SNEAK PEEK!

Do you LOVE it? HUH?!

This stamp set and coordinating DSP, along with a gorgeous set of rub-ons, is one of the NEW level 3 hostess sets! There is NO stamping on the card front, aside from the sentiment. I just love this new paper! You can see three of the new in-colors here as well:Rich Razzleberry (purple), Crushed Curry (yellow) and Melon Mambo (pink). The other color is Old Olive.

Tonie in Tennessee rose to my challenge! Yay Tonie! She has used some of my favorite things in this pretty card: Pretty Amazing (stamp set), Kiwi Kiss cardstock, and Raspberry Tart DSP. OOOOHHHH, it looks like the flower is glittered! ? I LOVE glitter! I also love how she stamped the bird on DSP and cut it out. I think that's a fun way to use the DSP...





Great Job Tonie!!

Wild about you

Hello Again :)

Wow, I know, twice in one day! It's so hard to find time to stamp this time of year. The weather is finally gorgeous, and in Minnesota, you have to take advantage of that!

I did make a little time today to play with some of my favorite RETIRING stamps and papers. I am REALLY going to miss this DSP, Sweet Always. I haven't received my NEW CATALOG yet (it's coming Thursday) but I hope that Stampin Up has a new animal set that is just as cute as Wild About You.

Anyone else want to send me a picture of a card made using a favorite retiring set or paper? I'd love to see and share them... Tonie??!

Goin' on a deer hunt...

Good Afternoon!

Today's post is another scrapbook page of my little guy, Alex. Very simple. It was fun to use the Designer Hardware, Basic Small Grommets. If you haven't used them before, (they are the three circles in the upper right hand corner) they are really simple. Place the cardstock on top of a foam sheet, like the one on the mat pack. The Grommets have 5 "spikes" on the back of them, you just place them on the cardstock, and push them through! I used my little hammer, but be careful not to pound to hard, or you may bend your paper. Flip the cardstock over, and using the textured shaft of your piercing tool, roll over the spikes to bend them down. Easy as pie : )

Have a great afternoon!

A card for a pregnant lady!

Good Afternoon!

Sorry for my lack of posting : ) This past week has been busy and emotional. Memorial day weekend marks the one year anniversary of the devastating tornado that ripped through our neighborhood, destroying homes and killing a sweet little boy. Not the little boy pictured on the left, though, this little guy is mine, and as you can see he was thrilled to be able to hold 2 of 9 bunnies that my very pregnant neighbor stumbled upon while weeding her garden. : ) and boy did she scream!!

When he wasn't holding bunnies or roasting marshmallows, Alex was helping dad build a shed! It was good for us all to smile during this "hurdle" of a weekend. Many of our neighbors spent time together BBQing, having bonfires, and supporting each other as we shared stories and memories related to the tornado.

I was actually able to do some stamping this week too! I made this card to match the carseat that we are giving my "previously mentioned pregnant neighbor". I used Soft Sky cardstock, because it matched so perfectly! The swirly stamp is from Trendy Trees, and the sentiment in the oval says welcome, little one, and is from Nursery Necessities.

Here is the inside. Again, Soft Sky CS, with holed punched around the border. The swirly is stamped in the corner in Baja Breeze, Choc Chip, and Craft White.

Here is another card that I made for her. I CASED this card last year for my cousin (changed the layout and papers a bit), but I cannot remember who/where. It was memorial weekend, the day before the tornado. If it happens to look like a card that you made, then pat yourself on the back because I think it's CUTE! Sorry for the retired stamps/paper. This set, She's All That will always be one of my favorites : )

Hope the weather where you are is as great as it is here in Minnesota!! I'm going out to enjoy it!

Alex's 2 year photo shoot scrapbook cover

Good Afternoon!

