Soccer Stars

This page does have an opposite page in the book that goes with it, but I know I love my kids more than anyone else does, so I just thought I'd share this one because it shows how I took a template in My Digital Studio (MDS - Stampin Up!'s new papercrafting software) and just by adding some embellishments/elements to it, I was able to personalize it a bit. 

I LOVE these pics of the girls.  Sarah is kicking the ball in that middle one, and her form just looks so awesome.  I'm not a soccer player myself, so I don't know if it's actually "good/proper" form, but it looks cool - she was only 4 during this soccer season.  The one on the right is Sarah doing what she liked to do a lot of the time at soccer.  She was picking flowers and grass while the others were down the field playing.  It was too cute and this picture - even though it's from behind - will always bring a smile to my face.  The picture of both of my girls also melts my heart.  I love this page!!!

What are you waiting for?!?!  Is MDS on your wish list?!?!  Contact me on October 1st to order your copy of the software and have it delivered to your door ASAP!

SU! Clearance Rack

New Clearance Rack in the Online Store

Overview:

Stampin' Up! is launching a  new section of the online store called the Clearance Rack. The purpose of the Clearance Rack is to clear out the inventory of surplus items that have been retired. Many of these retired items will be offered at a substantially reduced price.

Details:

The clearance rack is not a promotion. It will launch September 29, 2009 but does not have a set end date. 
All products in the Clearance Rack section are retired, discontinued items. No current products will be sold in the Clearance Rack.
Clearance Rack items are only available while supplies last. Items will be removed and new items will be posted depending on inventory levels. There is no set time for availability. 
Clearance Rack items will be listed and pictured only in the online store. No list or flyer will be posted on the Demonstrator Web Site.
All sales of Clearance Rack items are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted, except in the case of defective product.

 

 

So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to my Demonstrator Website to place your order today, and while you're at it, don't forget to add those new Holiday Mini Catalog items that you don't want to miss out on before they are gone!!

 

Here is the link to my online store:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mariemcclellan (click on the box that says "Shop Now" in the upper right-hand of your screen.  Once in my online store, in the left-hand sidebar you will see the categories for the Holiday Mini, the Clearance Rack, and many more!!

{Shimmering Pines}

First, I would like to say to please excuse the odd color-cast on this photo and some of my recent/future ones.  I took pictures with a great light, but somehow the overhead "regular" light still cast that yellow-ish hue on the background.  I couldn't get rid of it.  I guess I should stop being lazy and start using my photo tent again!!

I am in the midst of some fun family stuff this week, so all of these posts were pre-scheduled, but it's been awfully quiet out there (at the point I'm typing this) so I'm assuming everyone is super busy.  I do appreciate your comments though when you're able to take the time to leave them.

For the details on this card, see the recipe.  I thought I would explain a couple of things though. 

First, I used my Soft Suede marker on one of the lovely trees on the tree-trio stamp in the Patterned Pines Level I hostess stamp set that you can earn between now and January 4th.  It's a special hostess set that's offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog (HMC).  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!  After using the Soft Suede marker to color the tree, I used a small paintbrush and just a couple of drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (also available until Jan 4th in the HMC) to dab the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint over the top of my inked pine.  Hopefully you can see the detail of how it shines in the right angle of light via the two pictures I've attached below.

Also, for the snowflake background, I used my Whisper White Craft Ink with the three-snowflake stamp from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set - also found in the HMC until Jan 4th.

Can you tell I'm LOVING the HMC?!?!?  :)  Let me know if you want to order or earn for free any of the items I used on this fun card!!!

I hope you're having a great week!



Stamps:  Patterned Pines Level I hostess stamp set and Serene Snowflakes (both are Holiday Mini Catalog items), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Kraft, Soft Suede and Whisper White CS, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (Holiday Mini Catalog item)
Ink:  Soft Suede Stampin' Marker and Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories:  Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (Holiday Mini Catalog item), 1/2" Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Vintage Brads (antique brass), Scallop Edge and Modern Label punches, Latte Button (Whisper White), Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals 

Patterned Pines   #116525   FREE 

The bold images in the Patterned Pines stamp set help add strong colors and beautiful patterns to your holiday projects. This is a level 1 Hostess stamp set, so it cannot be purchased, but it can be earned for free! Contact your Stampin' Up! demonstrator and book your workshop today.

