Some Country Apple For Ya....

These are pics of two of the projects I made this past week for my DT work for Go. Be Creative.  Of course they're only sneak peeks, so you can't see the whole projects.  You'll have to stop by on the 1st for that :)  September's kit, Country Apple is so yummy.  The papers have a slight texture to them and they're beautiful shades of blue, green, rust, saffron, brown and all different types of patters from stripes to florals.  There are some super fun accessories and add-ons available with the kit too.  Can you tell that I LOVE the giant fabric-covered brads?  Anyway, have a great night and check back in for my full projects on the 1st - a little later in the day since it's my DD's 4th birthday that day. 

Stack o' Cupcakes

I made this card for a special someone who had a birthday last week.  I thought the bird's-eye view was kind of fun.  That IS Stickles all over the icing of the cupcakes. I just HAD to add some glitter!! :)  I water-colored the image using my Aqua Painter and re-inkers.  I used that silver/gold pen that SU! used to have - sorry, I can't remember what it's called - that functions like a paint pen to add some shine to the cupcake stand.  The paper is from the Bella Rose (Pink Pirouette strips) and Baja Breeze Patterns DSP packs.  The sentiment is from Upsy Daisy - which I can't wait to use!! I'm using it for a swap card for one of the FOUR new catty swaps I'm in.  You'll get to see those eventually, after the swap groups have seen them.

Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes, Upsy Daisy
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White CS, Bella Rose and Baja Breeze Prints DSP
Ink:  Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red Classic Inks
Accessories:  Scallop and Plain Oval Nestabilites, Big Shot, Stickles, Silver pen, Baja Breeze 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain ribbon

Another card for SC190

This card was made to go along with a gift I sent one of my best friends.  My eldest daughter is sure that she's going to marry my friend's little boy (they're both 5 yrs old), and we were just so excited to hear the news that they have a new addition to their family.  We love them all so much and really miss them.  Our fingers are crossed that in a couple of years they might join us here at Dover for our last little bit at this base before we move on again.  One can hope, right?!?!

I again use the SCS Card Sketch Challenge layout for this card.  See SC190 here.

Stamps:  Pun Fun, Short & Sweet, Canvas BG
Paper:  Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point and Whisper White CS, Bella Rose DSP
Ink:  Basic Black Classic Ink, White StazOn
Accessories:  Circle Cutting System (Creative Memories), Black striped ribbon from the Jersey Ribbon Originals package, Small Oval, 1-1/4" Circle and Designer Label punches, black journaling marker for doodles

Taking things for granted....

I found this post by Tracy (Dashes and Dots) and really felt shameful.  I don't think that I have been very grateful of late, and I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.  I cannot imagine what this little boy is going through, or his family.  Perhaps some of you have gone through similar experiences with friends or family.  I am fortunate enough to say that the only person I have ever lost that I was very close to was my grandmother.  I have lost other family members, but none of them were as close as her.  I don't say that intending to sound mean, but I think we all can admit that the more immediate the family, usually the more devastating.  I have three beautiful, healthy children, and I am SO BLESSED to have them.  I am grateful for my faith in God, and I know that should anything like this ever happen to me, that faith will be tested and I can only hope to stay strong and make it through as well as some people that I know who have had to endure these kinds of trials in their lives.  So, enough about how lucky I feel right now to have such minor things in life bothering me, and on to why I'm posting.  Here is what Tracy said on her blog,

"Hi everyone! I am hoping you all can help me. A friend of mine has a four year old son who was just diagnosed with stage four cancer. I keep trying to link his caring bridge site but it won't let me. If you go to the caring bridge site and put in patrickcarr without spaces you can see his site. He has a tumor in his adrenal gland that has spread into his bones. He starts chemotherapy tomorrow. He really could use a card if anyone has time. His name is Patrick and he loves ice hockey. He was supposed to start kindergarten next week, but now he won't be. He'll be getting chemo treatments instead. I know he would love to get some happy mail. I would really appreciate it, and I know he and his parents would too. Since he will be going back and forth from the hospital and home, cards probably should be sent to their home. If you are able to send him a card, please send me an e-mail and I will forward his address to you. If you can't send a card, please just pray, pray, pray for him! Thanks!
Please do go to the site I liked to above."

