I'm on my way home from our quick Phoenix get away.  We sure had fun – too bad it has come to an end (well I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my very delayed flight).  While sitting here, I am starting on my memory album – yep that's right, the joy of digital designing is that you can get right to it! 

Don't forget that you can download a free version of My Digital Studio express for 30 days!!!   So, if you had a great winter get away and went to preserve your memories – download your free copy and get the party started!   Here is a quick video that talks about My Digital Studio so, why don't you give it a try (in other words, get the party started!!!)

Blessings!

Happy Day everyone!   I am having a pretty good time in Arizona.  I know that I will have an even better time now that I can relax about my dear hubby.  He is home.  While we don't have answers as to why he had the chest pain, I am confident that he was thoroughly checked out.  So, rest for him and we will check in with the Dr.'s next week.  Our son, Mike was with him.  (I don't know if I've talked about Mike on my blog before but he is a wonderful man and father).  Chrissy, our daughter will spend the weekend with him. 

Here is a pic of my daughter Mandy and my dad from yesterday.

So today we are off to Sedona.  Excited to do some hiking and sightseeing. 

Here's a quick card that we did last week at card class.  It uses one of the free Sale-a-Bration sets.  Simple layout that's worth copying!

Blessings!

OK, so I had a little hiatus this last week.  Sorry about that.  You might think I was on vacation – well I am!   But, I just left last night!      I'm in Phoenix with my sister Sally (from Colorado), my daughter Mandy and my sister-in-law Bev for a long weekend to visit my dad.  I'm looking forward to a little family time and relaxing.

That is, I hope I can relax.  Jim had chest pain yesterday and was taken from Hastings to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  Why does this happen when I am leaving town?   I think the good Lord thinks I have stamina and patience to handle this from a distance. . . I hope!  At any rate, I talked with Jim this morning and he is doing OK.  No answers yet but, they are doing lots of tests and taking good care of him.  Son Mike has been a big help. 

Last week, I intended to post a few pics of fun ideas – and I happened to remember to grab my camera when I left so, here is a fun simple card to inspire you. 

I am liking this color combo – direct from the 2011-2013 In color collection – Pool Party and Calypso Coral.  Of course the wonderful designer series paper helps!  This is the Sweet Shop DSP from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Paired with the Cupcake Builder Punch and the greeting from the Sweet Cake stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog. 

If you look closely, you will see that this paper is a specialty paper with yummy textures (heart and dotted pattern).  Here is the stamp set – don't you love how they coordinate?

As you may have guessed, these 2 items are part of a whole product suite (spelled "sweet" in this case!).  If you are looking for fast and easy coordination of products – and don't have to spend much time thinking about what goes together, the product suites are a fantastic option.  You can see this product suite in the Occasions Mini catalog starting on page 32. 

Enjoy the day!  Blessings to all.

Here's another card with Tea Shoppe Party – simple but fun.

I have been seeing lots of card with little pennants on them.  A hint for getting the bottom of the pennant just right is to use a square punch to get the notch just correct. 

Blessings!

I did a little playing in the craft room this weekend – not quite as much as I would have liked but, here is one of my creations. 

I was making samples for my upcoming Tea Shoppe Party class in March.  I like the Attic Boutique paper with this set – they both seem a little vintage.  Enjoy!

Blessings!

It's been a fun day of crafting as I made gifts for my honey for Valentines day.  While I did buy a gift, I wanted to create something heartfelt.  So, here is the outside of my gift;

I simply used a heart shaped box and covered it with Everyday Enchantment paper.  I also used the ribbon and brad from the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brad pack.  The banner came from the Take it to Heart set and the greeting came from the Loving Thought stamp set.  Here's a close up of the flower

I punched 3 flowers each from the Mixed Bunch punch and the 5-petal flower punch.  I scrunched them and pulled the paper apart.  Layering and securing with the brad.  I also spritzed them with Vanilla Shimmer paint.  I secured the whole project to a Pool Party scalloped heart cut from the Hearts Framelits.  I love how it turned out.

Inside I am going to put little slips of paper with things I love about my honey.  I'm excited to give this to him! 

I hope this inspired you to create a special gift for your honey too.

Blessings!

Here's another quick Valentine treat for you to consider making this weekend.  It's one that I have done before but, worth repeating.

The scalloped envelope die is used to create the "wrap" for this Valentine treat.  Here is what I used to make this treat;

Stamp Set:  P.S. I love you

Paper & Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Springtime Vintage (Free during Sale-a-Bration with qualifying order), Poppy Parade, Pool Party

Punches & Dies;  Scallop Envelope Die, Blossom Party Die, Label Punch

Accessories:  Printed Brads – Free with qualifying order during Sale-a-Bration

It's actually pretty simple and easy – I plan to crank out a few of these this weekend for my co-workers – I can't wait to give them out!

