Love You Much

This card by Lisa showcases our Love You Much Bundle. She also used our Flower Fusion Too & Rhinestone Brads with our Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip. She chose to use only a portion of the width of the ribbon in her design. Please excuse my coloring outside the lines - still looking for my glasses! Notice how the stamped image of the heart fits nicely with the Heart to Heart Punch. Stampin Up does this so well for us!

Sale-a-Bration

My favorite Stampin’ Up! promotion of the year is almost here - Sale-a-bration! I always look forward to Sale-a-Bration because, for a limited time only (February and March), EVERYONE has the opportunity to receive exclusive Stampin’ Up! products for free, and there are so many ways to do it!

You can choose from one of six exclusive Sale-a-Bration products. Starting February 1st, you will be able to view these items on my website. Want them all? No problem. Plus, you would make me a very happy person indeed!

Customers:
Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase. No Limit!

Hostesses:
Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product with a $300 or more workshop, in addition to the normal wonderful hostess benefits.

New Demonstrators:
Choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog when signing up during the promotion. Plus, get 15% off the regular $199 price of the Starter Kit--that's $335 worth of products for only $169

Jackpot

Jackpot DSP and Gameday Stamps were used by Deb to create this stunning card! Whether you're playing a game with dice or dominos, gambling, chess or other board games, you'll find everything you need with these products plus Card Games & In The Cards Wheel to create that something special.

Two Simple Words

Rhonda G. brought this card using the Photo Corners Punch to frame the stamped image & Dazzling Diamonds to add some bling. The colors we used were Rose Red, Apricot Appeal, Tempting Turquoise & Certainly Celery. Very pretty. Stamp sets were Little Flowers & Curvy Verses.

Sunset over the Water

Saturday was our shoebox swap at Lisa's using some of our new product. This is a card Kathy taught us. This was an awesome card to make, it will truly bring out the artist in you. It was done using several methods such as Direct to Paper, Sponging, Brayering and Masking.


Recipe:
Inspired by Nature Stamps
Whisper White CS
Sage Shadow CS
Yo Yo Yellow CS
Classic Ink:
Barely Banana
So Saffron
More Mustard
Cameo Coral
Creamy Caramel
Close to Cocoa
Basic Black
Going Gray
Bashful Blue
Accessories:
Brayer
1-1/4 Circle Punch
White Gel Pen
Old Olive Stampin Write Marker
Post It Notes
Sponges

Cheers to You

This is my second card for the swap I did with Kathy & Lisa. I love the dimension of the toothpick!

Recipe:

Certainly Celery CS

Real Red CS

Whisper White CS

Old Olive CS

Cheers to You Stamps

Stampin Write Markers:

Old Olive

Real Red

Punches:

Scalloped Square

Scalloped Edge

Small Oval

1/4" Circle

Real Red

Basic Blank Ink

Heart to Heart

Saturday, we were given the supplies to make this chart using the Love You Much Bundle that is currently 20% off. These images were made by using the Heart to Heart Punch, it has 3 hearts in different sizes. We also have another new punch that is a single large heart. I finished this before supper tonight.
My favorites are the fish and butterfly.

Recipe:

Pink Pirouette Textured CS

Old Olive CS

Riding Hood Red CS

Bella Rose DSP

Urban Garden DSP

Love You Much Stamps

Heart to Heart Punch

Pretties Kit

Silver Cord

Black Stampin Write Marker

Two-way Glue Pen

Tombo All-Purpose Glue

Aint To Proud To Beg

I have been busy today making my project for tomorrow. My SU demo group is having an all-day stamping event. We will be making 9 different projects with new product! I love new stamps, and paper even more. I cut 192 pieces of cs/paper, punched 40 scalloped circles and 40 circles, cut 48 pieces of ribbon and used over 3 yds of sticky strip! I'll try to get a picture of it in the next day or two for you. It has a cupcake & birthday theme so I'm saving it for Zadie's birthday - June 22, she will be 4. I will be 53. I'd love a birthday card from you. I'm not to proud to beg - lol.