Here is Tracy's e-mail:  fwyant@netacc.net

I am about to e-mail her myself so if you would prefer to ask me for the address, e-mail me and I will give it to you.

Here is the Caring Bridge website.  If you type in his name patrickcarr like Tracy said, you can read his story and get the Hospital's address/info.  This little boy could use some cards, and I know that almost everyone who comes to my blog likes to make cards, or at least CAN.  So, why not get to his address via the site that is mentioned and send one his way?  Thank you so much.  As Tracy said, if you can't send a card, please at least send your thoughts and prayers to this little boy and his family. 

Have a great night!

Here's mine....

So, I promised Kristine I would show her my card that I made CASE'ing this one from the SU! IB&C.  Did anyone else get around to doing it?  I used my favorite color combo again - Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust.  I can't get enough of it and it can be used for so many different occasions. 

I gave Faux Silk a try with this card and even the little flowers that are "popped up" are stamped on tissue that was applied to CS with my SU! glue stick in the Faux Silk "way".  I had a lot of fun making it - and even though the stitching is a little off, I still really like it.  I folded some Baja Breeze dyed White Taffeta over on itself to create the "ruffled" ribbon underneath a strip of brown Martha Stewart ribbon.  Sorry - I would totally have just used Chocolate Chip grosgrain, but I thought I ordered some and hadn't, so I didn't have any on hand. 

So, what I changed (I always try to change several things):  I used the Faux Silk technique behind the stamped image.  I changed how the horizontal element behind the sentiment appeared by layering two colors on top of each other. I also eliminated the two rows of sentiment images and turned it into one single sentiment element.  I obviously changed the colors, and I popped up several of the flowers, eliminated the bead from the single flower by the sentiment, and kept all of my blooms Really Rust instead of having them multi-colored.   I also have no idea what the dimensions of the card were - I didn't ever read through the recipe in the IB&C or the one I posted on here, so I don't think my card has the same dimensions.  My card is slightly smaller than a regular A-2 sized card, but I didn't really measure it so I don't know exactly what size it is. If you want to know e-mail me and I'll go measure it for ya!

ETA - Here's the link to the tutorial for the Faux Silk technique on SCS.  I saw it done for the first time at SU! Convention this year but figured there was probably a tute over at SCS and sure enough, there is! 

Anyway, here's the details on the card and I would love to see your CASE if you get around to making one!!

Stamps:  Eastern Blooms, Best Yet (Hostess Level I set)
Paper:  Baja Breeze and Whisper White CS, Tissue Paper
Ink:  Really Rust and Chocolate Chip markers
Accessories:  White Taffeta ribbon (dyed w/ Baja Breeze ink), Martha Stewart brown ribbon, SU! glue stick, Janome Sew Mini

My favorite color combo - A CHALLENGE for YOU!!

Well, as the recipient of this card could tell you ;) I LOVE the color combo of Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, with accents of Really Rust (you should see my living room - he he he).  So, I had this card in my head and finally got it on some Card Stock!!!  Of course, I don't know of any cone-flowers that come in this color combo, but I don't care - I like it!  I did add some Summer Sun for the pollen that is usually on the outer edge of the middle of the cone-flowers, but that's not part of my "favorite" color combo. 

I would love to see your creations if you use this color combo - so leave a link in the comments for me!!

Hope you like the card!

Stamps:  Inspired by Nature, Upsy Daisy (sentiment)
Paper:  Baja Breeze Textured CS, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla CS
Ink:  VersaMark, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Accessories:  Stampin' Pastels (Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Old Olive), Satin Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool and Template

A Card for you to Try....

I have been using my Idea Book & Catalog a lot lately as an idea book and I thought I would share these instructions to one of the cards that I LOVE in the IB&C.  They can be found on the SU! website here.  I hope you're all taking advantage of these great projects on the SU! website and thought I would post this to remind you that they're there.  Below you will see the photo/instructions copied and pasted here so that you don't have to go to the link if you don't want to.  They are from the August Stampin' Ideas under the Project Ideas tab.  I'm hoping to get around to CASE'ing this one very soon myself.  Enjoy!!!

