Stamps and Smiles

Happy New Catalog!

It's official!  While some of you may be excited about the upcoming 4th of July weekend (or Canada Day if you're a Canuck, like me!) ... true crafters, stampers and rubber stampers know that today is the start of a whole new Stampin' Up! year!

I have my new catalog order ready to go and am so excited!  I will place it later today... I won't tell you what the total of the order is but it's close to our mortgage payment!  ACK!  Maybe I'll revisit it before I hit the "send" button.  I am having the order sent 2-Day so I should get it on Monday so if you'd like to add anything to the order and pick it up at my home in Harrisburg, PA -- please feel free to email me.

Stampin' Up! has made several new announcements -- including a very fun July promotion entitled "Deal of the Week."

 

This week's deal is a great savings on the Scallop Edge Punch!  This offer is only available until July 5th!  The scallop edge punch can be yours for just $10.99 (reg. $15.95) plus tax and shipping.   

 

Stampin' Up! also announced a fabulous deal on the Starter Kit!  Now is a fabulous time to become a demonstrator.  No matter what you goals!

  

If your wishlist from the new catalog is too long... for $85 you can enjoy a 20 to 40% discount on everything you purchase. 

If you'd like to add a few dollars a month to your monthly budget by collecting orders from friends and a flexible work schedule ... for $85 you can do just that.

If you're looking for all the above plus the possibility of an all-expenses paid cruise for two to Alaska and a great way to boost you resume, you income and much more... take a look at the opportunity that you're provided with the $85 starter kit.

 The $85 Mini Kit (shown below) is a great value to get you started on a new and exciting adventure.  All new demonstrators will receive a very special gift package from me!

Whew!  That was a lot of information... now maybe for some inspiration!

Last week was a crazy week, which is why I didn't post.  Not only was it our VBS at church, I had the pleasure of presenting a program for the Dauphin County Library entitles "Make It & Play It."

It was a long week but I had a blast interacting with so many kids and parents alike.  Here's what we made:

 

 

This fun magnetic tic tac toe board was a hit with parents and kids alike.  With 75 kiddos at each library at a time, I had to keep things fairly simple so I pre-punched everything.  (FYI -- it takes 4.5 hours to punch out 3600 white 1" circles.)  The kids were able to choose which stamps and colors for their tic tac toe pieces -- which sometimes turned into a challenge.

Enjoy your holiday weekend -- I know we will!

More Animal Stories

Another Sneak Peek from Stampin' Up!  The new Animal Stories Stamp Set.

 

This one was made for a friend who just had a baby girl.  I'm certainly going to miss the retiring Pink Pirouette -- such a great pink!  This card also uses Basic Gray cardstock and Rose Red Stitched Ribbon.

 

And here's one I made at Jan's house last week.  This one didn't turn out the way I had planned in my head.. then again, more times than not things don't turn out the way I have planned in my head.  :)  This one uses the awesome new Bermuda Bay -- a 2009-2010 In Color as well as the Circle Circus Stamp Set (another Sneak Peek set from Stampin' Up!) 

Hope you're enjoying your day!

Dad, You're grrreat!

This is my Father-In-Law's Father's Day card.  It really should say, "Old Guy" you're grrreat!" because "Old Guy" is what he wanted Bradleigh to call him.  No Grampa, or Grand-Dad -- just Old Guy.  Unfortunately, Old Guy wouldn't fit.  :)

 

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamps:  Lovely As a Tree, Under the Stars

Ink:  Basic Brown for stamping.  Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Certainly Celery and Garden Green for watercoloring.

Paper:  Garden Green, Certainly Celery.Watercolor Paper, Shimmery White, Brilliant Blue and Chocolate Chip.  Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker.

Accessories:  Big Shot, Scalloped Oval Bigz Die, Key Tag Punch, Texturz Plates #4, Serif Alphabet, Thread.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

For The Newlyweds

Ever make a card and find it incredibly difficult to part with?  This would be one of them... and not because I think it used half the flat-back pearls in the Pretties Kit! 

 

My friend Jan made a card using the flourish from the Wings of Friendship Hostess set in Basic Gray and I knew when I saw it that it would make the perfect wedding card.  So I tweaked her design -- added a few more pearls and Voila.

The flourish was embossed with Black Embossing Powder as is the greeting from Teeny TIny Wishes -- another Sneak Peek Set available in the 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog.

While the card is pretty... check out the inside:

 

The inside uses the really cool exclusive Stampin' Up! "Look Here" Bigz XL Die for the Big Shot.   I modified the pop-ups slightly by cutting the arrows and adding lots of hearts that were embossed with white embossing powder on Basic Black cardstock and punched out with the Trio of Hearts and Heart Punch.  Inside the card mimics the front.

While this card is so hard to part with, I know it's going to a happy couple that will appreciate it.

I'm off to bed -- busy Club Day tomorrow. If you're in the Harrisburg area, please feel free to join us, I have a couple of extras waiting for you. 

One, Two, Three

Here are some more samples with the Sneak Peek sets from the 2009-2019 Idea Book and Catalog.