 

 

 

 

 

Serene Snowflakes   #115438    $20.95

They say no two snowflakes are alike. Why shouldn’t your projects be just as unique? With the Serene Snowflakes stamp set, they can be! These stylish snowflake images can be used for backgrounds or focal points for cards, pages or tags, and coordinate perfectly with the Icicle Rub-ons and Snowfall printed window sheets.

Crumpled Flowers

I don't know what people are calling these flowers made out of layered circles.  I've seen them with ink added to the edges, edges that are torn, and some are crinkled too. 

Mine have a small amount of ink sponged along the outer edges of each circle layer, and the circles are very much imperfect - I didn't care if they were perfectly round or not.  I misted them with water, crinkled them up and dried them quickly with my heat tool.  My friend Melissa came over and we each gave ourselves the same supplies and created 3 of our own individual cards using them, and I must say hers turned out much better.  My creativity has been hit-or-miss lately.  My other two turned out pretty ugly and they were different colors than this one, but don't hold your breath to see them - they're too awful to post.  ;)

Hope you like it!

Stamps:  Great Friend
Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Whisper White CS, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry classic ink
Accessories:  Paper Pretties Kit (half-back pearl), heat tool, Scallop Edge, Small Oval and Large Oval punches, Old Olive 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Project Dinosaur....

I don't usually post my sewing on this blog, unless it involves something SU! oriented, but in this case I was just so excited to complete my first item that required using a pattern.  I make quilts, and follow a pattern, but I have never made an article of clothing. 

I LOVE to watch Project Runway and see what the designers are able to make out of the items (not always fabric) that are given to them for the creation of their outfits.  I wish I had even as much talent as they have in their pinky fingers.  For me, getting everything perfectly even and just right is a little too time consuming, and even with my best efforts, I'm not really able to get everything exactly right.  But, I guess there is some beauty in the amount of "go-with-the-flow" opportunities there are when sewing.   You can usually hide the small flaws. 

After making Daniel's PJ pants yesterday, I have 2 more to make for him and 3 each to make for both of my girls.  I don't think they'll take as long now that I've done it once, and I have my friend Stephanie to thank for showing me how to work with a pattern. 

Oh, and I did slide the waist around a little to the left after noticing that the seam on the left was sitting on top of the leg (you'll notice it in the picture below).  That was just due to how the fabric was bunched on the elastic band in the waist.  I only tacked the band in the back so they move a little around the waist when they're not on. 

Also, Daniel does this funny thing where he crosses his toes, so no, they aren't permanently like that ;)  My girls do it too.  It must be from their Daddy.  :D

Have a great weekend!!!

 

{Here for You} Digi Card

Here is yet another card I made using My Digital Studio that will be available for customers to purchase on October 1st.  I think I will actually be MAKING this card "for real".  I love it.  I will just have to do paper piercing in the place of that scallop stamp image because I don't have that stamp set.  I really like the color combo of Not Quite Navy and Crushed Curry.   The stamp sets used were Friends 24-7 and All Scallops.  The great thing is that I was able to shrink both the bird image and the scallop image to fit my card how I wanted.  The Whisper White scallops that run horizontally on the Crushed Curry layer are actually individual circles that I "punched" and sized how I wanted them.  Then I lined them all up and sent them behind the Not Quite Navy Dotted Stripe DSP.  The Crushed Curry scallops are actually made using the Scallop Edge "punch" and if I remember, I didn't shrink them and they are true to size.  The Whisper White scallops behind the bird image are actually the Scallop Circle punch stretched out a little to make it larger.  I think that on my real card I should be able to use my corner rounder punch with the guard taken off after cutting a circle out of CS using my Circle Scissors Plus cutting tool.  I've done that before when I've wanted a scallop a particular size.  I'll do it that way if the scallops on any of my Bigz dies that I could just use with my Big shot aren't a good size. 

