From Combat Boots to Rubber Stamps

Hello!

2011-04-26T22:42:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to update everyone. I have been in Kentucky since the beginning of February. I am working part-time at the school that my children attend and was offered a full-time teaching position there beginning the 2012-2013 school year with the stipulation that I attend AMI Montessori training (in Cleveland, OH) during the 2011-2012 school year.

Our house that we are building is DONE and we close THIS FRIDAY!!! I will try to share a few more pictures in the near future (once the sod is put in - it has been rainy, rainy, and some more rainy - with tornado warnings mixed in - over the last several weeks, so they can't grade the lot and put the sod down) when the house really looks pretty. The picture above is of one of my favorite parts of the house - my tub. The picture was taken back on the 4th of March when the drywall wasn't even up yet. You will be amazed at how quickly they built the house, and I am so happy with how it looks!!! :) The picture below is one of the house in progress from across the pond (which is the view out the front of the house).

I really hope to do some stamping sometime after school lets out in May and I'm able to get most of the house unpacked.

My husband has been off at training in two different states since February, we've seen him for about 10 days since he left then, and he will deploy as soon as he finishes up there sometime (we think - weather dependent) in May for 6-9 months. I've done everything in relation to the house by myself, and now get to move us all the way across town into it by myself. So, can you tell that things are a bit crazy?!?! This isn't even everything that has happened - I didn't even tell you that I had some of my husband's family here to visit and they stayed in our tiny 2-bedroom (the third is completely filled with storage) house that is meant for a couple with no children!!! Or maybe I did just tell you, but there has still been so much more that has been going on ;)

Some ways I am grateful for having moved to Kentucky are that my three children LOVE their school, I'm close to family, I get to live in my hometown - a place I love and am comfortable. I just am not the type to ask for help, so I know it's partly my fault if I am super-stressed.

Life is hard, but it is good. I thank each of you that follows my blog - it means a lot to know that some of you care enough to want to know when I get back to blogging. I will also try to be a better blog-visitor myself once school is out.

Take care!!!! :)

More Friends....

2011-01-29T16:33:00.001-05:00

This is the second card that I told you about in THIS post. It's for the other gal that I wanted to leave a note with when I leave her behind after we move. I am truly grateful for the friends that I have and hope that we will be able to see each other again some day!

This will be my last post for a while. We are currently in the process of loading our trailer of our household goods to move to Kentucky. When I'm settled in there I will try to post again!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Cajun Craze classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Whisper White Card Stock
Accessories: Pear Pizzaz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

A Great Teacher

2011-01-27T06:25:00.001-05:00

My eldest daughter had a fabulous teacher last year in the 1st grade, and then my middle daughter has the same teacher this year for the 1st grade as well. We will miss her terribly, and as a small token of our appreciation I got her a Willow Tree figurine that's for teachers and made this CAS card to go with the gift. It's always such a gift to have a good teacher! Short on time, so no recipe - sorry! I'll try to fix it later when I'm settled in.

Friends...

2011-01-25T04:16:00.006-05:00

I made this card and one you'll see in a few days that has just a small color variation for two of my dear friends here in Dover. Shelly, to answer your question, I'm moving to my hometown - Lexington, KY. As most of you all are aware I am leaving Dover for there on January 31st, and while I hate goodbyes I am grateful to be able to say them. It would be sad to leave somewhere and not have those special friends in your life that you have to say goodbye to. Some people look at us military folk and say (to my face - literally, I've had someone say this), "you're ONLY going to be here for four years? That's not long enough to bother getting to know you." Seriously. How sad. While it's no fun to have to say goodbye to friends, those years, months, or even DAYS that you got to know someone and become a part of each other's lives is worth the pain of a goodbye to me. So....this card is for my friend Jen, and I'll show you Debbie's in a few days ;) This card is based off of THIS card I showed you previously. Have a great week!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Concord Crush classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush and Whisper White Card Stock
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

Last of my SIM Cards

2011-01-20T05:55:00.017-05:00

This final card from my last round of SIM is also a CASE from the Idea Book & Catalog. You can find the original card on page 98. It was a fun one to CASE because it got my customers coloring the image using their markers, and there's just something about coloring that even a grown woman (or man) can enjoy like a kid! I think it's kind of magical to see the stamped image after you've done all that hard work coloring and not letting the markers bleed, and huffing before finally pressing it down on the card stock. Almost like a surprise - seeing how your coloring turned out. It was a pain folding that Daffodil Delight DSP though - I couldn't get it straight for anything, and don't like that it's not more parallel to the layer of Real Red CS. Oh well, my OCD will have to just be quiet!!! ;)

Anyway, enjoy, and have a great weekend! My final 3 cards (everything stamping-related is packed up and ready for our move now, so it will again be a while before I can post - FOLLOW ME so that you'll get updates without having to constantly check in!!) will be posted next week. Have a GREAT weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your visits and your comments so much! If you have any questions about what I used to make the card simply leave me a comment and I'll get back with you.

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Just Believe
Inks: Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Pear Pizazz Stampin' Write Marker, Pumpkin Pie classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz Textured CS, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, 2-1/2" Circle Punch

Another favorite

2011-01-18T06:38:00.007-05:00

This card is an Idea Book & Catalog CASE as well (see my last post for another). You can find the cute little giraffe inspiration card on page 94 of the IB&C. I really love the use of vellum as an overlay on top of Designer Series Paper to create a more subtle, soft look. What do you think? I hope you're having a great week!!! Questions about the items used, just leave me a comment!!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Tiny Tags
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers, Early Espresso classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Card Stock Vellum
Accessories: Jewelry Tag Medium punch, Scallop Edge punch, white thread, Stampin Dimensionals, mini glue dots

Catalog CASE

2011-01-15T06:35:00.014-05:00

The card below is a CASE of the one found on page 98 of the Idea Book & Catalog. I LOVE this card. I have always enjoyed pocket cards, and especially ones where the pocket is vellum. Adding in some sewing and it's just perfect! Eventually I will get around to the cards I made last week, that are a play off of this card. Anyway, enjoy, and again, sorry for no recipe but if you leave a comment with a question I will get back with you ASAP! Have a lovely weekend!!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Baja Breeze and Cajun Craze classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Whisper White CS, Card Stock Vellum
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Janome Sew Mini, Stampin Dimensionals, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

Wow - Pigs are Flying!!!

2011-01-13T10:34:00.006-05:00

I can't promise that I will post anything even remotely resembling regularly, but here is one post of several I hope to get done over the next couple of weeks.

An update on us, first. We are packing up our house (family of 5, 2 cats, a dog and a VERY filled garage (tools, bikes, camping gear, etc.)) to move to Kentucky on February 1st. My husband will be going to 3-4 months of training in Georgia and Mississippi followed by a 6 month (perhaps longer) deployment to Afghanistan. I thought with him gone nearly a year it is a good time to take advantage of being able to move "home", where there are no Air Force bases and we have very little hope of ever living there while he is Active Duty in the Air Force. Anyway....since we are choosing to move, the move is on us, so all I have been doing is packing and trying to clean a little in-between. I'm also trying to be a good mom for once and give my kids some fun memories with friends so we've started making a point of having them over to play and spend the night. Five kids running around hasn't been too helpful on the packing front, but I want my kids to remember the fun times.

I actually stamped yesterday because I pulled out some CS for the girls to make cards with their friends - it was a miracle!!! I made 3 cards. One for a beloved teacher we will be leaving behind, and 2 for my dear friends that I will also be leaving. The two friend's cards are based on one I did for my last round of SIM (Stamps in the Mail) and so I will begin there with sharing with you one of the cards I made for SIM. I apologize, but no recipes. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll answer them. If I get a chance, I will try to add the recipe later. In looking at the photo - should have scooted that button and sentiment over to the right a little. Oh well. I made this card back in October. :) Have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by - if anyone even still checks in!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers, Basic Black classic ink
Papers: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Subtles (Baja Breeze) Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories: Real Red Designer Button, Whisper White 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, mini glue dots

SIM #4

2010-10-16T06:02:00.001-04:00

This is the last of my 4 scheduled posts. I can't even guess at this moment with all that I have going on the next couple of weeks if I will have gotten some time to stamp between now and when this posts actually is published. I hope so! I guess you'll have to tune in on Tuesday to find out ;) I post on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sometimes all three days, sometimes only one or two, but those are the days I publish posts. It's fun to see that some of you are taking advantage of "following" me so that you don't have to guess as to whether I've posted or not. You get a pretty little e-mail with my post every time I post :)

The card below is a CASE of Ilina Crouse. Her card is HERE. I changed the colors up a bit because I can't ever just totally copy someone else's card. I'm curious how all of you are about that? Can you just copy everything, or do you have to tweak even just one little thing to make it more your own?

Well, have a great weekend and hopefully I'll "see" you soon!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four and Just Believe
Ink: So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Real Red Stampin' Write markers, Chocolate Chip classic ink
Paper: So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Real Red CS, Play Date DSP
Accessories: Old Olive brads (Brights assortment), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (say that three times really fast! LOL) punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, clear-mount blocks

Another One...

2010-10-14T05:57:00.001-04:00

This card is another case of myself. Here is the card that I cased. I REALLY like this color combo and the use of the Rhinestone Brads. What do you think?

I should be back from Kentucky now, maybe we have a house lined up - I sure hope we do. When I get back to posting and it's not scheduled in advance, I'll let you know. I'm sitting here writing this a week ago. :)

Have a lovely day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink: Old Olive classic ink
Paper: Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Whisper White CS
Accessories: 3/8" Crumb Cake Taffeta ribbon, Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads (in green), Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, clear-mount blocks, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots

CASE'ing Myself

2010-10-12T06:43:00.003-04:00

I CASE'd this card I made that won Shelli's Creative Challenge back in August to use in my Stamps-in-the-Mail (SIM) program. I hope that they like it. The change in colors was to go along with the Play Date Designer Series Paper color scheme that we used for this SIM kit.

I am still in Kentucky but hope you're having a great day wherever you are!! :) Thanks in advance for your comments!!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, So Saffron and Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write Markers, Chocolate Chip classic ink
Paper: Real Red, Crumb Cake and Whisper White CS
Accessories: 3/8" Old Olive Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots, clear-mount blocks, 1/4" Circle Punch (retired)

CASE'ing Jen

2010-10-09T06:31:00.003-04:00

When I saw this card by Jen Timko, I just knew that I had to CASE it. I changed the colors up a bit, added some of the FABULOUS new glimmer brads, and tried out something I've never done before - put a lighter CS behind a darker one, as a mat. To be totally honest, I don't think I like the light behind the dark that much, but it was fun to try something different. I hope you like my card, and if you check hers out you can see where the sketch came from (Stamping 411) and all of that. Leave her some love - I am sure she appreciates your kind comments as much as I do :)

As for me - this post, and the next three, are all scheduled while I am out of state house-hunting. My stamping has been sparse, and it doesn't look to get much better. I will do my best though, and at least you've got 3 more posts coming!! :)

Have a great day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Just Believe
Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers, Black StazOn
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Play Date DSP
Accessories: Real Red and Tempting Turquoise Glimmer Brads (Brights assortment), 3/8" Real Red Taffeta ribbon, Old Olive Designer Button (Brights assortment), Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, clear-mount blocks, Stampin' Dimensionals, white thread

Woo hoo - sounds like fun!!!

2010-10-02T14:46:00.001-04:00

Canadian? Click here for more information.

Dates: October 1-November 15, 2010

Stampin' Up! invites YOU to participate in its first ever digital design contest using My Digital Studio and Stampin' Up!'s digital downloads! The My Digital Studio Design contest was created to recognize the amazing digital design skills of our talented, creative customers and demonstrators! The contest is open to all customers and demonstrators who have access to My Digital Studio in the US and Canada; five customers and five demonstrators will be selected to win. To enter the contest you will need to design one digital card and two single-page layouts using ONLY My Digital Studio product and Stampin' Up downloads. Submit all samples along with an official entry form and photo release form (if applicable) to MDSContest@stampinup.com.
Winners will receive free My Digital Studio digital downloads from Stampin' Up valued at approximately $400! You will also receive a digital pin for your personal blog.
Don't own My Digital Studio or want to purchase new Stampin' Up! digital downloads? Click here!
Our panel of judges can't wait to see your digital artistry on display, so submit your project today!
Ready, Set, Create!

Read the complete official rules.
Read the My Digital Studio Designing contest FAQ's.
Download an official entry form and photo release (if applicable).

As Clean and Simple as it Gets

2010-09-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

For those of you that know me, you know that I really like Clean and Simple (CAS) stamping. It is how I would describe my stamping style. Well, these little 3x3's are about as clean and simple as CAS can get! :) I really enjoy making single-layer cards. It can be very challenging, and I think that if you haven't made any in a while (or ever) you should give it a try! Have a lovely day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Silhouette Sentiments (hostess level 1), Curly Cute
Ink: Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso classic ink
Paper: Whisper White CS
Accessories: Clear-Mount Blocks

Funky Mojo

2010-09-25T05:51:00.004-04:00

I finally got a chance to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch, which you can check out HERE. I had fun using one of my favorite new stamp sets, some fun new papers, and the Glimmer Brads that are in the Holiday Mini Catalog - which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

I hope you are having a great weekend!!!

All items used are SU! unless noted

Stamps: Funky Four and Apple Blossoms (level 2 hostess)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Old Olive and So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Play Date DSP
Accessories: Glimmer Brads (Tempting Turquoise), Flower Brad (Tempting Turquoise - Brights Assortment) Designer Buttons (Real Red - Brights Assortment), Scallop Edge Border punch, So Saffron 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Janome Sew Mini, White Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

Long Story Short....