I am finally getting around to scrapbooking my son's two year photo shoot! (he just turned six!!) There were soooo many pictures taken, that I decided to do an entire book. I had been saving several retired stamp sets and DSP just for this, so YEAH! I should have done them long ago, but a year of Home Hospice with my father and another year of recovering from a horrible tornado have seriously delayed me!!

This is a super simple layout, and it is the cover page in the scrapbook. I was able to print onto vellum and attach with eyelets.

Thanks for checking in, and again for all of the kind comments and emails!!

Forever Young Scrapbook Page

Good Afternoon!

I used the Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin kit, along with some Hodge Podge Hardware, Jumbo Brads and Ribbon to make this two page layout of my little guy, Alex.

For these pages, I followed Angela Anderson's (scrapbook coordinator on SUDSOL) recommendation to include the following 5 page elements:
1. Title
2. Pictures
3. Spot for Journaling
4. Embellishments
5. Mat (around photos)

I also took the time (lot's of it!) to use the Piercing Tool and Template to create a border around the cardstock, and random photos. I think this adds a nice finishing touch.

I'm not so good at the journaling! I often have a space, but it's blank!!

If you would like to find scrapbook pages quickly, please click on the Scrapbook Page link on the right, and that will take you right to the scrapbook section. Thanks for stopping by!

Inspiration Journal # 8

Good Afternoon!

How many of you are Grey's Anatomy fans? Did you catch the finale last night?? My eyes are still puffy! What a shocker! I am thinking of letting my favorite characters from Grey's inspire a set of cards. Not sure what I'd come up with, but I'd like to make a card for each of my favorites that I feel would suit them... this could be fun!! I'll call it my Grey's Anatomy Challenge : )

So for today's card, I used River Rock, Blush Blossom, and Sage Shadow. I sponge daubered Blush Blossom ink onto the flower from the Pretties Kit. I used the flower and sentiment stamps from Garden Greetings (#113716, page 55, $21.95). Really a very easy, simple card that has a soft and pretty look when all put together.

Have a FABULOUS weekend!! My DH is Turkey hunting this weekend, so hopefully I can get some stamping time in!!

Thinking of You card

Good Afternoon!

Today I am sharing another sympathy card with you. I CASED one of my earlier posts to make this sympathy card, which combines Great Friend from the Ocassions Mini ( #113792)with Thoughts and Prayers (#113252, $25.95, page 58). The ribbon slide is colored with a mixture of Crystal Effects and Re-inker.

Here is the inside of the card...

Thanks for checking in today, and THANK YOU to everybody who has expressed their condolences.

Sympathy Card

Good Afternoon!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's day yesterday! My 2 sons (ages 20 & 6) did some yard work for me, Woohoo! Well, Ok, the 20 year old worked, the 6 year old played in the rock : ) We had beautiful weather, and it was great to hang out with the family.






Unfortunately, the card that I have to share with you today is a sympathy card. This card is for my mother, who lost her youngest brother to cancer on Thursday. He was the youngest of 8, and only 48 years old when he passed. It just doesn't seem fair : (

Sorry for the retired paper, but it was the look I needed. I used the stamp set Thoughts & Prayers (#113252, $25.95, page 58). Scallop and circle were punched out with Bigz dies. The stamped image was colored in with markers (old olive and chocolate chip).

Thanks for stopping by today,

Inspiration Journal #7, Just Beachy Birthday

Good Afternoon! It's been another busy week : ) My wonderful Husband surprised me (for my birthday) with tickets to Elton John and Billy Joel!! Best Birthday EVER!! My mother made her fabulous lasagna along with a wonderful salad, and then off to the concert we went! Needless to say, I was a bit too tired the next day to stamp!

How fun are these colors?! I could do a series of cards with these... maybe I will?!

For the front of the card, I sponged stripes in varying widths with Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Baja Breeze. For directions on making stripes, see the post for Inspiration Journal #4. The flip flop stamp is from the Just Beachy (113796) set from the Ocassions Mini catalog. I stamped them in Baja Breeze, and then colored a few items in Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa,664 and Regal Rose (flowers). The Live, Laugh & Love stamp is from On Your Birthday (111664, $33.95, page 141).





