorite color.

The Pumpkin one is for my dad because orange is his favorite color.

This Brocade one is for Michael's dad (I don't actually know what his favorite color is, but blue will have to do!).

And this Moss one is for Michael's step-dad (again, have no idea what his favorite color is, but I had to choose something other than purple, orange, or blue!).

As you can see, they are all made basically the same with just some color variations. They are all in the mail and I am happy that they will be on time!! Are yours?!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Sanded Background, Classic Sketches, Teeny Tiny Wishes (NEW! for 2009!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Vintage Brads
Tools: Stamping Sponge, Modern Label Punch (NEW! for 2009!)

Morgan is TEN!

2009-06-16T16:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's been another week since I've posted. I have to say, I am just loving Colorado SO MUCH, that it takes a lot for me to sit still enough to write a post. It's so beautiful outside, and one of my favorite things to do when I'm not stamping is to curl up somewhere with a good book. My current book is Jubilee Trail by Gwen Bristow... I'm such a pioneer woman at heart. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to stamp, and I've got at least 7 or 8 cards that I need to show you, but the posting part is not NEAR as much fun as the stamping part! *sorry*

But today is a very special day in the Force household... Morgan is now TEN! I made him a special card...

...but then decided I wanted a little more bling since this is his big double-digit birthday, so I made this one too!

Those of you who have followed my blog for the last couple years (thank you!) will remember Morgan's love affair with Only Orange. I simply had to include it on his card... but unfortunately, I don't have any orange glitter, so red will have to suffice! I think I'll go ahead and give him both cards since they were both made specifically for him. He'll get them tonight after his special dinner!

I promise to get my Father's Day cards posted by the end of the week...

Card 1 Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Pun Fun, Heard from the Heart
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Only Orange, Basic Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Only Orange, Whisper White
Accessories: Black Brad
Tools: Big Shot, Texturz Plate, 1-1/4" and 1" circle punches

Card 2 Recipe:
Stamp Set: None (except for the inside greeting)
Ink: None (ditto)
Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Sticky Cuts Letters, Chunky Essentials glitter
Tools: Photo Corners punch, Crafter's Tool Kit

Just For You

2009-06-09T21:08:00.002-05:00

I know, I know... I've been gone far too long. Believe me, I feel it too! I'm so out of practice that any chance I get at my stamp table, I just sit there and stare! But thankfully, Mr. Brown brought me some new goodies to sit and stare at... until finally I managed to squeeze this one out.

I'm not completely in love with this card, but it was my first shot at some new colors. It always takes a little while to get used to the new In Colors and although I love the new selections, going at them while I'm out of practice didn't quite make for a speedy card completion!

This card uses three new In Colors (Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, and Crushed Curry) as well as three new stamp sets. The giraffe comes from Animal Crackers, the background comes from Circle Circus, and the sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The ribbon is new too - it's our new Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain - although I used the opposite side because I felt the polka-dots were a bit much this time.

But the most FABULOUS thing about this card... do you notice how the giraffe is two different colors? Well, Stampin' Up! has finally done it!! They've given us the In Colors in MARKERS!! Let me tell you, I squealed when I saw it! I am so excited to have them.

...and you, too, will be excited when you see all the fun new things in our upcoming catalog! But first things first... don't forget to take advantage of the great specials on all of the retiring items I discussed in this post.

I'll try not to be as long gone this time... you'll have to cut me a little slack, though... I'm a crew leader in Vacation Bible School this week. I've got 19 little 5 & 6 year olds tugging on my shirt all week... not to mention my OWN 3 little monsters! :)

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Animal Crackers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Accessories: Soft Suede Polka-dot grosgrain ribbon
Tools: 1/16", 1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8" circle punches, Scallop circle punch, Stamping sponge

Last Chance!

2009-06-01T16:42:00.005-05:00

As we prepare for another new and wonderful Idea Book & Catalog, it means we must say goodbye to some of our old favorites. Click on the links below to view the lists.

Last Chance Stamp Sets (Listed by page number)
Last Chance Stamp Sets (Listed alphabetically)
Decor Elements Last Chance List

To see all the retiring products - including the retiring Accessories - click here. Don't forget to choose your demonstrator for the best prices... you'll notice that a lot of these items are either 25% or 50% OFF!!