What do you think?

Digi Card!!!

Well, I've been playing around with the lovely new My Digital Studio (MDS) software.  I thought it might be beneficial to start planning some Christmas cards.  If the past repeats itself, I might start them in the beginning of December...but usually I start them around the end of the first week so that I can get them mailed about 10 days before Christmas.  So, I'm not much fun there I guess as far as getting a card early from me :)  Well, with MDS, not only can you make actual greeting cards, but you can use it as an extremely helpful planning too. 

As has been said by others before me, you can save yourself the consumables and sit and design a card on your computer and get it just right before you decide to make it.  Well, the card above is the first fruits of my labor, and I will definitely be planning more cards with this program.   I actually used one of the designer templates and then made the changes that you can see by looking at the original card as it is in MDS, below.

Enjoy!

I {heart} My Digital Studio!!

The countdown has begun....On October 1st, you will be able to purchase this FANTASTIC papercrafting software - My Digital Studio - that I have fallen in love with.  I was never much of a scrapper.  I did it when a Design Team required it, or someone asked me to (for a class, for their personal use, etc.).  Now, I actually am doing it for MYSELF!!  I have created two albums so far, and this is another page out of the more "elegant" album.  The other one is my "fun" album.  In this album, I used the birthday template, and then changed all of the colors and most of the embellishments used, but kept the layouts very similar for the most part.

You may remember that there is currently a Hostess Special going on, and on October 1st, it will include MDS.  Here are the details incase you forgot:

Hostess Promotion

Dates: September 1-November 30, 2009

Promotion Details:

We're excited to bring you this sweet deal for hostesses September through November:

• Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!
  *Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

On October 1, when My Digital Studio is released to customers, this offer will become even sweeter:

• Host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

If I only had the patience to wait for the 50% off, I would have, but I am so glad to have gotten it already to be able to go ahead and start creating my albums and other fantastic digital projects!

Let me know if you want to order it on the 1st.  I'll be happy to do it for you, or you can click on my link to the right to place the order yourself.  Either way, it can be shipped right to your doorstep!!

You can see the rest of my MDS posts by clicking HERE.  You will want to click on the post title links to see any photos that are included in the posts.

Ha ha ha....

In my last post I said " just up her aisle."  Is it actually just up her "alley"?  Is it both?  Am I nuts?  Don't answer that last one ;)

For You

I made this card for a sweet friend who retired this past July and FINALLY got it sent to her.  Since she has now received it, I thought I would post it on here.  Her favorite color is purple so I figured that the Rich Razzleberry would be just up her aisle.  I know that I got this LO from one of the blogs that I browse, but I can't for the life of me remember where it was, and I made this several weeks ago, so it's been a while.  If you recognize this LO, let me know and I'll add your name in.  I think that the original LO had the top right corner rounded and I didn't do that.  I do remember that about the original card.  I also don't know if they had real stitching on the card or not.  I'll try to find the original again so I can give credit. 

Anyway, I hope you like it!

Stamps:  Great Friend
Paper:  Kraft, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White CS, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink:  Orchid Opulence and Rich Razzleberry classic ink
Accessories:  5/16" Whisper White Jumbo Brad, Whisper White Basic Jumbo Grommet, 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Sewing Machine

Another Digi Page

Here is another 8x8 page that I made for one of the 2 albums I have completed using Stampin' Up!'s new papercrafting software called My Digital Studio.  I made one album with a fun and whimsical look/feel and then I made a more elegant album.  It was hard to find pictures that weren't goofy of my kids for the more "serious" album, but here are some from when the kids got to go sit in a HUGE C-17 Air Force jet.  It's the plane that their daddy flies.  Oh, and they call their grandfather "Baba" which is the Persian word for father.  We call him this because my dad is from Iran and the word for grandfather is harder.  I am sure by the time they're 10 or so they'll start calling him something different, although I still call my grandfather Poppie which sounds just about as juvenile.  :)  Enjoy!!!