Now for the ribbon! JARON WINDER showed us this trick at the MPLS Regional... Just take a thread at the end of the ribbon and PULL! You get these wonderful threads to play with! I was going to tie them around something, but in the end decided to make them look more like a tassel. Just one more use for ribbon!

On the inside of the card, I sponged one stripe in Certainly Celery, and using my paper piercing tool and template, poked a row of holes. I colored the flip flops in with a Close to Cocoa marker.

I Stink You're Sweet!

Good Afternoon!

Today I knew that I wanted to do something with this paper (Pink Flamingo DSP) and so I searched for a stamp that would go with it. The flower that this cute little guy is holding is a perfect match! The image is from Pun Fun (#115054, $32.95, page 48).

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Birthday Greetings

Good Afternoon!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. I finally got to sneak in some stamping time! I just love this Bella Rose DSP, and I'd like to get in as many things as I can with it before the retired list comes out in June. The flower pot is from a set in the Occasions mini catalog, Wagon Full Of Fun. I used the Aqua Painter and re-inkers to color in the flower. Birthday Greetings is from On Your Birthday...

Have a super weekend!

Dinosaur Thank You

Good Afternoon!

Today I am sharing my son's Thank You cards. He HAD to have green, and wouldn't you know it, he chose Wild Wasabi. So, I dug back into my retired DSP and found this Apple Cider paper. Then, when I looked for my dinosaur stamps, I realized that I had forgotten to order them!! I had to pull out the retired dinosaurs from the daycare stamps! They turned out cute though!

Fifth Avenue Floral Project Tutorial

Good Afternoon!

This step by step tutorial will walk you through, both with pictures and written instruction, how to make this cute "purse" box with four different 5.5 x 4.25 inch size cards, using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set, the On Your Birthday stamp set, and the Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper. You will use your Paper Crimper, Scallop Edge Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Mat Pack with Piercing Tool, Crystal Effects, Microbeads, Jumbo Eyelet, Brads, Aqua Painter, Scissors, and various ribbon, along with standard tools like a Paper cutter, scoring blade, ink pads, etc. The 12 page tutorial will be emailed in a PDF file to you after $7.95 payment is confirmed with Paypal. Thanks for looking!

PLEASE CLICK ON MY PHOTO, OR THE ONLINE STORE BUTTON TO PURCHASE!!

THANK YOU!

Jaron's Color Combination Creative Challenge #1

Good Afternoon!

Today I am sharing with you the card that I came up with for Jaron Winder's new color challenge! You can see his color challenges on his blog, http://www.jaronsjunkdrawer.blogspot.com/ or you can just tune in here and I'll share it with you! The colors for Jaron's FIRST color combo challenge are... Taken With Teal, Old Olive and Soft Sky.

This card is 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 (to fit our 5.5" envelopes). I made the flowers out of the word window punch, and circle punches, the circle and scallop circle were punched in the BIG SHOT. The For You sentiment is from Great Friend in the Occasions Mini.

Here is the inside, I left it blank because I'm not sure what/who I will use it for, yet....


Have a great day!

Inspiration Journal # 6

Good Afternoon!


It's been a very busy week! My husbands birthday was on Thursday, my son turned six on Friday, and his "fossil hunting" party was on Saturday. We made 100 cupcakes in 5 different flavors and we had over 50 people join us at the fossil beds near the Mississippi River! It was soooo much fun, but I'm glad it's over : ) Now I can get back to important things, like stamping!

I hope you enjoy Inspiration Journal page #6! These are so much fun to make. Besides providing inspiration, this project seems to train my mind to look for inspiration in atypical places. Do you know how many nurses outfits would make really cute cards??!