In addition, June is a perfect time to host a workshop or place that large order you've been saving up for. Why? Well, besides the fact that this is the last chance to get all the great things listed above, you can get MORE FREE STUFF this month!

Hostesses who hold a $250-$399.99 workshop will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
Hostesses who hold a $400 or more workshop will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.

Let me put this into perspective for you... If you were to place a $250 order this month, you would get all those goodies on your list PLUS $45 in FREE stuff, PLUS a FREE level 1 Hostess set!

If you were to bump your order to $400, you would get everything on your list PLUS $85 SMACKEROOS in FREE stuff, PLUS 2 FREE Hostess sets!

That's a lot of FREE stuff!! Let me know if you have a list of goodies that you'd like to see delivered in a big box right to your front door! (What could be better than that?!) And don't forget, you can shop online at anytime.

A Rainbow of Thanks!

2009-05-30T15:21:00.000-05:00

Situation: I needed another thank you card. (I'm needing a lot of these lately)
Dillema: Which stamp set to use.
Solution: Grab a new Thank You background stamp that hasn't seen ink yet!
Result: A Rainbow of Thanks!!

This colorful set was so much fun to create! I just love this new Gratuitous Graffiti background stamp - it really stands alone, as you can see.

On this Old Olive one, you can see how I made the envelopes, too. I used one of my favorite techniques - faux tearing. For a tutorial on this technique, click here.

And what's better than a set of really beautiful cards? A set of really beautiful cards in a really beautiful matching box!

I hope you liked it!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Gratuitous Graffiti, Beautiful Borders
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Designer Label punch, Wide Oval punch, Stamping Sponge

A Catalog CASE

2009-05-26T07:16:00.000-05:00

I don't do it very often, but sometimes, just sometimes, I actually CASE a card from the catalog. This is one such time.

I needed a quick Thank You card, and sometimes CASEing is the fastest route! You'll find my inspiration for it on page 106 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. Not much to say about it... but it would be great in several different color combinations!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Elegant Thank You
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain ribbon

Happy Birthday, Stacey!

2009-05-23T17:08:00.003-05:00

One of my dearest friends is having a birthday this coming week. Here's the card that will go in the mail on Tuesday:

I used a couple of new things - new to me, at least, in that I haven't used them yet. The tag came from the new Matchbox Bigz XL Die, and the sentiment came from Great Friend - both of which are in the current mini catalog (good through June 30th). The background is from the Bella Toile stamp - beautiful!

Another great thing about this card is that I made it at my new stamping workstation! One thing's for sure... moving in takes a heck of a long time! I've moved this desk 3 times now. But I think we finally got it right. Once I get it completely organized, I'll take pictures and share it with you. But I assure you, it's not as extravagant as what I had in Texas where I had a whole room to myself. I'm reduced to a corner of the downstairs family room... but it's okay - I'm just loving it here!

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Bella Toile background stamp, Great Friend
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Vintage Brad
Tools: Eyelet Border punch, Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Big Shot

A Blast!

2009-05-21T22:12:00.001-05:00

One night I sat down to make a special card for a special person. No real occasion - just something to tell her how much fun I have when I'm with her. This is what I came up with:

As you can see, I used my Big Shot on the background... it made for some great polka-dots! I also used the new Eyelet Border punch - it was my first time using it and I really like it! I enjoy watercoloring, and this was no exception. I didn't get too fancy, except to add a little sparkle. Here's a closer look:

One thing I'm doing a lot more of these days is actually giving away the cards I make! Like many other crafters I know, sometimes it's hard for me to part with something I spent so much time and creative energy on. But oh, the joy of actually giving it away!! It's far more rewarding! Give it a try... dig out all those cards you have stashed up... take a picture of them if it helps you... and then GIVE THEM AWAY to the special people in your life!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Confetti White
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds
Tools: Eyelet Border punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Glue Pen

For Doris

2009-05-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

I made this card for a wonderful friend of our family. She's been having a rough time lately, and I just wanted her to know that she's been on my mind.