PS - you should be able to click on the picture and see the page in a larger size.

New Header made using My Digital Studio

Sorry that today's post is so late at night.  I've been fiddling around with SU!'s new My Digital Studio software to make a new header.  I like this one, but will probably make one each month so that I can tweak it and make it even better.  It's done using my FAVORITE stamp set - Upsy Daisy, some fonts from my computer, and my FAVORITE color combo - Baja Breeze (with Not Quite Navy as a darker shade of it), Really Rust and Chocolate Chip.  What do you think?

PS - the black lines at the top and bottom of the image are NOT part of what I created.  They're part of my blog's template and I don't know how to remove them.

Chalkboard Card

I think it's called the Chalkboard technique, right?  The card is a bit bright - not my usual color palette.  Anyway, hope you like the card.  I'm in a bit of a hurry so no dry humor for you today!! ;)

Stamps:  Upsy Daisy
Paper:  Pink Passion, Old Olive and Basic Black CS
Ink:  VersaMark, Whisper White craft ink and Basic Black classic ink
Accessories:  Stampin' Pastels, Whisper White Organza ribbon, Sponge Daubers

 

Upsy Daisy             Item # 111710               $18.95

What's that???

What?  You really like my CAS card I just posted, and you are going to leave me tons of wonderful comments raving about it, BUT there was something else you wanted to know???  ;)  Oh....you want to know who wins the fabulous Boot Loot?????

Oh, okay....I guess I'll tell you.  I used www.random.org and it drew #24!!!  So, congrats #24!!!!

Oh, you don't want to count and figure out who that is, you would rather I just tell you????

Well, after subtracting sub-comments to get the final number for Random.org to draw from, and then counting out to the 24th comment, you come up with:

Deb B (Debadoo)
who said:

Love love love your card!! And what a generous giveaway. Love the boot loot name too. My moment also involved embossing powder. I was very new to stamping and trying to complete a swap, running out of time, and it was very late. I needed copper brads and we didn’t have any. I recalled reading about using copper EP to make them, but the versamark was causing it to come off the brad. So I go to SCS, and posted my problem. Soon I had answers galore. Before I read the one that said just heat the tip of the brad, dunk in powder and heat, I read the one that said melt the powder first til it’s liquid, then dip the brad in the liquid. Well that made sense. Before I continue, let me firmly state that I was very sleep deprived, and had never seen one of those melty pot things for utee and the like. So I dump some ep into one of those paint pallettes with the little wells, aim my heat gun at it (to melt it of course). Yanno how when you’re fixin to do something really stupid, you realize it a nano second before it happens but it’s too close to happening to stop it. To the lady who sends her construction worker hubby to work covered in glitter, don’t feel too bad, I send my son to the Army covered in it all the time too. He let me know that glitter is NOT ever the uniform of the day.

So CONGRATULATIONS DEB!!!!  Please e-mail me your snail mail address at mariemc01@gmail.com

I loved each and every blooper that you shared with me.  I've had my share and they do make for funny stories - especially with those who can understand ;)

Take care and have a great day!!

CAS #3

Well, this is the card you've all been waiting for!  I know you didn't just want to know who won the Boot Loot!!  ;)  LOL  This is my favorite of the 3 cards that I submitted for the CAS DT Call over at SCS.  A great team was chosen for this season's DT, and I know everything that they create and share with us will be fabulous!

So, I hope you like this card as much as I do!!  Have a fabulous day!!!

All supplies used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Medallion BG, Hugs & Wishes

Paper: Kraft, Soft Suede and Ruby Red CS

Ink: Soft Suede Classic Ink

Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, sewing machine, white thread

Halloween Treat Bag Class!!

If you live in the Dover (Delaware) area, I was given the fabulous idea by Julie Wadlinger to have a class where you make the little bags you see below. 

