Yay For Twins!

My great friend Kari is expecting twins. Here's her shower announcement--hope she likes it! Love ya, Kari!

SU Convention Fun

I was able to spend the morning yesterday up at convention with my upline and former roomie Dannie. It was so fun. I cannot believe the number of people. And everyone was as excited about the new catalog as I was. We had a great time looking at it--I have a list of everything I want to order when August 11th arrives! Here are a few things I want to get that are new:

*Scalloped square punch

*Stamp set that coordinates with the scalloped square punch

*1 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon

*Filligree brads

*Button boquet (a collection of cute buttons in the new In Colors)

*DSP--the new papers are absolutely gorgeous!

*Vanilla Hodge Podge Hardware

*Mini Library Clips

You are all going to love the new catalog! The first thing we did was go to the Momento Mall. We got to check out with THE Kristina Werner. It was fun seeing her in person. She's super talented and her blog is awesome. I got this camera case. The colors and everything come from one of the new Designer Papers:

Isn't it cute? They also had a matching supply tote. But, I resisted!

After Momento Mall we sat down to swap cards and check out the new catalog. Then we browsed the display boards. Here are some of the beautiful things on display:

Then we took off and hit some craft stores. We went to 5 different stores by the time the day was over! In the afternoon we got to tour the Stampin' Up facilty. Throughout the building there were some beautiful projects on display, many of which I have seen in past publications:

Sorry it's sideways! I'm too lazy to edit it right now!

Do you see the frogs in the boquet? Sooooo Cute!

There is a little museum in the facility that shows some history of the company. Then it has rooms that showcase the uses of the products. Great home decor ideas! This one was done with the Dots are Hot stamp set. I've gotta try it!

And this:

And this:

It was a great day! I am inspired! I hope you feel it too!

Faux Metal--So Cool!

I tried the faux metal technique that was demonstrated on SU!s demonstrator website. It was so fun! This was my first try at embossing--I just got my heat tool and embossing powder this morning.

My color combo was inspired by the new Simply Sent kit "Flower Power" which will be available in the new catalog coming out August 11th. This stamp set will be in it too. It's called "Dreams Du Jour" and I love, love, love it!

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, Kiwi Kiss DSP: Bella Rose

I would love to teach you how to create this faux metal effect. Just contact me!

Sympathy Card

This is a sympathy card that I made to send off to someone. I actually have never done a sympathy card before. I was excited to use my new "Birds Galore" set by Inkadinkado. I LOVE it. It is a stamp set that I had seen used and just HAD to have it! I'm so glad I got it because it is so versatile in it's uses.
My favorite stamping product lately is the Versamark pad. Sooooo awesome! I used the Versamark pad along with a background stamp to create the flowered background on the card. I love that the Versamark pad can create this "tone on tone" look. It saves me from having to have ink in every single color!
For the main image, I stamped it three times. Twice in Close to Cocoa, and once in PTI's Spring Moss. I cut out several of the Spring Moss leaves and adhered them to the image. I cut the bird out and popped him up on dimensionals.
Cardstock: Kraft, Aqua Mist, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White Paper: PTI's Everyday Blessings Ink: Close to Cocoa, Spring Moss Ribbon: PTI's Spring Moss satin ribbon Stamps: Birds Galore (Inkadinkado) and PTI's Mixed Messages

I Think I May Have Found My Mojo!

I have just been so busy this summer and have really let my passion for stamping slide. I think sometimes that is a good thing though, then I can start again with renewed enthusiasm. The brand-spanking-new Stampin Up catalog is coming out August 11th, and demonstrators are allowed to pre-order certain items. I'm totally excited to be meeting my upline and old roomie, Dannie, up at Convention next Wednesday! Yay! We'll get to spend some time together, shop, go out to eat--what could be better? Even though I'm not an actual attendee at Convention, I will still be swapping a tiny bit. Here is the card I made with all of my new goodies!

All of these items will be available in the new catalog, along with many, many more! I can't wait!

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White DSP: Bella Rose (the rose at the top of the card is cut from this paper and covered in Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter) Ribbon: Chocolate Chip grosgrain Stamps: Heard From the Heart Punches: 3/4" Circle punch