Let's Clear Up A Few Things

It seems as though I have a compression fracture.  Yes, it hurts ... a lot! 
I've had a lot of confusion lately from customers not being sure which catalogs to use to place their order.  While I'm resting my back, I thought this would be a good time to review some things and clear up some confusion.

But first, we'll start with a bit of humor today and a blessing, a Crafter's Blessing.

Now, for the catalogs:

Our Annual Catalog is live through May 31, 2017.

Our Occasions Catalog is live through May 31, 2017.

And here is our Sale-A-Bration catalog.  Sale-A-Bration is a special time of year when you can earn free products from the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) catalog.  Our Sale-A-Bration lasts through the end of March.

So... How can you earn free products from the SAB catalog?  It's easy, really!  Just place an order for $50. or more (before tax and shipping) using the Annual Catalog, the Occasions Catalog, or a combination of some products from each and then choose your free item from the SAB catalog.

It gets better, though!  Whenever you place an order (through me) for $50. or more, you also earn a special token from me.  If you order online and choose to give your name, I keep track so you can still get your tokens.  When you've collected 10 tokens, you earn a $25. gift certificate from me!  If you place an online order through me and choose to do it as a 'no contact' then I can't really do anything for you, so don't cheat yourself.

I've also had questions through my Demonstrator Business Web Site that I cannot answer because they chose to enter their question as a 'no contact.'  One of the last questions was in regard to my I See Music note card.   I hope that person is reading today's post.  The info that you wanted is at the very bottom of the post under 'labels'.

I hope today's post clears up the confusion.  If you have questions, please be sure to ask.

SPECIAL NOTE:
If you received a card and coupon in the mail a few weeks ago, you may use the enclosed coupon by following the guidelines on it.  It expires the end of March and you can only use 1 coupon at a time.  The coupon must be presented at the time of use.

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- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Some Great Photopolymer Tips

I have managed to totally mess up my back trying to carry Joey in his carrier.  I now have a wonderful, new baby car seat in my car so, once I recover, my days of struggling with the carrier are over.  Yay!  While I recover, I have a new video for you to watch.  It's all about tips for using our photopolymer stamps.  I learned something new and am sure you will, too.  Enjoy! 

Click here to see this video.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

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Oh So Succulent Layout

Today's layout was inspired by the card I shared recently.  Click here to see the card.  I really like how this one turned out.  As with my dragonfly layout, it's very nature themed.

There are stamped flowers and cut flowers.

I did a little soft sponging here and there and added touches of Wink of Stella.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

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Dragonfly Layout

Here's a layout I made as soon as I got my new dragonfly goodies and the gorgeous new DSP.  These are my favorites of all time.  How can you go wrong, with using the two of them together?  The background CS is Sahara Sand, so it's a soft, nature inspired layout.  I used Wink of Stella on all the dragonflies.

 

 

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

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Calendar Blocks

Just for fun, I used up the last of my stash of Stampin' Up! blocks by creating some unique calendars.  One is just a cute little cube that you can sit on your desk and keep track of the date.  The other is a set of 2 blocks that have a number on each side.  I really need the help in keeping track of the exact day and they're fun to change each day. 

These were fun and super easy to create.  I embossed the numbers, using a technique I shared previously.  Click here to see my embossed letters/numbers technique.

Speaking of dates, this would have been my daddy's birthday.  He lived a wonderful life and made it to the age of 89.  He was my moral compass in life.  He taught me how to live by his actions, by his love, and by his life.  I miss him each and every day.  He helped shape the person that I am and I feel like if I can make him proud of me then I'm doing something right.  He loved people, loved God and loved life.  I so wish he could have known and enjoyed all my grandchildren.  He would have adored them.  I have to think he's watching over us all.  Happy Birthday, Daddy.  I love you and miss you.

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Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut.