I will also be showing the new My Digial Studio papercrafting software (think digital scrapbooking on steroids!!!  LOL) with those who would like to create one project (a card or single scrapbook LO page) and bring an electronic copy of a picture on CD or zip drive, etc.  You will then be able to order the print of your project through SU!'s fabulous print vendor or you can take it home and print it out how you prefer. 

Additionally, you will make a 3x3 Halloween card using some of SU!'s new Halloween stamps from the Holiday Mini Catalog. 

Let me know if you can join us - seats are limited and there is a RSVP-by date.  I would love to see you here!! 

E-mail me at mariemc01@gmail.com

Thanks!!

My First Digital Scrapbook Pages

I am so excited to have received SU!'s new My Digital Studio software on Friday.  I didn't get to play with it until Friday evening and then I had to tear myself away to go to bed because I got to go to Washington DC on Saturday morning and needed to not want to sleep in and miss the trip.  ;) 

I am making a "Summer 2009" album for my family and I thought I would share with you 2 of the pages.  I pretty much stuck with one of the pre-built layouts that SU! provides (called Sunny Days and it uses the colors and items that you can find in the Sunny Days Simply Scrappin' kit on page 164 of the Idea Book & Catalog) and added a few embellishments, drop-shadows, text and stamps here or there to complete the look the way I wanted...to make it my own. 

The beginning of our summer was marked by my husband deploying to the desert, and that is what these two pages are of.  They will sit side-by-side in the book with the first one being on the left.  I am going to have this book printed by SU!'s print vendor and I will post a picture of it when I get it so you can see it "in real life" via a photo ;)

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them!!!

Oh, and don't forget to check out my Boot Loot (aka Blog Candy) contest at THIS post where you can win a stamp set, punch and some Sweet Treat cups to finish off the theme of the items!!!

 

Poppin' Pastel Daisies

I think these look more like Bachelor's Buttons.  I don't know that Bachelor's Button flowers come in these colors, but they just don't look like daisies to me.  Either way, I think this is a super cute card and I love how the images stamped in VersaMark on the background of the card.  It was a fun card to make, and I hope you like it!!  I was trying to show some of the versatility of coloring images with SU!'s Pastels.  Even my sentiment is So Saffron pastel, not ink!!!

Lastly, have you entered in my Boot Loot (blog candy) contest?  I'm giving away a great Sweet Treat prize package.  Check it out HERE.  You only have until 8:00 pm on the 14th to enter.  Don't miss out!!

Stamps:  Upsy Daisy
Paper:  Bashful Blue and Whisper White CS
Ink:  VersaMark
Accessories:  Stampin' Pastels, Bashful Blue 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Sherbet Designer Buttons, white twill thread

Never Forget....

I will never forget where I was on 9/11/01. I am sure you are the same.

I was an Active Duty Officer in the US Air Force, and my life and the life of my husband who is a pilot in the US Air Force were forever changed. In no way, though, were they changed nearly as much as those who lost loved ones in this horrific attack on America.

Nearly 3,000 people died when the four planes crashed in New York, at the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field.

I hope we can all take time today to pause and reflect on this tragedy in American history, and that we can all renew our efforts at volunteerism - the likes of which so proudly shone in the actions of the heroes associated with the aftermath of the different plane crashes. If we are citizens of, or live in the United States, I also hope that our patriotism can always be as strong as it was in the days and weeks following this tragic event.

I finally got around to this CASE

I saw a card by marlenelo over at SCS that she posted that I just LOVED  and I finally got around to making my version.  It is very similar.  I basically changed the placement of the sentiment stamp to make it a little easier to stamp.  I also changed the dimensions a tiny bit of the colored panels along colors of those panels. 

I will note that I found that my embossing isn't so hot (cheesy pun intended - he he he) because I used my Whisper White craft ink pad and it apparently wasn't very juicy because by the time I dipped it in my White ep, some of the image had dried a little and so my embossing isn't a very even coating.

Hope you like it!  Have you entered my Boot Loot (blog candy) contest at THIS post?  I am giving away a complete Sweet Treat package (stamp set, punch and Sweet Treat cups!!).  I did have to update the contest to say that only those living in the US are eligible to play.  It was brought to my attention that I had forgotten that because of what I am giving away, it can only go to those living in the US - per SU! rules/regulations.  Sorry for any disappointment this causes!!  But, I hope you'll check it out if you haven't already!!!

