Strength and Hope

Beginning in May, you can purchase this beautiful new set called Strength and Hope. It was designed by Stampin' Up! to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The proceeds from the sale of this set will be donated to fund breast cancer research. What a great cause!

One of the perks of being a demonstrator is we get to pre order things a month before they go on sale. So I have had a little time to play with this beautiful set!

Here is one of the cards I made. The colors on this are Crumb Cake, Concord Crush and Whisper White.

The images in this set are just beautiful! While it has a theme of strength and survival to it, it can be used for any occasion just by switching out the greeting.

Here are all the images in this set:

This set is available in Clear and Wood mount. It will be available to purchase in just a few short days...May 1.

Have a great sunny day!

Summer Mini Sneak Peak!

Have you gotten your copy of the Summer Mini Catalog in the mail yet? It's got lots of fun new stuff it in!

One of my favorite sets is The Open Sea. I really needed to add a masculine set to my inventory. I've got a gazillion floral sets but very few in the manly dept. So I snatched this one up on my first order! I should mention that the designer series paper is awesome too!

So I sat down the other day to ink up this new set and just fell in love with it. I whipped up a quick card to share with you today.

I used it for Father's Day but it is also suitable for Birthday, Thinking of You, Thank you, etc.

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy

Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark, Not Quite Navy Marker

Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Circle Punches, Vintage Brads, Bakers Twine in Cherry Cobbler, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponges.

Thanks for stopping by today! We are off to NYC for the day with the kids to see the Harry Potter Exhibit and eat as much as Patsy's Pizza as we possibly can without puking.

It should be a great day!

New Catty Sneak Peek!

Did you check out the Spring is Blossoming Promotion that is going on this month? It's a chance to get a new stamp set and new Designer Series Paper from the upcoming catalog...right NOW!

The stamp set is the Four Frames Set which coordinates perfectly with the Designer Label Punch! I love when products are designed to work together. It makes paper crafting so simple and so pretty!

I have been having fun playing with these new products. Here is one of the first cards I made. I kept the stamping simple because the paper is a bold pattern. But that is the best thing about it, because you only need a "smidge" on your card. That 12x12 paper will last a long time!

The card base is Cherry Cobbler, with a layer of Pear Pizzazz. Then I used about a 1 - 1/2" strip of the DSP on the top layer, and paired it with another piece of Cherry Cobbler that has been embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder. A pretty bow in Pear Pizzazz Seem binding ribbon finishes it off.

I inked the bird stamp in Cherry Cobbler and stamped on Whisper White. I then used the stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes to select my greeting. The stamps are the perfect size to fit inside the decorative label punch.

Well, I hope you are having a good week. As you read this we are in NYC for the day....and I am sure we are having a good time! LOL. I will tell you all about it when we get back.

Happy Thursday!

Ice Cream, anyone?

Here is a super cute and fun card! I had such fun making this one! Doesn't it look yummy??

There is actually very little stamping on this card...just the greeting. I used a lot of Designer Paper on this one...both in Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz. I also used some coordinating Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon across the middle.

The cone is some Crumb Cake cardstock that I cut into the cone shape then embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. Doesn't it make it look like a waffle cone? I sponged it with some Soft Suede ink to add some dimension.

The Ice Cream Scoops were super easy to make. I just punched out a large circle ( 1 3/4" circle punch) and then used the scallop edge punch on one side. Easy! I used 3 coordinating colors - Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade. The cherry on top is a left over piece of Real Red Glimmer Paper that was in the Occasions Mini Catalog. I had to stock up on that, it was the best!

The greeting is from the Birthday Bliss stamp set and inked in Poppy Parade and simply punched out with the 1-1/4" square punch and baked with a scallop square.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you are all having a great week!

SPRING STAMP A STACK

Hello Stampers!

We have finally confirmed the details for our Annual Spring Stamp A Stack!
You will stamp 15 cards in one day! 5 Designs, 3 of each.
This is an All Occasion Stamp A Stack - so you decide what kind of card it is by the greeting you select.
Choose from Birthday, Thank You, Get Well, Thinking of you...etc.

Here are the details: Saturday May 21 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Giamatti Little League Center, Mix Street, Bristol

Cost is $30 and includes a $5.00 OFF coupon towards an order.

As usual we will have wonderful raffle prizes! Winner need not be present. Please contact me to register yourself and a friend.