Eastern Blooms Invitation

Stamps Eastern Blooms (set of 5; 111626; $18.66*) Please Come (set of 5; 109280; $23.95) Paper Very Vanilla card stock: 2-1/2" x 1"; three at 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"; 2-3/4" x 3-1/2" Old Olive textured card stock: 2-7/8" x 4-1/8" (finished size) So Saffron textured card stock: 2" x 1/4" Ink More Mustard Classic Stampin’ Pad Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin’ Pad Accessories & Tools Apricot Appeal 1/4" grosgrain ribbon: 9" Pretties Kit Stampin’ Dimensionals Sewing machine and thread * Never Before Seen promotional price. Valid until September 30, 2008.

Instructions

1. Stamp blossom branch image in Old Olive ink on Very Vanilla card stock (2-3/4" x 3-1/2"), and tear off top of card stock. Curl torn edge lightly using your finger, and adhere card stock to Old Olive textured card.


2. Ink top of blossom branch stamp using Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad, and stamp partial image on torn off Very Vanilla card stock scrap. Cut out single blossom and set aside.


3. Stamp blossom branch image in More Mustard, So Saffron, and Tangerine Tango ink on separate pieces of Very Vanilla card stock (2-1/2" x 3-1/2" each). Cut out blossoms, and adhere several of each color to card over Old Olive blossoms.


4. Sew around side and bottom edges of Very Vanilla card stock.


5. Adhere strip of So Saffron textured card stock to card.


6. Stamp "You’re invited" in More Mustard ink on Very Vanilla card stock (2-1/2" x 1"), and cut apart words. Distress edges of card stock using your fingernail, and adhere to card.


7. Adhere Silver crimp bead to center of Old Olive blossom. Adhere blossom to card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.


8. Tie Apricot Appeal 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around card front.

SC 190 Meets Pun Fun

I have a very dear friend who just had a little girl and I made this card to accompany the gift I'm mailing her.  I used the Card Sketch Challenge for the LO (SC190).  A 14-year old girl was the creator of this sketch!!!  I couldn't believe it when I saw it.  Go check it out here.  My card measures 4-1/4" square.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  Pun Fun, Short & Sweet
Paper:  Bella Rose DSP, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette CS
Ink:  Basic Black
Accessories:  Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon, Circle Cutting System (Creative Memories), black journaling pen for doodles

Cupcake Card

So, I was lucky enough to win this stamp set at Convention.  I LOVE it and made sure to use it in the first birthday card I've had to make since Convention.  I made this card for my neighbor and had a lot of fun using my Aqua Painter, some ink, and watercoloring the image.  I threw it together pretty quickly and of course I had to add some glitter somewhere, so I put on the cupcake "wrapper" so that it would resemble the shiny silver ones - I hope.  Anyway, enjoy!!

Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes, Cupcakes wheel
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Kiwi Kiss CS, Bella Rose DSP, Watercolor Paper
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango and Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories:  Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, 3/4" circle punch, Riding Hood Red Designer Button (from Button Bouquet), Scallop Edge Punch, 2-way Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Aqua Painter   

Altered CD Holder

So, I made this little CD holder for a friend.  I hope she likes it.  I got the CD holders at ULINE and you can check it out here if you want them (and they're on sale!!).  They are a bulk item though, so you may want to find a friend that wants split the order with you.  For anyone at Convention this year, these are THE SAME type of holders that Mary Polcin used on that Baja Breeze colored mini album. I've made several of those in the past and they're a really fun club project.  I usually use 3-4 CD holders to make my mini albums.  Anyway, hope you enjoy! 

These are several different shots of the inside and close-ups of the two cover elements.  I used lots of Stickles!!  Usually I would have some ribbon tied as the closure, but I couldn't find the box with my ribbon in it from moving here, so Velcro had to suffice.  Ribbon that runs out from in-between the layer of CS on the outside and the actual CD folder looks so nice.  Sometime I will post one of my mini albums to show you what I mean.  Take care!