Stamps:  Upsy Daisy
Paper:  Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Basic Black classic ink, Whisper White craft ink
Accessories:  White ep, embossing buddy, heat tool, Silver Brads

Boot Loot Time!!! (aka Blog Candy)

Well, as you'll see from this previous post, this is my middle card of the 3 cards that I submitted for the CAS DT Call.  I'm showing them to you in my order of preference from least favorite to the one I liked the most.  Check out the CAS (Clean and Simple) challenges here over at SCS, and PLAY ALONG!!!!!

I will reveal the 3rd one when the Boot Loot Winner is announced on Tuesday, September 15th.

All supplies used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Great Friend, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay Textured CS

Ink: Bermuda Bay Classic Ink

Accessories: Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Big Shot, Circle Scissor Plus and Glass Mat, Scallop Edge punch, 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool, Paper Piercing Template, Paper Piercing Mat, Stampin' Dimensionals

So...speaking of Boot Loot.....I still remember when I had the contest where I  gave away some goodies to come up with that name for "my" Blog Candy.  You all had some great and funny suggestions!!  I love the name Boot Loot, and hope it's not confusing to anyone.

Could I drag this out any longer??? ;)

What I will be putting up as Boot Loot, is THIS:

If you can't quite tell by the pictures, you win:

1) the stamp set Sweet Centers
2) a set of 12 Sweet Treat Cups
3) a 1-3/4" Circle Punch!!!!! 

All that you need to make treats for your friends and loved ones all year round!!!!!!!!

What do you have to do?  Well, I have been in a wonderful mood since my husband has been home (I get him for about 4 whole weeks before he leaves again!!!!) so I thought I would hold a contest that would continue to bring smiles to everyone by having people tell me their funniest stamping/crafting blooper.  I will draw the winner at random (using random.org) at 8:00 pm on September 14th.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday, September 15th.  You do have to be a US resident to enter and win (because this is current SU! merchandise, and those are SU!'s rules) so I'm sorry to those outside of the US.  :(

I will share something funny that happened to me once.  For those of you that use glitter and embossing powder a lot, you probably do what I do.  I store them in Ziploc sandwich containers so that I can just dip my CS into them and not have to worry about getting glitter/powder all over the place.  Well, one day when I was happily blinging some things up with some Dazzling Diamonds glitter, my darling daughter Sarah who was probably 2 at the time, comes over to peek up on the table, puts her little hands up on the edge, but mistakenly puts them over the edge of the glitter container which then flipped it up and down onto her little face/head.  She was COVERED in Dazzling Diamonds!!  While glitter was a bit of a fashion statement a few years back (remember all of the creams/lotions/gels with glitter in them???), glittery tears (literally) were not.  It didn't hurt her, but it filled her eyes and I was so worried that even though Dazzling Diamonds is pretty fine, it would scratch her eyes or something.  I took her to the bathtub, rinsed her off, and did my best to rinse her eyes.  That, along with her blinking removed just about all of the glitter.  For the next few hours there would be little spots of glitter that were blinked to the corner of her eyes, but I was happy and lucky to discover that no harm was done.  She also had glitter in her hair for quite a while.  It settled on her scalp and lots of scrubbing never got it all out at once.  :) 

So....what's your stamping blooper?  Share away and spread the word.  I know that this is a very popular stamp set and I'm sure your friends would like the chance to get it and everything they need to make some "Sweet Treats" for the holidays. 

Good luck!!!

PS - I will continue to post between now and next Tuesday but will link to this post in any subsequent posts before the announcement of the winner.

CAS #1

Well, I made this card for the CAS DT (Clean and Simple Design Team) Call over at SCS.  I am pre-posting these posts, so I don't know yet who made the team, but if you aren't aware of the fabulous challenges that Miss Boo comes up with each week, you should check them out.  You can do so HERE, and the current and all previous challenges should be there for your viewing and participating pleasure.