2010-09-24T10:52:00.003-04:00

So, it's a rather long story, but I will condense it for you. About a month ago, we were told that we would be moving next spring/summer, on schedule. My husband was also told that he would have normal duty until then which consists of typically 2-3 weeks gone each month flying missions on the C-17. Well, last week he was stopped by his Commander and was told that he is deploying to Afghanistan, will be flying a new jet, and it will all start to happen (training followed by the deployment) in February. This sounds like a long time from now, but when he's gone at least half of the month each month, that leaves us with 2 months where we'll be together to get packed up and ready to move me and the kids to Kentucky for the nearly 16 months that we'll be separated.

I can't go into details about his deployment, nor do I probably even know them all (for security reasons), but suffice it to say it's not "as" safe as his last deployment. It also was a shock, plain and simple, that he got it. Of course in the military we all know that deployments happen - that's a fact of military life. BUT, when you're told you won't be going on one, and then your wife takes that to heart and gets comfortable, it's a shocker when she hears one day when you come home for lunch that you'll be leaving.

We are getting down to business though now, already, preparing to move a whole house. I also have to wrap up my Master's classes for now. Because I am seeking certification to teach, I have to have a mentor at a local school and moving will throw a kink in that and set me back a semester or two. Not to mention that I now have to decide what to store, what to take, what to throw away, and what to give away in order to pack. I thought I had until next spring!!!!!

Your kind words, thoughts, and prayers are appreciated. It is what it is, and we will get through it like we always do. I can tell you that I have such a strong testimony of the purpose of families and the roles of parents, and being apart only strengthens it. I know that my Heavenly Father will not give us more than we can bear. As part of Psalms 2:12 says, "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." I know that Peter will be safe, and we will make it through this difficult time. We are doing all that we can together - trying to build some memories - as a family during the days/weeks that Peter is actually here in town before we move in February. That will explain my sparse stamping. Not to mention that the kids have school, soccer, I have my Master's classes, volunteer work, and we have all of our other normal obligations to meet that don't "care" if we're going to move in a few months. Packing up a 4-bedroom house is going to be fun - or NOT!! ;) Ha ha ha.

So....have a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend!

PS - thanks for "following" me!! I think the most fun about having some followers (in my sidebar) is that I can "see" who you are :)

Yellow...Really?

2010-09-23T06:14:00.025-04:00

This card was extremely quick to make, and I was playing around with a new stamp set and punch. I have realized that I am really enjoying Daffodil Delight, and I am totally not a yellow person. I am more of a blues and greens gal. Anyway, I love sentiment stamps too, and when I saw this one in the new Idea Book & Catalog back in July, I just had to have it. The punch is the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch. Isn't it fun!?!? The circle was pierced using my SU! Piercing Tool, Template and Pad. It's so fun to make circles with it!

I hope that you are having a great day!! Thank you so much for stopping by and for the kind words that many of you either posted or e-mailed me with after my last post. The news is to come, shortly.

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Curly Cute
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Early Espresso, Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White CS
Accessories: Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, mini glue dots, Clear-Mount Blocks

FTL 107 and...

2010-09-21T05:41:00.021-04:00

This will be a quick post because there are some big changes happening for my family in the next several months. I am going to try really hard to keep posting several times a week, but soon I will share with you what is going on and I think you will understand why I may not be stamping as much as usual. But, NO, it's not a baby. It's actually not really "good" news, but it is what it is and we're making sure family hears from us first ;) Have a great day!

This layout comes from the FTL 107 sketch. Check it out!

All supplies used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Apple Blossoms (level 2 hostess)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron (colored part that ended up under the brad - oops!) and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Poppy Parade (doesn't coordinate with the DSP, but I wanted it a tad lighter than Real Red so that the card would be "lighter" in general), So Saffron, Old Olive and Whisper White CS, Play Date DSP (Designer Series Paper)
Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Glimmer Brad (Real Red - Holiday Mini Catalog item), Clear-Mount Blocks

Simple Card Box

2010-09-18T06:04:00.000-04:00

I saw a box like this as one of the items made at a past SU! Convention - not even sure which one, I can't remember. I saved a photo that I nabbed on the internet of the directions for it, since I'm not even sure if I went to that particular Convention (or if I did, I didn't have my own photo) and made this fun box for my August SIM kits to hold the cards that we made using the Just Believe Stamp set. It was easy to make, and I love using my Big Shot and the Top Note Bigz die is one of my absolute favorites!! Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you have a fabulous day!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Just Believe
Ink: Marina Mist classic ink
Paper: Whisper White and Marina Mist CS
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Marina Mist 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Marina Mist brads (from Subtles assortment), Filigree Designer Brad, Clear-Mount Blocks

Sweets for a Sweet Girl

2010-09-16T05:07:00.000-04:00

I made this card back in August and forgot to share it with you. It uses the really fun stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog called Sweet Scoops. Unfortunately for the stamp set, it hadn't seen ink when I pulled it out for this card, but I know that my girls' friend, Savannah, deserves the sweetest blessings that life has to offer, and I thought she would think that this card was fun to receive for her 6th birthday. The color combination was inspired by Shelli's (then current) Creative Challenge to use color combinations from the wonderful SU! Color Coach. This color combination comes from the back of the Blushing Bride card, and includes Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso. Love it!

I hope that you are having a fabulous day, and I am thrilled that you stopped by to visit my blog. Thank you so much for your sweet comments - I truly do appreciate each one of them!!!

PS - If you have a blog, make sure that when you comment you link to it (if it's not linked to your profile that you comment with) so that I can check yours out. I enjoy returning the love!! :)

All supplies used are SU!

Stamps: Sweet Scoops, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White CS
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Early Espresso classic ink
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 2-way Glue Pen, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Stampin' Sponges, Scallop Edge Border punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

{Thank You} Just Believe

2010-09-14T05:18:00.024-04:00

I made this card after being inspired by one that Lynn Put made, which you can see by clicking HERE. Hers is gorgeous and a lot more elaborate, but that's the beauty of a CASE - you don't have to exactly copy everything :) I have a hard time doing anything not CAS (Clean And Simple), so this my version of her lovely card. It also uses the Mojo Monday 151 sketch for the LO. Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by - I appreciate it! I hope you are having a lovely week!!!

All supplies used are SU!

Stamps: Just Believe
Ink: Certainly Celery and Marina Mist classic ink
Paper: Marina Mist and Whisper White CS, Marina Mist Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack
Accessories: Blender Pen, Modern Label Extra-Large, Word Window, Scallop Trim Border, 1-3/8" Circle and 1-3/8" Circle Large punches, Silver brads, Marina Mist 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

FTL106 - With Ribbon

2010-09-11T05:40:00.013-04:00

Well, first I must say that this "followers" thing is kind of fun. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see THIS post. Now I just have to figure out where I want you to "follow" me to ;) I'm wondering - do you get updates of new posts like in Google Reader or some other kind of subscription method when you "follow" a blog? Do I want to start doing it, instead of subscribing to your blogs via Google Reader? Shari's comment on my post makes me think that following doesn't really give you any kind of notifications. If that's so, why follow? Enlighten me.... :)

On to the card...As soon as I saw THIS sketch over at clean&simple stamping, I knew I wanted that horizontal piece of the LO to be a piece of large ribbon. I feel like this card pretty much turned out how I wanted it to, and I used the SU! Color Coach to come up with the combo off of the Basic Black card of {Basic Black, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive}. Isn't it a great combo?!?! I used Crumb Cake as my neutral. Boy oh boy does Crumb Cake have a lot of fibers in it!! Take a close-up look at the card and you'll see what I mean. I love it!!

Well, I hope that you are having a fantastic weekend, and I certainly appreciate you stopping by to visit my blog. Take care!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess), Occasional Quotes (Level 3 Hostess)
Ink: Black StazOn, Old Olive Classic Ink
Paper: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White CS
Accessories: Butterfly Extra-Large and Corner Rounder punch, Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Black Brads (from Neutrals assortment), Daffodil Delight flower Designer Button (from Brights assortment), Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

{Just Believe} in FTL 99

2010-09-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

When I saw FTL-99 I tucked it away for future use. I didn't actually see it when it was the current week's sketch challenge, because I was on a bit of a self-imposed blog-surfing hiatus, but my Google Reader helped me not miss a thing out there in blog-land when I made it back to my computer. As I was coming up with the three cards in my August Stamps in the Mail, I just knew that this sketch would work lovely, and I envisioned a monochromatic card in my head. I love the balance of the rounded corners in the sketch! Without further ado...what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by, and I appreciate the time you take to leave comments on my blog. Have a beautiful day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Certainly Celery and Whisper White CS
Ink: Certainly Celery classic ink
Accessories: Certainly Celery 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls, Corner Rounder punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

Followers?

2010-09-07T19:12:00.001-04:00

Well, I don't know who would actually want to, but I finally got "with it" and added the "Followers" widget-thingy to my sidebar (about half-way down my sidebar) if you would like to somehow make it easier to "follow" me. I have no idea what it does, or how it works - I personally use Google Reader. Apparently, however, many people use this method to keep track of blogs. Well, you asked, so now it's there ;) Hopefully I'll have at least one person follow me so it's not an empty, sad little box!! LOL

{just for you}

2010-09-07T05:50:00.004-04:00

I made this card using the 100th sketch over at clean&simple stamping. I had saved it for my Stamps in the Mail program because I had chosen to use the Just Believe stamp set, and when I saw this sketch, I knew it would be PERFECT for this stamp set. It highlights one of the main images in the set well, and lets you use a sentiment too. Plus, I was able to do a fun technique with this card, that I call the blender pen outline technique. I use a blender pen to drag some of the color of the image around the outside of the image. I'll post a picture "up close" of the image below the card for you to see. If you click on it, you can see it in it's gigantic (but not perfect up that close!!!) glory ;) It's a really fun technique though that adds some softness to your stamped image. What do you think? Have you ever done this before with a blender pen? *****A note: sometimes your image may not allow the blender pen to pull as much color as you would like as you outline your shape, so you might have to just barely dab your blender pen in some of the appropriate ink color as you trace.****

So, up close, you can tell that it's not too exact, or perfect, but I didn't want it to be. You have to know by now that I'm a perfectionist, so if I had really wanted each little leaf and stem outlined, I would have done it ;)

I would love to hear your thoughts, and appreciate each and every one of you for visiting my blog!! Have a wonderful day!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Whisper White and Certainly Celery CS
Ink: Certainly Celery and Marina Mist classic ink
Accessories: Scallop Edge Border punch, Certainly Celery 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Blender Pen

Oh...my...WOW!!!

2010-09-05T16:28:00.000-04:00

Well, I must say that when I checked my e-mail today after getting home from church, my first thought was, "somebody is playing a trick on me!!!" In my inbox was an e-mail from a gal saying that Shelli Gardner (Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!) had picked one of my little cards as a winner for her August Creative Challenge!!! I'm sure that the e-mail is "real" now (because I checked on Shelli's blog ;) LOL), but I was definitely a bit doubtful and very much surprised!

I was inspired by her color challenge and shared my cards thinking that maybe someone would come visit my blog and be inspired by them. I never thought I would actually win! Well, I just had to share the news with you because I think it's so neat (and my last name is spelled wrong on her site so some of you might not realize it's me, he he he).

I don't ever send stuff in for contests. I consider myself a clean-and-simple stamper that doesn't cause many to say "wow!!!" when they take a look at my stuff, but it makes me happy to create my cards and other projects and give them to others to brighten their day. So... pretty neat, right? :)

Click here to see my card that she picked.

Click here to see the other August Creative Challenge winners.

Congrats to everyone else. I know I enjoyed looking at all of the submissions, and recommend that you do too if you would like some fabulous inspiration.

I {Heart} Marina Mist

2010-09-04T06:55:00.001-04:00

Marina Mist is definitely a new favorite of mine. This card is rather CAS, but instead of my normal linear paper piercing, I wanted a circle. I love using my paper piercing template to make circles! It's not that hard, either. You pierce one hole and before removing the paper piercing tool, you pivot the template to where you want the next hole, and so on, until you've got a circle (or something pretty close - LOL!). Hope you enjoy the card and have a lovely weekend!!!

All items used are Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Marina Mist and Whisper White CS
Ink: Marina Mist classic ink
Accessories: Curly Label and Modern Label Extra Large punches, Subtles Brads (Marina Mist), Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Mat, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

friends

2010-09-02T06:13:00.000-04:00

This card was inspired by one that is found on the workshop invitation postcards and is on page 140 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog as well. I just love all of the ideas and inspiration that can be had from things as little as the postcards, the samples found online on the demonstrator websites, those in the mini catalogs and of course those in the Idea Book & Catalog. I challenge you to use them for inspiration the next time you get stumped, and I promise that you won't be stumped for long!

Some of you are aware that I was a falconer while in college, and I really like birds of prey. I ADORE owls, so when I saw this set I just HAD to get it. I love it!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Aviary, Just Believe
Ink: Concord Crush and Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White CS
Accessories: 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon, Scallop Edge Border punch, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, Clear-Mount Blocks

It's Here!!

2010-09-01T13:39:00.000-04:00

This FANTASTIC Holiday Mini Catalog is now available to order from. I'm placing my first order from it soon, and can't wait for the items to arrive. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any help ordering!!

Click the catalog to download in .pdf format!

TOTE-ally Awesome!!

2010-09-01T13:28:00.001-04:00

Imagine sharing your love of Stampin’ Up! with this stylish and practical tote, patterned after our Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper and large enough to carry 12" x 12" card stock and a Paper Cutter, as well as punches, ink pads, and accessories. And with two Starter Kits to choose from—Standard and Digital+—at a brand-new lower kit price, there’s never been a better time to join the Stampin’ Up! family.