Hokey Pokey

What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about? Is that not the question of the year? This was my 1st card.

A Good Day

I had an awsome visit with my Pastor this morning. He is such a blessing to me! I am investigating requirements for a new career. I do not plan to give up sharing, or teaching. Stampin Up. As it becomes concrete I will share it with you! The best part is I'm having a very good day. I have something to look forward to and I am proud of myself and the results of some recent testing I have done.

Frient to Friend

This is Lisa's 2nd card. We're using the same stamp set as we did on her first one. Isn't it gorgeous? Notice that the ribbon has a different color on each side!

Friend to Friend

This is one of Lisa's cards. Love the colors. Notice how you can overlap the flowers to make it look real.

My Thoughts Today

I just finished watching the Inauguration. What an amazing tradition & transition! I especially liked the personal escort of the Bush's to the waiting helicopter by the Obama's & Bidens. Civility and respect are so important in our world. Imagine what kind of people we would be if we were to wake up each morning & say these words will be how I live my life today. Imagine.

Imagine by John Lennon (one of my favorite songs)

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today... I...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

Yo-o-o-u,
You may say Im a dreamer
But Im not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Imagine no possesions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

Yo-o-o-u,
You may say Im a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Raspberry Tart

Recently, friends Lisa & Kathy came over to stamp. We wanted to add some designs with new product. Be sure to check them out on my website.

This is Kathy's 1st one. It is using the new DSP Raspberry Tart. The stamped image was done on textured cs and also embossed - it's one of those things that you like to rub your fingers over to feel it in addition to seeing.

Dear Santa

I love reading people's thought process of how their scrapbook pages come together. It never ceases to amaze me that I can actually be creative. I'm hoping I can inspire you, too. First, I knew I wanted to use this paper. I loved the colors but I felt the pattern was too big for cards, therefore I wanted to use it on a page. I thought it past time that I used pictures of myself on one, as much as I hate to see me in pictures. So then I wondered what I could wear. Ah ha, I have a pink sweater and a brown t-shirt. Perfect. This is where the Santa hat comes in. I remembered seeing the pink one at Hy-vee on one of my many visits to the grocery store. Next came the rub-ons. I had ordered them a few weeks back because they would be great on so many different items for the Christmas season. Last, but not least, came the theme of the page - a wish list for Santa. A great story of what is important in my life this year. I hope you enjoy it!





Recipe:
Holiday Treasures DSP
Certainly Celery Textured CS
Felt Flurries
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Season of Cheer Rub-ons
Chocolate Chip Stampin Write Marker

Holiday Cheer

I found this decorative paper in Michigan when I was there & it was perfect for our wine & cheese before dinner. I also found these epoxy stickers to go with it. If you have never felt epoxy, they are so cool. They feel like gel - a little squishy! You'll notice there is no journaling. This is a problem for me. Once I get a page designed, I either don't have room or I don't want to mess up my page. But, what good is the page if 2 years from now I can't remember anything about it. With that in mind, my journaling is on the back. It is quite lengthy but I am getting the journaling with the page.

Recipe:
Bravo Burgundy Textured CS
More Mustard Textured CS
Basic Black CS
Very Vanilla CS
Always Artichoke CS
Creative Imaginations Decorative Paper
EK Success Epoxy Stickers
Burgundy Grosgrain Ribbon
Corner Punch
Computer Font

Merry Christmas

Deanna has always lived so far away from home that I rarely get to visit her so I have frequently asked for pictures. To no avail. We're talking 25 years or so. Persistence does pay off! Well, I almost fell out my chair when I opened these up in my e-mail before Christmas. So, I'm at Hobby Lobby looking around & decide to look at their decorative papers. When I saw the paper with all of the ornaments, it reminded me of Deanna's tree so I picked up a sheet. I did pay for it, too. lol I want to also make a point of saying thank you to Denise because if she hadn't given Deanna a few prompts on how to use her Blackberry to take photos, I would never have received these photos.



