It's SSS time again!

What's SSS time???

Stampin', Scrappin' & Stitchin'

for LIFE Retreat!

Saturday, March 26 from 8am-8pm

In Greenville MI

Cost is ONLY $25 (is tax deductible) and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner!
I'll be there with my goodies for you to use!

So bring your scrap booking, card making, paper crafting or sewing projects and join us for a day of FUN all while raising money for Alpha Family Center.... Greenville's crisis pregnancy and family resource center.

CLICK HERE for a registration form and more information.

Sale-A-Bration sneak peek-Christmas Gift

We had our DYEnamINK Stampers team Christmas party last week and one of the highlights is the handstamped gift exchange.  This was the gift I made.

I got a flat 12 x 12 acrylic frame forever ago that has been in the 'someday I'm going to do something with this' cupboard (yes, we ALL have one of those!)

I inserted some of the NEW Sale-A-Bration paper that I decorated with some of the decorative adhesive strips.  The frame doubles as a dry erase board too!

I used the big shot scallop #2 die to cut out the cork and post it notes and used sticky strip to attach them to the outside of the frame, along w/ the calendar.  And look at those cute push pins!!!  I used the SAB adhesive die cuts and glued them to the push pins..... I know... ADORABLE!

I strung the Sale-a-bration ribbon to string across the top and glued SAB buttons to the mini clips to put on the ribbon.

What do you think?
I hope you made a few of your gifts this year!
Merry Christmas!

Baby Blossoms.... Ok, I know this makes 3!

Yes, yet another card with this beautiful set!

The Springtime Vintage paper is sure to be one of your favorites.  And NEW BAHA BREEZE GLASS GLITTER is the Bomb!  Add a glimmer brad and all you can say is FABULOUS!

YES, I know it's Christmas..... That's Jesus' birthday!  So happy Birthday Wishes for a wonderful Christmas!  Hope you are enjoying the season!

Baby Blossoms Card.... yes, card #2!

Like I said yesterday, I was PLAYING!

I was determined to use this set over and over to make some fun projects, and I think you'll be delighted with what I came up with (YES, THESE ARE ALL MY ORIGINAL IDEAS WITH THIS SET!)  It's too new to copy/tweek someone else's ideas (lol)!

Let me warn you right now.... You are going to FALL IN LOVE WITH the new Springtime Vintage designer series paper, so stock up on the following colors of cardstock to go with it.....Not Quite Navy, Baha Breeze, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, River Rock, Very Vanilla and Always Artichoke.

The little polka dot frame is a stamp from the set.... so totally cute!  And the Wide Oval Punch works perfectly to create a focal point within the frame.

Beautiful.... Did you know that's what you are?  You are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord!!!  I think I need to send this card to my friend to remind her how beautiful she is to God... and to me!  Take time to tell someone they are beautiful.... they can never hear it enough!

Baby Blossoms Card Idea

Baby Blossoms???? What's that... you say?
Well, it's a stamp set from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog, and here is a sneak peek.....

This set makes BEAUTIFUL cards!  I used the NEW Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper and Rose Red Seam Binding..... The polka dots background is made with the BIG SHOT which if you don't have one, you'll want to get one during Sale-A-Bration--Jan 25-March 31--So you can earn 2 free SAB items with your big shot purchase!

I also used 2 punches... the Designer Label and Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border.

Watch for more fun ideas using this set.... I had some fun stamping tonight!  You'll want to see all the new items FIRST HAND.... Let's schedule a fun girls' night out for you and your friends after the new year!

Movers and Shapers Die Christmas Card

This die is so much fun to use!  You can create a window anywhere on your card... just position the movable 'window' die to punch the window where you'd like.

For this card I used the Bells and Boughs set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  And watercoloring is a cinch using stamp pads and Aquapainters.    Add a little bling with our stick on rhinestones---LOVE THOSE! They are definitely my FAVORITE accessory from the catalog.

