Joyous Celebrations

When I saw this card in our Holiday Catalog, I just had to make it.  I really love it.  I made 2 versions that are very similar, with different card bases.  My colors are cherry cobbler, gumball green and whisper white.  You cannot see it in the photo, but it has a spritzing of gorgeous shimmer over it.

 

It's a short post today because I'm babysitting and then off to work in my studio.  More Christmas, Fall and Halloween cards coming up!  Playing with the boys and stamping?  It sounds like a great day to me.

You have a great day, too!

 

Sunflowers

I remember how much I loved seeing fields of beautiful sunflowers when we used to vacation in Minnesota.  It was always about this time of year.  I admit that I've had this giant sunflower stamp sitting patiently in my drawer of background stamps, just waiting for me to come up with a plan for it.

This is what I made for the church birthday cards for September.  I make cards for them each month to send to elderly members on their birthdays.  I am so happy to be able to share my art with them and know it brings a smile to their faces.

I made some extras for my 'stash' along with a few 'thinking of you' cards, using the same design.  You always need some of those.

The little embossed strip adds a touch of elegance, along with the sprig of ribbon.  My colors are summer starfruit, very vanilla and soft suede.

I'm off to work in my studio.  Have a great day.

This little froggie went to school!

Remember all my frogs in yesterday's post?  Well, one of them did not go to church with the others because he went to school with my youngest grandson.  His kindergarten class is having color days and I suggested the frog for his green day.  Wow!  He can hold crayons for the entire class!  For more ideas for color days/teacher gifts, check out my daughter's website.

I'm off to work in my studio and make up some more fall and Christmas projects.  I have 4 events next week, so I need to really kick it up to super drive.  Come back tomorrow to see my beautiful sunflowers. 

Froggies Galore!

One of our church staff asked me if I could help with table decorations for the Sunday School kickoff for the new year.  The theme is 'grow' and she mentioned frogs, so here's what I came up with for her.

Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I had a couple of retired dies in my stash to help me out --- the Scallop topped box and the daisies die.  I free-hand cut the lily pads, spritzed them with shimmer and green accents.  The pieces on the frogs are all punched.  I ended up with 27 frogs, mostly 3 in a group and then 3 single frogs on separate lily pads for the sign-in table, etc.

They were fun to make and it was good to be able to come up with something to help her out.  My only regret is that my asthma kicked up over the weekend and I didn't get to go Sunday and see the magic show.  Bummer!

Today, I'm off to work in my studio.  I'll be working on fall AND Christmas cards and projects --- Yay!  I do so love this time of year.

Stampin' Fun/Halloween but NOT Halloween

One of the fun perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is getting to attend group meetings and other great stampin' events.  At our last meeting in Springfield, this is one of the cards we all got to make.  I like that it uses some of our Halloween DSP, but is not a Halloween card. 

It's a simple and fun layout and would be a good way to use up scraps of DSP.  I love the piercing around the framelit. 

Speaking of fun perks of being a demonstrator, this is the last week of our promotion for joining Stampin' Up! and getting the special project tray.  Contact me if you'd like to join my team.  We're Inkin' in the Land of Lincoln.

Happy Saturday!

Today, I'd like to share some of my early Halloween projects with you.  I have a little display going, so my customers can see a sampling of some of the wonderful Halloween projects we have available from our Holiday Catalog. 

The minute I saw our little Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit, I knew I had to have it and, with the stamp set (Googly Ghouls) included in the 'bundle' I knew I could make lots of cute projects, including a 'Boo Banner' like I have here.  The framelits work perfectly with it to create a nice frame behind each piece.

The Trick or Treat card is the one I got from Kim VanDiepen at Convention.

If you look closely, you can see that I've used the spider web embossing folder to emboss the little treat bag (above) and to make the little 3 X 3" card below. 
The web on the little card has a shimmer sparkle to it because I used the Illuminate Glimmer Watermark stamp pad and just patted it over the raised web lines to highlight them.

I hope today's post will inspire you to get creating.  Enjoy a great weekend! 

Super Easy and Fun Project!

Once in a while I come up with an idea that works out to be incredibly easy and fun.   I love when that happens!  Today's post is one of those projects.  I wanted to put some new wreaths on my front porch and decided to make them myself.  Here's what I designed. 

Here's a close-up of the flowers:

Here's how you do it:

• Purchase 2 grapevine wreaths.
• Get out your Fun Flowers die and your Big Shot.
• Cut 4 layers of fabric at a time, with a CS shim.
• Cut 1 entire package of our fabrics.  
• Cut 2 more burlap flowers of chocolate burlap.
• Cut 2 more burlap flowers of crumb cake burlap.
• Assemble the flowers, using 2 layers of each size/shape per flower.
• You'll need 8 flowers per wreath if you do them like mine.
• Add an Antique Brad to the center of each flower.
• Attach flowers to wreaths, using a hot glue gun.

