Check Out the November My Paper Pumpkin Kit!

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while!  My son created a Google account on my computer and I have had a hard time getting into my blogger account.  Finally figured it out today!  Great timing too!  I just got My Paper Pumpkin kit for November in the mail today and I just had to share the video! These kits make an absolutely awesome holiday gift! Did you know you could purchase a My Paper Pumpkin subscription as a gift?  Check out the video to see what this month's lit has to offer!

Good Friends Means Free Good Greetings!

Now until Oct. 31, hosts will be able to earn an exclusive Good Greetings Stamp Set when your party reaches of  $300-that's in addition to the other exiting benefits! That's right, a FREE stamp set in addition to all the other exciting and generous benefits you get when you host a party from Aug. 28 to Oct. 31! This versatile stamp set covers holidays from Halloween to Valentines and more. Contact me today to schedule your party!

So Long to Summer Stamp-A-Stack

Hello everyone!  I am getting excited for my So Long to Summer Stamp-A-Stack on Friday evening!  This class will let us make a few more summery cards before we have to head back to school and long sleeves.  So, I thought I would share with you one of the cards that we will be making.  I used this week's Retro Sketch #129 to come up with this card.  As I was making it, it reminded me that I never partook in one of my annual summer traditions, enjoying a delicious Cape Cod lobster!  I did get to indulge in a yummy lobster roll, but it is not the same as getting to crack your own lobster and making a  total mess!  I guess that will make next summer's lobster even sweeter.

Here are the ingredients for this week's card:
Stamps: By the Tide, Yippee-Skippee!
Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Moonlight DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Lost Lagoon, Real Red
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots, Hearts A Flutter Thinlets Die, Spiral Border Punch

$50 Free for One Week Only!

I have super exciting news from Stampin' Up! The Short & Sweet promotion is here! It IS short: It only lasts from August 21-28. And it IS sweet: New recruits will receive $150 in their choice of Stampin' Up! products for the $99 starter kit price. You won't have to pay for shipping either! It's a great deal, amazing business opportunity, AND it's only available for a short time, so sign up now!

Here are the great benefits you get by joining my team:

• Fill your Wish List: First you get to select any product you want valued at $150 or less. Then you can save 30% on your first product order of $150 or more (placed within 45 days), plus earn hostess rewards. Yes, we demo's get the same perks as our hostesses, plus more!
• Enjoy Bigger Discounts on Specials:  Did you know that we get to enjoy SU's specials too?  Yes, if something is on sale we get that price plus our 20% off!
• Try it out!  Enjoy Stampin' Up! Demonstrator discounts and benefits through a full calendar quarter (you get a bonus month with this promotion) with NO further need to sell or purchase any products beyond the starter kit.  No pressure - just fun!
• There's no penalty to drop!  If you wish to keep your demonstrator status for the following quarter (for example January through March) you would need to order $300 in product sales (including your own orders). 
• Starter Kit ships FREE!  Yes, that's free shipping - another savings!
• Stampin' Success Magazine: Get access to our great stamping magazine 6 times a year with creative ideas as well as business ideas.
• Stampin' Connection: Get access to our all stampin' up idea website.  It is like an all Stampin' Up! Pinterest!
• One on One:  Get one on one business start up advice and direction from me.

So want to join my team?  Click HERE and then click the "Join Now" button. 

Spread a Little Sunshine

Good Monday morning!  Since it is back to the daily grind of the work week, I thought I would start your week out with a little sunshine.  This is a card that I made for the woman who does my pedicures.  She had a baby boy this past winter and I finally got in to see her recently and give her a little something for her little one.

I just got the new Ray of Sunshine stamp set.  I just happened to glance at it and see there was a sentiment in it for a new baby so I cracked it open and got this simple but sweet card made.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Ray of Sunshine
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral
Accessories: Banner Punch

Summer Birthday

My husband is one of those people with a summer birthday.  Since we just got back from Cape Cod, one of our favorite summer spots, I figured I could make him a card reminiscent of our trip.  I seem to be in the quick and easy mode these days with all my volunteer, kids and work commitments, but aren't most people?  Card making does not need to be a time consuming hobby.

The Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set is great to combine with any of our image sets to create the perfect birthday sentiment for your card.  The possibilities are "endless"!