Craft Tote Recruiting Promotion

Dates: September 1-October 18, 2010, or while supplies last

Details
New recruits who join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator during the promotion period will receive a FREE craft tote (valued at $39.95) with the purchase of their Starter Kit.

Greenhouse Gala Craft Tote Description

100% twill nylon exterior; 100% nylon interior
Dimensions: 15-3/4" x 7-5/8" x 8-7/8"
Includes attachable shoulder strap for easy transport
Center section fits 12" x 12" card stock, Craft Keepers, and Paper Cutter
Outside pockets fit extra-large punches perfectly
Outside flap pockets offer secure spot for accessories
Back zipper pocket holds up to seven Stampin' Pads

Things to Remember:

This incentive is available to all new recruits, including first-time joins, rejoins, etc.
Free Craft Tote will automatically be added to Starter Kit and shipped at the same time, but in a separate box.
Free Craft Tote will also be shipped for free.
Free Craft Tote is not substitutable.

Contact me for more information or to become a demonstrator!

Color Blocking and the Color Coach

2010-08-31T05:00:00.002-04:00

When I saw the Stampin' Addicts sketch challenge last week, I had an idea pop into my head and for once, I really feel like what I envisioned is what ended up happening on the card. I decided to use Shelli's Creative Challenge for this month once again to come up with my color combination. If you want to check out SASC 64 over at Stampin' Addicts, you can see it HERE.

My color combination came from the back of the Concord Crush card in the Color Coach. It is Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait. You can see in the close-up (you'll want to click on it to enlarge it) that I actually sponged the edges of the punched flowers to give them a little more depth.

I hope you like the card!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Apple Blossoms (Hostess Level 1)
Paper: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait and Whisper White CS, Pear Pizzazz Textured CS
Ink: Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers, Peach Parfait Classic Ink
Accessories: Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Corner punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

FTL 104 #2

2010-08-28T06:51:00.021-04:00

I made this card back on the 20th along with the card you saw in my last post (hey, I have to stretch out my posts if I want to appear to be a regular blogger!! ;) LOL), and after making that first card I had the desire to make the spot where the bow is in the sketch to be a torn paper flower. I've done them in the past with good success in making the flowers but not the best success at utilizing them on the card. I am pleased with how this one turned out. For once, I had to stop myself though. I was going to add some Dazzling Diamonds to all of the rough edges on the petals. I think it would have looked pretty, but maybe a bit much. I settled with just the bling (I LOVE THE SELF-ADHESIVE JEWELS THAT SU! HAS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) in the center of the flower. This card also uses the FTL 104 sketch, found HERE.

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Because I Care (Level 1 Hostess)
Paper: Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Ink: Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink
Accessories: Basic Rhinestone Jewels, 3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, White Thread, Janome Sew Mini, Clear-Mount Block

FTL 104 #1

2010-08-26T06:28:00.005-04:00

Here's a card that I made fairly quickly using the FTL 104 sketch from over at clean&simple stamping. Go check out the sketch HERE.

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Because I Care (Hostess Level 1)
Paper: Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Ink: Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink
Accessories: Neutrals Designer Button (Whisper White), 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon, Clear-Mount Block

FTL 103

2010-08-24T06:27:00.002-04:00

It has been a while since I have been able to play along with the gals over at clean&simple stamping. I was so glad to be able to use one of their more recent sketches for this card. If you want to check out the sketch, you can go see it HERE. I usually use a CAS myself, and I always love the sketches that are posted there.

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Just Believe
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White CS
Ink: Cherry Cobbler classic ink
Accessories: Basic Rhinestone Jewels, 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

Mojo Monday 153

2010-08-23T11:40:00.006-04:00

When Mojo Monday Sketch 153 came through in my Google Reader, I stopped what I was doing, grabbed some card stock, my SU! Color Coach, and came up with what I wanted to do. I have been inspired to use my Color Coach a lot since I've been able to start stamping again. Shelli even issued a Creative Challenge using it this month, and you should check it out! So, I came up with the color combination of Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry. Well, there are four "squares" in the sketch, as you'll see below, so I had to add in another color and decided to go with Not Quite Navy. I hope you like it, and I hope you have a fabulous Monday!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White CS
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry, Not Quite Navy and Tempting Turquoise classic ink, Black StazOn ink
Accessories: Basic Rhinestone Jewels, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 3/8" Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Designer Button Brights (Tempting Turquoise), Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Block

The Stampin' Up! Color Coach

2010-08-21T06:33:00.011-04:00

I wonder if I am the only one? When I was younger and my mom would get one of those rings with all of the color cards on it, for kitchen counter tops I think, I really wanted to HAVE one. She also would have the paint swatch ones that have the different hues, and I would fan it out and play with it. Well, the new SU! Color Coach has an aesthetic similar to those nifty little things that my mom used to have, and I LOVE it!!

With the NEW SU! Color Coach, you can pull out one color here, another color there, and make up your own color combinations. OR, flip it over and you can look at the suggested color combinations on the backs of the cards. Each color has two color combinations on the back and about 97% of the colors also have a dynamic duo listed on the back as well. So far, I haven't noticed any duplicate color combinations either, so when you like a color in one combo and look up that color and flip it over, the combos on the back of it are not the same as the one you just came from.

You can see the SU! Color Coach in 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog on page 165 or online by visiting my SU! website by clicking HERE.

Where am I going with this? Well, I use the color coach all of the time when I need some color inspiration, and this month Shelli Gardner's Creative Challenge was to use the color coach to come up with a combination for a project. You can check out Shelli's Creative Challenge HERE. Next, I thought I would explain the evolution of the card and then share the picture with you.

I decided that I wanted to use one of the new colors, and when I had my Color Coach in front of me with the colors all fanned out, my eyes gravitated to Cajun Craze. It's kind of the "replacement" for Really Rust, and I really like it, but didn't have any ideas in mind so I flipped it over and looked at the combinations listed on the back of the card. It listed: Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Baja Breeze, or Cajun Craze, Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke. The dymanic duo that it showed was Cajun Craze and Tangerine Tango. So...as I sat there and looked at the combinations, I really gravitated towards the top one which was Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Baja Breeze. Any of you that have followed my blog for a while know that I LOVE Baja Breeze. So much so that my walls in my living room and family room are painted in it (you can see it sometimes in the background of some of the pictures I take of my cards). I didn't have any Old Olive handy though, and being lazy I decided to substitute Wild Wasabi for it. Next, I made my stamp choice, and I decided to use the Funky Four stamp set. As the name indicates, there are four little mushrooms, so I just had to add in a fourth color - Daffodil Delight. I didn't count the Crumb Cake (card base) as part of the combo because it's from the Neutrals family ;)

As for the details of the card, I colored the mushrooms with my Stampin' Write Markers. I colored an extra flower that is one the second mushroom from the left, stamped it, punched it out and added a little pearl for some bling. I added the little flower embellishment to the side of the sentiment and think it looks pretty cute, if I do say so myself ;) The recipe is below and I hope that you have a fabulous weekend!!!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Funky Four, Apple Blossoms
Paper: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Whisper White CS
Ink: Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi and Early Espresso Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearl Jewels, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear-Mount Blocks

Just a little hoot....

2010-08-19T06:27:00.006-04:00

I just love the new 2-Step Owl punch from Stampin' Up! It makes for really quick, cute embellishments on cards, scrapbook pages, gift items, or whatever you want an owl on! I kept this one simple, but as usual there had to be some paper piercing.

Just to let everyone know, I'm not going to be unrealistic and say that with all that I have going on I'll be able to post every day, but my goal is to post Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday each week. I don't know if more than 2 people even still check my blog, but hopefully this will give you your "Marie fix" :) He he he.

Hope you have a great Friday!

All items used are SU!

Stamps: Apple Blossoms (Hostess Level 2)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White CS, Concord Crush Textured CS, Brights (Daffodil Delight) Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
Ink: Black StazOn
Accessories: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, ruler, Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Mat, 2-Step Owl Extra-Large punch, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Glue Dots, Clear-Mount Blocks

With Sympathy...

2010-08-17T06:41:00.003-04:00

This isn't a traditional sympathy card, but I really liked that phrase that was in the Occasional Quotes (Hostess Level 3) stamp set. My husband's cousin recently lost her 4-year-old son in a tragic drowning accident. I wanted to send her a note to let her know that she and her family are in our prayers. I wasn't able to attend the funeral, but have heard from family members that the mother spoke at her son's funeral, and that she has shown such faith and a testimony in her Savior and Heavenly Father that everyone is comforted to know that even in such grief, she is strong and has the knowledge of the loving arms wrapped around her by her Father in heaven. I can't even imagine what she is going through. My own children are 7, 6 (well, in 2 weeks anyway!) and 3. I just can't imagine.....

I decorated the inside with a VERY subdued image that perhaps you can get the idea of in the picture below. I was inspired by a card on Stampin' Connection made by Ilina Crouse where she made her own interpretation of a card that SU! Convention 2010 participants got to make.

All items are SU!

Stamps: Just Believe, Occasional Quotes (Hostess Level 3)
Paper: Concord Crush, Old Olive and Whisper White CS
Ink: Concord Crush Stampin' Write Marker, Old Olive classic ink
Accessories: Clear-Mount Blocks, Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly ribbon, Basic Pearl Jewels, Paper Piercing tool, template and mat

I'm Baaaaack.....

2010-08-16T00:40:00.010-04:00

Sort of :) I actually stamped two cards the other day (one is below, but I'm "hiding" it beneath a long post). I am sharing one of them today and then the other I'll share in my next post. I made this card for a very good friend for her birthday. I looked at my calendar at 11:20 pm last night and realized that I had lost track of what day it was with the hubby gone, the kids still on summer break, and my Master's class in full swing. I don't really have any need to know the actual date. So, after looking at the calendar I realized that her birthday (and mine - the day after hers) are in the next day or two. So unfortunately I am a terrible, slacker friend and she won't get the card in time. Sorry Melissa!! Oh, and don't continue reading if you don't want to see your card ;)

To tell you a bit about the card, I really wanted to use the new Apple Blossoms set and THIS old card of mine kept popping into my head as a potential rough layout to use. I also wanted to use only "new" colors (you'll see why I put "new" in quotes in a second), so I used Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight and Cherry Cobbler. As the card base and on the little punched out shape behind the sentiment, I used the "new" Crumb Cake (which to me looks just like the old Kraft CS, but I haven't actually compared the two side-by-side yet to see but it does for a fact replace the former Kraft CS in the SU! inventory).

Anyway, as you'll see below (sorry, I am typing a lot so that Melissa won't see the card right away if she checks my blog and hasn't gotten the card yet) it's a fairly simple card. The pattern on the Marina Mist CS at the bottom of the card was made using one of the stamps in the Apple Blossom set.

I tried out something new and used SU!'s glue-stick to adhere the ribbon to the CS. I REALLY like how flat it lays on the card using the glue-stick, and none of the glue goes through the ribbon, and you don't see little glue dot shapes, or anything like that. I recommend this technique to those that want their ribbon to really lay flat. It works well with the stain ribbons. I don't know that it would work as well with grosgrain or other more bulky/textured ribbons though.

So, without any more stalling, here it is:

All supplies are SU!

Stamps: Apple Blossoms
Paper: Marina Mist, Crumb Cake and Whisper White CS
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight Classic Ink
Accessories: Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, Clear Acrylic Blocks, Marina Mist Satin ribbon, linen thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stamps in the Mail...

2010-07-29T00:19:00.006-04:00

...is coming to a mailbox near you! Don't miss out on this great program!

Stamps in the Mail (SIM) is something that I have been doing for several years (click HERE to see some of my past cards/projects), and this year I have established a price of $50 per kit ($35 in merchandise, and $15 for shipping from SU! to me, and me to you, and the cost of some of the consumables) for this round. The round will go from Aug-Nov.

You will need to sign up by e-mailing me, and I will send out all the details to those who join on August 2nd. Your check will need to be in my hands by August 15th. The kit will then arrive in your mailbox no later than the end of the first week in September (it all depends on how quickly the items get to me from SU!), and this will continue all the way through November (with November's kit arriving no later than the end of the first week of December).

I will include some pictures in the next couple of weeks of some cards I make using the stamp set we will be using for August's kit. They are NOT what will be in the kit, but will give you an idea of some of the ways we might use the stamp set. It is a STUNNING stamp set. What is it, you're wondering? Well, the stamp set is "Just Believe" (pg. 109, item # 120453, $25.95 for clear-mount) which is pictured below.

The contents of the kit are flexible. If you already have any of the items on the list for a particular month's kit, simply substitute for like-priced merchandise. You don't even have to go with the clear-mount stamps that I list and can add the difference to purchase the traditional wood-mount stamp set if you would prefer.

Build your supply of stamping items. Each month you will get approximately $35 (could be more) worth of stamps, inks, card stock, papers, and other embellishments and tools. It's a great way to slowly add to what you have.

Creativity at your fingertips! Are you ever stumped and need help getting inspired? Use the kit contents to create the 4 projects included for that month, and then take the provided sketches, directions, photographs, tutorials and tips to create even more projects with your new Stampin' Up! products!

Organized and ready to stamp! All of the items that you need to recreate the four projects are individually packaged and other than common supplies (certain ink colors, adhesives, cutting tools, etc.) you will be able to open up a bag, stamp and assemble the contents, and you're done!

The more, the merrier! Get your friends to join and have a girls' night of stamping fun. Not only will it make it more enjoyable to get together with your friends, but you will also get a FREE Classic ink pad of your choice for getting a friend to join (who is not on my SU! mailing list).