Note:
These supplies will be enough to make TWO wreaths.

Give this project a try because it is so worth the effort and didn't even take all that long to make both wreaths.  I added a wire to the back of each of my wreaths, so they won't blow off the hooks when it's windy. 

Everything Eleanor --- Love it!

It's no secret that I love the Everything Eleanor stamp set.  Here are 2 more card versions that I made with it.  The one on the right was my Convention swap.  The one on the left is a 'stepped up' version of it.  While enjoying using one of my very favorite stamp sets, I thought I'd use one of my very favorite Stampin' Up! colors --- Marina Mist. 

My flower colors are Marina Mist, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy.  The green is Lucky Limeade and the text is Not Quite Navy.  I did some distressing (sponging) on the 'stepped up' version, using Crumb Cake.  So there you have it.  Now add a little spritz of Frost White Shimmer/alcohol mixture and you have a gorgeous card. 

Worth the Effort

Ever since the new Holiday Catalog came out, I have wanted to make the card shown on page 19.  It's so elegant.  Here's my take on it. 

I added even 1 more layer (some Basic Black) to it, so it would work in one of my studio displays.  My other colors are Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.  The stamp set is called Evergreen.  I could not get it to show up in the photo, but I stamped off for the tree in the background (with Crumb Cake) and then stamped over it with our new Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Stampin' Pad.  Wow!  Say that 3 times in a row:)  It adds a subtle sheen that is gorgeous in real life.

Cards like this don't just go into a normal mailing envelope.  They are hand delivered or added to a gift box.  They are for someone very special.
This card was a lot more involved than your typical Christmas card, but well worth the effort.

Sneak Peek #4: A Christmas Box

Here's your last sneak peek for my class this Friday night.  This one is a decorated box to hold a special gift.  I used the Watercolor Winter stamp set and our Cherry Cobbler tulle.  I love how easy it is to work with it.  This project was inspired by our Holiday Catalog.  If you want to see the rest of the projects, you'll just have to come this Friday night!  I hope you can join us. 

Sneak Peek #3: Christmas Project

As promised in my last post, here is a sneak peek at one of the Christmas projects for our class this Friday night (Aug. 24).  Please pay to register by Wed., Aug. 22 to be included in this super fun class.  You'll be glad you did! 

 

This was inspired by a project right out of our Holiday Catalog.  You can fill it with most any kind of goodies or a small gift.  It's large enough to hold quite a bit.  

Sneak Peek #2: Fall Card

Here's another sneak peek at a Fall card for my class this Friday, August 24.  Where did August go?  This card is a cute little 4 X 4" card, inspired by our Holiday Catalog. 

This card uses lots of fun product from our Holiday Catalog, including new ribbon and our new piercing templates.  See my class schedule for complete details on the class this Friday, as well as more seasonal classes coming up soon.  Come join us!  Before I go and enjoy my beautiful Sunday afternoon, I will tell you that I have 2 more sneak peeks coming up for you.  The next 2 will be Christmas projects!  If you want to see the rest, you'll just have to come to my class.  You'll get a little bit of Fall, a touch of Halloween and a nice dose of Christmas.  Now to change out of my church clothes, play with the boys and maybe stamp a little more:)  Have a great day!

Sneak Peek #1: Fall Card

If you're thinking about coming to my Fun Friday Projects Class this Friday night (Aug. 24), I thought you might like a sneak peek.  All the projects will highlight products from our new Holiday Catalog.  This is one of the projects that we'll be making. 

 

This is my version of the card in the Holiday Catalog on page 28.  I used the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and coordinating framelits.  It would be a colorful card to send to any lucky recipient.  I hope you'll choose to join us Friday night.  For what we'll be making (8-10 projects each Fun Friday class!!!), the $25. is a super bargain, but how would you like to pay less?

Here's how:
Place a $15. order on the night of the class and take $5.00 off your class fee.*
Place a $20. order on the night of the class and take $10.00 off your class fee.*
Place a $25. order on the night of the class and take $15.00 off your class fee.*
Place a $30. order on the night of the class and take $20.00 off your class fee.*
Place a $35. order on the night of the class and TAKE THE CLASS FOR FREE!!!*

*TAX AND SHIPPING NOT INCLUDED / CLUB ORDERS DO NOT QUALIFY.

 

Please pay to register at least 2 days prior to the class. 

OTHER FUN FRIDAY PROJECTS CLASSES:
Sept. 28:  Fall Frenzy (notice date change) / $25.
Oct. 19:  Touch of Christmas / $25.
Nov. 16:  More Christmas, Please / $25.
Dec. 14:  Wrapping up Christmas / $25.