As Gibbs (from NCIS) would say, you have to go with your gut.  Once I got my 2017 schedule finished for planning all my projects for my Scraps and Prayers group, my gut was telling me that my plans were off for the direction I wanted and needed to go.  After a wonderful time with my Scraps and Prayers group last night, I realized what I needed to do.  

During this group, I wanted to do more with projects ... projects that would involve minimal directions so that we could enjoy visiting with each other while we were working on them.  I have new people interested in coming to the group, but they don't scrapbook.  People who've already participated in the group like to do projects as well, so it seemed like the solution was pretty obvious.  I just needed to jump in and do it.

So ... here's my new schedule and I think you'll like it ... a lot!

2017 Scraps and Prayers Group / Tentative Projects:
          (2nd Monday of each month / $15. / 5:30-7:30) 

January --
     Calendars
February --

     Valentine Treat Project
March --
     Beautiful Spring Cards
April --
     Spring Project
May --
     Plant Decor Project
June --
     Beautiful All-Occasions Cards
July --
     Fun Notepads Project
August --
     Wreath Decor Project
September --
     Beautiful Fall Cards
October --
     Fall Decor Project
November --
     Christmas Decor Project
December --
     Christmas Cards and Tags 

And... for you scrapbooking lovers, I'll still have layouts on display and posted on my blog, as well as sharing ideas for how to use a card or project for your inspiration for a great layout.

My 2017 Saturday Stampers Class will have one slight change and that is the DATE for January.  I will be attending a memorial service on our previously scheduled class date (for the spouse of a good friend), so  ...
I will be holding my January Saturday Stampers Class on the following Saturday, January 28 --- still from 1:00-4:00 / $20.  We'll be playing with color, including smooshing, trying our new watercolor pencils, and learning to do a Faux Watercolor technique.  I really hope you can come because this one is going to be super fun.

I hope I've inspired rather than confuse you.  As always, my goal is to offer you the best possible classes that I can ... classes that will help you enjoy a special time here, classes that will help you learn and be inspired by new ideas, techniques and projects, and classes that will keep you coming back for more!

Remember:
          Create something beautiful today.

My Cute Little Notebooks

As I've mentioned in a couple of previous posts, I've been working to use up and enjoy my 'stash' of favorite goodies and not hoard them.  Next up, were some of our cute, little retired notebooks.  Yes, I'd hoarded a few of those.  With 2 new papers that I just love, I thought it was the perfect time to get out the notebooks and decorate them.  I love these little guys.

I made 2 with our Succulent Garden DSP ...

... and 2 with our Falling in Love DSP.  These papers are just absolutely yummy.

Now ..... what could I use up next from my stash?  I am proud to say that my storage room is all neat, tidy and organized and not overcrowded.  I've cleaned out a lot and will pass it on to someone that needs it more than I do.  That makes me a happy camper.  It is a huge and wonderful storage room and I am so blessed to have it.  It keeps all the excess supplies out of my studio when I'm not using them.  In case you're wondering, I'm a very messy stamper when I'm in creative mode and I have out a million things, but I always know where everything is and I always clean up before and after each and every big creative storm.  I'm about half-way into a creative storm right now, so look out!

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- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

A New Coaster Calendar

I haven't made coaster calendars for a long time and decided that our new Succulent Garden DSP would be really great for this project.  If you're wondering about the ribbon I used and thinking you've seen it recently in some of my other projects, it's a free S-A-B choice.  You get 2 rolls of this woven ribbon --- one with shiny gold accents and one with shiny silver accents.  It's really pretty!

There's a magnet on the back of my coaster calendar, so I can put it up on the fridge if I want to do so.

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More Calendars ... for 2017

I made several different kinds of calendars for 2017.  I'll share a couple more with you today.  The first 2 are made with Sahara Sand and our new Falling in Love DSP.  They can fold flat and be mailed, just like a regular card.

The next 3 are created with the Best Birds stamp set.
We'll be making one of these at our January 9 Scraps and Prayers class.  
I can't wait to see everyone again and share holiday memories and all. 