For the front of the card, I used the Kiwi Kiss DSP, and sponged some Chocolate Chip ink around the edges. I used the BIGZ scallop circle die to punch out a scallop circle in DSP and Baja Breeze CS. I stamped the flowers from Simply Said (#115066, $28.95, page 52). I used the Sweet Always DSP to cover the Chipboard flower, and then sponged it in Chocolate Chip ink. I added a Kiwi Kiss Courderoy button to the flower, some 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, and a couple of Chocolate Chip brads in the corner to finish it off!

This is the inside of the card. Again, I used the Simply Said stamp set.

Thanks for checking in today!

Just For You

Good Evening!

This has been a very busy week! I have a quick post for you today. I am going to fill this bottle with red licorice sticks, and give it as a gift. Fun, huh?!

Flower Fancy

Good Afternoon!

It's a drizzly, cloudy day here in Minnesota. Great time to stamp!
Today's card was made using the Flower Fancy (111578, page 80, $36.95) stamp set. The images are watercolored with re-inker drops and the Aquapainter. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday (111664, page 141, $33.95). Paper is Bella Rose DSP. The white dots on the Rose Red scallops were made with the White Gel Pen.

Off to snuggle with my little guy. He will be turning 6 at the end of the week, so I need to get all of my 5 year old snuggles in while I can!!

Inspiration Journal #5

Good Afternoon!



Today's post is dedicated to Jaron Winder, a talented individual who has inspired so many of us. I was fortunate enough to be able to see Jaron in action earlier this month, before his recent layoff from Stampin' Up!. I will be sharing much of what Jaron taught us at the MPLS Regional throughout the next week or so, so keep checking in, as you will be amazed at his talent and creativity!



In entry #5 in my Jaron inspired journal, I have two techniques to show you. The first is to bring color to the flowers from the Pretties Kit. I've always been a little bit frustrated when trying to blend colors, but not anymore!! Jaron showed us this cool trick...

He used circle punches layered over flowers (you could use die cut flowers,

or flowers from the pretties kit) to create layers of color. This was a *WOW* moment! You could here lot's of appreciative "wow's" among the 500 Demonstrators and guests who were watching Jaron's presentation! I sponged So Saffron lightly over the whole flower, then I added my ring of Pink Passion. I used a stipple brush to blend it in a little more, but not too much because I wanted to duplicate the flowers in my inspiration magazine picture. I added a darker layer of So Saffron on the inside of the Pink Passion, and then Kiwi Kiss in the center.

Here is a close-up of the front of the card. I used Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, and Very Vanilla cardstock. I sponged Kiwi Kiss around the edges of the Very Vanilla. The sentiment is from the hostess set, Sweet Little Sentiments.

To pleat the ribbon, first apply a strip of double stick tape to the cardstock. I would suggest something REALLY sticky, like Sticky Strip. Next, attach the end of the ribbon to the beginning point. I like to use my piercing tool to help hold and shape the ribbon as I go along. Lay the tip of the piercing tool on the ribbon at the point that you would like to fold it back (photo on left). The ribbon will adhere to the sticky strip here. Then, pull the piercing tool out of the fold, and lay it on top of the ribbon (photo on right), now you are going to fold the ribbon back over the piercing tool, and attach to sticky strip, like shown in the photo below. Keep repeating!

Here is the inside of the card. I apologize for using a retired stamp, but the flower was such a good match!

Inspiration Journal #4

Good Afternoon!

Here is Inspiration Journal Sample #4

This is too fun!












I used the elephant from Wild About You. I covered it in glue and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I used the Bigz Scallop Circles #2 and the circle cutter to make the circles. For the bling in the corners, I removed the rhinestones from four of the Rhinestone Brads and glued down with Crystal Effects. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but I scored a border around the Gable Green Cardstock. The white dots on the scallop were just made using the White Gel Pen.

To make a plaid background, tape 2 strips of scrap paper to some grid paper (the grid paper will help you space your lines evenly). Slide your cardstock (I used Pirouette Pink cardstock and Regal Rose Ink) underneath the scrap paper. Line it up with the grid paper, and sponge the ink. After sponging each line, move cardstock over and sponge your next line (I moved a half inch, so that my lines were each 1/4")

Now, turn your paper and sponge lines going the other direction to make plaid.