Stamps:  Dreams du Jour
Paper:  Bella Rose DSP, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Riding Hood Red Classic Ink, Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss re-inkers
Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Riding Hood Red Designer Button (from Button Bouquet), Stickles, Blender Pen, Velcro, CD literature holder (ULINE -  link above)

PS - I'm scheduling a few posts so that I don't have to worry about blogging while the hubby is getting through this kidney stone ordeal. I will still reply to all of your comments and want you to know in advance that I appreciate them!!!

I'm Sorry....

I have to let you all know that along with still having lots of unpacking to do, offering my services as the Recording Secretary of the Officer's Spouses Club here at Dover AFB, having my eldest daughter starting Kindergarten today, and still having two other little ones at home - one of which WAS sick this last weekend and the other appears to be sick now.... PLUS (yes, this is a huge run-on sentence because heck no I'm not done whining!!!) the new release of the SU! Fall-Winter 2008 IB&C and my DT duties to GBC, I have a husband who had to go to the ER today and now gets to go through the ordeal of passing a kidney stone.  SO...he is on bed-rest and we have been told things from "it will only take 2 days or so to pass the stone" to, "it took so-and-so 2 weeks to pass their stone".  So, we don't know what to expect and I've got little to no time to sit at the computer and blog.  So, as has become an unfortunate habit - here's my plug to subscribe to my blog so that you don't check in needlessly.  I hope to only be gone a couple of days.  Take care!!

So CUTE!!!

Is this image on this card not one of the most adorable ones you've ever seen?  Those little kitties are just so cute - I love it, and it's the card that Nancy Morgan of Paper Smiles sent to me.  You can see her post with the details about the card here.  I just love Nancy's stamping style - stop by her blog and let her know you do too!!  Thanks Nancy for the sweet birthday card!!

Another FREE GBC Scrapbook Kit

Hi there!  This time it's not me giving it away, but my friend Tam who is also on the Design Team over at Go. Be Creative. is giving one away on her blog and a simple comment will get  you in the drawing for the GORGEOUS Country Apple kit.  Check her give-away out here.

Fellow August 18th-er

I made this card for a fellow GSG girl, Nancy Morgan.  It's so funny, I have NEVER known anyone with my birthday - nor has anyone I have known known anyone with my birthday.  Weird, huh.  Then, after I got invited into the GSG group (#2) Nancy shoots me this e-mail saying that we share a birthday.  Too cool, huh?  Nancy is SO talented, and I love her blog, Paper Smiles.  She sent me a card for our birthday too, and I'll post it tomorrow.  It's ADORABLE so stay tuned for that!

As for my card for her, I was inspired by this card I posted by Brooke Stockman the other day that she made for our WOW swap. I hadn't ever done the grid technique and her card made me want to try it.  It was really easy and fun to do - you should try it out if you haven't!!  HERE is a tutorial for it from SCS that the lovely Beate created.

Stamps:  Fresh Cuts, Canvas BG
Paper:  Watercolor Paper, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip CS
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, and Chocolate Chip classic inks
Accessories:  Bashful Blue Taffeta dyed with Baja Breeze ink, Pretties Kit (half pearls, hat pin and beads), paper trimmer w/ scoring blade for "grid", sponges

Convention Make & Takes Part I

Well, today's my birthday so I scheduled this post and didn't actually type it up this morning.  I am 29 years old today, and I can't believe that of all the ladies I was with at Convention in the two groups I am part of, I am the baby!!!!  I certainly don't feel like I'm old, but I also don't feel like a "baby" either.  Oh well, next year is the big 3-0 so we'll see how I feel then ;)  I would also like to say happy birthday to Nancy Morgan too!  Hope your day is a special one, Nancy!!

Here are the M&T's that I made at Convention on the first of two M&T days.  I promised my customers I would post them here so this made a good post that didn't require me to stamp in my non-existent spare time in order to have something to post.  I know these projects are all over blog-land, but some of my customers aren't huge blog browsers but if you are, then bear with seeing them again.  BUT - I did change a couple of mine up in tiny ways, so maybe that will be some inspiration for you on how you can do little things to make a sketch/LO your own.  I didn't change all of them though.  I will try to highlight the NEW items used and will not give exact recipes.