The fun part of making this card was using the markers to color the rubber tree before stamping. I just used my Old Olive and Always Artichoke markers and willy-nilly colored the leaves. The trunk was Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip - much like I did on this card. Hmmmmm, I seem to be partial to trees lately?! I wonder why... :) In any case, here's a closer look:

Another fun part was running it through my Big Shot to get the textured background! Sponging the edges makes it stand out even more. The sentiment was punched with the Key Tag punch and then layered on top of two Designer Label punches.

Thanks for looking - I still have more to show you... it's finding time to do these blog posts that's proving difficult right now!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Naturals White, More Mustard
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Brads
Tools: Key Tag punch, Designer Label punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plate

From the Boys

2009-05-19T17:31:00.004-05:00

For Mother's Day this year, I received two wonderful homemade cards by my two oldest boys. They snuck into my supplies without my knowledge (it's okay - I've taught them how to clean the stamps long ago!) and presented me with these:

I wanted to share these with you for several reasons:

1. I'm proud of them, and what mom doesn't like to show off her kids?

2. For a while there, they were doing more stamping than I was! (but never fear - I've been quite busy these past few days and I have lots to show you!)

3. I wanted to prove that stamping is not just a girls activity! My boys love to do it - one more so than the other (can you tell which?! And for you loyal readers, take notice of what color he used!! Refer to this post for an explanation.)

Stay tuned - I will be publishing some of my own work very soon.

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

2009-05-14T22:49:00.000-05:00

Today is my sister's birthday... a perfect excuse to make a new card! I know I'm not making them at the rate I used to, but I promise... I'm showin' you everything I'm makin'! I'm not holding anything back! So special days like this are a great opportunity to squeeze in a little stampin' time.

This was the first time I really got to play around with this adorable Branch Out set. I inked up the tree with Close to Cocoa and then used my Chocolate Chip marker to add a bit of depth to the rubber before stamping. You can see the effect in better in the close-up photo below.

You can see I also wiped off the Cocoa on the grass and colored it with Old Olive. Then I played with a couple colors on the leaves - Kiwi Kiss and Old Olive. I masked off areas as I stamped them so it wouldn't be too full. I just wanted a nice spring look. The bird and birdhouse are both inked up with Ruby Red - which matches the Riding Hood Red ribbon perfectly.

I hope you are all having a great week - enjoy the weekend!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Branch Out, Warm Words
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa textured, Kiwi Kiss, Confetti White
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon
Tools: Large Oval punch

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-07T08:21:00.000-05:00

I had no idea that Sunday is Mother's Day... really. Not a clue. (I've been a little busy lately). Then my mom mentioned she was going over to my brother's on Sunday. "For what?" I asked. "Mother's Day" was her reply. *GASP*!! But alas, when you're fully stocked with great Stampin' Up! products, creating beautiful cards in a flash is a piece of cake! Here are the three cards I whipped up last night so I could get them in the mail today:

This is one of my favorite techniques because you get to really have fun with some colors. Since I have three moms to send cards to, I thought this was a great time to use it.

I dug into my In Colors for this trio... This first one uses Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss.

This second one uses Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette.

And this last one uses Tangerine Tango and Apricot Appeal.

All of these cards use the Garden Greetings stamp set, which is one of my new favorites, along with the appropriate color of Striped Grosgrain ribbon. Add a sentiment, stick a stamp on it, and you're covered for another important holiday!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you! ...sure wish I could see my mom on Mother's Day. *sigh*

PS: I just noticed I forgot to soften the edges of these photos like I usually do! Oh well... I don't have time to go back and redo them. Also, as you have noticed, I am taking the pictures outside again. Haven't quite found my Ott lamp yet!! The glories of moving...

May is National Scrapbooking Month!

2009-05-03T18:19:00.005-05:00

During the month of May, you can take advantage of these three special offers:

1. Buy three packs of Designer Series paper - including specialty Designer Series paper - or 12"x12" textured card stock and get one FREE!

2. Become a demonstrator for only $75 with the limited-time scrapbooking Starter Kit! Contact me for information on what this discounted kit contains.

3. Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set - a sneak peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog - at 20% off! Instead of $43.95, you pay only $35.16! Click here to view the mounting instructions for this set.

Click on the flyer above or contact me for more information!

Finally!! A New Card...