Here is the inside of the card. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday, and the flower is from Wild About You. I colored the stamp with markers...

Inspiration Journal #3

Good Afternoon!

Here is page 3 of my Inspiration Journal. It really is a challenge to for me to work with these bright colors! That, and I must admit, we have another glorious day outside! The little ones are taking a short nap after playing at the park all morning, and I am trying to get done as much as possible so that we can go back out and enjoy the weather. The colors that I used are Green Galore, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, and Blush Blossom.

Here's a closeup of the front of the card. I ran the So Saffron Cardstock through the Big Shot, using the Textures Plate. The butterflies and vines (stamped on Blush Blossom) are from Pretty Amazing, and the sentiment is from Upsy Daisy.

I'd love to see pages that you guys create using magazines or catalogs for inspiration! Get creating and send me an email!! I know that we have some great stampers out there.... Joan? ... Tonie? ... Pam? ...

Inspiration Journal #2

Good Afternoon!

Here is page 2 of my Inspiration Journal. The background is Very Vanilla layered onto Really Rust. The daisy is Whisper White and More Mustard, and the sentiment is stamped in Ruby Red. I got all of my colors in, except the Creamy Caramel, but looking at the photo, I think I might go back and sponge some Creamy Caramel onto the front of the card (not the daisy). I used the piercing tool and the Mat Pack to poke the holes around the border.

Here is a close up of the front of the card. I used the Daisies Bigz die to make the flower...

Time to go volunteer in the Kindergarten class!

Birthday snail

Good Afternoon!

It's a gorgeous day here in Minnesota! 63 degrees!! It was hard to find time to come in and stamp : )
I can't take credit for today's card. I saw a snail similar to this when I was out shopping, so of course I just had to take a picture! I used the Bigz circle die for the body, and various sized punches for the polka dots. I freehanded the stitching around the snail and border... easy as pie! Now, back outside....

Inspiration Journal

Good Afternoon, and Happy Easter!

I'm sharing something fun with you today, and hopefully for many more days to come.

When I was at the MPLS Regional Seminar last weekend, I was able to watch some really fabulous demonstrations by other Demos, and by representatives from Stampin Up!. One of which was Jaron Winder, from the SU! headquarters. Jaron has got to be one of the funniest guys ever!! Anyhow, he shared with us this idea of an Art Journal, as he called it. I've chosen to call mine an Inspiration Journal. It's a collection of photos, magazine and catalog adds and such, that have captured my attention because of the textures, patterns and/or colors. How much fun will it be to let those pages inspire the design of a card?! I am so excited for this! I hope you enjoy this idea, as well as card # 1...

This is the first page of my inspiration journal. I have already filled the left side of every page layout with magazine and catalog clippings and SU! color swatches!!! Now I'm to the fun part of making the cards!!

Below is a closeup of the front of the card. I used the Textures Plates in the Bigshot to make the Chocolate Chip paper (5 1/4 x 5 1/4) textured, like the wicker chair in the photo. The flowers from the Upsy Daisy stamp set are stamped in Whisper White Craft Ink onto Wild Wasabi paper. I know, it's retired, but it the color matched the picture so well! Wild Wasabi was one of my favorite green's and I just can't let it go!! I mixed Crystal Effects with Really Rust Re-inker, and then painted a Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware frame and brads (the ones down in the lower right hand corner). I attached the frame with More Mustard brads. Now, I have incorporated all of my chosen colors into my card. I poked holes around the edges, using the piercing tool and the Mat Pack to line them up, and then tied the (retired Wild Wasabi) ribbon around.

Here is the inside of the card. I just reversed the colors, white paper, and Wild Wasabi ink (stamped off once)...