I hope you are having as much fun as I am making your Christmas cards.  :-)  And even more fun sharing the Reason for the Season with those around you.  CELEBRATE JESUS!

Merry CHRISTmas!

French Foliage HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This card was so easy to make.  I used Old Olive, More Mustard and Cajun Craze ink and cardstock with the AWESOME French Foliage set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  

The leaf on the center piece was done using the rock and roll technique.... Ink the stamp in mustard, then roll the edges of the stamp in cajun craze ink.... then stamp.

I wish you and your family the Happiest of Thanksgivings!  I'd love for you to leave me a comment on the top 3 things you are thankful for.....

Mine:
1) My Faith
2) My Family (Gary, Jake & Mitch)
3) My Friends

French Foliage Card Idea

This card is not my original idea.... but as soon as I saw it, I memorized it and HAD to recreate it.

It uses the French Foliage stamp set from the Holiday Mini catalog..... And the Cherry Cobbler and Pear Pizza paper and ink are AMAZING together!

I thought the "Imagine the Possibilities" greeting was the PERFECT sentiment considering the FABULOUS STARTER KIT SPECIAL going on right now!  What can you imagine you could do for you and your family as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator?  Joining with the HALF PRICE starter kit could mean HUGE OPPORTUNITIES for you!  Let's talk about what that means!

Bells & Boughs Stair Step Christmas Card

Ok, I know I am going to hear it for this one after yesterday's post about how I don't make things that are complicated.  Well, this isn't 'complicated' but it is VERY PUTSY!

The Bells & Boughs set from the Holiday Mini Catalog is so elegant!  I stamped them with Stazon ink and watercolored them with Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke ink and an aquapainter.  The ruffle is our gold Waffle Paper.

Once in awhile I have to do a work of heART!  While this was fun to do ONCE, I don't think I'd make 50 of them or anything! lol!  Lots of cutting, but worth the results!

Quilt Top Note Die

Now, I know you are going to think this was WAY to complicated, but you should know me better than to think I'd do something complicated! lol!

I took a piece of white cardstock and attached 1-1/4" squares of Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper to it (just cover the whole piece).  Then, I ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die.  Super easy!

The background piece it textured with the big shot using the lattice embossing folder.

Because I care.... Hmmmm, I am sure you've had someone tell you about something hard they are going through.  Wouldn't they love to get a handmade card from you letting you know that you care and are praying for them?  You are praying for them aren't you? That's the best gift you can give someone.

French Foliage - Thinking Outside the Box

At my DYEnamINK Stampers team meeting this month, my good friend Beth shared a card where she made a poinsettia out of the leaf stamp in the French Foliage set, so of course, I had to come home and make one too!

Here's my own creation!  Cherry Cobbler paper and ink.... I stamped the leaves and cut them out (yes, I cut again... this is amazing!)  And, I am NOT hoarding my shimmery brads.....  The Petals a Plenty embossing folder for the Big Shot adds such a nice touch to the background.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but the strip that has the greeting stamped on it is brushed gold cardstock.

Get a jumpstart on your Christmas cards.  You can place an order for your supplies ONLINE HERE.

Matchbox Die for Big Shot

I don't know what life was like before the Big Shot!
Especially when it comes to making fun little boxes... No more measuring, scoring, cutting....  Just crank and go!

This little box (which we made at my last Too Stinkin' Cute Class) uses the Greenhouse Gala designer series paper.  Stampin' Up! used this paper on samples on the front of one of our Stampin' Success Magazines (our monthly demonstrator newsletters) and I loved the colors.  They are so yummy!

The little tag on top is actually from the same die.  There's three different tags included in the die.  What a value!  And I know you LOVE the shimmery brad (from the Holiday Mini Catalog!)  I'm kind of addicted to them.  Once I got over the fact that I cannot hoard them!  You know what I mean... you have that pretty paper, or in this case, shimmery brad, and you open it up and just look at it.  You don't want to use them because they will be gone!  Well, that's why you have me! You can always get more, silly!