This page features a new stamp set called Flight of the Butterfly.  The chipboard letters are the On Board Timeless Type which are new and are covered in Whisper White craft ink.  The Scallop Edge punch was used along the left edge of the card, and some of the new Flower Fusion Too felt flowers were used with one of the Designer Buttons from the Button Bouquet assortment.  That IS textured Baja Breeze CS in the middle.  This is a sweet, simple LO that would be so easy to replicate and make again for a different theme.  To the left is a close-up of the cute little felt/button flower.  Don't you just love the felt flowers?!?!?  I sure do!

In addition to this great scrapbook page on the first day of M&T's we got to make 2 cards and a gift bag.  I liked the bag so much that I went to Michael's yesterday and bought some more in a slightly smaller size in both white and kraft colors to alter in the future. I think they will make really great "packaging" for hostess gifts and for gifts for friends for other reasons.  Just change up the DSP you use, along with the stamps, and you can make the perfect gift bag for ANY occasion!!

Here is the gift bag.  It uses the DSP Haiku and some of the So Saffron Poly-Twill Ribbon.  The stamp set used was the gorgeous new silhouette stamp set Inspired by Nature.  I LOVE this stamp set!!!

I should explain, that the bag was a little tall to photograph standing with my SU! grid paper behind it for a clean background.  So, as you can probably tell, I laid it on it's side and took the picture and then rotated the view in Photoshop.  Hope it doesn't bug ya too much!! 

I also should add that at Convention we have a limited amount of time to get all of the M&T's done, and let me tell you I totally feel a greater appreciation for my customers at my SU! events.  It's so hard to be on a time schedule and have to replicate something using someone else's directions.  I definitely don't do my best stamping under these kinds of constraints.  Oh well, everything turned out pretty good, with some minor flaws that hopefully aren't too noticeable. :)

The next two photos are the 2 cards we made that first day. 

I must say that the first is in a color combo I never would have come up with myself, but it's so cute!  It features the stamp set Flight of the Butterfly and the On Board Timeless Type chipboard once again.  That Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched grosgrain is so gorgeous and the best part is that I WON some at Convention in one of the give-aways they do several of each day.  I also am loving that Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge  - see the brad?

This next card is very simple but stunning.  It uses one of the new clips from the Clips Assortment available in the new catty.  It also uses the Inspired by Nature stamp set and the fun new Wide Oval punch.  We stamped on the accompanying envie too - what a cute card and envelope, huh?!?!

I am totally loving this stamp set and can't wait to really get to sit down (hopefully now that school has started and I've only got 2 kiddos at home it can happen!) and USE it.  It has been calling to me and feels neglected because it hasn't seen ink since Convention.  Poor little stamps!!  He he he.

So - I hope you have enjoyed these samples. I think that I will post the rest tomorrow.  Tomorrow's samples are the ones that I changed up more than just how I tied the thread (on the button on the scrapbook page - it was supposed to be tied on the top of the button and show the knot).  So, stay tuned.

Have a great day!

GBC September Kit Revealed

So, if you want to see more of the gorgeous papers and accessories/add-ons in the kit for September over at Go. Be Creative. then Go. Here. to see the kit and description.  Go. Here. to see the add-ons available for purchase in the GBC store.  Go. Here. to sign up to receive the monthly GBC kit just this time, or for 3 months, 6 months, a year, and so on.  Take care, and definitely Go. Check it Out.!!!!

A "fresh" little note....

I don't know about you, but I really, REALLY like the Fresh Cut Notes that are in the NEW Fall-Winter 2008 IB&C!!  They are so easy to "dress up" and make adorable little cards with.  They also don't take a lot of time to do that with.  There's not much you need to do other than choose how you're going to layer your flower images and if you're going to layer CS or DSP behind the laser-cut flower window.  I always do because it bothers me to see what I write inside from the front of the card before it's opened.  Anyway, then you can decide what embellishments to add, what stamps you want to use (so far I've exclusively used the Fresh Cuts stamp set) and then you stamp, layer, adhere, tie, and tah-dah!  Super cute and super easy!  The Fresh Cut Notes cards come 15 to a pack AND they have envelopes included!!!  I love them!!!