If you are a regular to my blog, you know that I really love CAS cards and that most of mine fall under that category.  I love cards with lots of layers, complicated techniques and tons of fabulous embellishments too, but when I try to make them that way they usually look like a child tried their hand at stamping ;)  Anyway, I will show my 3 CAS DT Call cards to you in order from my least favorite to my favorite.  I really like this layout and I love the color combo for fall, but it's just not my fave of the 3 I made :) 

Thanks for stopping by!

All supplies used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Seasonal Icons (hostess - retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White CS

Ink: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink

Accessories: 1-1/4" Square punch, Piercing Tool, Piercing Template, Piercing Mat, Stampin' Dimensionals

WOW!!!

So, have you gotten a chance to see what is inside this FABULOUS Mini Catalog?!?!?  Are you going to place your order right now using my Ordering Button to the right?  Well, in addition to the amazing seasonal stamps, papers, and accessories, Build-a-Bear die cuts, necklaces and more, is ‘My Digital Studio’–an amazing digital scrapbooking software.  This software is for so much more than just scrapbooking.  You can make greeting cards, calendars, flyers, photobooks, story books for your children, hybrid projects and even blog headers and backgrounds!!  The possiblities are vast.  It will be available on October 1st for customers to order, but one of the perks of being a demonstrator for SU! is that I already ordered it so that I can play with it before I open my home to let YOU come check it out!!! 

One other note, the Simply Adorned Charms are currently unavailable to order. There were some quality issues and Stampin' Up! only accepts the very best for us. I will keep you posted when they become available.

I want to mention the fantastic special going on NOW for hostessing a workshop which will make you want to schedule one with me right away!  From September 1st – November 30th, host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10! 

After My Digital Studio is released on October 1st… host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50% off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

Has it been a while since you’ve hosted a workshop in your home?  I would love to WOW you and your friends with some holiday projects!  I live in Delaware, but am willing to drive a bit for a workshop… ask me about where you live!  There are (almost) no bounds for me when I'm asked to help get some creative juices flowing!!

 

*This offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

 

I made this card for my middle daughter.  Her birthday was on the 1st of September and while my husband has been deployed, she has been spending some time with my parents.  It has been a blast for her, but of course I feel like a piece of me is missing.  My sweet, sweet little girl!!!  I can't believe how much she has grown and what a sweet little spirit she has.  Anyway, she got a nice shout-out on my family blog, so I won't go on and on here, like I did there on her birthday ;)

You will probably recognize this card from page 72 in the current Idea Book & Catalog.  I blinged it up and made it pink for her.  She loves pink and purple, so this combo was pretty easy to come up with.  I hope you like it - she loved it!! :)

PS - STAY TUNED FOR AN UPCOMING BOOT LOOT GIVEAWAY (aka BLOG CANDY)!!!!

Stamps:  Look Who's Turning
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pixie Pink and Whisper White CS
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Pixie Pink classic ink
Accessories:  Pink Circle Rhinestone brad, Filigree flower, 1/2" Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, sewing machine, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, stampin' dimensionals

My Digital Studio....

OH MY GOSH!!!  I am RIGHT NOW, AS I TYPE, watching a webinar hosted by Stampin' Up! for demonstrators, about MDS. 

As Mark Jessen (the speaker) just said, MDS is NOT JUST Digital Scrapbooking!!!  It is a Digial Paper-Crafting Solution!!!!  It can be used to make calendars, flyers, blog headers (the whole blog design in general!!), scrapbook pages, cards, elements for your paper-crafting projects, and anything else that you might want to make pretty and print out!!!! 

It is AMAZING and I am buying mine TODAY!!  I'm not even going to wait for the chance to get it discounted in October.  I am just THAT excited about it!!!!  I can't wait!!!  :) 

If they wouldn't have to kill me (he he he, LOL!), I would copy the screen right now and upload it here as a picture.  He's showing some of the GORGEOUS templates that are there for those of us who don't want to create our own scrapbook layout from scratch (you can do that though too if you want!!).   They're SOOOOO pretty!!!! 

