Just have to Share!

My full-time job is as a 5th grade public school teacher, and over the summer I had to move classrooms because a new program was coming to our school. So with the chance to make a fresh start I couldn't resist trying something totally new and different.being inspired by the Ron Clark Academy of Atlanta, GA that I visited earlier this year. Since I have an Interactive White Board in my class (which I plan on using a whole lot more), I decided why put posters on the wall, let's create a little ambiance instead! So here's my attempt at an Art Gallery!

The sheer curtains were from IKEA that I stapled on the wall. I tied them back with sparkly wire. The art prints were ones I'd accumulated over the years, and I thrift stored for usable picture frames that I spray painted black to mount some of the prints in. My color theme is white, sapphire blue and black. I'm very happy with how it looks.

Owl Favor Idea

As promised, here's the cute owl favor that will be going along with the 1st birthday party invite. I swapped for this 3D item with Linda Flemming (MN) at the SU Convention and she credits that she CASed the idea from Heather Summers (Canada). But as always I tweaked it just a bit.  What made it 3D is you attach a small wrapped peppermint patty inside the two body layers.

The Stampin' Up! products used to make this were:
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight or So Saffron, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Basic Black
Punches: 2-1/2" Circle, 1" Circle, 1/4" Circle, Small Heart, and Boho Blossom. If you have the Petite Pennants punch you can use that for the nose. I just cut my own.
Embossing Folder on the Big Shot: Perfect Polka Dots or you could use Fancy Fan
Plus a White Gel Pen to mark the eyes

A little hint or two -- for the top of the owl's head, just use the 1" Circle to create the ears. For the embossed football shape, use the 2-1/2" circle twice to create that shape.

These would be very cute first day of school treats, or even make one to give to the teacher with a Starbucks card to get the year going!   Thanks for stopping by!

First Birthday Party Invitation

I was commissioned to design this first birthday party invite for a friend. Didn't it turn out cute? It is a combination of Stampin' Up! products and my Silhouette Cameo machine designs. I recently got my Silhouette and I'm really loving it. I've managed to cut different thicknesses of cardstock and vinyl, so I'd say I'm doing pretty good for only having it a month so far.

Here's the Stampin' Up! products that were used in the card:
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie
Designer Series Paper in  polka dots from the Neutrals and In Colors sets
(Other Cardstock, twine, and rhinestones from other sources)
Stamp Sets: Woodgrain background stamp, Raining Flowers (for leaves), and Happiest Birthday Wishes
Punches: 1/2" circle and Boho Blossom (for owl feet)

Tune in tomorrow as I'll be showing the little owl favor that will accompany this order. If you have any questions, don't hesistate to ask, or leave a comment, or become a follower. Thanks for visiting!

Stampin' Up! is Advertising

When I was at the Stampin' Up! Convention, management revealed that they were going to start a marketing campaign in several popular women's and parenting magazines to help spread the word so that more people can learn about this wonderful company and the products they make that help you make special gifts and memories for loved ones. I thought I'd share a small photo of two of their ads because I really agree with their sentiments! You can go to www.stampinup.com to learn more.

My Top 5 Favorite Stampin' Up! Tools

I don't know about you, but to me, having the right tools for a job makes all the difference in the world. That's why I appreciate the tools that Stampin' Up! provides to make creativity in our papercrafting easier. Here's my top 5 favorites:

5.  SNAIL Adhesive (104332 for $6.95) I love how the tape dispenser and adhesive are so easy to grab and whip around the edges of your cards and poof! the layers are adhered together solidly. The SNAIL refill (104331 for $4.50) snaps right into the plastic case easily for little time wasted, so you can keep on gluing your projects.

4.  Adhesive Remover (103684 for $3.50) This little block of rubbery material is the perfect tool to removed extra SNAIL adhesive in case you get a little carried away with  your gluing. I've cut the 2 x 2 inch block into one inch squares and have tucked them in my supplies so I have one handy wherever I'm crafting.

3. Paper Snips ( 103579 for $9.95) These are the best pair of small scissors I have ever owned, now I own 4 pairs. Their blades are so sharp for cutting into tight corners when you are "fussy cutting" around a stamped image and they just slice right through SU ribbon without a frayed edge at all. I love them!!!

2. Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334 for $29.95) This is SU's version of a scoring board and it is the best one out there. I used to use a Martha Stewart brand board, but the stylus alone is enough to buy this tool, it doesn't rip your paper if you accidentally get a little over zealous with your scoring. There's even a little storage compartment on the back of the board for when you are traveling places to sneak a little chocolate in!

1. Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439 for $99.95) I LOVE this tool. It does so much to make your paper crafts look beautiful. With the simple turn of the handle, you can die cut shapes, emboss paper, or make 3D ideas with special dies. You can cut/emboss different thicknesses of paper, thin aluminum, acetate, and fabric. It is so versatile, I highly recommend it to any crafter out there. You won't regret this investment!