This is a SUPER FUN stampin' day! We would love to see you there!

Mother of Pearl Technique

Every month we get a magazine called Stampin' Success. It's another great perk of being a demonstrator. It's exciting to get it every month because it's loaded with stamping ideas and techniques.

One of the techniques that caught my eye this month is the Mother of Pearl technique.

Here is the card I made using it.

Can you see the shimmer on the main image? That is the Mother of Pearl.

Here is how it works.

First you need the Frost White Shimmer Paint.

Place a few drops on a paper plate or your clear stamp box.

Ball up a piece of plastic wrap and daub it in the Shimmer Paint.

Then sponge the shimmer paint from the plastic wrap on your Whisper White or Glossy White paper.

Let it dry.

After it dries, sponge color over it to get the pearlized effect.

Here I used Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze ink to sponge (I sponged very lightly, but you can add as much sponging as you want).

Then ink up your image (use Stazon Jet Black ink for best results) and stamp over the sponging.

Color in with a blender pen and ink from your stamp pad lid (I used Rose Red ink).

Pretty easy, eh? (No, I am not Canadian...but I do say "eh?" a lot. I find it to be a very useful word)

Here is a close up image of the flower image.

Here is the recipe for this card:

Stamp Set: Easter Blossoms

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Framed Tulip Border Embossing Folder, White Frost Shimmer Paint, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon, Blender Pens, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

You can purchase all of these items in my Online Store, 24/7!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Enjoy your day ~

More Fun Flowers

Are you sick of this die yet? I seem to use it on everything lately! I just love that t cuts out 3 flowers at once, and they look so beautiful layered together.

In this card I cut them out in Very Vanilla, then sponged them in Crumb Cake.

I then layered them together, and sponged the top flower with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (not sure if you can see the shimmer on it, but trust me, it's gorgeous). In the center I added a Basic Pearl. Love that you get a ton of these in different sizes, they are self adhesive, and they are only $4.95!

The card itself is Crumb Cake that I ran through the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing folder. Down the left is a 2" piece of Springtime vintage Designer paper layered with some Pink Pirouette Cardstock.

So I mentioned that I was going on a field trip with Jacobs class the other day to the HIllstead Museum. It was such a great day. I am a little embarrassed to say that I live right here in Farmington and had never been there. It was stunning. The artwork alone (several original Monet pieces) was amazing. The grounds are beautiful, and the home itself was just gorgeous.

After the tour, the kids got to go outside and paint! It was awesome. They all did a great job and there will be an art show at the library next Tuesday night to showcase their work.

Here is a picture of Jacob and one of his good friends proudly showing off their artwork!

We totally lucked out on the weather. It was cool and breezy but sunny. The classes that went the days before us had rain to deal with. So we were very happy that the sun came out for us.

Thanks for letting me share! I am still running...outside. Which I might add, is a heck of a lot harder than running on the treadmill. But I am sticking with it. I have had to slow it down a bit, but I made it. LOL. I don't think I will ever be a marathon runner, but at least I am getting some good exercise. My friends are trying to talk me into a 5K in May. I will do it, but I am certain I can't run the whole thing. I will walk where I have to and try to run some of it.

Wish me luck!

Have a great weekend!

Easter Blossoms in Baja Breeze

Hello Stampers!

Today I have such a pretty card to share using the Easter Blossoms Stamp Set. I love the Cherry Blossoms image in this set (at least I think they are cherry blossoms...LOL.)

We made this tonight with my monthly stamp club. Everyone loved it!

The card base is Crumb Cake. The layer is Baja Breeze embossed using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder for the Big Shot. The image was inked using Stampin' Write Markers in Baja Breeze and Soft Suede.

After it was stamped on the Whisper White, I added a little 2 way glue and dusted it with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. The ribbon is the Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon tied into a bow and attached to the branch with a glue dot.

So there is a funny story about this Easter Blossoms Stamp Set. I had ordered something else, and Stampin' Up! had sent me this one in error. Which was no big deal, except they sent me the FRENCH version! LOL. So I called them and they sent me the correct set I ordered and asked me to return this one. But then I started to really like this image. So I decided to keep the set - even though the greetings are in French. I had the Easter Wishes stamp from another set I could use. I am thinking that Emily could score some points with her French teacher though, and stamp her an easter card in French! :0)

Tomorrow I am headed on a field trip with Jacob and his 3rd grade class. We are going to the Hillstead Museum here is Farmington, and we are going to see some Monet paintings and then the kids are getting to paint too. Hopefully it will be a better weather day than it was today and not pouring!