See ya back here on Monday.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

PS - If somebody doesn't leave me a comment that even just lets me know you were here I'm going to start getting sad!  I haven't heard from people in a while (other than friends letting me know who made that card the other day).  Where are you peeps?  Thanks for the birthday wishes already from some of you, too!!! :)

Stamps:  Fresh Cuts
Paper:  Pumpkin Pie Textured CS, Cardstock Vellum, Fresh Cut Notes
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie
Accessories:  Pretties Kit (half-pearl), Flower Fusion (Pumpkin Pie Felt Flower), 5-Petal Flower punch, Pumpkin Pie 1/2" Striped Grosgrain

Yes, MORE swaps....

I hope you're not getting bored yet.  These swaps are allowing me to get my house unpacked and my daughter ready for school.  As much as I want to stamp/create, I really don't have the time right now.  SO...on to the swaps.

This card is made by the lovely Monica Croteau.  She was super fun to meet and if you haven't met her, you haven't had FUN yet.  She is a blast to be around, and between her and her sister Melanie (Hopes), our group couldn't have been in better hands.  This is one of my favorite cards - the color combo is not one I would have chosen myself, but it is just GORGEOUS.  Also, as you can see to the left, I took a close-up of her little shaker window made with a metal edged tag.  She filled it with some fun microbeads and glitter and hearts.  Don't you just love this card?!?!  I think it must have taken her forever to make 30+ of these cards for our swaps.  I love how the scallops frame the shaker window, too.  So cute!!!

This card is made by Sharon Hebestreit (thanks Carmen and Kasie for letting me know!!!).  I think that Heartfelt Thanks has to be one of my all-time favorite stamp sets.  It's so versatile and elegant.  This card has touches of gold that make it super pretty in person - the outline image adds the perfect touch embossed in gold.  All that paper piercing had to make these cards take forever!!!

Well, I'm sure that these ladies would love to hear your kind words -  I know I really appreciate them when you leave them for me!  Take care and I hope you have a great weekend!   

You're gonna want it!!!

The above paper sample is just one of the totally yummy sheets of paper in the September Scrapbook Kit over at Go. Be Creative.  So, if you love it like I do, Go. Sign Up. !!!  This kit club is well worth your money.  You will get more in one kit than you know what to do with and the coordinating items and add-ons make the creative possibilities endless!!!  The papers are by Whoop Dee Doo.  Just the name is fun!! :)

Isn't Convention just great?!?!

So, I think besides the friends, swapping has to be one of the highlights of Convention (and of course the FREE stamps/stuff they give us!!!).  Here are two more swaps from the WOW swap that I was in.

Daphne Laswell stayed at the "Hopes Hotel" (our friend Melanie's house) with me, and she made this gorgeous little photo wallet.  I just LOVE it!  As you can see to the left, there is an inside shot that I think if you click on it, will become larger.  Daphne lives in the Aloha state and she is one of the sweetest people that I met there.  We had some great talks and she can tell you....my favorite color is Baja Breeze....and my living room is that color :)  I think she must have heard me gush over Baja Breeze every time I saw it!  ;)  Daphne's recipe tells us that the photo wallet uses the stamp set True Friends, and the ink/CS colors Pacific Point, Bordering Blue, Real Red and Sahara Sand.

Judy Szugda made this cute card.  She was kind enough (I wasn't as kind with my WOW swaps, just my anme was stamped on the back) to give us her recipe, so here it is:

Stamps:  Floral BG, Dreams du Jour
Paper:  Bella Rose DSP, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink:  Versamark, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss
Accessorires:  White grosgrain ribbon, Pretties kit, Coluzzle, 1/2" punch, 1/16" punch, Aqua Painter, SNAIL adhesive, Dimensionals, Tombow "mulit" adhesive, paper snips

Isn't this just a great card?!?!  I'm sure both of these ladies would love to hear your kind comments, so thanks in advance!!