Recipe:
Decorative Paper Unknown
Glorious Green Textured CS
Riding Hood Red Textured CS
Pink Pirouette CS
Brushed Gold CS
Rich Regals Buttons
Gold Cord
Onboard Accents Chipboard (retired)

Season of Cheer Rub-ons

Garden Green Organdy Ribbon (retired)

Love Birds

This adorable card was made by Lisa. She is using stamps & DSP from the Valentine Bundle that is currently 20% off.

XOXO

I love how Kathy stamped her flower image into her heart. She then accented the flowers with the White Signo Gel pen. The DSP is part of our new Raspberry Tart DSP. I'll show you another one tomorrow.

Love You

This week I have my Valentine swaps for you. Here's mine.

Recipe:
Always Artichoke CS
Rose Red CS
Basic Gray CS
Pink Piroette CS
Very Vanilla CS
Happy Heart Day Stamp
Parisian Summer DSP
Rose Red DSP (retired)
Rose Red Marker
Crystal Affects
Vanilla Ribbon

Let It Snow

T

The 8x8 portion was one we did at Regionals last Fall. Since I mostly do 12x12 now, this is how mine turned out. I have been waiting for a snowfall to get a picture for this page. Can you believe we have only had one snowfall so far?

I love all the little nuances of the title that Stampin Up designed for us. The little blue arrow was cut from the "positive" image from the chipboard. I have a lot of chipboard in my stash so my goal is to start playing with it more. One of my wishes for this year is to put together a board of chipboard samples of all that you can use to showcase it - like ink & paper coverage. Last night we discussed doing that as a group in my Stampin Up monthly meeting. So stay tuned for that. The "o" is a metal edge tag with cardstock that was stamped and a rhinestone brad in the center. My favorite is one of our adorable little metal clips.

Suggestion: Click on the image. Look at the snowflake. Do you see the darker color around the image? That was done using the Versamarker.

Recipe:
Riding Hood Red Textured CS
Pacific Point Textured CS
Bashful Blue CS
Au Chocolate DSP (retired)
White Stazon Pad & Refill
Chocolate Chip Craft Ink
Whisper White Ink
Versamarker
Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon
Lots of Letters On Board Chipboard
3/4 " Circle Punch
Mini Library Clips
White Circle Aluminum Metal EdgeTags

Family

Scrapbooking Christmas 2 yrs ago! I was inspired by the holidays this year to get these done. You'll be proud of me - I have journaling on the front plus an 8-1/2 x 11 size of cs with journaling on it on the back. Did you know that you can click on any of my photos & get up close & personal? When you lay the pages side by side, you can see that the stripes of the paper form a perfect pattern. This was an easy sketch. My photos are 4 x 4 but you could change that to 3 x 3 and get 2 more photos on your pages. I hope you enjoy.

Recipe:

Crate Paper Decorative Paper & Die Cuts

Icons

Very Vanilla CS

Comments Welcomed

Be sure to leave a comment this week to receive a free greeting card.

The Funniest Thing

Just when I think my life is boring, I go and do something really dumb. I went to the store early Sat. morning. I needed a few groceries and also to mail my Christmas cards. Yes, for last year. So I'm walking around Dillons picking up the items I needed and crossing them off my list. I finish paying for them & head over to customer service. I lay my envelopes on the counter. The customer service rep says to me "So you're the one!" She also said "we've been finding these all over the store," but that hadn't sunk in yet. I ask her "Do you mean hand-made greeting cards or envelopes having to use .03 postage?" She is already at the mail bin pulling out 2 envelopes. The first thing I see is the computer font I used, the next is the exact same postage stamps I used & yet I still don't get it, but my eyes are definitely bugging out of my head! Then I see my friend's name & then I see my name on the return address. Oh my gosh! Finally, I get it! I had put my envelopes in the seat of the grocery cart & they were falling out thru the cracks. Thanks to the Dillons employees who helped with my Christmas cards!!!