What are you waiting for?!?!? E-mail me today (mariemc01@gmail.com) and get on the list for the next round which begins in August. The checks will be due to me by August 15th and I will place the order that day. I expect the turn-around to you to be that you have your SIM kits no later than one week after I receive the order from SU! More instructions and kit contents will be e-mailed out to those that sign up on August 2nd.

I look forward to sharing the beauty of this and other stamp sets with you over the next 4 months!!

July Projects

2010-07-06T08:26:00.002-04:00

Well, I hope to do some stamping soon, but tweaked my back today moving some furniture with my husband. I guess that's what a 1-foot height difference does to you when you're on the "short end of the stick" and you're lifting heavy furniture with a person that's not short ;)

So, for now, enjoy these featured July projects from SU!

Happy Stampin'!

Thanks to Michelle Laycock for putting the code to these (along with a lot of the side-bar buttons that I use!!). She designs fabulous layouts for blogs, if you're a blogger....

It's HERE!!!

2010-07-01T17:58:00.003-04:00

Today is the day that you can begin ordering products from the NEW 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog. Click HERE to view the catalog.

To order products from the new catalog, click HERE and then click on the "Shop Now" box in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.

Happy stampin'!

Marie

Stamping?????

2010-06-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am hopeful that with my Master's class ending, after I get back in town in July from a family reunion, that I will be able to STAMP!!!!!!

I did teach my daughter's classmates how to make a shirt card (the origami type), so I "kind of" paper-crafted this week! ;) It's so that all of her classmates who have fathers that are deployed "over there" for the Air Force will have time to mail them to their daddies. It's things like these that military members have to always be aware of - you can't wait until a week before to do crafts with kids that are gifts for their parents, as many of them need about 2 weeks to mail them off.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed that starting in the 2nd week of July I will be able to share some stamped goodness with you.

Oh, and I got my BRAND SPANKIN' NEW 2010-2011 SU! Idea Book and Catalog, and there are few things that just tickled me pink!!! There are adhesive rhinestones and pearls - YAY!!!! There is an adorable build-a-monster stamp set (perfect for my kids, especially my little man), and I just LOVE the new option for getting textured card stock with your smooth card stock by the color, rather than having to buy an entire color assortment to get the one that you want. There's more, and the catalog is GORGEOUS, but I've got to run!!!!

Happy stampin'!!! (if there's anyone still checking in on me ;) )

Last Chance Lists are HERE!!

2010-06-01T09:43:00.003-04:00

You can see the lists of retiring Stampin' Up! stamps, accessories and decor elements by clicking on the picture below.

Don't miss out - these SU! items will be gone in just one month!!!

Some new links....

2010-05-16T08:33:00.001-04:00

Click on each picture below to follow the link to the information within it.

Colors, colors, colors.....

2010-04-28T21:24:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to get this info on here really quick. Still busy, busy, busy. Still a demo...will keep that up as long as I have customers that want to buy and my minimums are met by those purchases ;) Have a lovely night!!

I've Realized...

2010-04-02T10:13:00.007-04:00

that I don't have much time to post. No crafting time, certainly!! :(

My first class is going really well. It's hard to manage my time so that I get peace and quiet to work when I'm not already tired from a whole day of other "stuff", but I'm still managing to keep my 100% even when I have to write a paper with Daniel climbing all over me.

We were so happy to have my parents come visit this past week for a few days. I did a good job of taking pictures, but in looking at them on the computer, I see that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM has someone blinking, or about to talk, or with chocolate all over their face (Daniel) such that it looks like he's sticking out his tongue becuase of the chocolate and the way the shadows hit. There wasn't one picture where everyone was okay. But, that's part of the fun too, I guess. I'll share a few below. I'm trying to decide if I should share the one of my mom with candy in her teeth - she put a bunch of green Jujubees on her teeth to show the kids how funny it would look and then obliged with a picture. Can we say "blackmail"? :)

So, enjoy the following pictures.

These first pictures are from when our friend/neighbor James took us to see a C-5 that was being de-constructed (not totally, though) for tests before being put back together again.

We got to go up 7 stories on one of 3 of these structures in the Air Force that gets up up on the tail of the C-5. Here's Daniel looking down at someone....

Who is that?

Oh! It's Nana!!! :)

We went down to Rehoboth beach for the first time, to check it out with my parents. I told you someone is doing something/making a face in each picture.... :)

Here we are outside of a candy store. Everyone was excited except for Sarah.

Here is everyone in the car with their candy.

This one of the kids enjoying some eggs that a friend left in our yard for us is priceless. Don't they look so happy staring into the sun?!?! I totally crack up whenever I look at it :)

This is our goodbye picture. Nana and Baba had to hit the road after we walked the girls to school after taking this picture.

It sure was a fun visit and everyone was sad to see Nana and Baba leave. I hope we get more of them. We love visitors!!! :)

Boots 2 Stamps February Winner

2010-03-07T14:29:00.002-05:00

Below you will see a list of those that participated in my February Boots 2 Stamps inspiration challenges. I used Random.Org to draw a number, and THE WINNER IS....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2010-03-07 19:27:08 UTC

That's Jen!!!!

Jen, please contact me via e-mail (mariemc01 "at" gmail "dot" com) to give me your snail-mail address and I will send your Sweet Pea items out in the mail ASAP! :)

Thanks everyone for playing along. For now, the challenges will come to a halt. I have absolutely enjoyed your participation, and a special shout-out goes out to Teresa who participated each week. Everyone's creations were inspiring to me!! :)

1. Teresa Kline
2. Jen Timko
3. Melissa Huie
4. Lisa Young
5. Teresa Kline
6. Chera Wiest
7. Teresa Kline
8. Rhonda Griffin
9. Melissa Huie
10..Becky H

PS - Mr. Linky is causing me some problems over at SU! where they are letting demonstrators import their blogs into their Demonstrator Websites, so I'm removing the Mr. Linky code from my past challenges. This list above will serve as the link to the submissions, as well as the one that announced January's winner. Thanks!

Winner to be announced soon...

2010-03-06T11:35:00.000-05:00

I've got some homework to take care of, but hopefully later today I will announce February's winner for my Boots to Stamps inspiration challenges. The winner will get an assortment of 6x6 Sweet Pea DSP and some of those fun Sweet Pea felt flowers!!!

Being Realistic

2010-03-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

I don't know how some of you stampers out there post as many posts as you do. Especially the stay at home moms. Maybe it's because I'm almost like a single stay at home mom (as I write this my husband is on yet another trip for the Air Force), but I can't find time to stamp when my kids aren't around, so I don't get to stamp. I don't like to sit them in front of the tv just so that I can stamp, and unfortunately I don't have the privileged of a stamping room or stamping space, and my supplies have to be kept in one of my children's closets upstairs. Hunting for supplies at night when they're asleep, with a flashlight, is just a pain in the you-know-what.

Anyway - now I've added in Master's classes to my load of responsibilities (and it's a GOOD thing - I'm doing something for ME that will have a long-lasting effect), I haven't even had time to think about stamping. So - I will not be like the others that manage to post every day. I may not even post every week anymore.

If you're at all interested in me, my blog, or my style, then please subscribe to it so that you don't waste your time checking in all of the time. I appreciate each and every one of you. It gets pretty lonely with my husband gone all of the time, and living in a strange community with people that are just not friendly (I would LOVE to move back out West, or even sort-of South, where people don't look at you strangely when you wave hello!!!), so my blog has been a great source of happiness to me. Your kind comments, support, and encouragement have meant a lot. They will continue to do so, even if I can't share with you very often anymore. I am hoping to not end up stopping my blogging all together.

Take care, friends. I will still visit your blogs as much as I can - that's less time consuming than sitting down and stamping, photographing, editing, and posting. :)

Have a lovely weekend!

What I've been up to....

2010-03-03T18:51:00.003-05:00

http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/everyday-banter/4763-what-i-thinking.html

Inspiration Week #5

2010-02-27T07:35:00.002-05:00

This week's picture comes from a Crate and Barrel outdoor collection that I LOVE. Too bad I'm not rich ;) To see it perhaps better (you should be able to click on my picture and see it larger) and to view the entire lovely collections, click HERE. The picture above is the inspiration piece though. Have fun with it!

Click HERE to see the specific details of how to play along.

This week's keyword is B2S05 for any online galleries you might upload to.

Lastly, I'm sorry I've been such a slacker with my own challenges!! I have had to squeeze in stamping on an as needed basis, and haven't had much extra time. Lots going on. I am sure many of you have your hands full too - I just seem to balance it all worse than most right now. It will be interesting, I begin my first Master's class on March 1st, and I have no idea how that's going to fit in to my life. I'll make it work though, somehow ;)

Check this out

2010-02-25T08:34:00.000-05:00

Greetings blogging friends. I am sorry to disappoint, but I have not been much of a stay-at-home mom this week. I have not been home, and the few hours that I have, I have been watching someone else's child at my house. Normally, I would risk my own life and that of my own children to dare to sit down and stamp while my children are awake and could burn the house down. I will not, however, do that with someone else's child at my house ;) LOL

I am hoping to stamp this weekend, and on Saturday I do have a new Inspiration Challenge for you.

In the meantime, check this fabulous site out. Lydia from Understand Blue has created a fabulous way for those of you who would love to actually work in your dream job (something in the creative industry) a way to FIND that dream job. See it HERE.

The Wand

2010-02-23T10:32:00.001-05:00

I thought I would show you how I constructed my wand (other than how I put together the circles from the Circle 3-D Ornament Bigz Die) that was part of my showcase of projects on the Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

To put all of the ribbons on the wooden fruit skewer, I stacked them and used my trusty Crop-a-Dile to punch a hole through them all.

Next, I put the ribbons on the skewer just past the narrowest portion of the tip.

The 3rd step involved wrapping tape around the ribbons to hold them down so that the pieces would hang downwards.

The last step with the ribbons involved moving them down where I would want them. I figured this out by placing the "ball" I had constructed for the end over the top and making sure that they were just below it. I had the skewer just touch the top of the inside of the ball so that it would be stable.

The final steps for putting the ball on involved putting mini glue dots (sorry, I forgot to take a photo of this!) around the skewer just above the ribbons) on the wood and then sliding the ball on, gluing it shut and adhereing it to the mini glue dots to keep it in place and from flying off of the end.

To hide the taped ribbons, I tied a bow out of the Whisper White 5/8" Satin ribbon. Of course, your ribbon treatments could be entirely different. You could even use some of the ribbon that you can curl that goes on presents for a nice look as well.

PS - there is glitter on all 3 "sides" of the circles on every circle, so it sparkles quite a bit in real life. My girls love it! :)

Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop

2010-02-20T09:05:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop weekend!

If you're following the Stampin' Addicts Birthday Blog Hop in order, then you just arrived from Melissa's fabulous blog, Stamping With Melissa where she had some really great cupcake themed projects to share with you and inspire you in your paper crafting. I just loved her little cupcake treat holder - wasn't it adorable!?!?

My projects fall under the theme of a little girl's birthday. I am trying to decide just how I want to do everything for my oldest daughter's seventh birthday which is coming up. She doesn't really like pink, but every one of her little friends does, so I won't completely do her party without pink. The Sweet Pea DSP paper stack came in really handy for making these projects. I think that each little girl will have a different colored hat, door-hanger and wand, so these are just one version of them. The door-hanger will be hanging on the back of each girl's chair to designate her seat at the table with her very own monogram on it, and then she can take it home and hang it on her bedroom door.

Without further ado, here are my projects:

Birthday Party Hat

Paper: Sweet Pea DSP, So Saffron and Old Olive CS, Taken with Teal Textured CS Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, Trio Flower Punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Big Shot, SU! Timeless Type medium Sizzlets die, "chipboard" from inside SU! Pennant Bigz die packaging, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Pink Bead Duo beads, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon (shredded), Silver Elastic Cord, Silver string

Door-Hanger

Paper: Sweet Pea DSP, So Saffron, Old Olive and Rose Red CS Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, Trio Flower Punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Big Shot, SU! Timeless Type medium Sizzlets die, SU! Pennant Bigz die, "chipboard" from inside SU! Pennant Bigz die packaging, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin ribbon, thread, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Fine Cosmo Glitter (green), 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon

Wand

Paper: Sweet Pea DSP Accessories: Big Shot, Circle 3-D Ornament Bigz die, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 1/4" Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red Grosgrain ribbon, Whisper White 5/8" Satin ribbon, wooden skewer

Now, on to the next stop of the Birthday Blog Hop. That is Holly's blog, InkPaperStamps where you will get to see some great projects to inspire you with all of those masculine birthdays in your life. Her card with the little punch art grill is a fantastic card to give to a special guy in your life!

Enjoy the hop, and thanks for stopping by!! I appreciate each and every one of you and the kind comments that you leave :) Have a fabulous weekend!

My Boots to Stamps weekly Inspiration challenge will be skipped this week due to the blog hop. Enjoy touring the 24 other stops instead ;)

FYI: Stampin' Addicts is a free website dedicated to supporting Stampin' Up! stampers and demonstrators alike and it is the first birthday of this fantastic site. The Stampin' Addicts motto is "Positively Creative! Positively Stampin' Up!" If you have not been to Stampin' Addicts, you should check them out as soon as you finish the Birthday Blog Hop! My screen name there is mariemc and I happen to know that there will be a STAMP JAM going on this weekend at Stampin' Addicts with Challenges and Stampin' and lots of Inspiration! If you're not already a member of this FABULOUS community dedicated to all things Stampin’ Up!, then click HERE to sign up (remember, it’s free!!) to get a username. You can always visit as a guest without a username as well. I hope to see you there!