Some more Convention Swaps....

Today I am featuring some more swaps that I recieved at Convention this year.  Let the creators know you love them when you leave your comments!!  :)

This card was made by yet another gal that didn't stamp/write her name on the card and if there was a name on it, it fell off.  It is such an adorable card, I would love to know who's it is!  Anyway, she used the fun new simply sent card elements pack called Flower Power Card Elements, and she combined it with the coordinating stamp set Wow Flowers.  You can get this whole kit for a whopping $28.90 or you can buy just the Flower Power Card Elements for $15.95 or the stamp set Wow Flowers for $12.95.  There are two of these Card Elements and coordinating stamp sets in the BRAND NEW IB&C.  You can find them on page 176 and you can see the IB&C online by clicking here.

A sweet gal named Pat Troyer made this card.  Seems I'm not the only one to discover that you can make a "frame" to place an image on top of, using the NEW Scallop Edge punch.  You just punch each side once and it connects the scallops in this pretty frame if your piece of paper is a good size.  Her piece of Riding Hood Red CS is roughly 2.5" square.  If you play around a bit with your new punch it's pretty easy to figure out how to do these.  Pat also used the new In Colors and some of that lovely Bella Rose DSP.  The stamp set she used was Dreams du Jour.

Let them know you love their cards!!!

Convention Swaps....

So, here are a couple of more Convention swaps I received.  If the creator listed the recipe I will post it, if not I will try to at least give you the stamp set(s) used.

This lovely card was made by a super fun gal named Marti Hollingsworth.  She was just so happy and cheerful and it was a pleasure to finally meet her in person.  I can tell she put a lot of time into this card.  It's so pretty!!!  She supplied a recipe, so here it is:

Stamps:  Heard from the Heart, Wow Flowers
Paper:  Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DSP
Accessories:  1/4" Choc. Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/4" Old Olive Poly Twill, Pretties Kit, Sponges, Crystal Effects, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Photo Corners Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

Well, the gal who made this one didn't stamp/write her name on the back and if there was a sticker it fell off.  But, isn't it cute?!?!  She also used the Heard From the Heart stamp set and some of the GORGEOUS new Bella Rose DSP.  If I find out who made this card I will add the name in.

I'm sure the ladies would be pleased to know if you like their cards, so when you comment you're leaving it for them, not me!!! :)

Are you loving it?

ETA - This paper share is CLOSED (FULL).

So, are you totally in love with EVERYTHING in the new SU! Idea Book & Catalog?!?!  I am!!!  Do you want a free Classic Ink Pad?  Well, I have a paper share that I'm doing with my customers - there are several groups featuring different packs of the NEW Designer Series Papers (you get 6x6 sheets of all the pages in the packs in the group you select) and if you would like more info about it and how to get a free Classic Ink Pad please e-mail me at:  mariemc01@gmail.com BY AUGUST 25th!!!!

This is a great way to get all of the papers you want, some free goodies from me, and save money doing it!!!!

Did I mention that there are FREE ink pads to be had by participating in my share???  Wasn't sure... ;)

So, who is just a LITTLE excited?!?!?!

TODAY is the BIG DAY!!!  Today is the day that probably most of the stamping world has come to a stand-still, waiting with baited breath, for the clock to hit 12:00 noon Mountain Standard Time.  That is when everyone can finally place orders for all of the great new stamps, accessories, papers, In Colors, and even Spanish versions of these items from Stampin' Up! !!!!  So, if you have any questions or want to place an order, just e-mail me and I'll get back to you ASAP.  I've already got a list of orders to put in, but I'm more than happy to help everyone support their stampin' addiction.  You know you're an addict when you keep clicking on the SU! website to see if anything has changed, even when they said it wouldn't until noon their time! ;)

I WILL be answering your questions/comments as usual once again, sorry for being a little off the radar the past few weeks!