2009-04-29T22:20:00.000-05:00

It may not be one of my best... it's very simple, but it's a new card from me none-the-less. I have so many thank you's to send out - the neighbors up here have been wonderful! I used some cards that I already had made up, but one of my neighbors (Ed) deserved a special masculine version. Ed plowed our driveway twice during the big storm when we first arrived. He was a true lifesaver! So I pulled out whatever supplies I have managed to find so far and whipped this up for him.

You'll notice that I had to use some patterned paper from LONG ago... I'm not even going to look up what it is... it's so old that it's not even double-sided. I haven't yet unearthed my new DSPs (the horror!), so I thought this would do the trick. I was hoping that I could be forgiven given the circumstances. :)

This stamp comes from the new Totally Tool set... I think that's the name of it - it's late and I'm so tired that I haven't the energy to look it up either. Gee, Colorado has made me lazy! Leave me a comment if I got it wrong, please. In any case, I'm glad this one was at the top of the box I opened, otherwise, good ole' Ed might've gotten a thank you card with a big blue bird on it.

Now, just because I've made this one card, please don't expect the floodgates of Michele's creativity to burst open and drown you all... quite the contrary. I began homeschooling the kids on Monday and between teaching them and corralling my 2 year old, it's proving to take up most of my allotted daily energy! I'm ready to hit the bed as soon as I turn out their lights. Ah well, maybe it's the elevation. :)

Hugs to all,

Card Recipe (and no high-altitude instructions necessary):
Stamp Set: Totally Tool
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, and some unknown DSP from L-O-N-G ago... anything will work, just make it match.
Accessories: Linen Thread

I'm Getting Close...

2009-04-24T23:10:00.003-05:00

Oh, wow... I'm exhausted! Moving is such hard work. The last update I gave you was a week ago... and that was BEFORE we lost power and BEFORE we had to start melting snow in order to flush the toilets. It was BEFORE we had to cart our air mattresses up to the living room and cozy up all together by the fire. It was BEFORE we had to tape grocery bags over our sneakers just to walk outside. And it was BEFORE we were buried in over 3 feet of snow and BEFORE we had to hire not one, but two plows to come dig us out. Alas, we kept a cheerful attitude through it all and consider ourselves very well prepared for whatever weather comes our way next! Here are a couple photos of what we experienced... this first one was our driveway.

And this next one is my truck... somewhere!

But the real reason I've signed on tonight is to let you know that I'm getting close to having my stamping supplies ready again! I've been working hard at it... because I have a lot of thank you cards to send out and I just REFUSE to buy them!

But... first things first... and playing in the snow with these three boys will always come first!

Snowed In at Home!

2009-04-17T18:16:00.003-05:00

We arrived at our new home yesterday just in time... because as you can see, we won't be going anywhere for quite a while! Sorry the picture is so small - I don't have my full computer setup yet... I just wanted to give you all an idea of the welcome we received here in Evergreen yesterday! It has been snowing non-stop and we've got well over 2 feet by now. The truck you see here is my Toyota Sequoia - and it is NOT 4 wheel drive. Eeek! We thought we'd be okay with it until next winter. Wrong! I did manage to make it to the grocery store shortly after we arrived so I could stock up, but it was one of those toss-whatever-you-see-in-the-cart types of trips because I was afraid of getting stuck out there! But, alas, I made it home and we've been cozied up in here ever since.

We love our new place - and can't wait to explore some more. Unfortunately, this snow isn't scheduled to let up for another 24 hours or so... and that means that our moving truck will not arrive tomorrow as planned. Ouch. Looks like we'll have to make do with what we have until Monday! Nothing like being snowed in at home!

Home Sweet Home... Almost

2009-04-07T14:06:00.001-05:00

You've all been so sweet sending me notes of encouragement and such... and I've had to neglect you by not showing you anything new! Well, since I still can't stamp anything (and won't see my stamping supplies for another few weeks *sob*), I thought of something else new I could show you... our new house!

Doesn't it look peaceful? We're on 4 acres out in the woods, but we still have neighbors. I will never forget the feeling I had when I looked out the windows of this house the first time I was in it. Simple, quiet, peaceful... of course, I didn't have my three kiddos with me that time either, but still... it's amazing. And check out this next one...