If you were in the SAB/Occasions Mini swap with me....

2010-02-18T06:42:00.000-05:00

and you want to be surprised, well, then stop reading or delete this message!!! ;) Do whatever you need to do for however you are viewing it to NOT see the picture that I will try to put low enough in this post that it won't show when this first opens on your screen. If you don't like surprises, or just plain don't care if it's a surprise or not, then continue on, by all means. Of course, if you weren't in the swap with me I hope you will continue on as well ;)

Before I get into the details of the card, and then the actual picture, I thought I would remind you that this weekend, beginning at 12 pm EST on Saturday, February 20th, Stampin' Addicts will be having a blog hop with 25 fabulous stops to celebrate it's first birthday!! The theme is birthdays, and you will be amazed to see everything from cards, to 3-D items, and all kinds of things created by My Digital Studio (MDS). Paper crafters will not be disappointed after visiting all of the stops because there will be something for every style, and for many different paper crafting niches. I hope to see you back here on Saturday!!! :)

Now, on to my card. I'll post the recipe first.

Stamps: Vintage Vogue (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog) Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Whisper White CS Ink: Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive Classic Ink and Stampin' Up! Markers Accessories: Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

***I used the Clear-Mount Vintage Vogue stamp set, and it GREATLY helped with getting the word "friends" stamped where I wanted it. The leaves beneath the "F" are Old Olive stamped off once to make them a shade lighter.***

My Favorite Occasions Mini Catalog CASE

2010-02-16T06:01:00.000-05:00

This is the last of four cards that I made based on cards in the Occasions Mini Catalog. You will find this one on page 14 of the Mini.

I LOVED this card in the Mini, so I was excited to CASE it. I used the Sweet Pea DSP as inspiration for the colors, and I think it turned out really cute! I will say - I had wanted to put the 3 hearts under the image panel on the right, but I couldn't fit them and two just didn't look right. I had my Old Olive scalloped piece just a little too far to the right to allow the three hearts to fit. Oh well...

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Whimsical Words Paper: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS, So Saffron Textured CS Ink: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Rose Red and Pretty in Pink classic ink Accessories: Small Heart punch, Linen Thread, Pretty in Pink Corduroy brad, Scallop Edge punch, Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Stampin' Dimensionals

♥ Happy Valentine's Day ♥

2010-02-14T07:25:00.013-05:00

I don't normally post on Sundays, but I typed up this the day before and have it scheduled to post so that I can wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day! I also thought I would share with you the three little note cards I made for my 3 wonderful children.

Valentine's is not a huge holiday in our family, but I do use it as an opportunity to give my kids some little "love" notes from their parents. I try to give them little notes in their school lunches as often as possible, but they know it's Valentine's Day, and at their age, it seems to be very important to them that we all do little things for each other. I saw them making little notes and pictures for my husband and me the other day, and then they hid them in the cupboard in the kitchen and I told them that since I make food for them every day, that might not be a good hiding place ;) They are so excited to give them to us today :)

Well, the Valentine's I made my kids are very CAS (Clean-and-Simple), but I think they're really cute. Also, more thought went into them than you would think. I chose the colors and the hearts very specifically for each child.

I hope you enjoy them and that you had a lovely Valentine's Day in which you were able to show someone you care about just how much you do. I say why does it have to only be on the 14th that we make certain to tell our loved ones how special they are? Why is it only one day of the year is dedicated to love? Make every day Valentine's Day!!!

First Card: Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Picture This   Paper: Whisper White   Ink: Real Red and Basic Black classic ink Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Second Card: Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Picture This   Paper: Whisper White   Ink: Pink Passion and Basic Black classic ink Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Third Card: Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Picture This   Paper: Whisper White   Ink: Melon Mambo and Basic Black classic ink Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Boots 2 Stamps Inspiration Week #4

2010-02-13T07:00:00.003-05:00

This week's inspiration is nearly limitless!! You have OVER 75,000 possibilities!! I will share with you below a few of my favorites.

I was looking at a site that I like to visit to browse when looking for affordable art for my home (www.art.com), and I just loved so many of the botanical pieces. HERE is the link to all of the botanical art, and your challenge for this week is to choose one from that category to use as your inspiration piece. They're not all flowers, so no worries if you don't do flowers ;)

Please make sure to include in your own post or gallery upload not only the link to this challenge, but a link directly to the picture you chose as your inspiration piece. If you're posting to your blog, you could post the picture itself if you would rather, but please make sure we can see what inspired you!

Click HERE to see the specific details of how to play along.

This week's keyword is B2S04 for any online galleries you might upload to.

Here are a few that I liked (I tend to like photographs) and there are MANY styles from the contemporary to the classic on this site:

So – after you’ve stamped, go upload at Stampin’ Addicts and be sure to use the keyword “B2S04″ (no quotation marks needed) and include a link to this post, and then come back here and tell me that you’ve posted using Mr. Linky and include a link to your posted project so I can keep track of who has played along for the monthly drawing!!! Easy peasy!!

Happy

2010-02-11T21:37:00.008-05:00

So, I got this sweet award from Teresa Kline (AKA Va. Sunshine) over at Enjoy the VA Sunshine and I'm supposed to tell you 10 things that make me happy and pass the award on. I always feel like I'm leaving people out when I choose, so if you are a reader of my blog please consider yourself on my list below even if you don't see your name. I really mean that.

I'll try not to give you TMI (too much information) and my answers are in no particular order. They are just the first 10 things I could think of. It would have been easier if it was 10 things that drive me crazy since I've been shut off from the world for a week now with only my 3 lovely little angels, all under age 7, to keep me company ;) I could have listed those in less than 10 seconds!! LOL

1. Spending time with my family (immediate and extended)
2. Having my husband at home with us
3. Watching my children learn, grow and show concern and care for others
4. Watching the birds at my bird feeders
5. Setting goals and reaching them
6. Being with friends
7. Teaching and motivating people
8. Being crafty
9. Being in Kentucky
10. Making new friends

Now, the gals I am passing this on to are friends I have made via stamping and the internet (at Stampin' Addicts). If I had the time to name all of the SA girls, I would. Also, just as Teresa said, I won't mind if you aren't into these little blog award things and don't pass it on. It's totally up to you! :)

Jennifer

Melissa

Terri

Yapha

Rhonda

Cindy

UGLY, UGLY, UGLY!!!!

2010-02-11T06:26:00.000-05:00

So, for a good laugh (and without going into detail because this card doesn't deserve it), here's my ugly card that I made for last week's inspiration challenge (you can see that HERE). I started out thinking that Basic Black CS squares would be super neat and went downhill from there ;)

My Digital Studio...who said it's only for digital scrapbooking?

2010-02-10T07:00:00.053-05:00

I sat down with my daughter Emma yesterday to make a "Weekly Chore Chart" using My Digital Studio for her and her sister. I guess my cabin fever and lack of motivation to make them clean up all of their toys after 4 days of being stuck inside was my motivation for the chart. Well, I HAVE to tell you this story about making the chart.

Emma was sitting next to me and telling me what colors to put where and what images. I wasn't making it too complicated, but I took one of the Calendar Grid stamp images and rotated it onto it's side to create a chart - isn't that cool?!?! I needed two charts though, one for each daughter, so I copied it and then pasted it and started to scoot it over to Sarah's side of the chart. Well, I wanted them to line up exactly the same from top to bottom, so I turned on the grid that you can lay over your project temporarily to help line things up, and the poor child went from seeing 20 or so "chore boxes" to check off, to seeing hundreds. She didn't know it was a grid, and she said in an upset tone, "I can't do THAT many!" It was precious, and I laughed so hard.

Anyway, here is our little chart. It is 8-1/2" x 11" in size and I wanted both girls on one sheet so that I only have one piece of paper on the refrigerator. I will print it out once a week (as long as we all stay motivated) and they get a small reward at the end of each week. They rotate some chores from week to week, and others are permanent (like make your bed, tidy your toy area, etc.). Because the chores can change, I only put blank lines on the chart. Each line will be filled with a chore, and since that's 7 things they're responsible for (only 5 are daily, 2 of each of their chores are "as needed" - ie. helping put away the clean dishes, dusting, etc.), one of the rewards they can choose is $2.50 each week that they do all of their chores. I figured by the end of the month they could have $10 - enough to buy a Barbie - and after 2 months of saving it would be enough to buy a "nice" Barbie. That idea really motivated my middle daughter. My eldest may save for something else, and that's perfectly fine. I think our house has plenty of Barbies ;) I think $10 a month in allowance is a lot for a 5 and 6-year old, but feel that earning an allowance and learning to save and even spend it is an important lesson, and a dollar a week wouldn't buy them much after a whole month of saving. I think that since they're relatively young, their attention span requires a more quickly earned benefit for their actions.

So - if you thought that My Digital Studio was only helpful in creating scrapbook pages, it's not! It can make cards, flyers, business cards, brochurse, calendars, posters (up to 12 x 12 in size), scrapbook pages, embellishments, blog headers, blog backgrounds, buttons and blinkies for blogs, and so much more!! It can even be used to edit your photos and add watermarks to them for posting online!

If you live in or around the Dover (Delaware) area, let me know if you would like me to sit down with you and show you all that My Digital Studio can do. You will be amazed!!! Just e-mail me!!!

Page 15 CASE

2010-02-09T06:52:00.002-05:00

So, in line with my previous CASE posts, I thought I would share this CAS card. You can find the original on page 15 of the Occasions Mini catalog, as the title of this post indicates. I was still using the Sweet Pea DSP for my color combo, because that is the color inks my Stamps in the Mail participants would have (I base each SIM kit around a pack of DSP). This is not my typical color combo, but I think it turned out pretty cute.

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

My last card that I will be sharing in about 2 posts from now is my favorite though from my "CASE the Occasions Mini catalog" group of cards. :)

I hope you're having a fabulous day and if you haven't already, check out my inspiration challenge HERE!

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts Paper: Sweet Pea DSP, Rose Red, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS Ink: Pretty in Pink classic ink Accessories: Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin ribbon, Full Heart punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Boots 2 Stamps Inspiration Challenge #3

2010-02-06T14:13:00.008-05:00

This week's inspiration challenge comes from a favorite blog of mine to browse for eye candy. It's called Spearmint Decor. You can see the post I got the picture from HERE. I just loved the colors in this photo, and there are so many interesting objects, patterns, textures and even items in this photo that I thought it would make a great inspiration piece. I PROMISE I won't always do rooms, but I enjoy looking at photos of home decor because living in base housing, I don't ever really feel like I can truly decorate my home how I want since I never get to pick the floor plan or many other amenities that people who are buying or even renting take for granted. I can't wait until we are off base again!!!!! Anyway....below are the details copied and pasted from previous challenges. Please remember to use Mr. Linky to link to your project over on Stampin' Addicts (or wherever it might be). If you post it multiple places, that's fine, but only link to one location where the project is uploaded and PRETTY PLEASE use the appropriate keyword for the challenge (see below). Thanks!

For detailed instructions on how to play along in the challenge, please click HERE.

This week’s keyword is B2S03.

Please submit your links to your projects by midnight EST the Friday following the inspiration posting.

So – after you’ve stamped, go upload at Stampin’ Addicts and be sure to use the keyword “B2S03″ (no quotation marks needed) and include a link to this post, and then come back here and tell me that you’ve posted using Mr. Linky and include a link to your posted project so I can keep track of who has played along for the monthly drawing!!! Easy peasy!!

Inspiration Challenge Reveal and Stamp Set WINNER!!

2010-02-06T13:18:00.000-05:00

So - I had some fun making my card for this challenge. That's because I got a good laugh at myself, and you will get to as well (on Thursday). I made one card that turned out so ugly I couldn't bear for it to be the only one that I made for this inspiration challenge, even if it does get a good laugh out of everyone ;) I will let you see it later this week, but for now, here's something that I don't think is ugly. LOL

I ended up with this card, and am very pleased. From the inspiration photo, which you can see HERE, I really drew from all of the white, the pop of color in the flowers on the table, and the squares/lines that are throughout the room. I scored some criss-crossing lines on my card front, but kept it pretty CAS otherwise. I inked my silhouette buds in Tempting Turqouise classic ink first, and then tapped it lightly into Lovely Lilac classic ink.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes Paper: Whisper White CS Ink: Tempting Turquoise and Lovely Lilac, Basic Black classic ink Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

And now on to the winner of January's Stamp Set. I decided that I would send the winner a brand new clear-mount I {Heart} Hearts stamp set. This way, not only are you getting a free, brand new set, but together with this win, we will be giving $2 more to the Hatian relief funds that Stampin' Up! is donating with the sale of this stamp set.

Starting with the most recent challenge, B2S02, I numbered the participants beginning with #1 (you can see their submissions by clicking on each of their names).

1. Kris Sobolik
2. Melissa Huie
3. Trina Caraway
4. Melissa Huie
5. Chera Wiest
6. Jen Guarino

There were 6 of you, and random.org drew the following number:

#2 was Melissa!! So, Melissa, get in touch with me via e-mail or SA and we'll talk stamps since I know you have the one I was going to give away. :)

Simple Card, Simple CASE

2010-02-04T06:44:00.007-05:00

This card is from page 7 of the Occasions Mini catalog. I wish that I had had the little paper clips on hand to use to put the ribbon on in the same way, but I didn't. The things I did differently were that I changed the colors a tiny bit, used a different heart stamp from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set, used the new Scallop Trim border punch, and used a little Chocolate Chip Epoxy brad as an accent.