Inside, I wrapped some Hershey nuggets with some paper strips (1x3).  LOVE THEM!

What friend do you know that would love a little pick me up like this....?  Don't you think you should make her one today?

French Foliage Card Idea... Masculine

The French Foliage set is in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  What a beautiful set.
I wanted to make a simple guy card, and here's what I came up with.... Let me know what you think!

I stamped some of our Gold Waffle Paper (from the mini) with black Stazon ink. (Stazon works best because it dries fast and is permanent).  And I layered the stamped waffle paper on Old Olive cardstock.

I also stamped the leaves on Brushed Gold Cardstock and cut them out.  (Yeah, I CUT them out....Not like me, I know!)

The greeting is stamped on brushed gold and punched out with the Word Window punch and layered on to a black piece punched with the Modern Label punch.... All the gold is really shimmery.  Kinda cool!

The waffle paper comes in a 2-pack... with a roll of gold and a roll of silver.
Fall is definitely my favorite time of year.  I love how God takes nature and turns it into his canvas.  We have the best artwork.... Divine artwork!

Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper-NO Stamping!

Whew!
You must have wondered where I've been!
Well, let's just say that sometimes life happens, and God makes us take a break....

But, I am back, and have been having fun in my stamp room.

The Holiday Mini Catalog is FABULOUS (in case you didn't already know that) and this Deck the Halls paper is BEAUTIFUL!  These cards are made from one of the sheets in the package...

I just cut out parts of the paper to use on the card fronts.  Super easy!

Here's some upclose pics:
This one uses some of our crocheted ribbon.

Just a little vanilla taffeta ribbon for this one.

More vanilla taffeta...

And the 5-petal punch (to make the poinsettia and the leaves.)  Add 3 clear rhinestone brads and viola!

The card bases are Cherry Cobbler... I am finding it really hard to use another red for Christmas.  This one is so beautiful!

Stampin' Up! So Cute

This card uses the So Cute stamp set, and yes, more of the Nursery Suite Quick Accents (are you finding you NEED them now???)

And why have one cupcake when you can have 3!

The pearl accents are our NEW sticky pearls... and this particular one comes in a strip.... so no lining them up... just peel and stick!  Add a little texture with the perfect polka dots folder and big shot.

2-step owl punch.... He's a HOOT!

I just couldn't resist!

Here is a pocket card we made a conventional!
The curly label punch makes a great 'pull' for the insert.

Again, we used some more Quick Accents from the Nursery Suite Collection.

FUN FUN FUN!  If you don't have the owl punch yet, just you wait!  (You can even make it into a penguin out of it... yeah, really!)

Cake in a Box

Ok, I am such an 'inside the box' girl! I never would have thought to take a battery operated candle and make a cake out of it!  DUH!

Here is another project we made at conventional....

Inside is this cute cake!

We used the new Nursery Suite Quick Accents.... self adhesive die cuts that all coordinate (they even have matching designer series papers!)

You know.. this would be a fun gift to give someone just to let them know that THEY are a wonderful reason to celebrate!  You know.... The gift of each other is a reason to Celebrate! God is so good to give us each other, don't you think?

2 step envelope punch

Ok, this punch was NOT on my original list of must haves!  (notice I said 'original' list---it now is!)

This punch actually cuts and scores at the same time!  Totally cool!

It creates cute envelopes for accents (and even more fun ways to use it thanks to Susan Gardner showing us her demonstration at conventional!--You'll have to wait to see those!)

See you next time!

Stampin' Up! Aviary Make & Take

At the coventional I spoke at a week ago, we made some wonderful make and takes.  Here is one of them using the new Aviary stamp set.  The designer of this card is Connie Tumm.  It was so nice to come and have everything pre-cut and ready to make.  As a customer, you get that treat all the time, but as a demonstrator, not so much...

I'll be posting more fun make and takes from this fabulous event!'