 

A very simple card using the upcoming Level Two Hostess set Asian Artistry.  The card uses Soft Suede (a 2009-2019 In Color,) Brocade Blue and Whisper White Cardstocks and throw in a splash of the new Tall Tales Deisgner Series Paper.  The bird image was inked with an Old Olive and Brocade Blue Stampin' Write Marker.  The verse was stamped with Soft Suede Classic Ink.

 

Another super simple card using Asian Artistry.  The flower images were inked up with Old Olive and Dusty Durango (another 2009-2019 In Color) and stamped on the Old Olive cardstock.  The verse was also stamped with Old Olive Classic Ink.  The base of the card is Very Vanilla and layered with Dusty Durango.  The ribbon is the Dusty Durango Polka-Dot ribbon turned over.  I love the fact that the ribbon thick enough that when you turn it over, you can't see the dots on the other side.  It's like 2 for the price of 1 -- polka dotted and plain.  Love it!

 

Lastly, here's a card using Autumn Days.  I just realized a theme here, I used Old Olive on every card here in some way.  I love that color. 

For this card, I stamped the leaf image on Dusty Durango with Dusty Durango Classic Ink.  The scallop border was made from layering the Curvy Label punch-outs in Barely Banana behind the Dusty Durango.  I tied 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon around the Dusty Durango and use the Lots of Tags Big Shot die and the Wide Oval Punch to put the bird on.  I think it's a pheasant, but who knows.

Tomororw is another Club Day -- can't wait.  I just love visiting with all these amazing women each month.  New clubs are forming in August and I'd love to have you join us.  I'll post more information about that very soon!

Have a wonderful day!

Simplicity.

I think we all strive for simplicity in our lives.  I know I do... and fail.  :)

I love looking at elaborate cards -- the time and care that goes into them amazes me and I admire those that take the time to pay such incredible attention to details.  I am, however, not always one of those people. 

Personally, i think some of the most amazing creations are those that look like a lot of work but really take just moments to complete.  I think this is one of those card...

 

This is one of the TWENTY-ONE cards my friend Jan and I created today!  The ribbon got a little smushed on the long ride home so I need to fix it and maybe take a better photo.  (I wanted to update my blog before heading to bed so I didn't get the greatest shot.)

The card uses the "Razzle Dazzle" stamp set and Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.  The ribbon is the Organza Ribbon dyed with the Razzleberry Classic Ink.  "Prayng for you" is from Thoughts & Prayers.

Time for bed!

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Every have a stong stuck in your head?  As I ways playing with this lil' guy from Lots of Bots, I had the wonderful "Mr. Roboto" song in my head.  If you're an 80's fan, you'll know this song from Styx.

So here's my version of "Mr. Roboto."

 

I loved this color combination in the catalog:  Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Bermuda Bay (a new In Color.) 

Tomorrow is a play day with my friend Jan.  Can't wait!

 

A Little Time To Play

 While Mitch was at his hockey game (he just walked in the door at 12:47am) I played with my new stamps and the 2009-2010 In Colors -- seen below.

 

Aren't they lovely?  The In Colors are really nice rich colors.  While I'll miss my Baja Breeze, I'll embrace these new colors.  :)

Here are my creations for the evening:

 

This one uses a new set called "Animal Stories," the coordinating Tall Tales Designer Series Paper and Soft Suede as the card base.  I colored the giraffe with More Mustard and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers.  The Old Olive "banner" uses the new "Modern Label Punch."  The actual punch isn't as long, but I cut a strip of Old Olive cardstock about 5/8" (if memory serves) and punched the each end to achieve the desired length.

 

 

The second card I made uses Melon Mambo and the new Level 3 Hostess Set Kind & Caring Thoughts. 

 

See the polka-dot ribbon?  It's available in all the In Colors!  Isn't it gorgeous!!  The card also uses Basic Black and Green Galore -- a very bright and cheery color combination.

Well, there's your sneak peek for the day.  It's about 1:15am and I've been up since 6am (and bed late last night, too!)  Busy day tomorrow as I prepare Bradleigh for her first Girl Scout camping trip and some fun at the Driving Range later in the evening -- hopefully I can squeeze in some more play time!  I have more rubber begging for ink!  :)

 

 

Sometimes...

Yes, sometimes, life comes to a stop – or at least a serious slow down where you put on a happy face for those around but inside you just want to scream or cry.  I know we’ve all been there.  I’ve been there several times but for the last while, it’s been a very different experience.  Without going into major details… the dreaded “C” word became a possibility for me.  Cancer.  At first skin cancer and then something more serious -- Hodgkins Lymphoma.

 

 And, yes… I did over-react somewhat, to theories and guesses but I had to prepare myself – mentally for the possibility.  So much so, I began to formulate in my mind a team of friends I knew I could count on to be there for Bradleigh so that her life would remain as normal as possible, friends that would take me to and from chemotherapy and stay with me during treatments.  Then, in my darker moments, my mind wandered to the “what if.”  What if it’s not something I could beat?  Then my mind wandered to thinking about making the perfect high school graduation card, college graduation card, wedding card, baby card and just “thinking of you” cards to leave behind for Bradleigh because I just might not be there.  Ideally, like any mom does, they take care of everyone else before even thinking about taking care of themselves. 