The shell images are hand cut. Don't be afraid of cutting out your images!  Stay away from cutting on the line.  Giving a little extra space away from the image means your cuts don't need to be perfect!  So here is a simple card for you to case!

Here are the ingredients:
Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes, By the Seashore
Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Baked Brown Sugar
Ink: Island Indigo, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Canteloupe
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals

Big Shot Blow Out!

You are going to want to have a Big Shot in your  hands when you receive the upcoming holiday catalog -full of sweet Big Shot accessories. That's why with every purchase of a Big Shot in August, you will receive one of five free stamp set/framelits bundles below! Already own a Big Shot?  That's okay!  You can still purchase these designated bundles at an amazing 15% off! This is one deal they won't want to miss-only available from August 1-31-as these bundles are one-time only exclusives.

Two Choices:
1) Buy a Big Shot and get a free bundle below.
  and/or
2) Buy a discounted bundle below at a 15% discount.

Bundle	Item Number	Stamp Set	Framelits	Discounted Price
Sumthin' with Bubbly Words Bundle WM	138923	Sumthin' Sumthin'	Word Bubbles	$33.75
Sumthin' with Bubbly Words Bundle CM	138920	Sumthin' Sumthin'	Word Bubbles	$31.25
Decorative Goodies Bundle WM	138924	Oh My Goodies	Deco Labels Collection	$42.25
Decorative Goodies Bundle CM	138921	Oh My Goodies	Deco Labels Collection	$35.95
Celebrating Chalk Talk Bundle WM	138925	Day of Celebration	Chalk Talk	$43.25
Celebrating Chalk Talk Bundle CM	138922	Day of Celebration	Chalk Talk	$37.25
Flowery Daydream Bundle WM	138911	Daydream Medallions	Floral Collection	$54.25
Flowery Daydream Bundle CM	138910	Daydream Medallions	Floral Collection	$45.75
Bright & Beautiful Stars Bundle WM	138644	Bright & Beautiful	Star	$50.75
Bright & Beautiful Stars Bundle CM	138200	Bright & Beautiful	Star	$43.95

Christmas in July

Beauty of the Season (4 stamps)

Wood   135776  $21.95

Clear  135779  $16.95

Check out our Holiday preview set released as a little Christmas in July to get your creative juices flowing for all those Christmas cards you are going to make.  Visit my online store to order your set today.

Project Life: A Simple and Quick Solution to Scrapbooking

For all you who may shy away from scrapbooking or feel you are "behind", we now have the solution for you!  Whether you want to create one album or many, the Project Life system is the format absolutely anyone can do and it is easy peasy too!  Check out the video above to learn more and watch my calendar for a class coming this summer!

Magical Masking Tape Hits Scrapbooking

In January, my stamp club got to dabble in the Magical Masking Tape technique.  We made several cards with this easy as can be technique.  As I designed one of the cards, I thought it would be a great technique to carry over onto one of my scrapbook pages.  This page took no time at all!  The most time consuming part was die cutting the letters.

If you haven't tried this technique, it is something you should.  All you have to do is get some painter's tape (my preference) or masking tape and ink it up light or heavy depending on the effect you want to achieve and "stamp" it on to your paper.  I use painter's tape so it releases easy from the paper and does not risk tearing my project.  As you can see, I used this tape technique under my picture with two different colors and two different lengths of tape.

This project also uses the banner punch that you can earn for free this month with a $50 purchase.  I love this little punch.  It is a great addition to my scrapbooking supplies!  I also used new paper from our Occasions seasonal catalog that will only be available through the spring.

Here are the ingredients to recreate this page:
Stamps: None for this project...just painter's tape
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Whisper White, Retro Fresh DSP, Pool Party
Accessories: Banner Punch, Typeset Alphabet Sizzix Dies

Keep Your Sympathy On Hand

I am sad to say over the past month I have had a great need for sympathy cards.  If I know the family is Catholic, I tend to send a Mass card, but if not, I try to make sympathy cards.  It seems like each week over the last few weeks friends and family have lost a family member.  I always have a difficult time making sympathy cards in the moment.  I always say I am going to make a few to have on hand but never do.  I encourage you to make some sympathy cards to have ready when you need them and hope you don't need to use them.  It is much easier to make them when you don't need them than when you do.