No, that's not the road, that's our DRIVEWAY! It's longer than two football fields! My exercise will consist of walking down to get the mail each day! Sweet!

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and say hello. The movers come a week from today, so I'm on the final push to get things packed up. I'm down to the things we either don't know what to do with or we don't have the right size box. It'll all come together, though. I know it will. Those trees are calling me... calling me home!

Get Connected!

2009-04-03T07:35:00.013-05:00

Just popping in to let you know of another great promotion that Stampin' Up! is offering... on April 1st (no foolin') our new Occasions Mini Catalog (pictured at left) went live! Through April 30th, with any $40 purchase from the new mini catalog, you can choose any one item from the "Under $10" page in the Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog (page 208) for FREE! Click on the thumbnail below for full details.

Likewise, if you host a $150 workshop (or place a $150 order yourself from any catalog), you can choose one item from that page for FREE!

What are you waiting for? It's as easy as browsing the selections online... click here to get started! I may have my stamp room all packed up so I can't show you any new creations, but I'll be darned if I'll let you go without knowing the great offers Stampin' Up! keeps providing!!

Hugs to all,

Packing Up My Stamp Room

2009-03-22T16:30:00.001-05:00

Oh gosh, it feels so good to sign on and say hello to all of you... my loyal friends. I am so sorry that I am having to neglect you so much! But if you're keeping up with me, you know that I am in the throes of moving from Dallas to Denver. And it's getting very close... we will most likely have a moving truck here on April 13th. This is sooner than we anticipated, but we cannot complain one bit... I don't know if I told you the whole story:

When I sent an e-mail out to some of our friends a couple months ago that we were moving, one of them responded back with, "We gotta talk!"... as it turns out, they wanted to move into our neighborhood and have always liked our house. We ended up selling our home to them without even listing it! How's THAT for an easy sale?! To make the story even sweeter, this particular friend is one of the Stampin' Up! demonstrators on my team!! Of course, I told her that she'll have to carry on my legacy of having workshops in the dining room... :) They were just about as fortunate as we were in selling their home - they sold it in only 4 days. Obviously, this whole move was just meant to be, don't you think?

Well, needless to say, Michael and I have had to make some quick trips out to Denver to find a home. We have done just that, and the inspection last week went very well. We now hope that the chain of closings will go smoothly and everyone involved will find themselves comfortable in their new homes.

As for my posts, just as I warned you before, they will be scarce to non-existent over the next couple months. As the title says, I have to begin packing up my stamp room, and I will not see any of it again for several weeks... Can you say OUCH!!? Don't forget, though, that I am selling all of my retired items for 20% off the prices shown! The less I have to pack, the better!

I do hope you'll continue to be a follower of my blog... I'm so afraid that by the time I get settled in Denver, all of you will have moved on and forgotten about me!!

Signing out with lots of Stampin' Hugs,

BIG Savings...

2009-03-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry it's been a whole week since you've heard anything from me... but I've been on vacation with my family in Hawaii! Needless to say, I haven't stamped anything, either. :( But, the good news is that we found our new home! That's right! We placed the initial offer and did all the negotiating from Hawaii. It's beautiful! We'll be on 4 acres in the middle of a flat lot with a ton of trees... it'll be like we're camping everyday! Michael and I will be heading out there again this week for the inspection, and if all goes well, it will be ours the middle of April... which means I better get crackin' on all this packin'! :)

In celebration of this (and because I want less to pack!), I am going to hold a SPECIAL SALE on all of my retired items... From now through April 10th, you can own any of my retired items for 20% OFF! (This discount does not apply toward shipping costs.)

In addition, don't forget that this is the last couple of weeks of the Sale-a-Bration sale... through March 30th, with every $50 catalog purchase, you get to choose a FREE item from the Sale-a-Bration brochure. And if you place your order through my website, you can even get a FREE Idea Book & Catalog!

And finally, Stampin' Up! just announced a new way to help you get started as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator... the Three Easy Payment plan! Through April 30th, you can pay for the kit over 3 months instead of all at once! With your initial Starter Kit payment, you will be able to start earning back your initial investment as well as take care of the remaining payments! PLUS... if you decide to join before Sale-a-Bration is over (March 30th), you will get the kit at a 15% discount ($169 total instead of $199) and ALSO get to choose a FREE stamp set from the catalog!