If you'd like to purchase any of these tools, just click on my online shopping button.

500th Visit

Last month I thought I'm never going to get to 500 visitors, but in less than a month I have. I'm learning a valuable lesson about blogging, the more you post the more people visit your site. Common sense, right? I'm inviting folks to stop by this blog when I post a card on Stampin' Connection (a site for Stampin' Up! demonstrators) or Splitcoast Stampers (a site for any paper crafter) or Pinterest and it's really paying off! I'm enjoying seeing where my visitors are coming from in my feedit column. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. Onward to 1000!

Joy Ornament Christmas Card

Here's the last of my Christmas card designs for now. This card uses Triple Time stamping technique promoted by Dawn Olfeske and the specific CASed card was from www.stamp4fun.net. This card uses Midnight Muse, one of the 2012-2014 In Colors collection that Stampin' Up! has been promoting these past few years. I really like this technique.

Materials Used:
Cardstock: Midnight Muse and Very Vanilla
Inks: Midnight Muse, Marina Mist, and Crumb Cake
Stamp Sets: Snow Swirled and Delightful Decorations
Ornament Punch
Embellishment - Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse and Pearls.

Snow Swirled Set

111690 Wood Mount  $24.95

127799 Clear Mount   $17.95

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Vertical JOY Card

Here's card 3 out of 4: A simple layout, but the results make for a classy card I think. I CASed this card, but unfortunately the artist didn't put their watermark on it so I can't give credit.
Here's the supplies I used: 
Cardstock: Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Gumball Green
Designer Series Paper: Be of Good Cheer
Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations, and Lovely Letters
Punches: 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Square, and Ornament Punch
Rhinestones for accent

Lovely Letters

115030 Wood Set$43.95

127796 Clear Set $31.95

Delightful Decorations

116517 Wood Set 21.95

127787 Clear Set 16.95

A little trick I tried to cut that perfect end of the banner was to use one corner of the 1-1/4" square punch, since the DSP paper was that width and voila, perfection!

Thanks for stopping by! Become one of my followers too!

Regal Ornament Card

Here's card number two out of four Christmas cards, I'll be sharing with you this week. Isn't this one simple but pretty?

Cardstock: Whisper White and Real Red

Ink: Real Red

Stamp Sets: Ornament Keepsakes and Four the Holidays (retired)

Poinsettias Dry Embossing Folder in the Big Shot

Ribbon: 1/2' Real Red satin ribbon, with bow tied on a meat fork.

Embellishment: Rhinestones

Check out my previous post about ordering the stamp set and matching framelits at my online store. There is so much you can do with this elegant set.  Thanks for stopping by!

Speaking of Christmas...

Over the next 3 days plus today, I'll be revealing 4 Christmas cards that I'll be demonstrating at my church for their Craft Night. It's crazy to be thinking about Christmas in August, but all good planners sure do!

Here's my first card of the set, which all have an ornament theme to them.

I CASed this card from Andrea Borries, but made it my own by changing the decoration and adding the greeting. This card is made with the following cardstocks: Garden Green, Very Vanilla, and Cherry Cobbler. The Designer Series Paper set is called Be of Good Cheer. The stamp sets are Ornament Keepsakes (see below) and Four the Holidays (retired). I used the matching framelits to cut out the ornament. The banner is sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink. The ornament is stamped with Gumball Green ink and it hangs from Gumball Green stitched satin ribbon. Pearls accent the card.

Ornament Keepsakes Wood-Mount Bundle $49.95

Ornament Keepsakes Clear-Mount Bundle  129950  $42.95 P.S. I'd love to have more followers, how about 10, 20, or more?

Start your Christmas Shopping Early

I wanted to spotlight a great gift idea thats in our Holiday Catalog. It's the 2013 Everday Happening Designer Calendar. It is a great gift idea for everyone in the family, and all your friends too! For less than $10 you can get a thoughtful gift for everyone on your list. Each month's page gives room to record your important dates throughout the month, then when that month comes you won't forget to do something nice.

You can order this gift at my online store, just click the link in the right column.

Everday Happenings Bundle  129936 for $7.95

Bootiful Rain Boots Card

Here's the last card we'll be making for my Stamp Camp this coming weekend. Isn't it just fun?
This card was inspired by several I received by swaping at Convention, but I combined the best of each and made it my own. The color scheme is Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze and Whisper White.  The Designer Series Paper is Floral District (126919 for $10.95.)

The special little accent on the flower button is just threading a skinny piece of paper through the holes from the front side and overlapping the ends on the back side, adhere with a glue dot and trim the paper ends to desired length. Fun!  I also layered a second boot over the first, because you've gotta have a pair of boots, right?!

