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!

Punch Potpourri

Today I reached for a set that I haven't used in ages! It's a hostess set called Punch Potpourri. It's got 4 beautiful images that coordinate with some of our most popular punches. I love how easy Stampin' Up! makes it to create beautiful projects. Coordinating stamps and punches is just another example of how our products are designed to work together.

Here are the images in this set:

The punches that coordinate are the XL Bird Punch, Full Heart Punch, Butterfly Punch and the Flower Trio Punch.

I used the heart punch today, as I was inspired by a beautiful card that I saw by fellow demonstrator Kimberly Taylor (hi Kimberly!).

I changed the colors and used some different embellishments. Here is what I came up with:

The card base is Crumb Cake and the layer is Baja Breeze. I embossed the Baja Breeze using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder - but I used my brayer with White Craft Ink on the embossing folder before I ran it through the Big Shot. It gives it a wonderful antique finish.

The border was made with the scallop edge punch, and sponged with Soft Suede Ink.

The greeting is from the Something to Celebrate Hostess set in the Occassions Mini Catalog.

I used a piece of Victoria Lace Ribbon and gathered it up for a little added dimension.

The button is from the Neautrals collection, and threaded with a piece of Linen thread.

The Heart was first stamped in Crumb Cake Classic Ink Pad, then I went over the flowers using Soft Suede and Baja Breeze Markers. To finish it off I sponged the edges with Soft Suede, and attached it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

This is one of the cards we will be making at my upcoming Stamp Camp on April 3rd. I still have space left, so drop me a note if you would like to join us! You can check out my calendar of events by clicking HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today! Now, go stamp something! :)

Just believe...in Spring!

I have faith that one day, it WILL be warm again. It's just taking an awfully long time. Sheesh! One step forward, 2 steps back.

So while I am waiting for Spring to arrive, I am playing with some floral type sets and using lots of pinks and spring colors.

Here is a simple, but pretty card that I made using the Just Believe stamp set.

The card base is Melon Mambo, with a touch of Pretty in Pink. I colored the stamp with my Old Olive and Melon Mambo markers, and misted it with a water bottle. Then stamped on Whisper White cardstock. I did a little splatter of ink using the color spritzer tool. Then added some ribbon and a button. Easy and so cute!

I also decided to use a few pretty in pink butterflies. I die cut those out using the Beautiful Wings emboslit. I sponged the edge lightly with Melon Mambo, and added them to the card with a mini glue dot.

Make sure to check out my calendar, as I have listed some spring dates for camps and classes. I hope you can come stamp with me soon!

Have a great weekend, all!

Fun Flowers are Fabulous!

The Occassions Mini Catalog is loaded with so many amazing products. I feel like I hardly have time to use them ALL. But one of my favorite is the FUN FLOWERS die for the Big Shot.

Oh my GOSH! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these flowers.

This die cuts out 3 flowers at the same time. They are all different sizes and shapes - perfect to use individually or layered together, as I did on this card.

I embossed the largest flower with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, the sponged it with Soft Suede ink. The medium flower was stamped with the En Francois Background Stamp, and again sponged. I used our AMAZING Shimmer Paint in Champagne on the smallest flower. It adds such pretty shimmer to the product! Gorgeous!

I finished it off with a ruffled piece of Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon and a Vintage Brad.

The background is embossed with the Tulip Frame Embossing Folder.

Another fun thing to try is using different papers for the flower layers...cardstock on one, designer paper, and maybe even tissue paper or fabric on the others. Layering different material together will add such amazing texture to your projects.

We are off to New Hampshire this weekend to visit with Ed's family. The kids are excited to see their Aunt and Uncle. And Bella will be off having a rumpus with her puppy friends. :)

I am working on my April calendar, as I didn't really have anything this month. I apologize...many of you have asked about it! I was just super busy with the Stampin' Up! Regional and prepping for my presentation (it went really well and I had a lot of fun!).

Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy the weekend!

Yes, I am still alive!

Hello Stampers!

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I've updated my blog! WOW! I am so sorry!

Now that I work outside the home, it's harder to find the time to get it all done.

Plus, I have some exciting news! I got a call from Stampin' Up! A few weeks ago and they asked me to be a presenter at the Regional Seminar in Hartford on March 19th! WOW. I was so honored that they asked me! So I have been held up in the stamp room working on projects to present. I can't believe it's coming up next Saturday! No pressure, just a few hundred demonstrators I have to present to. (My stomach just did a flip!) LOL.

I will be sure to share my projects when the presentation is over. My demonstration is scrapbooking related and I am having such fun creating samples. :)

Most of my downline will also be at the seminar, so I am hoping to have one of them video tape it for me. If it doesn't completely suck I may post it for you to see. LOL.

Wish me luck!

Now for a little stamped inspiration! This card is awesome, and really, there is not a lot of stamping on it! Most of the amazing elements come from the Big Shot!

The card base is Very Vanilla sponged with Soft Suede. The Marina Mist layer was run through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. The flowers (which I am so in love with) uses the new FUN FLOWERS die in the Occasions Mini Catalog. That die is AMAZING.

Cuts out 3 flowers all at the same time. I just sponged them, layered them together and added a button to the center with a glue dot. Easy and beautiful!

Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy the weekend!