Thanks for stopping by today. I have to run as Jacob just dropped his jello complete with whip cream on the sleeping dog. Never a dull moment!

Until next time....

Just Believe in Poppy and Pear

Here is a BRIGHT springy card for you today! I used the smaller of the two floral images in the Just Believe stamp set. I just inked it in Pear Pizzazz and stamped on Whisper White.

I then used the bitty flower punch to add a few Poppy Flowers.

The ribbon is Pear Pizzazz and the greeting is from the Level 2 Hostess Set in the Summer Mini Catalog, Something to Celebrate. And not sure if you can tell but the background Poppy Parade cardstock was embossing with the Lattice Square Embossing Folder for the Big Shot. In the center of the small flowers are Basic Pearls.

It's been a busy weekend so far...

I had my group of Stampin' Gals here today for our team meeting and shoebox swap (oh yeah, we ate too...LOL). SO FUN...Love these women!

After that was over, Ed spend the better part of the day in Emily's room setting up her new bed. Which required taking down the old bed. Well, let me tell you, he is a good man...much better than I deserve. It was such a flippin' mess up there, I swear he said he almost threw up. He found 34 marbles, 9 socks, a banana peel and loads of other things (that are too gross to mention) under her bed. Our daughter is what we affectionally call, a SLOB.

But she's ours, so we'll keep her. Plus I don't think that anyone who didn't give birth to her could stand the mess. LOL. And now she is blissfully up in her room in her new bed, happy as clam.

And now that we have finished that project (who am I kidding...WE didn't do anything...Ed did it ALL) I've been held up in my stamp room prepping for my stamp camp tomorrow.

Now that I am done with that, I am headed to bed to read. I have been going to bed at 9:30. Isn't that crazy? Well, I have to because I have been getting up at 6 AM to run. Yes, two things you can't believe. Up at 6 (well, maybe 6:10) and running. I am just a month into it, but I love it. I got a new treadmill and I downloaded this fab app for my iPhone called Couch to 5K. It's awesome. It starts you slowly running and alternates with walking. Each week the running time increases while the walking time decreases. The goal is at the end of the program you are running the entire time (5k).

And I am currently reading Jodi Piccoults new book, Sing You Home. So far I really like it. I have been ripping through the books pretty fast lately. Love a good read! What's the best book you've read lately? I am always up for suggestions!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Sunday!

GRAB BAG CLEARANCE RACK!

Oh my gosh...Beginning today, April 1, and continuing while supplies last, you will be able to purchase special "grab bags" in my Stampin' Up! Online Store. How fun is that?! PLUS - New Clearance Rack Additions!!!!

These grab bags will come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.

Please keep the following in mind:

• Grab bag orders can only be placed in My Stampin' Up! Online Store.
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in the grab bag special offer.
• There is no limit to the number of grab bags you may purchase; however, grab bag items are only available while supplies last.
• All grab bag sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.
• Not all grab bags will be unique.
• You should use the following item numbers when ordering grab bags:

Item	Description
125873	$5 Grab Bag (containing at least $20 worth of products!)
125874	$10 Grab Bag (containing at least $40 worth of products!)
125875	$15 Grab Bag (containing at least $60 worth of products!)

What a fun way to start off the month of April!

PLUS -

New Items Added to the Clearance Rack!! Beautiful Designer Series Paper, lots of ribbon and more!!

Get over to my ONLINE STORE before these items are gone!

Spring is Blossoming!

Just LOOK at the latest promotion from Stampin' Up!

{April 1- April 30}

Promotion details: Spring is Blossoming with a couple of Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. Your can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

• Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Four Frames Stamp Set (matches Designer Label punch #120907)

W: item 123440 | $20.95

C: item 123442 | $15.95

Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

item 122367 | $9.95

Coordinating Colors:

• Baja Breeze
• Cherry Cobbler
• Chocolate Chip
• Marina Mist
• Not quite Navy
• Old Olive
• River Rock
• Soft Suede
• Tangerine Tango

Click here to place your order on line 24/7. Or contact me for more information!