Thoughts and Prayers

Good morning! Here is another beautiful card from PAM PETERSON in Illinois! Isn't she great?! I love the layout, the springy colors, and the way that she used the Hodgepodge hardware! This has inspired me to use a similar hardware piece in a project that I am working on. I'll share that with you tomorrow or Sunday. Have a great day!

Bubbles by Pam

Good Afternoon!

How cute is this card from Pam Peterson in Illinois? You could adapt this to make it a baby card, an Easter card, a birthday card, or so many other types of cards. It's just fun! Pam is a demonstrator that I met on SUDSOL (Simply Unique Demonstrators Sharing Online), and when we got together at the MPLS Regional Seminar, she gave me a WONDERFUL selection of cards to share with you all.

GREAT card Pam!! I'll be CASING this card for future use!

Happy Easter

Good Afternoon!

Today I am sharing a couple of Easter cards from PAM PETERSON!! The bunnies are from the Egg-cellent Easter set in the Occasions Mini catalog.

Aren't they cute?! Thanks Pam!

Garden Greetings For You

Good Afternoon!

Today I am sharing with you the other 2 cards that I made for the SWAP at the MPLS Regional Seminar. My original card had more layers, but I ran out of time!! I ended up just stamping the "for you" as you see it now, rather than on another piece of paper, and layered. The card at the right shows what the inside looks like. I think that Garden Greetings has become one of my favorite sets, but of course I think that about almost every set!

Keep in mind that if you would like to use this layout, you can make the part that opens up any size that you want. It's fun to experiment!

Have a great day!

Faux layered Manhatten FLower

Good Morning!

I had such a FABULOUS time at the MPLS Regional Seminar!! Stampin Up! is really very good to their demonstrators, and makes us all feel like family : ) I cannot imagine a day in my life that I give up being a part of that. Well, on to today's card...

This card was one of my SWAP cards for the regional. I used the Fifth Avenue Floral (page 106, #113734, $24.95) stamp set. The striped strip of paper going across the card was made with the stem of the flower, inked in Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, and Baja Breeze. I stamped it 2-3 times before re-inking to get a variety of shades. I think it makes a fun substitution for ribbon!

After I stamped the flowers, I used the Sanded stamp (stamped off once for a lighter image) over everything to add textured look to this card. Then I used Crystal Effects and Micro Beads on the centers of two of the flowers. The background flower is stamped with Kiwi Kiss ink onto Kiwi Kiss paper, with Sanded stamped in Chocolate Chip over that.

The larger flower, stamped in Baja Breeze, was cut out, and then I took a razor blade to randomly cut the edges of the petals. I then bent or rolled up the edges to give this flower dimension, and a layered look. You can see from the tiny picture at the top right just how much those petals stick up.

I hope you enjoyed today's card!

Bear's gift for you

Good Afternoon!

I'm having so much fun with the bear! He is too cute, especially when covered in fur. : ) The background is from Pocket Sillouettes and the bear is from Under the Stars. The pocket on the inside of the card is the Scallop Envelope Die, with the flap cut off.

Ok, now time to pack and onto the MPLS Regionals! WOOHOO!! I won't be posting tomorrow, (unless I get home early enough, then I'll post my swap card) but hopefully I'll have some great pics for Sunday!

Rainbow Birthday

Good Afternoon!

I am still having fun flocking my ribbon! For this cute bear (Under the Stars, #111556, $29.95) I cut Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, and Kraft Taffeta ribbon, and applied with Crystal Effects to make this bear fuzzy. Tune in tomorrow for another fuzzy bear card!

For You Flower

Good Afternoon!

It's April 1st, and that means that we can order out of the Occasions Mini Catalog! Woohoo! The card that I made today uses 2 sets from the Occasions Mini; Great Friend & Wagon Full of Fun. DSP is Bella Rose, cardstock is Riding Hood Red and Whisper White. The flower was colored in with the Aquapainter and re-inkers.

Enjoy!