More Fall

Here's another Fall card I made, using one of my favorite stamp sets --- French Foliage.  My colors are Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and Pumpkin Pie --- yummy colors together for Fall.  I also used our new Woodgrain Embossing Folder, with our Core'dinations card stock.
 

I have been super busy in my studio, getting projects ready for my next Fun Friday Projects class.  You are going to love what we'll be making.  Everything will be highlighting fun new products from our Holiday Catalog and they are so much fun!!!  We'll have a taste of Fall and a taste of Christmas!  Sign up early to save your spot! 

First Day of School

Today, I find myself filled with a multitude of memories and emotions.  Today is the first day of school for my sweet little boys -- Kindergarten and third grade.  Where has time gone?  I find myself thinking about getting more done with them in school and yet being so glad that they only have a half day today so I can spend all afternoon with them.  I can't wait to hear about their day!  I am also remembering when my own children started school.  Mine didn't ride a bus, so today was different in that way.  Anyway, I feel the need to post a Fall card because school starting makes you realize that Fall is just around the corner. 

 

This card uses our new Core'dinations Card Stock.  It has a slightly lighter core, so you can emboss or tear it to see the lighter color.  When you use our new sanding block, you can sand it lightly and really bring out the texture of the embossing.  I love it!  I used the stamp set Wonderfall and then cut the leaves with the new Autumn Accents Bigz Die.  I cut some of the leaves with our champagne glimmer paper.  I absolutely love its shimmer!!!  The other leaves are stamped and cut from soft suede and cajun craze.  

Have a great day and I hope you'll get to stamp something fun today!  Be sure to check out my schedule for my next classes.  The Fun Friday Project Classes are really going to be great!!!  

So Much Fun

Remember this layout?  We made it at my Scraps and Prayers class Monday night.  I always enjoy this group so much and last night was especially fun because we had a special guest.  Our cousins are visiting from Australia and Raylee asked to come to the class, too.  She is absolutely one of the sweetest persons on the face of the earth.  She wanted to make a card for a friend instead of the layout, so my daughter and I helped her use the same stamps and same colors and create a really great card.  It was a super fun evening.

Raylee used the same die cut piece, including paper piercing around the edges, for her card.  Our colors are crumb cake, midnight muse, summer starfruit and a touch of soft suede.

Holiday Ornament: New Version

Here's another version of the holiday ornament.  I used cherry cobbler and early espresso for this one.  Is there a better color combo anywhere?  Love it!  We will be making this one AND the one I posted yesterday in my class.  You get to choose if you'd like to attend on Sat., Oct. 27 (1:00-4:00) or Sun., Oct. 28 (2:00-5:00).  I absolutely cannot wait to do this class.  These ornaments are so much fun to make and, now that I've worked out all the details, they are really pretty easy.  I think this one may be my favorite.

Here's what you need to purchase (from me) to participate in this class:

• Ornament Bundle:  (includes stamps and framelits)
•   Wood Mount - $49.95 (#129949)
•   Clear Mount - 42.95 (#129950)
• Tulle:
•   Cherry Cobbler - $6.95 (#127841)
•   Early Espresso - $6.95 (#127839)
• Be of Good Cheer Designer Papers - $10.95 (from big catalog --- (#126896)
• Craft Mat - $5.95  (NOTE:  This is NOT the piercing mat.  It is in the Holiday Catalog on p.31(#127853)

I will provide:

• Time
• Workspace
• Free Tutorial Sheet
• Card Stock
• Dies to use
• Stamps to use for the back of your ornament
• Shimmer Spritz
• Adhesives
• Inks
• Linen thread
• Taffeta ribbon
• Crochet trim
• Jumbo pearls
• Faceted buttons
• ...and probably other items I've forgotten to list:)

There is no additional fee for this class but you must purchase all the needed items for it from me and place the order on or before Oct. 15.  Online orders may be used and club orders may be included as well, because several members have already purchased the Ornament Bundle.  You will need to bring your Big Shot and your glue gun to the class, so we won't have a long line waiting to use the equipment.

Holiday Catalog Cover Ornament

How would you like to take a free class with me?  I just finished making the gorgeous ornament on the cover of our Holiday Catalog and I love it!  It was so much fun to make.  It did take me a while, because I had to figure it out by myself.  If you would like to take a free class and make it, I've done all the hard work ahead of time for you.  We will make 2 versions of the ornament, time permitting.

Here are 2 shots of my first ornament.  I plan to make a lot more.

Contact me for details about the supplies you will need to purchase ahead of time.  I will be providing a lot of goodies to help you complete your project.  I will also have a tutorial sheet for you to take home with you, so you can make more to decorate your home and for gifts.  This sheet will be available for class attendees only.  Class size will be limited, so sign up soon.

I hope you'll join us for a fun class.  You'll be taking home a couple of masterpiece ornaments that you can enjoy for many more holidays.