This is a lot to digest... feel free to let me know if you have any questions! I'm more than happy to help you start saving!

Happy Birthday, Iain!

2009-03-09T07:14:00.002-05:00

Moving Update: Michael and I went to Denver this weekend and looked at a dozen or so houses... and I think we may have found the one we want. There's still a ways to go before we can make it "ours", but we'll be taking those steps very soon because if things go as currently planned, we need to be out of our current house by the middle of April... Eeeeeeeek!! Needless to say, my posts over the next few weeks will become VERY sparse. Keep us in your prayers that things continue to go smoothly.

Now onto a card... My dear Scottish friend Audrey's husband Iain (did you follow that?!) just had a birthday and here's the card I sent to him...

Iain loves a good beer, and "Cheers" is such a Scottish thing to say... hence, Cheers to You was the perfect set to use!

I'm going to keep this post short because we're headed for Hawaii for Michael's club trip with work. I know I should be excited about that - and I am - but it's our 4th time there (isn't he fantastic?!), and I've got a lot of other things on my mind at the moment! ...namely, a house in Evergreen, Colorado that hopefully has our name written all over it!

Aloha!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Cheers to You, Sanded background
Ink: Black StazOn, Basic Gray
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Summer Sun, Bordering Blue, Whisper White
Accessories: Clips Assortment
Tools: Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Photo Corners punch,Curly Label punch

Sorrow

2009-03-06T15:26:00.000-06:00

I don't like "needing" good sorrow stamp sets, but when the occasion presents itself, it's a good thing to have around. A dear friend of mine just lost her father-in-law and I made this card for her and her husband:

This was my first opportunity to use the new Thoughts & Prayers set, and it's really very beautiful. I love the sentiments it includes... on the inside of this one it says, "Praying for friends to comfort you, faith to uphold you, and loving memories to heal your heart." Couldn't have said it better myself.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Kraft, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Bella Bleu DSP
Accessories: Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon
Tools: Photo Corners punch, Key Tag punch

Pre-Order Your Easter Sets!

2009-03-05T13:13:00.001-06:00

Real quick... I wanted to let you know that Stampin' Up! is giving you a sneak peek - and a chance to order - 3 of the new sets that you'll see in the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog! These are Easter sets and they wanted you to have a headstart in making your Easter projects. Click here to view the sets and prices (I also put the thumbnails below) and then contact me to place your order! ...or, visit my website and click on "Shop Now"... remember that an order of any amount through my website will earn you a FREE Idea Book & Catalog!

PS: The Eight Great Greetings set also comes in French and Spanish!

Cheep Talk Thanks

2009-03-04T15:11:00.002-06:00

If I do really quick posts... will you forgive me? I am able to squeeze in a few minutes here and there to stamp a card or two, but it's the prepping it for publication and writing the post that seems to take more time (plus it's not NEAR as much fun as the actual stamping part!).

So here's a quick card I made the other day. I'll spare you the "Cheep Talk" (the name of this adorable set) and let it speak for itself! If you have any questions about it, feel free to leave a comment (with your contact info) and I'll get back to you!

Have a great afternoon, everyone!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Cheep Talk
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Versamark
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive Textured, Whisper White, Pacific Point
Accessories: Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon, Corduroy Button
Tools: Photo Corners punch

Happy Birthday, Marelle!

2009-03-02T07:26:00.004-06:00

Again (and I'm starting to sound like a broken record here), I'm sorry for the lack of posts. It seems that I'm online every spare moment looking at houses in Denver. It started out being fun... but anymore, it's getting very tiring! Michael made a trip out there last week for an initial look-around, and we'll be going back later this week. Here's hoping we can find a good compromise between price, location, lot, and layout!

My dear friend, Marelle, had a birthday last week and although I haven't done a lick of stamping lately, I did manage to get this one made and sent off to Australia in time for her birthday! Priorities, you know!

