Hey there, friends!

Well, friends, I am off to our big family reunion tomorrow! That's why my posts have been so few lately. This is the major event that I plan every two years and is one of the most rewarding things in my life... it's that special. But, before I go, I thought I'd pop on here and share a quick card I did at a friend's workshop recently.

I like this color theme - Lucky Limeade paired with Elegant Eggplant makes for a striking card. I also still love the stamp that comes with the first Paper Pumpkin kit - the "Hey there friend" sentiment is so perfect for so many occasions! Here's a close-up of the flower arrangement:

Nothing too difficult here - Limeade and Craft White ink, with a sparkly rhinestone in the center.

Okay, folks, this is goodbye for now! Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Hugs,
Michele

Bottle Tags

A friend of mine was speaking at a church women's retreat last weekend and she wanted some ideas for a "goody" to have at each place setting. I suggested a bottle tag on a bottle of water, and she thought that sounded perfect! Here is the prototype I came up with to show her what I envisioned:

She ended up going with this basic idea with a few minor changes. These are super simple to make - we cranked out 50 of them in no time flat!

Michele

Wedding Bells!

I'm still here... I promise! I'm so sorry for the lack of posting. My life is a bit crazy just now and I can't even find the time to fold laundry, let alone post my cards! I have been busy with Stampin' Up! workshops, too... and that's a HECK of a lot more fun than laundry, wouldn't you agree?!

I have lots of cards to show you - just as soon as I can get them all photographed and edited. Let's start with this one.

This is a sneak peek at one of our new Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (TIEF for short)... it's called Modern Mosaic and y'all will be able to get yer hands on it after June 1st!

Some dear friends of ours who have been together for many years FINALLY decided to make it official and have a wedding... but it was no ordinary wedding! They got married on one of their favorite cycling trails out in western Colorado! It was such fun - we cycled (or hiked) out to the spot they picked and they had a very informal ceremony surrounded by good friends. We tied "Just Married" signs on the back of their bikes and they rode back out as husband and wife! So fun!

I promise I will be back... I just can't promise when!
Hugs,
Michele

Embossing Core'dinations

Here is a card we made at my Stamp-a-Stack last week... very simple, but quite elegant when you pair the gorgeous Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder with the Core'dinations cardstock (which can be sanded to reveal a lighter shade)!

Here is another version turned into a birthday card and sporting some cute little flowers:

And finally, here it is turned on it's side:

If you like this particular embossing folder (it's one of my favorites), you may want to get it in your shopping cart right away as it's on the *gasp* retired list!

Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder

Item #120175  $7.95

Have a great weekend everyone... I'll be enjoying mine surrounded by wonderful ladies at my church women's retreat!  Yay!
Michele

Two By Two

Here's a fun card I made - not because I have anyone in mind to give it to, but because I was just dying to watercolor this beautiful image!

Isn't it fun?! I must tell you that this sweet little stamp is retiring at the end of May, so if you like it, you better get it in your shopping cart! The cardstock is Gumball Green, along with the darling Polka Dot Parade DSP.

Here's a close-up of the watercoloring... I just used my Blender Pens and the ink pads to do this. So therapeutic for me. Still one of my favorite things to do on a card.

I hope you all are geared up for a terrific week! I cleaned/organized my stamp desk on Friday, so I'm hoping there's time in my week for a bit of stamping!
Michele

Two by Two

#126788

$8.95

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Simple Card

I must tell you, I have had a fabulous time pouring over the new catalog the last couple days! (Demonstrators get to see it early!!). I am very, very excited for all the new goodies in store for us and I can't wait for you to see them. It has to be one of my favorite catalogs so far... yes, I know I say that all the time! Stampin' Up! is just so much fun...

Okay, enough gushing. Here is a very simple card that I CASEd off of Stampin' Up!'s "Stampin' Connection" (yet another perk for Demonstrators - it's a forum overflowing with great ideas). Talk about a quick card? Just grab some DSP, a coordinating color of cardstock, a couple of Framelits, and whip this one out! Make a few, make a lot... Change the sentiment and get yourself stocked up for the month!

I wish I had all day to spend stamping. It's that therapeutic for me - especially when my creativity is on overdrive. And for those times when it has checked out... it's nothing a simple visit to the Stampin' Connection can't cure.

Have a fabulous, blessed weekend, everyone!
Michele

Retiring Lists!

Here they are - the retiring lists! Items tend to go fast - especially accessories. Get yours now before they're gone! All items available until June 3rd, or until they sell out.

Retiring Stamps List

Retiring Accessories List

I've seen the sneak peeks at the new catalog and I'm quite excited!
You're gonna L-O-V-E it (read that in a sing-sony voice!)

Happy Wednesday!
Michele

Time to Focus on Mom!

Hi friends!  Well, I received some interesting news over the weekend. After a full work-up and lots of blood (and even saliva - ewww!) testing, I have been informed that I am gluten intolerant. Lovely. In fact, I apparently have a whole host of issues going on that are most likely directly linked to my diet.  My doctor has recommended I not only go gluten-free, but she would like me to go Paleo as well - at least for the first several months. Wow. Talk about a lifestyle change. Well... I know I join an ever-growing population and I imagine some of you have perhaps had this diagnosis as well. I have been reading up on how my life will change, and although I know it will be tough to get used to, I am actually pretty pumped about the changes I will likely experience - both physically and emotionally. That is the motivation I need... but, I could certainly benefit from words of wisdom, so please share if you have some!

Aside from all that, Mother's Day is coming... time to get ready!