 

I am so grateful and happy to report I am cancer-free.  The mark on my side, while not cancer, is often a pre-cursor to Hodgkins Lymphoma and something I need to keep an eye on… but not dwell on.  I’m very thankful that, for right now, it’s nothing serious and that I have the knowledge I do to recognize anything that might (or hopefully might not) happen in the future.

 

So… in case you were wondering what happened to me, that’s the short of it.  (Throw in there the Crafty Chicks first crop – which was AMAZING, book fair at school, teacher appreciation week and end of school year activities – and just playing general catch-up!) 

 

Tomorrow is the last day of school.  I cannot believe summer is here… and so is my new catalog, but I’m not allowed to share the nitty gritty.   I can say, however, that it’s fabulous and there some incredibly innovative products inside.  I also received yesterday, a box of new colors, new stamp sets and new accessories and hope to spend some time tomorrow night while Mitch is at hockey playing.  With everything that’s been going on, I’ve had virtually no desire, no inspiration and no energy to stamp or create so I’m looking forward to spending some time with just my new stamps and I.  J

 

That being said, I did work on something for Bradleigh’s teacher for Teacher Appreciation.  Actually, work makes it sound easy – I labored and cried.  I just couldn’t come up with anything that was original so I went to the “memory banks” and used some “oldy-but-goody” ideas to put together a basket.  I was all set to deliver it to school on the last Friday of Teacher Appreciation week (the Friday before Mother’s Day) and Bradleigh came down with strep and had a 103+ fever for 2 days straight. 

 

Anyway – here’s the basket and the “goodies” in it.

 

 

 

The basket all put together...

 

 

A simple candle wrapped in Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper and Valet Ribbon Originals.

 

 

A box of 4" cards embossed with the Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and then tied with either Kiwi Kiss Satin, Basic Gray Tafetta or Valet Ribbon Originals ribbon.  The box was made with Kraft cardstock and Med. Weight Window Sheets. 

 

The cards inside were very simple!

 

 

This modified 2-4-6-8 box was made with Medium Weight Window Sheets.  The rose from Fifth Avenue Florals were stamped with White StazOn on the Window Sheets.  The rose was stamped in Basic Gray and watercolored with Baja Breeze.  Basic Gray Tafetta finished it off.  Inside, Ghiradelli Chocolates were wrapped with more Urban Oasis DSP. 

 

 

 

 

A white 5"x5" frame from Ikea.  More watercolored flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral and Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper with a verse found online printed on Baja Breeze cardstock.

 

 

I managed to find lip balms with caps in Kiwi Kiss but not Baja Breeze so I wrapped some Baja Breeze ribbon from the Valet Ribbon Originals around the one in the middle and more Urban Oasis Designer Series paper.  The box is the wonderful Matchbox Die that's in the Occasions Mini.  Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon finishes it off.

 

A simple Post-It Note cover made from Kraft Cardstock, embossed with the embossing folder and more Kiwi Kiss ribbon as an embellishment.  The "Notes" was cut with the Big Shot. 

Lastly, I found these Kraft-colored clay pots at Ikea a few years ago and didn't know what to do with them.  I ended up giving some of them to the Salvation Army but glad I kept a couple.  I used the "Welcome" Decor Element in white around the rim.  I had intended to put a small white geranium or pansies in it but when Bradliegh came down with strep, I didn't get out.  Her teacher came to the house on Saturday to deliver the Mother's Day gift Bradleigh made in class.  Mrs. Adams was an amazing teacher -- such a sweetheart.  We'll miss her!

 

 

Well -- there you have it.  Where's I've been.  What' I've been up to.  God-willing, life will return back to "normal" here and I can continue to post on a regular basis and get a summer class schedule together!

 

 

 

Stamper/Scrapbooker Vanished!

Sorry folks!  The past couple of weeks have been filled with fun and games here!  (Please note sarcasm!)

Two Sundays ago, I fell and really bummed my ankle.  It still hurts and is swelling when I'm on it too long.  I understand doctors say, "Stay off of it for a couple weeks."  But really, is that possible for any mother?!

So last week I hobbled around getting ready for a crop.  What a mess!  Without going into any major details, I've spent nights in worse hotels in my college days but never have sheets on a bed given me a rash.  Have you ever showered with your socks on?  You get the picture.

This week seemed just as full with preparations for the Crafty Chicks Crop next weekend.  We had to find a new facility to hold our crop in the fall... and we found one!  A BEAUTIFUL place!  I can't wait to share the details with you but we're going to give those that attend next weekend the first chance to reserve their spot for the fall.  Think late October, girls!  :)

Today is filled with shopping for next week's crop so I must bring this to a close.  I will draw the winner of the free class this weekend.  I just wanted to take a minite before Bradleigh gets on the bus to update you all and assure you that I have not vanished.