It's a simple card, really, considering the Big Shot once again created my background for me. Here's a closer look:

Marelle, I hope you had a super, terrific, fabulous birthday!!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Animal Crackers
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Accessories: Pretty in Pink Striped Grosgrain
Tools: Big Shot, Textures Backgrounds

Pillow Box Treats

2009-02-25T17:34:00.001-06:00

I've only got a few minutes to post... I'm still trying to get caught up showing you some things I made for Valentine's Day! Here is another idea I saw on how to make the Pillow Box a little differently.

Right after you use the Big Shot to cut out the box, you use the Heart to Heart punch on it to create the heart "windows". Here's a better look:

Then you can stamp a cute little tag and tie it all up. Again, I only used some SNAIL on one of the long edges and none on the ends. The ribbon holds the ends closed.

A simple little treat to make up real quick when you need to give someone a little happiness (aka: chocolate)!

Pillow Box Recipe:
Stamp Set: Love You Much
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Whisper White, various DSP (use whatever you have!)
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, Silver Elastic thread
Tools: Word Window punch, Heart to Heart punch, Pillow Box Die, Big Shot

Valentines for the Boys

2009-02-20T14:10:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the delay in posts... but I warned you that may happen! The good news is that today we officially have a contract on our house. That's pretty amazing considering we haven't even listed it yet! Some friends of ours are interested in buying it, so let's all keep our fingers crossed and hope that it turns out as planned... in which case, we may be Denver-bound a little earlier than originally planned. But that's okay - we truly figured that the hardest part about this whole process was going to be selling this house. The Lord must really want us in Denver, ya think?

As promised, here are the Valentines I made for my three wonderful sons:

I took the basic format of the card we made at my Valentine Workshop (you can see it here). This first one was for Mason, using Kraft cardstock and Mellow Moss ribbon (you'd think it should be Artichoke, but the Moss actually matched the paper better)...

The one below was for Morgan, using Sage Shadow cardstock and ribbon...

And this last one was for baby Maddox, again using Kraft cardstock, but with the Kraft taffeta ribbon instead of grosgrain...

All three of these used the glorious new Designer Series Paper called To The Nines. It's a thicker, cover-weight cardstock, and it's very yummy to work with! For the bear, I used the Confetti White cardstock along with an Aquapainter and the ink pad lids. Such a fun set to color!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Under the Stars, Family Phrases
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Confetti White, To The Nines DSP
Accessories: Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon, Sage Shadow grosgrain ribbon, Kraft taffeta ribbon
Tools: Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1/16" circle punch, The Tearing Edge, Dimensionals

Classroom Valentines

2009-02-17T07:43:00.001-06:00

Once again, my boys and I made their school valentines... you can view this post to see what we made last year. This year, I pulled out the handy-dandy Big Shot and let the boys crank away! ...seems that thing is finding it's way into all my cards lately! I forgot to take pictures of the boys in action... darnit (I love to prove to you that boys DO like to stamp!), but they did, indeed, help me make these. Here is the final result:

We kept things simple and didn't do a whole lot of embellishing (kids are just gonna rip 'em open anyway, right?!). The tops of the bags are held closed with the Big Note Die and staples - easy peasy! Inside, we added a candy treat and a small note made with the Scallop Envelope Die.

I just love this little envelope - it's perfect for tucking inside a gift bag, or sliding under the ribbon of a wrapped package, or for hiding love notes under your husband's pillow...

...or for making little Valentines for all your kids' classmates!

Obviously, I used some retired Prints patterns - but the little 6" x 6" blocks of paper we get as a Hostess Level I reward are PERFECT for projects like this!

I still have two more Valentine posts to share with you but first I gotta patch up some chipped paint and pack a few more boxes... oh, and maybe do a couple loads of laundry, feed some hungry kids, scrub some toilets... you get the idea.

Valentine Recipe:
Stamp Set: Holidays & Wishes
Ink: Real Red
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, So Saffron, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Prints DSP
Accessories: Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, Small Flat Cellophane Bags, staples
Tools: Heart to Heart punch, Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Bigz Die, Top Note Bigz Die

My Dad... My "Valentimer"

2009-02-15T15:09:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and has already consumed all the chocolate that was given to you. I don't know about you, but the longer the chocolate lingers around my house, the grouchier I become because I am constantly forcing myself to resist it... a losing battle most of the time. Therefore, I eat it quickly, savoring every bite, and then I do a few situps to control my shame.