This is a card that I CASEd directly from the Nov/Dec 2012 Stampin' Success magazine (page 30). Stampin' Success is a publication chock full of gorgeous ideas and and great information sent to Demonstrators... yet another reason to become one yourself! Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler are two of my very favorite colors, and the Polka-dot embossing folder is always a sure bet for a terrific, yet simple, background.

That's it for today - I'm hungry. I guess I'll eat a carrot.
Michele

God is Love

How simple is this?! Here is a lovely card that showcases some of the current Subtles collection colors. It could easily be reproduced with the other color families as well.

The layout is different, but the concept came from Carrie Cudney's video showing us the new Color Refresh. (For those of you who are not demonstrators, Carrie is one of the fabulous members of the Stampin' Up! Training Department who makes sure we know what's going on - thank goodness we have them!) Please note that this card above is NOT using the NEW Subtles collection as this one has three colors in it that will be discontinued after May 30th - Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, and Baja Breeze. So, if you like these shades, you best quit stalling and get them in your shopping cart before they're gone!

I am quite partial to this particular sentiment right now... without going into great detail, let me just say that during one of my quiet Bible study times this past week, this particular verse struck a new chord with me. It was wonderful, and so now I feel like using it on everything!  

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Michele  

Enjoy the Passing of Time

Yes, I have been bombarding you with "business" stuff... but after a wonderful vacation, and digging my way out of a mountain of laundry (it's only a small hill now!), I finally had a chance to sit back down at my stamp desk. Would you believe that I actually made eight cards last night?!! EIGHT! Oh, the pure joy of feeling a surge of creativity... and of having the supplies I need to satisfy said surge!

I love this saying (from the From My Heart set)... it reminds me to slow down and enjoy life instead of always rushing to do this or that. When I look at my kids and get that pang of fear (is it fear? or is it sadness?) in how quickly they are growing, that's a reminder too, to just slow down and enjoy the passing of time instead of waking up one morning wondering where it all went. Just moments ago, I bid my older boys farewell as they rushed off to catch the bus... I never want to forget the simple image of the two of them walking (okay, sprinting!) down the driveway together. They have been best friends all their life and I love to see them together... *sigh*

Ahem... pardon me for my sentimental moment! Back to the card... Just in case you can't see the pearls, here's a close-up:

I promise I'll be back soon to show you more results of my creativity explosion! Some are better than others... you'll have to tell me which one(s) are your favorites. I do love to hear from my readers!

Michele

Bombs Away Birthday - in Photopolymer!

I've already come to appreciate the wonderful benefits of photopolymer using their Designer Type set, but now they have a second set available - Bombs Away Birthday! Click on the image below to view full size.

How much fun! I especially love the gift card holder idea that uses an old cassette tape case! Get yours today... item #133411 $13.95

Michele

This and That!

Have you seen the new This and That line by Stampin' Up! It's so fun! It reminds me of how I used to scrapbook "life" as a teenager... collecting ticket stubs, magazine photos, notes from friends, etc. But nowadays, I can see me using it as a Pinterest board I can hold in my hands! I would love to use my This and That journal to capture all those ideas that I want to do someday, complete with paint swatches and fabric samples. This would be perfect for your friend who just got engaged... she can store all of her wedding ideas! What about your friend who is expecting (or just had) a new baby? It makes a perfect baby book! How about that friend who loves to cook? This is an easy place to store recipe clippings and make notes about them... the possibilities are endless! Address book... prayer journal... project planner...

Click on the image above to see what's currently available - there's a great price on the Epic Day bundle, but hurry! That price is only good through April 30th!

Want to see more?  Check out this video to see it in more detail.

Get one for your daughter... your niece... your friend... your granddaughter... and don't forget one for you, too!

Michele

New Packaging for Wood Mount Stamps!

This is another exciting new development... Starting on May 31st, all wood-mount sets will come in wonderful new storage cases! They are essentially the same thing as our clear mount cases, only deeper, so they can all be stored side by side - how perfect is that?! I do love my clear-mount sets, but there are certain sets I prefer in wood, so I'm all over this announcement! We'll also be able to purchase empty cases to use for our existing wood sets - and many other supplies fit in them, too (see video below). A pack of 4 half-size cases will be $4.95, and 4 full-size cases will be $6.95.

Click here to watch a short video and learn all about how they'll help organize your stamping space!

Fun, fun!
Michele

Color Refresh!

I'm back!  Pardon my absence - we took our youngest son to Maui with us for Michael's club trip. The older boys have been several times, but our little guy has never been, so it was just the three of us this go-round. Had a wonderful time... and now, I'm actually typing this from Vail, Colorado - we went from the beach to the slopes in just one day.

Okay, back to business - skiing or not! There are so many exciting things happening in the world of Stampin' Up! that I can hardly keep up! I first want to share the news about the new Color Refresh.

You'll notice that all of the new colors, with the exception of Smoky Slate (the lighter gray we've all been waiting for!), are returning In Colors from previous years. They've had to discontinue a few old colors to make room, and they've moved some colors around into different families, but I am overall VERY pleased with these changes - I hope you are too!

Keep in mind that any products (cardstock, markers, ribbon, etc.) in the discontinuing colors will only be available while supplies last, so I recommend getting those ordered ASAP! (I just read this morning that they have sold out of the 8-1/2x11 Not Quite Navy cardstock). Remember, too, that ALL colors - discontinued or not - are available in My Digital Studio... so you don't have to completely say goodbye!

And now for something humorous... part of our trip to Maui included a company 60s party. Michael and I dressed up for it... how'd we do?

Sorry ladies, but he's all mine. ;)
Michele