Bootiful Occasions Stamp Set will cover several holidays this winter, so go ahead and order it in my online store in this blog.

Wood 126595 for $24.95

Clear 126597 for $17.95

Reason to Smile Birthday Card

Since so many folks purchased the July $5 Special - Reason to Smile, I thought why not make a card to inspire you all to use it? This will be the third card for my August 18 or 19 Stamp Camp. The color scheme is Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo. The Designer Series Paper is Floral District (126919 for $10.95), the greeting set is Curly Cute (shown below), and the new Finishing Touches Edgelits (127010 for $9.95).

Wood 117014 for $19.95

Clear 120510 for $14.95

You can order from my online store in this blog.

Dear Friend Card - Ronald McDonald House Charity

This card is the second one we will make in my August Stamp Camp. It was CASed from Mary Fish, but I made mine a full 4.25 x 5.5 inch card.  The only thing I changed  from her design was I used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on top of the square scallop die. The color combination is Riding Hood Red and Marina Mist on Whisper White with Early Espresso and Riding Hood Red ink. The mini brads are Marina Mist. To me this card just says summer and friendship.

The stamp set called Moving Forward is especially designed to help make a difference for the families who use the Ronald McDonald houses around the country when they have an ill child. Stampin' Up! donates $3 for each set sold, so it goes to a worthy cause.

You can order this stamp set from my online store in this blog.

126320 Wood $19.95

126322 Clear $14.95

Fun Fold Wedding Card

My next Stamp Camp is coming up Aug 18 or 19, so over the next few days I'll be revealing the four cards we'll be doing.  This Fun Fold Wedding Card was inspired by the September issue of Card Maker magazine and a you tube tutorial, but I didn't record who the designer was, so I'm sorry. The card in the magazine was a Halloween card and I may try one in the future.

I wish my photo shows off the Pink Pirouette paper in dots and stripes better, but you get the idea. I used the Love and Laughter set exclusively for this card. I stamped the images on Whisper White with Black Stazon ink then backed them with more of the Pink Pirouette with freehand cutting. The 4-petal flowers are punched from Primrose Petals with pearls in the middle, and the 1/8" taffeta ribbon is Regal Rose. I think they go together pretty well.  This card has a belly band to hold it closed.

You will need two pieces of cardstock cut 10" long. Then mark 3-1/4" on one side and 6-1/4" on the other. Draw a line to connect the two marks - that is your cutting line for the sloped top edge. Repeat for second piece of cardstock.

The scoring is easy. Place the base of the card against your measuring edge on your score board. Score at 2", 4", and 6" starting at the narrow edge.  Repeat for second piece of cardstock.  Then fold the cardstock to create the zig-zag effect as shown. 

For the Color Collection Designer Series Paper Stack, I used the Pink Pirouette dots and stripes out of the Subtle Collection (117152 for $21.95.)   Each strip is cut 1-7/8" wide and the sloping angle was traced with a pencil before cutting. For the full inside of the card that strip was cut 3-7/8" wide and again the angle traced.  I used a small piece for the upper left hand corner that peeks out.

Here's the card slightly opened.

You could make this card in any color combination to suit your bride and groom.

You can order the stamp set at my online store, just click the link in my blog.

125475 in Wood for $22.95

125477 in Clear for $17.95

Lisa Rodriquez's Organized Swap at the Hilton

This was such a fun swap. Lisa went out of her way to make everyone feel special. The photos below were treats we received along with swapping 116 cards, and doing 6 make and take projects. It was an awesome afternoon!

A red and white Christmas themed Candy Bar - YUMMY!

Halloween treats!

Thanksgiving Blessings mix and treats!

The cutest Santa set - notepad, hand sanitizer, and 3x3 gift card.

Cards from the Plaza Organized Swap

I attended an organized swap at the Plaza Hotel on Saturday night after Convention finished. It was run by Sherrie Robinson. She is organized and it was very fun! I had to come prepared with 25 made cards, and then we would make 24 more in 4 hours. Again, creative people and beautiful cards.

This card uses the Postage Due stamp set.

126395  Postage Due Wood-Mount Stamp Set    Price $21.95
126397  Postage Due Clear-Mount Stamp Set   Price $16.95

125475  Love & Laughter - Wood-Mount Stamp   Price $22.95
125477  Love & Laughter - Clear-Mount Stamp    Price $17.95

This 3D card starts out flat, very clever!

Two Pretty Cakes

These two cakes were on display at Convention and I think they are so beautiful.

Aren't all those flowers amazing?

This cute cake uses the Mini Purse die with the purses set on their side and the bottom of the purse stamped with the sentiment.

125606   Petite Purse Bigz L Die
Price: $32.95

Some More Swap Cards to Enjoy!