Blessings!

It's closing in on another year anniversary for me with Stampin' Up!  Soon it will be 9 years.  And it all started because I wanted to get a discount on my Stampin' Up! supplies.  I didn't think I was ever going to have a party. . .. well that is one thing that I am super glad never worked out the way it was planned.   

I know I mentioned it a week or so ago but, I still have an opportunity to give someone a gift from Stampin' Up!  Actually, I really have more than one gift to give;

• Free subscription to Stampin' Success magazine – this is the full color magazine only available to demonstrators until now.  I can give you a FREE 3 month subscription.  No strings attached except that you'll be inspired by all of the great samples in it.  PLUS – there's a BIG surprise coming up with the next catalog – you could be one of the first to know!  If you are interested in getting this from me, Please let me know.  I will be doing a drawing of customers who have ordered from me since January 24 and those who have scheduled workshops with me during Sale-a-Bration.
• Here's a gift that will keep on giving for a year – During Sale-a-Bration, you can join the Stampin' Up! family for only $125.  You get the full kit – worth $360!  You can customize this kit to suit your needs.  The additional gift is that Stampin' Up! will give you a choice of free Designer Series Paper or Digital Downloads every month for a year.  You can check out the details here.  If you sign up with me prior to February 24, I have an extra gift for you.  You too could have these things I love about Stampin' Up! for yourself. 
  • Discount on everything that I buy
  • Access to 1000's of ideas on Stampin' Up!'s website for demonstrators.   It beats pinterest hands down!
  • When you attend Stmapin' Up!'s events, you can learn tons of new ideas, develop phenomenal friendships around the country
  • Fill your personal bank with lots of warm fuzzies – that bank is not just about money – it is about the feel good fuzzies I get from sending cards and helping others be in touch with their creativity

Here's a card that I received in my swapping at Stampin' Up!'s leadership conference.  It was made by Cathy Wszelaki.  The reason I am posting this card (besides that I like it) is that it uses a set that you could receive when you join the Stampin' Up! family.  The set is called Easy Events.

Can you see the versatility in this set? 
I love how Cathy added some pizzaz to this card.  The base color of Island Indigo with the square lattice textured embossing folder and a strip of the printed paper in the same color creates just the perfect background.  She used the 2 1/2" circle punch to create the Easy Event focal point for the card.  If you look very closely, she added Dazzeling Details in Cherry Cobbler to the heart in the tree.  Love it! 

OK, so do you know what you gotta do?  Here's your homework simplified;

• get your order in or schedule your show to be in the drawing for the Stampin' Success subscription
• consider joining the Stampin' Up! family – for a discount or to build a business and a little extra income for your family
• consider getting "easy events"  such an adorable card it makes!

Blessings!

When you are a paper crafter at heart, you don't just stop at cards and scrapbooks.  I enjoy making pieces for display at home.  I've been frequently known to share them with family and friends too.  Here's just a small banner that I made for the "love" season. 

Are you wondering what wonderful new die or punch was used to create the elegant detail at the bottom of this banner?  Well you'll be surprised to learn that it's so much easier than even a punch or a die!  It's the Designer Cuts Cards & Envelopes set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. 

Here's what you get with this gorgeous set of cards and envelopes;

• 4 cards each of 2 different designs – the one shown and the heart (which is soooooo yummy!)
• 8 envelopes in Blushing Bride

Here's a pick of what you get;

So you can see that I took just one of the cards with the design on the bottom and cut it apart and backed it with Blushing Bride cardstock (by the way, I have been using this color a lot lately – it's a very nice pink.  If you don't have it, you owe it to yourself to check it out).

I did start another banner as well – not quite ready for prime time yet – I'll post it if I get it done.

Blessings!

I wanted to get some of my family valentine cards out of the way. . . . I created this one for my sister.  I really love how it turned out don't you?

Here's what I used;

Stamp Sets:  Mixed Bunch

Paper & Ink:  Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler

Punches:  2 1/2 inch circle, 3/4 inch circle, Label

Sizzix;  Dotted Texture Embossing folder, Paper Doily Large Sizzlet die

Accessory:  Large Pearl Basic Jewels

I have posted picks of the Doily Die projects before.   Here is what I have learned from using this die;

• the results are stunning – and worth just a bit of extra work
• It is best to use a shim when cutting this one out – a piece of cardstock
• roll your doily from side to side and up and down – this loosens many of the delicate pieces allowing most of them to pop out
• Use your scoring tool or paper piercing tool to push out the pieces that don't fall out – front to backside

Here's a video from Stampin' Up! creating one of the gorgeous samples in the Occasions Mini Catalog - check it out, I'm sure you'll agree with me!

Leave me a note and let me know what you think!

Blessings!