I will let you all know when I am done making my very first book (I've never made a complete scrapbook before!!!!!!!!!!!  If I can, I'll even share some of it with you. 

I can't wait!!!  Oh wait, did I say that already!??!?!  ;)  Have a great night!!!

It's HERE.

It's GREAT.  Check it out.

Just click on the picture to download and view the BRAND NEW Holiday Mini Catalog or find it located in my right side-bar when you come back and visit in the future.

Enjoy.  Contact me to order.  Have it shipped straight to your door by clicking on the "Order SU! Online" button to the right.

New Guidelines for SU! Demonstrators

Hi there folks!  I need to make you aware of some changes that will be happening at my blog.  I do understand WHY Stampin' Up! as a company is requiring these changes of it's demonstrators.  I am going to do what I need to do to be a SU! demonstrator and follow all the rules set forth as such.

I will no longer be specific about where I get items from that are not SU!.  Anyone who visits my blog regularly knows that I do in fact throw "other" products in there every now and then, and SU! is absolutely fine with that.  They have just encouraged their demonstrators to be business-minded and not promote other products.  I will refer to craft stores as just that, not by name, and stores like Target and Wal-Mart as "big box stores", unless someone has a more creative general name for that type of store?  Personally I don't like "big box store" and had never heard them called that until SU! "said" it.  I think that if you are dying to know where I got something I used, like a cute little tin from Target, you can just call me or e-mail and ask.

As I said, I will support SU! as I continue to be a demonstrator.  I appreciate the guidance from them at how to be a better demonstrator.  After all, SU! is why I started stamping and crafting.  I actually used to make fun of people who made scrapbooks and did other papercrafts!!  I know, what in the world was I thinking!?!?!  I most definitely want to continue to be a SU! demonstrator, and I want to continue to blog so....please bear with me as my blog undergoes some remodeling and I play by the new rules and suggestions.  :)

UPDATE - I made changes in this post to reflect the updated Independent Demonstrator Agreement so that there is no confusion caused by me amongst other demonstrators.  Also, I totally understand if those of you who link to me do not do so any longer because I'm removing my blogroll.  I just don't want to deal with the headache of trying to be a wise, business-minded demonstrator with who/what/where I link.  I'm sure you'll notice that the "big business" demonstrators out there
(about 99% of them anyway) don't link to even other demonstrators, much less those who design for other companies.  Besides, it is my hope that you're coming here to "see" me, anyway!!! :)

Love my Window Sheets!

This is a quick post to share with you a card that I made for a really good friend of mine.  I am loving these window sheets!!!  My family is partial to dandelions, so I really like this quarter panel of the window sheet.  This assortment of window sheets is called "Clearly Thanks" and can be found on page 169 in the Idea Book & Catalog.  Let me know if you want to order some!!

I hope you all enjoyed the Stampin' Addicts Happy Holidays Blog Hop!!!!  If you missed out on it, see my previous post for the links to follow through the hop.  It showcased both some fabulous talent, and some equally fabulous product.  You can now order the items on your wish-list from the SU! Holiday Mini Catalog TODAY!!!  Just contact me!  :)

Lastly, it's my middle daughter's 5th birthday today!!!  I can't believe how fast the years have gone, and what a precious little person she is.  I love her so very much, and excited for all of the fun celebrations she'll get to have today!  Happy birthday, Sarah!

All items used are SU! unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  On Your Birthday (pg 139, #111664)
Paper:  Bashful Blue (pg 157, #105120) and Whisper White (pg 155, #100730) Card Stock
Ink:  Bashful Blue Classic Ink
Accessories:  Clearly Thanks Window Sheet (pg 169, #115122), Silver Brads (pg 179, #104336), 1/16" circle punch (pg 186, #101227), Eyelet Border punch (pg 187, #113692), Whisper White Taffeta ribbon (pg 183, #109070), Olive polka-dot ribbon (Jo-Ann's)