The set I used for this card, while geared towards sympathy and illness, has been a very versatile set for me.  I have used it in scrapbooking as well as everyday cards.  Unfortunately, today's card was made for its true use.  Here are the details:

Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Pink Pirouette Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, In-Color DSP
Accessories: Pink Pirouette Taffeta Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Sizzix Labels Collection Framelits

Paper Pumpkin Too Cute!!

Have you subscribed to My Paper Pumpkin yet?  If not, here is something you are missing!  February's kit came in perfect time for me to put together an adorable gift bag for my upline's birthday.  I used one of the stamps I got in my kit to make a simple coordinating card to go with it.  This month brought some new features to the kit: more value in each kit and photopolymer stamps for a better cling to your clear block.

Now is a perfect time to try out My Paper Pumpkin.  If you sign up for My Paper Pumpkin as a new subscriber prior to March 31, 2014.  You will receive a free set of in-color markers with your Welcome Kit.  The nice thing about My Paper Pumpkin  is you can cancel at anytime or you can opt out from month to month if you need to take a break.  I love receiving a little surprise in my mailbox each month and it has been the perfect thing to reach for when I am in a pinch and need a quick card or project.  Click on my link to the left to sign up for your kit today!

Birthday Wishes

Last week was my sister-in-law's birthday.  This is the card I sent her.  I used a sketch from the Deconstructed Sketch blog.  I absolutely love how it came out and the fact that I got to play with some new product (Note the Sale-A-Bration banner punch, free with a $50 purchase this month!!!).

Here are the ingredients for this card:
Stamps: Embellished Events, Bring On the Cake
Ink: Midnight Muse Pad; Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, and So Saffron Markers
Paper: Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, I Am Me DSP
Accessories: 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Banner Punch

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I hope you have all had fun making cards for this special day.  I was so excited that My Paper Pumpkin this past month had love themed cards so I could put together nice quick and easy cards for my kids.  I can't wait to receive my February kit!  They are increasing the size of the kits but not the price!  If you haven't tried My Paper Pumpkin, now is the time.  You will receive a free set of In-Color Markers with your Welcome Kit.  Just click the link at the left to get to the site to order.  I will be giving my cards I  made with my January kit to the kids this evening with a little sweet treat after a little sledding on our second snow day in a row!  What a way to extend our February vacation!

Today's sample is the card I made for my husband.  I traditionally give it to him with a plate of chocolate chip cookies when he gets home from work, but I may need to do an IOU this year since I think I am out of margarine!  I am contemplating butter as a substitute...

This card was fun to make!  I got to play with a bunch of new die cuts.  Here are the ingredients:
Stamps: Peachy Keen
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe
Paper: Crumb Cake, Soft Sky, Pink Pirouette, Crisp Cantaloupe
Accessories: On Film Framelit Dies, Expressions Thinlits

Something for Baby

I have finally gotten a chance to share a new sample with you!  Free time to blog is at such a premium these days!  This card is one I made to accompany a long overdue baby gift for the baby sister of one of my Cub Scouts.  She was born in May and I am finally getting the gift to them!  I have had the gift since the spring!  At least, I always buy big sizes!

Now on to the card.  Here are the specs:
Stamps: Zoo Babies, Mosaic Madness, Embellished Events
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Accessories: Strawberry Slush 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim, Stampin' Sponges, Ovals Collections Framelits Dies

Fun Kiddo Birthday Card

Today's card is an extremely simple card I made for a special little guy this past November.  I love when a card can be put together in no time!  It makes coordinating the card with the wrapping super easy.  I often choose my card colors to match the packaging.

Here are the ingredients:
Stamps: Zoo Babies, Bring On the Cake
Paper: Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Retired DSP (substitute with Tangerine Tango from the Brights DSP)
Ink: Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots

Happy New Year!

So, I have been on sabbatical for the month of December.  My life gets extremely crazy during that month between birthdays, Hanukkah and Christmas.  So with a new year here, I am happy to get back to a slower pace and blogging more often.  My first post is a little gift I made for my new neighbors who moved in across the street this past fall.  A little tradition I picked up from my Southern friends is to welcome a new neighbor by baking a little something for them.  This was an apple bread, a recipe I acquired from a former co-worker (yum!).  Of course, all  baked goods given as a gift need to be dressed up!  This little dress up took me a matter of seconds to complete!

Here are all the details:
Stamps: Flower Shop, Happy Day
Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, So Saffron
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party
Accessories: Calypso Coral 3/4" Chevron Ribbon, Pansy Punch, Chalk Talk Framelits