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

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Stylish Stems ... Love, Love, Love!

I'm going to share some projects with you today that were made using our new Stylish Stems stamp set and coordinating framelits and thinlits.  I love, love, love these new goodies!  These samples are from Stampin' Up!  I think they're gorgeous!

Click here to see a fun video overview of the new Occasions Catalog.
The Occasions Catalog goes live today!

It's the best one yet!!!  Contact me if you've like to arrange to pick up your copy.

Click here to see a great video using these new products.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

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Special Reminders and a Beautiful Mini Album

I want to share a closer look at my mini album with you today.  This is made from envelopes, CS and the most gorgeous DSP ever.  I'll be showing this at our February Scraps and Prayers class, even though we'll be doing a different project (for Valentine's Day!).   Enjoy seeing it and then keep scrolling for some important reminders.

I added some decorative scoring to the spine.  The dragonfly on the front has some sparkle from Wink of Stella.  Love that stuff.  I think I've used up a couple of pens already!  I added some spatters of sparkle by holding my Wink of Stella pen over the album cover and tapping it lightly.  Also, you can't see them, but there are cards in each of the envelopes.  These can later be decorated, used for journals or for photos.

Now, for some important reminders:
FIRST:  New Catalogs:
I totally forgot to preorder catalogs to be mailed to you.  I have plenty in my studio and have tried to hand out a bunch already.  Contact me if you need a catalog and you can come pick up one, along with the S-A-B catalog.  You're going to love them both!
SECOND:  Class Projects:
Click here for class project reminders for 2017.
THIRD:  Bad Weather Days:
Click here to see what to do if one of our classes falls on a bad weather day.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST:  My next class.
My next class is our January 9 Scraps and Prayers.  We'll be making a calendar.
Click here to see some of the calendars I've made.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

A Few Last Projects from 2016

I have a few last project to share with you, from 2016, so let's wrap it all up and get ready for new upcoming projects from our Occasions Catalog.  It goes live very soon:) 

I wrapped the wreath bases in burlap ribbon and then added the poinsettias.  These are cut from a Tim Holtz die (I needed this size.), cut twice and glued together, for extra strength.  They are spritzed with some shimmer, of course:)

I didn't like any of the ribbons I tried to add, so am keeping them simple for now.

The two older boys and I made a bunch of snowmen for gifts.  They were fun and turned out really cute, but I got some pretty nasty burns from my glue gun.  Ouch!  I cleared out my stash of boards ... that's one more stash gone and put to good use.  Remember, no more hoarding ... use and enjoy!

That's pretty much it for 2016 projects.  I can't wait to share my new projects from the Occasions Catalog.  It is awesome, for sure.  

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Happy New Year, 2017!

Happy New Year, dear friends!

My, how time seems to fly by me lately.  I always look forward to New Year's Day as a wonderful new beginning.  There are many things in our lives that we cannot control on our own, but there are many ways we can always try to stretch and improve ourselves.  I don't always make New Year's Resolutions, as they are too easily forgotten or broken.  This year, I decided to give it a try, once again. 

Here are my New Year's Resolutions, in no particular order:
1.  Take more time to ... create ... read Scriptures ... pray ... rest ... and play.
2.  Keep sending out more cards than ever.  Try new techniques.  Spread the joy!
3.  Use and enjoy my 'stash' and don't hoard it.  Think of new, creative ways to use it.
4.  Exercise more and do my best to BE HEALTHY ... mind, body, and spirit.
5.  Continue to enjoy every moment I can spend with my grandchildren, striving to be a positive influence in their lives.  Of course, I'll still teach them things like "Yepperdoddle" and "Holy Toledobunnies" because it's important I give them a bit of silliness, too.

I think I can keep these 5 Resolutions.  I'll certainly try.

May 2017 be a great year!  
Let's make it the best we possibly can make it!