Last Wednesday night I held my annual Valentine Workshop and here is the card we made:

Once again, I brought out the handy-dandy Big Shot and showed them how easy it is to texturize the cardstock with our Texturz Plates! Here's a closer look:

I absolutely love this diamond pattern, and since Stampin' Up! retired the old Print Pattern background stamp, I'm just tickled pink to have this alternative - I think it looks better, works perfectly every time, and there's nothing to clean up!

Since I already made a card for Michael (you can see it here), I decided to give this one to my dad. When I was a kid, my dad always gave us a box of chocolates and a card on Valentine's Day... and we called each other our "Valentimers" which came from my childish mispronunciation. It's a precious memory, and I wanted to continue the tradition by giving him this card and the matching box we made shown below:

This box was made using the using the Big XL Die called Box #2! This die makes it SOOOOOO easy! You only need ONE small piece of Sticky Strip to make it stay together, as the bottom folds up securely without adhesive. It is just too cool, and I highly recommend it!

We also got creative and textured the box before we folded it up. Here's a closer look:

Lastly, I wanted to show you the other option I gave the ladies for the card in case they preferred a more classic look. Here's a picture of it, but I only temporarily adhered the pieces on so you could see... that's why the ribbon doesn't thread through this label:

I still have yet to show you the cards I made for my kiddos... yes, I've been busy stamping away last week... utterly turning my nose up at the stacks of empty boxes I'm surrounded by! Can you tell which task I enjoy more?! ...and you may have noticed that I used grid paper as my backdrop this time? That's because I didn't feel like taking the time to clean up my stamp table for the photo shoot! ...hey, it's all about priorities, right?!

Valentine Recipe (cards & box):
Stamp Sets: Card 1 - Under the Stars, Family Phrases; Card 2 - Always, Sweet Thing (retired)
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Confetti White
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon
Tools: Designer Label punch, Horizontal Slot punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8 Circle punch, 1-1/4 Circle punch, Big XL Die Box #2, Backgrounds I Texturz Plates, Watercolor Wonder crayons, Aquapainter, Stampin' Pastels

Michael's Valentine

2009-02-11T07:45:00.003-06:00

Since Michael's still out of town, I thought it a good time to get his Valentine done... the heck with the packing, right?! When I saw the Hit the Road set in the new catalog, it was first on my list of things to get. And that's saying a lot when there was about 87 things on my list. (...there was actually more than that, but I don't want to sound greedy).

I knew this one would be perfect for our family since my husband is a cyclist. He's even turned our older boys into cyclists, and Maddox is a pro on the unicycle (just kidding). But since we're going to be "hitting the road" soon... here's his 6" x 6" Valentine:

I have to mention that this whole Colorado move was Michael's idea... and being as how I've kept him here in Texas for 17 years, it's time I take my fingernails out of the porch railing and let him lead the way out. Actually, I don't have a porch railing... maybe the more appropriate phrase would be "it's time I take the padlock off my stamp room door"... In any case, on the inside of this card, I put a note about how "I'd follow you anywhere!" (Those suitcases are filled with stampin' supplies, by the way.)

This is actually 3 different stamps - the truck, the suitcases, and the bicycle. I wanted to get the suitcases AND the bicycle on the top of the truck, so I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig and masked the suitcases so I could get the bike behind them. This means I stamped the suitcases onto the truck first, then stamped them onto some scratch paper, cut them out, and then laid them on the final stamped image so they would be "protected" when I stamped the bicycle. I used my Watercolor Wonder Crayons for the most part, but in spots where I wanted more vibrant color, I grabbed some ink right from the ink pad lids.

And what about that gorgeous Designer Series Paper?! It's from the Rockabilly Specialty pack, and it's gorgeous! The stripes are glossy, so it adds dimension and texture with no effort at all.

Well, folks, I best get back to these boxes... if Michael comes home and sees I've locked myself in here all week, I'll have some splainin' to do.

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Hit the Road
Ink: Black StazOn, Old Olive, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Watercolor Paper, Rockabilly DSP
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Striped grosgrain ribbon
Tools: Heart to Heart punch, Cutter Kit, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Dimensionals