These two cards are ones that I received in the WOW swap I did at Convention.  It's the only swap I was in - all I had time to make with the craziness of my life pre-Convention.  I got about 30 cards back from it and two ladies were kind enough at Convention to just GIVE me their swaps, so I'll have those to show you too.  Anyway, on to the cards....I will post recipes if the creator's had them on the card....

This card features the fun new Sock Monkey stamp set.  Isn't it just too cute?  Melanie Hopes made it and she is the sweet friend who organized the WOW swap and yummy dinner we went to where we swapped.  She also let me stay at her home during Convention and I made some really great new friends who also stayed at the "Hopes Hotel" as I dubbed it.  Anyway, she made three of the cards different than the rest and had a little prize for each of the three ladies who got one of the different cards.  I think on one of them, for example, the monkey had 2 blue stripes in his hat.  As you can see, mine was not the winner. :)

This lovely card was made by the equally lovely Brooke Stockman.  You can see her blog here - it's one of my new favorites!  Brooke used the technique that I saw on SCS weeks ago and have been really wanting to try called the Grid Technique.  I linked to the tutorial on SCS.  Her card is just gorgeous, isn't it?!?!  She used two of my favorite stamp sets, Always and Baroque Motifs.

So, if you leave a comment, be sure to let the ladies know that you love their cards!!

Vanilla Lavender Box in a Bag

I love these little box in a bags.  A few weeks ago I gave you a sneak peek of one of the items I had made for Go. Be Creative. with my August kit.  Well, I forgot to post it with my other DT items the other day, so here it is.

I also wanted to let you know that in preparing to get my eldest daughter ready for school (she starts kindergarten) and trying to get some more unpacking done, I haven't gotten to re-assemble my SU! Convention Make & Takes, much less take any pics of them.  Even though you can find them on other blogs, I would still like to post them here, along with some swaps I received in a WOW swap I took part in.  I forgot to take a pic of my own card, so maybe I can get one from one of the ladies who got it.  It's similar to a card I made in the past, but different colors and slightly different embellishments.  So...lots of pics to come, but probably not until this weekend at the earliest.  Take care, and have a great weekend!!!

Some Vanilla Lavender for Ya!

Well, soon I hope to get some photos of the M&T's from Convention, but for starters here are some things I created the day before we moved from Oklahoma to Delaware, followed 4 days later by my trip to Convention!  AHHH...Anyway, I hope you enjoy!  The collection uses Crate paper included in the August 2008 GBC kit.  You can order the kit (and future kits) here.  It also uses rub-ons,die-cuts, and a variety of items that were included in the kit.

I'm Baaack....

Hi there!!  I got back yesterday evening from a wonderful 6 days in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I attended the SU! Convention and visited with family.  As I'm sure you've all heard, we had the convention of a lifetime. It was GREAT!  There were so many fun announcements of new products and product lines, and I think the one I was most excited about was the partnership of SU! and Sizzix. 

I personally own a Big Shot made by Sizzix, and I LOVE it!!!  I got it because it is universal to every die/embossing folder/nestability out there (that I know of).  Can you say that about a Cuttlebug?  Anyway, SU! and Sizzix will be partnering to offer YOU the Big Shot and it will even be in an elegant black color instead of the neon green and turquoise that mine comes in ;)  The dies offered will be some that Sizzix carries already, and some will be EXCLUSIVE to SU! and let me tell you, they're awesome! 

Above is a picture of the SU! Big Shot and stay tuned for some pics from me from Convention.  I'm super excited that I get to meet one of my all-time favorite stampers, Kristina Werner, and even acted like a fool and made her take a picture with me ;)  I also found out which SU! papers she was involved with in the new catty and they are so her - and thus, just my style!!!  Please bear with me - I still have 60% of my house to unpack since I left for Convention just 4 days after getting all of our stored household goods back from the military storage facility they've been sitting in for 5 months!!! I hope to show you the Make & Takes we made at Convention.  I'm sure you can see them elsewhere too, but give a girl a break - subscribe to my blog so that you don't waste time checking in for new posts that might not be there.  The M&T's are all the stamping I've done in weeks!!!!!  ;)

Have a GREAT day!