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts Paper: So Saffron and Whisper White CS, Taken with Teal Textured CS Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip and So Saffron classic ink Accessories: Scallop Trim border punch, Sending Love 1/4" Chocolate Chip Epoxy brad, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' dimensionals

PS - I would LOVE to have you join me on my Inspiration Challenge. You could win a free stamp set!!! Check it out here.

Page 35

2010-02-02T01:33:00.001-05:00

If you check out page 35 in the Occasions Mini catalog, you will see where I got my inspiration for this card. The color combo is not one I would typically use, but I was trying to keep the color palette to the colors found in the Sweet Pea DSP pack because it is what my Stamps in the Mail customers were to use in their kits. This wasn't how I originally intended to make the card (the DSP/Chocolate base), but I found that I was having a hard time getting the DSP in the Sweet Pea DSP stack to match any of the SU! CS it was supposed to match. This Chocolate Chip sheet was still not an exact match, but it looked the least different. I LOVE this stack of paper, so I hope that everyone's isn't like this!!

I loved the ribbon treatment on the card so basically kept it the same, I just used a different ribbon and button.

The heart stamp set I used is the very same one that SU! has chosen to use in a campaign to raise money for Haiti. You can check out more about that here.

Don't forget to join me for this week's inspiration challenge. You can read about it here.

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted Paper: Chocolate Chips Textured CS, Old Olive, Rose Red and Whisper White CS Inks: Rose Red and Chocolate Chip classic ink Accessories: On Board Essentials chipboard frame, Latte Designer Button in Whisper White, Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Scallop Edge punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Boots 2 Stamps Inspiration Challenge #2

2010-01-30T07:32:00.002-05:00

So, who wants to join me for my 2nd Inspiration Challenge?!?! Remember that this month, the prize for one lucky participant is a free stamp set!!! In January, because I just started the challenge last week, there will only be 2 challenges this month so the odds of winning are even better!

Here's the picture that I chose when I was browsing the website Traditional Home (click on the image to view it larger):
How do you enter? First, use the picture to inspire you. Perhaps you see a certain pattern in the image, or the colors, or textures or even shapes that get your creative juices flowing. Whatever it is that inspires you from the photo, run with it and get stamping! After your project is done, simply leave a comment here telling me that you uploaded your creation over at Stampin’ Addicts. It’s FREE to be a member, and if you’re not already a member of this FABULOUS community dedicated to all things Stampin’ Up!, then click HERE to sign up (remember, it’s free!!) to get a username, and then you can upload to the gallery! Stampin’ Addicts has Forums where you can chat with other stampers, a Buy-Sell-Trade section, and a Gallery where you can upload your pictures for others to see. A fun feature of their gallery is that on the home page, the recent uploads get a huge spotlight – you will see your own uploads appear there from time to time, and that is fun.

For my challenges, when you upload to an online gallery like Stampin’ Addicts, please use the “keyword” for that week’s challenge so that the projects are easy to find. The keyword will always be B2S## (which stands for Boots 2 Stamps, and the number sign represents the number of the challenge).

This week’s keyword is B2S02.

Another note of importance about Stampin’ Addicts – it is a SU! oriented website, so your cards/projects will need to be made with SU! items. If they’re not, then don’t post over there, but post it somewhere (your blog, photobucket, etc.) so that I can see it and you can still be in the drawing. Of course – I can’t make you use SU! items, but that is what I love and that is what Stampin’ Addicts is for – but it won’t disqualify you from a chance to win – Random.org draws numbers randomly, not based on product used Posting your project to your blog as well, even if you upload to Stampin’ Addicts is PERFECTLY fine. Please just include reference and a link to my post (in your blog post and in your picture upload at Stampin’ Addicts, etc.).

So – after you’ve stamped, go upload at Stampin’ Addicts and be sure to use the keyword “B2S02″ (no quotation marks needed) and include a link to this post, and then come back here and tell me that you’ve posted using Mr. Linky and include a link to your posted project so I can keep track of who has played along for the monthly drawing!!! Easy peasy!!

Boots 2 Stamps Inspiration Challenge #1 Reveal

2010-01-30T07:02:00.001-05:00

Before I post this week's challenge, I want to share with you the card I made for last week's challenge, which you can see here. The challenge is starting off slowly, but as long as there are people that want to play along, I'm happy to continue it! Here's my card for B2S01:

I used the colors in the challenge to make my card, and I wanted to play around with the fabulous new stamp set, Vintage Vogue, and the new Scallop Trim border punch that I earned FOR FREE by spending $50 on SU! merchandise this month. I love Sale-a-Bration, because every $50 you spend gets you 1 free item from the SAB brochure!!

Those of you who are a Stampin' Addict, like me, may recognize that this LO was inspired by Sketch #39 over on the Stampin' Addicts website. You can see the sketch here. I did turn the card/sketch on it's side. It was a fun sketch to use as a starting point. You should check it out!

Thank you so much to those of you that played along with me this week. I hope that you will stay tuned for my week #2 B2S Inspiration Challenge!!! I will post it shortly. :)

Stamps: Vintage Vogue (clear-mount; Occasions Mini Catalog item) Paper: Sweet Pea DSP Stack (Occasions Mini Catalog item), Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS, Dusty Durango Textured CS Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip and Dusty Durango classic ink Accessories: Scallop Trim Border punch, Vintage brad, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Satin Ribbon (Occasions Mini Catalog item), Latte button, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stay Tuned....

2010-01-28T07:21:00.000-05:00

Very long story short, but after a trip to the ER for my little one and my hubby being delayed on returning to us from his latest Air Force trip overseas, my card for this week's Boots 2 Stamps Challenge (see the challenge HERE - I would love to have more of you join me!!) will be posted when I post next week's challenge on Saturday. This actually might be how I do it from now on anyway - show my card when the new challenge is posted (and once a month the winner will also be revealed on the day a new challenge is posted) on Saturday's. Please join us - you could win a free stamp set!!

Have a great day!

Know Life...Love Many Things

2010-01-26T01:35:00.000-05:00

Third time's a charm!! By the time I was done making this card - another CASE (original by Laura, aka scrapnextras @ SCS) - I was so inspired and motivated that I signed up for the Occasions Blog Tour over at Stampin' Addicts and had one day to make my projects before the Blog Tour began!! If you missed out on the Tour, you can check it out by starting at my post HERE.

Stamps: Dreams du Jour Paper: Whisper White Orchid Opulence and Old Olive CS, Cottage Wall DSP Ink: Rich Razzleberry classic ink, Old Olive and Orchid Opulence markers Accessories: Mini Library Clip (pewter), Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Do you like to stamp too? Do you like to be inspired? Do you like to play along in challenges? Do you want to win a FREE stamp set? Well, check out my blog post HERE about my Inspiration Challenge!!! :)

Boots 2 Stamps Inspiration Challenge #1

2010-01-23T02:49:00.002-05:00

Well, I know that I have lost many of my followers/readers by switching my blog over, but hopefully they will find me again (remember to change your subscriptions/links/bookmarks, etc. to my blog please!!).

I decided I need a little inspiration to get stamping and I was browsing/playing around on the Behr paint website and I was just so inspired by this picture that I thought it would make a great Inspiration Challenge. There is just something about this room and its style that really makes me happy. I love the colors, the furniture, the patterns and textures.....It is from their "Get Inspired" section, with the sub-section of "Our Galleries - Browse Interior Images" I can't link directly to the picture, so HERE is as close as I can get you to the picture within the Behr website and the picture you see is the one I am speaking of. Please see below for how to play along and win a PRIZE!!!I am going to give away a small prize to one lucky participant each month, and the participants in the challenges each week will be given a number based on their time/date of comment, and then I will use Random.org to draw a winner. It might be a fabulous SU! stamp set, or other accessory, or some Designer Series Paper...who knows, but I know you will enjoy it, plus all you did to win it was stamp - and we all love to do that anyway, right?!?! I will post my own creation on the Thursday following the challenge posting on Saturday.

How do you enter? First, use the picture to inspire you. Perhaps you see a certain pattern in the image, or the colors, or textures or even shapes that get your creative juices flowing. Whatever it is that inspires you from the photo, run with it and get stamping! After your project is done, simply leave a comment here telling me that you uploaded your creation over at Stampin' Addicts. It's FREE to be a member, and if you're not already a member of this FABULOUS community dedicated to all things Stampin' Up!, then click HERE to sign up (remember, it's free!!) to get a username, and then you can upload to the gallery! Stampin' Addicts has Forums where you can chat with other stampers, a Buy-Sell-Trade section, and a Gallery where you can upload your pictures for others to see. A fun feature of their gallery is that on the home page, the recent uploads get a huge spotlight - you will see your own uploads appear there from time to time, and that is fun.

For my challenges, when you upload to an online gallery like Stampin' Addicts, please use the "keyword" for that week's challenge so that the projects are easy to find. The keyword will always be B2S## (which stands for Boots 2 Stamps, and the number sign represents the number of the challenge).

This week's keyword is B2S01.

Another note of importance about Stampin' Addicts - it is a SU! oriented website, so your cards/projects will need to be made with SU! items. If they're not, then don't post over there, but post it somewhere (your blog, photobucket, etc.) so that I can see it and you can still be in the drawing. Of course - I can't make you use SU! items, but that is what I love and that is what Stampin' Addicts is for - but it won't disqualify you from a chance to win - Random.org draws numbers randomly, not based on product used ;) Posting your project to your blog as well, even if you upload to Stampin' Addicts is PERFECTLY fine. Please just include reference and a link to my post (in your blog post and in your picture upload at Stampin' Addicts, etc.).

So - after you've stamped, go upload at Stampin' Addicts and be sure to use the keyword "B2S01" (no quotation marks needed) and include a link to this post, and then come back here and tell me that you've posted using Mr. Linky and include a link to your posted project so I can keep track of who has played along for the monthly drawing!!! Easy peasy!!

PS - The prize for January (hey, there will only be 2 challenges this month, so the odds of winning are even better!) will be a STAMP SET!!!

PPS - This is the first time I'm using Mr. Linky, so please let me know if it's not functioning properly for you and we can go back to the old fashioned way of leaving your link in you comment. This just gets confusing when you have to go through the comments and only count the ones with links :)

Haitian Disaster Relief via I {Heart} Hearts

2010-01-21T04:42:00.001-05:00

From now until February 28, 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp that is purchased will be donated American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. In addition to SU! giving this $2 per stamp set donation, I will be sending the Red Cross any and all commissions that I make in the sales of this stamp set as well.

If you're like me, and you already have the set - doesn't it make a great gift?!?!? I'm sure you know someone who stamps that you could give it to.

I look forward to working to make this a successful effort by SU! to give to the devastated people of Haiti. Will you help?

Contact me at mariemc01@gmail.com to place your order, or go to my Stampin' Up! website and click "Shop Now" in the top right-hand corner of your screen, and place it from the convenience of your own home.

Details, details, details....

2010-01-21T01:16:00.003-05:00

As I promised you, here are some of the tips/details/photos/etc. on the projects I made for the Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Tour. If you haven't checked it out yet, you can check it out by starting either with my post here and completing the circuit, or going to Stampin' Addicts here. Oh, and if you join Stampin' Addicts (it's free, and if you love stamping then it's the perfect site for you!!) come back to this post and follow this link so they know I referred ya! I don't get anything for it other than warm fuzzies, but who doesn't like warm fuzzies?!?! ;)

On the Blog Tour, it's appreciated if we don't get too wordy or show more than a certain number of pictures, so here is Part II of all of my projects.

Now, on to Part II of my Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Tour posts....

You probably remember this card. This card has a nice detail of a shorter front so that the sentiment peeks out from the inside. I was going to add some paper piercing to the bottom below the sentiment and stretching across to the left side of the card. BUT - I've gotten better at knowing when enough is enough. It is a talent I have yet to master, but in this case, I do think that the paper piercing would have been too much. I just love paper piercing though and can hardly keep myself from doing it all over!! :) I did do it around the butterfly, but that's it.

It has one of the darling new Chocolate Chip 1/4" Sending Love Epoxy Brads on the ribbon treatment. I don't know if it was very noticeable in the shot, but being that I had to stand the card up a funny way to get it to stand up since the bottom doesn't touch - it was taken at an odd angle.

So - maybe the details make you see the card a little differently? The color combo of a pink and a brown are a fave of mine for Valentine's day, so I think I had it stuck in my head when I made this card - even though it's totally unrelated to Valentine's day and I've yet to make any Valentine's cards. I guess I've just been seeing them everywhere :)

Now...on to the pictures I think you've anticipated seeing the most. The butterfly framed art (which is shown above at a fun angle). I must say, I am always looking for low-priced items to alter. I love to look at the frames on clearance at my local stores with thoughts and dreams for what they might hold, or what they might look like altered completely from top to bottom someday in the future. When I came up with the idea of the butterflies, I must admit that I looked through my small stash in hopes that I had a shadowbox type of frame, but I didn't have one. So - something I've done in the past so that I don't have to make my project more 2-D than 3-D, is to take the glass out of the frame and put it back in behind the stamped/hand-crafted art that I'm putting inside. That way it's still thick enough for the back to go on correctly, and it gives the cardstock art some support from behind since it doesn't have it from the front.

But, on to what I did. I recommend having some Dotto on hand - or some other re-positionable, non-permanent adhesive on hand. Mine was held with my fingers, and it got old - it slipped every now and then and I had to make sure to re-position it.

Tah-dah!! I used my Stampin' Up! Light Table, some SU! Grid Paper, and that's it! I've heard of people using windows, or glass coffee tables with lights beneath them instead of a light table, but for the times that I have needed it to emboss or now to line something up, it has been so much better than trying to make-do. That's just my opinion. Anyway - as I mentioned in my original Blog Tour post, you have to be using Whisper White CS because I don't think any other CS (except for Vellum CS, of course) will allow light to pass through both the grid paper AND the CS.

