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

Babies Galore!

Seems like everyone is either pregnant right now or just had a baby. I was looking on Ebay and found this Studio G set I'd been wanting for awhile. Love this cute little baby face! Too bad I didn't find this set when Michael's had it in their dollar spot--I had to pay a little bit more than a dollar : ). Totally worth it though. I love these little images!

This one's for a friend that just had a little girl:

This one is for a friend that just had TWIN girls:
Everything is SU except the card base and matching ribbon (PTI). And, of course, the stamp. I gave their faces some color by rubbing in some pastels with a sponge. I colored in the words with my blender pens and ink.

June Card Class

I don't know about all of you, but I have a lot of pregnant friends--some of them are even expecting twins! It's gotten me in a "baby card" kind of mood. I like creating things that are a little unusual. Isn't it fun to give someone a card that is different from all the others? Well, these acetate cards are fun to make and also fun to give. Ya gotta love acetate! (These are really cut from overhead transparency sheets!)You can write on the white layer within the card. Here is what the cards look like closed:
I cut all of the cardstock and paper for you, you just get to do the fun parts--stamping and punching! Here are the details:


DATE: June 20th


TIME: 1:00 (this is a daytime slot and you are welcome to bring your children)
7:00 (the evening slot for those who need a little time out)

PLACE: My home


COST: $2.00 per card--you let me know if you want boy or girl or a combo


I will be offering $5 off any order of $25 or more to those who attend the class. No purchase necessary to take the class! Here are the specials for the month:

E-Scape Bundle:
Description Page Number Price
Circle of Friendship stamp set p. 143 $17.95
Love Notes assortment p. 167 $8.95
Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad p. 165 $5.25
Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon p. 191 $7.95

Total (non-bundled) $40.10
eScape Bundle price $30.00
With your $5 coupon from me, you could get this whole bundle for $25.00!


Fresh Cuts Promotion:


When you purchase the brand new, die-cut Fresh Cuts stamp set, add on the coordinating Fresh-Cut Notes* for only $5!



Just let me know this week if you would like to attend!

Trying out Papertrey

I spend a bit of time each day browsing blogs and posts over on Splitcoast because I really love seeing everyone's creations. I have really enjoyed a lot of the things I've seen using Papertrey Ink's stamps, so I decided to try out some. I babysat for a friend a couple of days during May--so I had some "fun" money to spend. The first sets I bought were "Mixed Messages" and "Boxes, Bags, and Tags". I had a lot of fun! The first thing I made was this Birthday card:Then, as I was browsing blogs, I came across this tutorial on my friend Dannie's blog. I decided to expand on the look of the card I had made and create a whole set.
Then I made a notecard holder like the one in the tutorial to hold the cards and envelopes:

Here is the notecard holder closed. One thing I learned was that this holder really works better with cards that do not have a lot of embellishment. It gets overstuffed with a lot of ribbon and whatnot. Mine worked out ok, but it was pretty full!

Bee Happy! Summer's Here!

Summer is officially here, can you believe it? I don't know about you, but here the summer weather has been sloooow in coming. My kids are finally out of school and it seems like the weather has taken notice. Today was actually quite warm. Good thing, too. My two oldest kids started swim lessons today and I was a little concerned that the weather may not cooperate. It was their first time and they were a little nervous but they both loved it.

Maybe this heat will bring on the strawberries and tomatoes out in my garden! I can hardly wait!

Being an SU demonstrator, I usually spend my hobby funds on SU supplies (they really are fabulous!) but I just couldn't pass up this bee stamp from Stampendous Stamps. It is part of their "Bee Happy" line of stamps. Too cute! I stamped the image in Basic Black ink and then used my Blender Pens to color it in with So Saffron and Blue Bayou. I punched him out with my 1 3/8" circle punch and backed it with a Certainly Celery scalloped circle. The flower was cut from my original stamped image. I used my Basic Black Stampin' Write marker to extend the stem and then popped the flower up on a dimensional. I used some Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the image and the So Saffron brads. I also paper peirced around the Soft Sky layer. This one was fun to give away!