Thank You

I would like to thank each of you that views my blog this next week. Just leave me a comment, & I will send you one of my hand-crafted greeting cards. Thanks so much for stopping by.

New Monthly Addition

Each month I would like to highlight a new technique for your greeting cards &/or scrapbooking. This month I'd like to share one of my favorites - Dry Embossing. This technique can be absolutely gorgeous when used on wedding invitations or just plain fun on a Valentines Day card for kids, teachers, friends or co-workers. Enjoy!

Embossing, Clean and Simple

Embosslits dies make it easy to dry emboss and cut in one step
It’s no wonder that dry embossed cards are so appealing. Not only are
embossed images visually attractive, they beg to be touched as well—don’t
you always want to run your fingers over the raised images? But if you’ve
ever done dry embossing, you understand that while it’s beautiful, it can also
be time consuming. So although dry embossing is perfect for a few cards, it
seems a little formidable to use this technique when creating many cards.

Until now.

If you love the look of dry embossing, Sizzix Embosslits dies can make the
process quick and clean. Embosslits dies are used with the Sizzix Big Shot
for Stampin’ Up! die-cutting machine. What sets them apart from other dies
is that they not only cut, they emboss too—all in one easy move. You don’t
need a light table or stylus—you just need your Big Shot, an Embosslits die,
and some paper. Just run a sheet of paper through the machine, and presto!
You have a perfectly embossed, perfectly cut image, done in a split second.
It doesn’t get any easier to make embossed images for multiple cards.

But what if you don’t need to make multiple cards? What advantage does an
Embosslits die have over dry embossing with a template and stylus?

First, an Embosslits die automatically cuts around the embossed image so
you don’t have to. It can make an incredibly intricate cut, more intricate than
what you’d like to do by hand, without leaving jagged edges. Also, the image is
embossed to the very edge.

Second, the Embosslits die applies equal pressure on all embossed sections
of the image. When you dry emboss by hand, it can be difficult to achieve
uniformly embossed dimension. But the Embosslits die will do it for
you. Perfectly. Every time.

If you love the look of dry embossing, try out our new
Embosslits dies. They make embossing a breeze. What could be
better than that?

Let it Snow

This was a swap from Deb. Isn't it adorable? Well, I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas cards. I can't believe that each person on my list will receive a different design this year. Now, I need to mail them! Egads.

Happy Holidays

I went for unusual colors for this card.

Recipe:
Frames With A Flourish
Riot of Petals BG
Cameo Coral CS
Bush Blossom CS
Very Vanilla CS
Cameo Coral Ink
Punch: Ticket
Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon

Happy New Year!

I hope this is a terrific year for all of us. I have my days & nights mixed up, so I'm sleeping from 9a to 6p or so. I am making progress on cleaning out my work room & am getting anxious for Lisa to help me move furniture around. Still haven't found my glasses. KC is in the other room curled up on the couch, I think. He may be in the Lazy Boy rocker/recliner. We have been fighting over who sits in it tonight. He is so cute! As some of you know, I have a fleece blanket over my sofa as that is where he is a lot of the time. He likes to sit on top of the back cushions and look out the window & in the afternoon, when he takes his "serious nap" he is under the covers. I'm kind of a fanatic about straightening out my bed covers after I get up & go to the bathroom. Before getting back into bed I will straighten all the covers out. Sometimes, I will do that for KC. A couple of weeks ago, he wanted to lay on the seat cushion of the sofa but he asked me for something before he would lay down. I noticed that at the other end, the blanket was kind of messed up so I wondered if that was it. Sure enough, I smoothed it out & he laid down!!! What a cutie!