I centered my CS base on the grid paper and because it was 8" x 10" to fit my frame, it went from 3" to 13" from left to right, and 2" to 10" from bottom to top on the grid paper. If you have a piece in front of you, it will make more sense. I would suggest just using the center of your grid paper (it has an x and y "axis" that are more bold that run right through the grid paper in the middle of it both ways) to center your project, whatever the size (as long as it's not bigger than the grid paper of course). This is how I was able to evenly space my butterflies. I didn't even make marks on the CS! I placed the middle of the butterflies on the grid lines that I had chosen for the spacing that I desired in-between each butterfly. Every butterfly's wings touched the same line on the top and bottom of the wings as the butterfly next to it. They also were centered in the same column of squares going vertically down the page. My butterflies had a half an inch between them from the bottom of one butterfly to the top of the one below it, and a quarter of an inch between them (this was a little harder since my 1/4" consisted of two halves of two squares (2 - 1/8" segments). You can see this the best with the Melon Mambo Polka Dot (Patterns DSP) butterfly 2 down from the top right, the one to it's left (Bermuda Bay Stripes from Patterns DSP), and the one immediately below that one (Melon Mambo also from Patterns DSP). I used a little piece of Stampin' Dimensional under each wing to pop them up. I started mounting them at the top left and went to the right and then down to the 2nd row and went from left to right again, and so on.

I hope that this answers any and all questions you might have had about my projects. My third card, the one you see above, was fairly simple and really doesn't have much to it. I used my Tabletop Trimmer to cut 1-1/2" squares out of the Sweet Pea DSP and then just eye-balled placing them on my card. That's about it!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you'll keep visiting me. I appreciate each and every visit, and especially each and every comment. I'm getting ready to start working on my Master's Degree, so I don't have time like I used to to reply to every comment, but know that each one makes my day a little brighter. Thank you!! :)

Cottage Wall Squares

2010-01-19T01:22:00.000-05:00

So this is another CASE'd card. I changed up some of the details, but I loved the basic LO of the original, made by Stampin'_Kiwi over at SCS. I've made many cards that have a central panel with four squares, but I liked the pop of having the stamped image right in the middle of them. I added the detail of the brads and used a wider ribbon. If you'll look at the picture to the right, you'll see that I added a touch of glitter to the flower. It was a fun card to make!

Stamps: Dreams du Jour Paper: Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry CS, Cottage Wall DSP Ink: Basic Black classic ink, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry markers Accessories: 1/2" Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Silver Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop Stop #7

2010-01-16T04:55:00.001-05:00

Hi there! Some of you may be joining me because you've been hoppin' around the internet checking in with different Stampin' Addicts to see some fantabulous projects created with Sale-a-Bration items. I think that the ladies have outdone themselves once again! The Blog Tour "officially" starts at 12:00 pm EST but most of the stops should be live at 10:00 am EST. So, if you're hitting some bumps, check back a little later and it should all work perfectly!! :)

If you're following the Blog Tour, you just came here from stop #6 which was Sharon's blog Created By You, where she featured Whimsical Words. Don't you just love her projects?!?!

My projects will be featuring Whimsical Words as well. That's right, you're supposed to be seeing double - it's featured twice on the tour!!. This set is one of the exclusive Sale-a-Bration 2010 stamp sets that will never be seen in an Idea Book & Catalog. That's part of what makes Sale-a-Bration stamp sets so special. That, and they're FREE!!! LOL

On Thursday I will tell you some more details about my projects below, and I will also show some additional pictures to explain them a little more thoroughly. Make sure to check back on Thursday to see how I lined up my butterflies - it's a really handy trick (as long as you're using Whisper White CS as your base!!)

The picture you see to the left was my inspiration. I wanted to make something for my daughter and I used her bedspread for the colors. She loves what I made her, and of course my other daughter really wants one now too. I love my girls :) Now I just need a dinosaur punch to make one for my little man! ;)

As I mentioned before, check back on Thursday to see what I did to get my butterflies perfectly lined up.

Stamps: Whimsical Words (Sale-a-Bration 2010) Paper: Whisper White CS, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry Patterns DSP, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Sweet Pea DSP (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog) Ink: Bermuda Bay Classic Ink Accessories: Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad, Butterfly Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Wooden Frame

Stamps: Whimsical Words (Sale-a-Bration 2010) Paper: Kraft, Whisper White and Melon Mambo CS, Sweet Pea DSP (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog), and Melon Mambo Patterns DSP, Sending Love Notes - Kisses (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog) Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Accessories: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog), Big Shot, Scallop Edge punch, Corner Rounder punch Chocolate Chip 5/8" Satin Ribbon (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog), Sending Love Chocolate Chip 1/4" Epoxy Brads (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog), Vintage Brads - Antique Brass, Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, Stampin' Dimensionals

And my last project - a masculine card. It is my first in a while and I am planning on sending it to my hubby during one of his "trips" overseas for the Air Force:

Stamps: Whimsical Words (2010 Sale-a-Bration) Paper: Bashful Blue CS, Sending Love Notes - Kisses (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog), Sweet Pea DSP (2010 Occasions Mini Catalog) Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Pad, 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brad - Chocolate Chip, Stampin' Dimensionals

If my count is right, there are EIGHTY THREE stamp sets or other items that you get to choose from for this year's Sale-a-Bration promotion!!! Never before has SU! offered so many choices for your free item that you earn with every $50 spent. There's not even a limit!! If you spend $150 you get the regular free merchandise and stamp sets as a "hostess" - whether you hold a workshop or not - but you would also get THREE more free items from the SAB brochure!!!!

Now, to see another fabulous array of products made with one of these 83 items, go to stop #8, Cindy's blog Heart's Delight Cards, where she will be featuring the super cute Scallop Trim punch that you can earn for FREE!!! You will love the different ways she has used the punch! :)

Enjoy the rest of the Blog Tour and have a GREAT weekend!!!

If you're a SU! Demonstrator, and if You're Not

2010-01-12T15:26:00.002-05:00

To my fellow demonstrators - I would love to find you on Stampin' Connections (SU!'s new site for demos to share and inspire each other on). My name is my username there: Marie McClellan. I would love to be your friend - it's a great way for me to get to know those of you that stop by my blog and don't have one of your own, or just to connect with all of you even if you do have a blog.

To everyone - I wanted to let you know that there's another Stampin' Addicts Blog Hop brewing....feels like Halloween after I say that, huh? Well, actually, the hop is going to spotlight Sale-a-Bration items and I would love to see you back here when my post goes up for it! I know it will be another fabulous showcasing of Stampin' Up! product by some really fantastic gals!!

Sometimes....

2010-01-12T01:03:00.000-05:00

it takes a little CASE'ing to get you going...or at least I have found that it is just what I need sometimes to get my creative juices flowing again. I've been in a bit of a creative slump lately. Mostly because I have no time to stamp, but also because I am tired even if I do have the time. I think it's just the cold, dreary weather. Anyway....I had to come up with some items for my latest round of SIM, so I turned to trusty old SCS to find some cards that inspired me because I figured if I CASE'd them then they would hopefully inspire my participants as wel as myselfl. I told them who made each original card and I created a basic sketch of the card for them to keep in My Digital Studio. This was the first card I made and it was a CASE of Stacey's (slschaf771) card used the same stamp set but a different and very fabulous color combo. I hope you like it!

Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Old Olive CS (card base), Orchid Opulence and Whisper White CS
Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black classic ink, Orchid Opulence and Old Olive markers
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Clear Rhinestone Brad, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Stampin Dimensionals

I've Decided....

2010-01-09T04:34:00.000-05:00

After much conversation with the hubby, speaking with my brother-in-law (a partner in an accounting firm), thought and prayer, I am going to remain a demonstrator through the end of December...at least. I'll re-evaluate in December 2010 for 2011. I've told all of my customers and my downline, so now I'm posting this here.

I have many reasons why stopping might be the right thing (one of the main ones being the PAIN that it is that I do our taxes and being in the military and adding SU! to the mix really complicates them), but I also have many reasons why I really don't want to quit. I'll spare you the details. I am going to continue to hope for and try to create situations where I might finally (after almost a year and a half!) get a local customer that doesn't already "belong" to another demonstrator who was already in the area before we moved here. We will be moving from Dover in 2011/2012 anyway (not sure yet exactly when) so if I can just hang on, maybe where the Air Force sends us next will be better for me and I'll be able to have events again. Workshops are really what makes me happy as a demo - I LOVE to teach and share stamping.

I just thought I would let you all know :) Have a great weekend!

I Promised

2010-01-07T01:45:00.001-05:00

Here are the close-ups I promised in my post for the Occasions Mini Blog Tour that you can find HERE. Did you check out the Tour? There were some really beautiful projects featured by the ladies, and even some blog candy giveaways. I hope you all enjoyed it, and if you missed it, it's never too late to go through the stops!

Here's the close-up of me card that had a small detail from the images in the Tiny Tags stamp set in the bottom-right corner of the card:

This next picture is another view of my masked-heart card. It is with the card completely shut as the recipient will see it, and then there is a view of the inside of the card where the heart is sponged/stamped.

Well, that's all for today. I just wanted you to see some more details on my cards but we were only to have 4 pictures in our Blog Tour post so I couldn't squeeze these in ;)

Baby Gift Card Holder

2010-01-05T01:53:00.000-05:00

I made this gift card after seeing one on SCS. I don't have any instructions and I didn't have any when I made it. I just tried to "eyeball" it. Hope you like it! It had a nice gift card in it for my daughter's teacher who is expecting a baby over the holiday break. It will be her first and since she didn't have a registry we could find to buy her a big-ticket item, we gave her a Visa gift card to buy whatever she wants for the baby, wherever she wants. You won't be able to see it very well, but the little moon is stamped on Certainly Celery in Certainly Celery and then covered with the fabulous Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint from SU!. That is Very Vanilla CS - just so you know - it's not bad lighting ;)

I wanted to use my Nursery Necessities stamp set originally, but then I remembered I let a friend borrow it, and I don't have any other current baby sets, so I ended up using this retired set called So Many Scallops. I'm sure many of you remember it.

Anyway, hope you're having a lovely day. I'm sorry that at my best right now I can only post once a week, but it's better than nothing, right??? :) Take care!!!!

Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Tour - Stop #16

2010-01-01T04:52:00.001-05:00

Hi there! If you've been making your way around the Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Catalog Tour, then you might have just come to my blog from Joyce's blog Stampin' Central, where she used the FABULOUS new stamp set Vintage Vogue. If you didn't come from the previous stop, click HERE to see Joyce's creations at stop #15. I just love this stamp set - it was one of the ones that I made sure to pre-order (a demonstrator perk!!) and I have really enjoyed using it so far. Don't you just love her projects?!?!? You can order your very own Mini Occasions Catalog products beginning January 5th - so get crackin' on your Wish List!! :)

Well, I'm excited to share mine with you now. I signed up a little late for this Tour (hush, hush). Actually, I signed up on Wednesday afternoon, but I was super happy to see that no one had reserved the new stamp set Tiny Tags for use in the Tour. It is a super cute stamp set and I am a sentiment hoarder, so I love it! What I am most excited about is that on all three of my projects I think that the alignment of the sentiments turned out pretty darn good, and I DIDN'T use my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig!!! I am very OCD about my stamping being even and lined up, and while it's not 100% perfect (I'm not telling you where!! ;) LOL) it's pretty close and it's good enough for me! I really like these new clear-mount stamps. It's the same BEST IN THE INDUSTRY deeply etched rubber images with the ease of a clear block to help see where you're stamping and to really save on storage space needed. I hope you enjoy my projects!!

Occasions Mini Catalog item featured on this stop: TINY TAGS stamp set

This card was made using my Movers & Shapers Bigz die along with the Heart movable die you can purchase separately. I reverse masked my heart on the inside of the card and sponged some Rose Red in there, along with stamping the little damask image from Tiny Tags inside the heart as well. I paper pierced all the way around the heart and you can't see it, but underneath the ribbon too. I used my scalloped edge punch to add a layer of Pretty in Pink CS beneath the distressed layer of Sweet Pea DSP STACK (in the Occasions Mini!!). The sentiment is from the Tiny Tags stamp set, and the ribbon is the 5/8" Whisper White Satin ribbon. Have you seen that in the Occasions Mini there are NINE new colors of this GORGEOUS satin ribbon?!?!?

This second card was made using some more of the yummy Sweet Pea DSP Stack but I gave the DSP a totally different twist with my color combo. In a few days I will share some up-close images of today's projects so you can see the little image I stamped on this card a little more closely, but if you click on the picture it should give you a nice HUGE picture to look at ;) It's hard to tell but I did use my Scallop Edge punch again on the DSP, and that is another small layer of Pumpkin Pie colored DSP beneath that 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon. I did some more paper piercing along the bottom right corner near the stamped image, and again I stamped my image without a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig!

This last project once again features the stamp set Tiny Tags and some scallops. I'm loving scallops right now. The envelope is made with the Scallop Envelope Bigz die, and I made a little flower using some of my smaller circle punches and then crinkling the CS and tearing around the edge of the circles. Layered on top of one another, the circles are held together nicely with one of the Whisper White 5/16" Jumbo brads. That beautiful ribbon is the Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon. Again, the DSP used is some of the Sweet Pea DSP Stack paper - isn't it so pretty?!?! Well, open up this cute little envelope, and this is what you get:

More paper piercing, some stamped images from Tiny Tags, and did you notice that the paper piercing is "reversed"? I had the rough side of the holes on the top and I even did it right through my image. I thought it made it more "interesting". What do you think?