Here's an assortment from the Late Night Stamper organized swap I attended. Many talented and creative people at Convention.

Some Cards from Convention

Here are two cards I photographed at two different organized swaps I went to. I did not write down the artist, so I can't credit them, but if it's you - please let me know! Love these cards!

 

Sorry this card is sideways, my silly computer won't turn it. This card is similar to the graduation card I made in June. The mitten is the tab that pulls out an inner note card. The Designer Series Paper is "Be of Good Cheer."

Here's another way you could make a baby card from this onesie template. Cute!! It uses Betsy's Blossom stamp set.

31% Off Select My Digital Studio Designs

As I've mentioned earlier in my blog you can try My Digital Studio for 30 days free and now that My Digital Studio 2 has been released with over 75 new features, you'll definitely want to try the trial download. After you discover you love it, and wonder how you've ever lived without it, then you can save 31% on the selected designs below. Many of the designs have more than one item included with it. You can go to www.mydigitalstudio.net  to see the full catalog of designs.

Here's the list of content:

Item	Digital Content	Retail Price	31% Off Price
127217	Floral District Collection Disc	$ 23.95	$ 16.53
118115	Night and Day Designer Series Paper	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
129929	Candid Frames	$ 2.95	$ 2.04
129921	Check This Out Page Templates	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
129609	Blossom Builders Embellishments	$ 5.95	$ 4.11
128999	It's All Me Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127441	Whimsical Note Journal Template	$ 1.95	$ 1.35
128342	Pinwheel Daily Calendar Template	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127599	Party Animal Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127600	Autumn Traditions Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127620	Grateful Heart Thanksgiving Ensemble	$ 14.95	$ 10.32
126027	Playful Polka Dots Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
130066	World Traveler Photobook Template	$ 17.95	$ 12.39
131221	Storybook Specialty Designer Series Paper	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
130850	Joyful Times Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
124463	One Great Year Digital Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127175	Limited Edition Embellishments	$ 2.95	$ 2.04
129607	Walk in the Park II Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
129934	#HASHTHIS Stamp Brush Set	$ 7.95	$ 5.49
129923	Book of Birthdays Swatchbook Template	$ 12.95	$ 8.94
121071	Travel Journal Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
129924	Get it Done Kit	$ 5.95	$ 4.11
129005	Sweetly Nested Framable	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
127758	Delight in the Day Photobook Template	$ 19.95	$ 13.77
130862	Blast Off Ensemble	$ 19.95	$ 13.77
129890	Little Milestone Birthdays Greeting Card	$ 7.95	$ 5.49
128892	Designer Gift Cards	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
127580	And a Happy New Year Photocard Template	$ 1.95	$ 1.35
127435	Thanks Tons Greeting Card Template Set	$ 2.95	$ 2.04
127587	Sending Glad Tidings Designer Tags Kit	$ 7.95	$ 5.49
127762	Gratitude Framable Designer Template	$ 1.95	$ 1.35

New Holiday Catalog has arrived!!!

Be sure to click on the link in the left margin about the new holiday catalog. It is a treasure for the eyes, filled with so many creative projects and the products that made them. This holiday catalog started August 1 and will run until January 3, so you have plenty of time to order and make your favorite holiday projects from there or come up with your own. How about making your own Christmas cards this year? They are not as hard as you think and given the price of postage these days, the card becomes the handmade gift you send to family and friends with love. Not a bad idea, huh?  You can click on my order now button in the right margin to start your first project right away.

My Digital Studio -30 day free trial

Be sure to give My Digital Studio a try. It is awesome for making digital scrapbooks, books like you can get from shutterfly, invitations, postcards, calendars, and much, much more.  The 30 day free trial is good from whenever you download it. Just go to www.mydigitalstudio.net to check it out.

Spooktacular Recruiting Offer

There's never been a better time to join my team than August 1-31st. Stampin' Up! is offering the set below as an extra incentive for both recruiter and recruitee. You get the darling Printer's Tray, decor paper, stamps and embellishments for FREE. Isn't that cool?  In addition Stampin' Up! has lowered the price of their demonstrator start up kit to only $99 and it is completely customizable. The value of products you'll get is $125. You'll also receive a business supplies pack (valued at $65) to create a kit with a total value of $190 that still ships for FREE!  So who doesn't want more for less money?   I'd love for you to join my team. You can make your Stampin' Up business into whatever you want it to be - hobby demonstrator or full-time business. It's your choice. Their quarterly sales goals are very doable, without alot of stress or strain.

                      Spooktackular Offer Set

                     Recruiting Kit Possibilities

I've worked with several direct sales companies and I can say by far Stampin' Up! is the most generous and easiest to work with. You've got a question, they will find an answer. You never get the run around.  Customer service is their TOP priority.  I hope you will consider this opportunity.