Well, I hope you enjoyed my samples, and I hope that you'll continue on your way to discover some really fabulous creations made with the fantastic new stamps and accessories available in the Occasions Mini Catalog!!! I haven't even told you my FAVORITE part about this Tiny Tags stamp set.....IT HAS A COORDINATING PUNCH!!! I just didn't use it on any of my projects because I always try to use my Blog Tour items in a way rather than the most expected. The punch is called the Medium Jewelry Tag punch, and it's ADORABLE!!! You'll have to check it out in the Mini Catalog, or check back here for some samples using it in the near future ;)

Moving on....please click HERE to go to stop #17 on the Tour - Lyssa's blog, Song of My Heart Stampers where she is going to show you the set everyone will want to have - Messages for Mom. We've all got a mom or someone who is in our life that fills that motherly role, and we all love to stamp, so it's a must have!!! :)

Thanks so much for joining me on this Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Tour!!!!!!! Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

PS - Some of the participants on the Tour will have some Blog Candy for you to win!!! :)

It's Coming....

2009-12-31T10:14:00.001-05:00

Click on the banner to see more info about the Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Tour that begins tomorrow.

Moving....

2009-12-29T01:23:00.000-05:00

Moving is something that people in the military just have to get used to. I have found that military families make friends fast, hard, and forever. If you're associated with the military, you know what I mean. The friendships are some of the strongest I've ever had in my life, and they last - no matter the miles between us as the military moves us from one part of the world to another.

I have yet another friend leaving me and I made her this card. She is such a lovely person, on the inside and out. My kids love her. They're always talking about how pretty she dresses when we see her at church (I try - but they never seem to notice when mommy isn't wearing "mommy" clothes!). She taught Sunday School and I always learned something new in her class and left feeling edified and uplifted. That's always a nice thing. She's just such a nice person and I am sad to see her go.

Anyway, we will miss Ashley and I hope that she enjoyed her card. She wears lots of colors (she has gorgeous blonde hair and can pretty much wear any color she wants!) so I wanted to give her a card with some color.

I had a lot of fun making this card - it made me feel creatively inspired once again and maybe I'm coming out of my slump! I would love to have my Mojo back!! :)

Merry Christmas!!!!

2009-12-24T01:08:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!

May you all receive those blessings you stand in need of in this upcoming New Year, and my wish for you is that you can go and do and be the things that you desire.

Until next year..... :)

CAS Christmas.....

2009-12-22T01:04:00.000-05:00

Yup....you guessed it, CAS Christmas CARDINAL ;) He he he.... Hope that this CAS card inspires you. I had fun trimming off the edge of the Whisper White CS Top Note die cut piece and then distressing it too. Can you see that? Enjoy!!!

You would think I'm a Louisville fan or something!!!

2009-12-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, here is another Cardinal card, but it's a CHRISTMAS Cardinal ;) I am a University of Kentucky fan through and through. My blood runs blue in spite of the very Red-White color scheme to this card. I wanted it to be monochromatic. Hope you like it!

Christmas Cards (and others) for Sale

2009-12-09T05:55:00.000-05:00

I have a childhood friend who I still am fortunate to keep in touch with and see from time to time (about every 5 or 6 years!) that has always been a creative inspiration to me. She writes/tells fabulous stories, and has such a unique style of art. She draws people with a style of her own, and her sense of humor comes through in her art and you can't help but enjoy what she shares. Anyway, she is one of the few people you will ever "know" that uses the old method of letterpressing. Her Christmas cards this year are not letterpressed, but you can take a look through her etsy store and see which other cards are. Either way, I know you will like what you see. Check Melinda out HERE!!!! She has cards other than for Christmas in her store.

Another Christmas Cardinal

2009-12-08T17:58:00.000-05:00

Here's another card for your viewing pleasure (all 3 of you that are still with me - LOL!!!) :) No commentary. I hope you are all having a wonderful week!!!

Hugs!

I'm Alive :)

2009-12-03T01:25:00.000-05:00

I am still here. I've been having some dental issues and it has been very stressful. My little one also got sick, and the husband has been home and then gone again several times since getting back from his deployment. I finally got to stamp because I had a new round of Stamps in the Mail coming up. To get inspired, I started with a CASE of a card that I really liked. I liked using the "A Cardinal Christmas" stamp set and not use either of the images included, but only the sentiment. Anyway, the card I CASE'd was by card crazy over at SCS. I will probably space out the other cards I made just because I don't see much stamping time in my near future. I hope you like this one!

If you're in/around Dover...

2009-11-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

or know someone who is...

Please take a look at our ad for our piano. We've got to get it out of our house before we move again (not any time soon, but I don't need to be worrying about this when the time does come). http://delaware.craigslist.org/msg/1485919379.html

Soon...

2009-11-13T15:04:00.000-05:00

I hope to post soon. I have a couple of cards that I haven't shown you - but neither were completed recently. Unfortunately my me/crafting time has been nil. Anyway - to update you on the big decision I recently made - with lots of thought and prayer, I decided to resign as a SU! demonstrator effective February 1st (my last round of Stamps in the Mail is in January). It really is what will be best for my family and also myself. I am very at peace with the decision. It does mean that this blog may become obsolete at that point, or even before, but know that whatever happens, I have really enjoyed "meeting" all of you. I wish that moving around in the military was more conducive to being a demonstrator. If I could have just stayed in Texas, all would be well and fine, but that's not how it is. So, again, thank you for everything and hopefully in the next couple of days I'll get something actually interesting up on my blog for you to see :)

At last....

2009-10-27T15:15:00.000-04:00

My husband is home and our family is complete. BUT....I guess things couldn't stay perfect for long. We are dealing with some personal issues in our family right now and I will not be posting in the very near future. I hope that I will be able to be back sometime in November. I just feel like I'm about to fall apart with what is happening and stamping is definitely going to have to take a VERY back seat right now. In advance, because I know you all are so FABULOUS and will offer them, I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

My Digital Studio - the best thing since die cut SU! stamps!!!

2009-10-23T06:05:00.000-04:00

So, I am just loving My Digital Studio (MDS) if you can't tell! :) I decided today that I would start playing around with possible Christmas photo cards. This card is not the one I will send - can't share that until it gets mailed!!! We still have to take a new family picture, but I wanted to get an idea for how it might look. The great thing about MDS is that you can make your own Christmas photo card. You know, the ones that are like a card on a picture - like a postcard, and people usually get them from Wally-World and other such places? Well, I got so many last year that I thought maybe it's time I jump on the bandwagon and do something easy so that it's not just one more stress at this time of year that's supposed to be about something else - not about the shopping and to-do lists.... I am going to look into how much it will cost to send the finished card to a photo shop to have them reproduced so that I can do it locally and do it one at a time until I get one that I like. I am fairly certain that they do make 5x7's in most stores that print pictures, so that's the size I'm sticking with in MDS. We'll see how it turns out!!

PS - this was one of the "Designer Templates" in MDS so all I did was insert my picture, add some stitching to the ribbon and add the text!!! Gotta love that!!

Piddling Around....

2009-10-22T07:23:00.000-04:00

So, I've mostly packed our stuff up for our trip back to Delaware, and I thought that I would make a quick CAS (clean & simple) card on My Digital Studio (MDS). Well, it was quick to make and Halloween cards are not my thing, so I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's okay. I do like that I could get the little pumpkins whatever size I wanted. That is just one of the many awesome features to MDS and having your stamp images in an electronic version. So, what do you think?

Stamps: Pumpkin Patch (MDS digital image), Eat, Drink & Be Scary (MDS digital image), Torn Edges (MDS digital image)
Paper: All MDS papers/CS - Pumpkin Pie, Lovely Lilac, Old Olive and Whisper White CS, Cast-a-Spell DSP
Ink: All colors used in MDS - Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Old Olive
Accessories: All accessories from MDS - black brads, Modern Label punch

Oh, oh, oh!!

2009-10-20T02:50:00.000-04:00

I haven't stamped, but I found this card that I hadn't posted on here yet and thought I'd put it up so that there's something pretty to look at rather than my lame-excuse-post that you can see previous to this one ;) No time to post the exact details, except that everything used is SU! and it's all current so either in the Idea Book & Catalog or the Holiday Mini Catalog. The trees are that lovely Patterned Pines Hostess Level I stamp set in the HMC and I finally inked up SU!'s fabulous Woodgrain Background stamp. Enjoy!!!

PS - I'm out of town for this week and will be back on Saturday and hope that my husband has finally made it home (this is a pre-scheduled post) so that maybe some stamping time is in my near future ;)

Deals of the Week #3

2009-10-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

This week's deals are some great ones!!! Who doesn't love to use embellishments on their cards and other projects?!?! I know I will be ordering some of these myself. I adore the mini library clips and the circle brads too. At these prices though I think I'll throw in some of the other deals too!!

Please remember that if you are my customer or you don't have a SU! demonstrator, to go to my website to place your order so you don't pay extra ordering from the generic SU! website. Here it is: http://mariemcclellan.stampinup.net and then click on "Shop Now" to place your order. On the left-hand side of your screen you'll see "Deals of the Week" as one of the categories you can shop from.

The third deals of the week are from October 19, 10 AM (MT) through October 26, 9:50 AM (MT).

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
114348	179	Basic Jumbo grommets	$6.95	$4.49
109857	179	Mini Library clips	$12.95	$8.99
112571	179	Circle Designer brads	$5.95	$3.99
112581	179	1/2" Library clips	$6.95	$3.99

Here is a link to the deals specifically so that you can see the pictures: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=425 but I can't promise that it will actually take you to the link in MY website, so make sure that you see my name at the top right of your screen before placing an order!!! If you don't, you will want to enter via the link I provided earlier in the post that goes straight to my SU! website.

Oh, and don't forget about my Stamps in the Mail program!!!! Check it out by clicking on the logo for it in my sidebar to the right.

So Sorry

2009-10-13T18:36:00.000-04:00

I will not be posting for a while. I have A LOT going on. Nothing bad or worrisome, just a lot going on with my husband's return to us getting delayed, school stuff, activities for the kids, the return of one of my girls to me from a long stay with her grandparents, a sick little boy, and I could go on and on. So...please don't forget about me - I promise that I WANT to stamp, and when I do, I'll share it with you :) For now, if you would like to join my Stamps in the Mail program and get new stamps at your doorstep each month, check it out in my right-hand sidebar (click on the logo that says Stamps in the Mail) or click HERE. I would love to have you join me. And yes, SIM is one of the things I could add to the list I began above ;) Take care!!!

Week #2 Deals are HERE!!!

2009-10-12T08:18:00.000-04:00

Contact me (mariemc01@gmail.com) before the deal ends to order these dies, or simply go to my website (www.mariemcclellan.stampinup.net) and click on "Shop Now" at the top right of your screen. From there you can place your order from the comfort of your own home, and it will ship right to your doorstep!!!

ALSO - CHECK OUT MY STAMPS IN THE MAIL PROGRAM BY CLICKING ON THE LOGO FOR IT IN MY RIGHT-HAND SIDEBAR. GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE 4 FABULOUS PROJECTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EACH MONTH FOR 3 MONTHS. STAMP SETS INCLUDED!!!!

The second deals of the week are from October 12, 10 AM (MT) through October 19, 9:50 AM (MT).

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
115961	200	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95	$25.99
114515	195	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$11.95	$5.99
116760	201	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$39.95	$25.49

Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die

Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL Die

Flower Burst Embosslits Die

Some inspiration from the Holiday Mini Catalog

2009-10-12T08:15:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, each of these gals have some GORGEOUS projects to share with you featuring stamp sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog. Perfect for your Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas crafting needs!!

1. Tracy/rosowskimom: Sweet Centers (Tracy’s Stamp Therapy)
2. Michelle/stampin’shell: Grateful Greetings (Come Stamp with Me)
3. Sarah/willsygirl: Pumpkin Patch (Sarah’s Ink Spot)
4. Twila/tjdstampsalot: Twick or Tweet (Stamp a Little Longer)
5. Sara/lilyinkpad: Haunting Hill & DSP (Lily’s Ink Pad)
6. Marie/mariemc: Night & Day DSP (From Combat Boots…)
7. Holly/hollylogic: Autumn Splendor & Tablesetting Die (InkPaperStamps)
8. Joyce/broncomom: Autumn Meadows DSP (Stampin’ Central)
9. Lyssa: Calendar Kit with Magnetic Box (Song of My Heart Stampers)
10. Trina/pepesmom: Gifts of the Earth (Stamps and Whiskers)
11. Kim/s1itcher46: Wandering Words (Stitchin’ N Stampin’ on Paper)
12. Carmen: Cold & Cuddly (Stamping Addiction)
13. Ashley/CoastieWife09: Just Beclause & Christmas Cocoa DSP (Stamp with Ashley)
14. Dawnmarie/dmdezigns: Berry Christmas (DM Dezigns)
15. Rhonda/rhondag: Holy Family (The Stampin’ Bunny)
16. Kat/uk79ee: Delightful Decorations and Punch (Kat’s Kards)
17. Cheryl/lovetostampandscrap: Icicle and Merry & Bright Rub-Ons (Love to Stamp and Scrap)
18. Holly/catrules: Serene Snowflakes (Holly’s Stampin’ Mania)
19. Paula/scrapshappen: Décor Elements & wood blocks (Stamping with Paula)
20. Linda/lindakeal: Charming (Olive Stamps)
21. Barbara/cre8tivestamper: Simply Adorned (Creative Stampin’ Spot)
22. Yapha: Bear Bigz Die and clothes (Yapha Stamps)