Scrappin' Sarah

Razzleberry Lemonade meets Flower Embellies

2010-02-14T01:08:00.004-06:00

Hello friends! Tonight's PTI challenge was to create flower embellies and use them on a card as well as to have a sheet of them to share with a friend. I enjoyed punching them out with my Five Petal Flower Punch and Scallop Circle Punch as well as die cutting the giant one on my card out of the Blossom Party Originals Die. Then just scrunchy them up towards the middle - as we've been seeing EVERYWHERE online these days. The ones made with the Five Petal Punch I learned about from a tutorial Julie Buhler did (I'll link it up later) - one is made with tissue paper and one is made with cardstock after doing the Faux Suede method. These were too fun to make! LOVE them! I can't stand white space so I added a few of the butterflies from the new embosslit in the Mini Catalog.

NOTE: Those random Crushed Curry dots aren't random at all - I used an embossing folder and colored the centers of the flowers but you totally can't see the rest of it - I'll try to take better pics tomorrow but for now off to bed!!! :)

PTI Origami Challenge

2010-02-13T03:57:00.003-06:00

Wow! This one was a toughie - it is hard to get patterned paper to fold so many times and look decent. Nichole provided links to origami sites and I chose the Origami Club site - so great with animations guiding you through the process. I hadn't made a Valentine's Day card for my awesome hubby yet so I thought I'd choose the origami heart and away I went. The patterned paper is some from my stash - appropriately denim: 1) because it is masculine and 2) because my hubby loves his jeans! I'll try to post more details later but for now I should get to bed (being sick makes me like an insomniac so when tired hits I'd better take advantage of it).

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #18

2009-10-28T18:27:00.006-05:00

Hello!!! Here are a few fun cards made with Dawn's awesome color combo this week - I always struggle with using cream instead of white (I ended up using white on the baby card b/c the ribbon stitching was white).

Supplies are a hodgepodge - on the baby card all supplies except for the button & glitter are Stampin' Up! but the green on both is the retired In-Color Wild Wasabi - a personal favorite of mine (thank goodness I had a bit in my stash for this challenge b/c I think that green is a good match for Dawn's colors).

I also tried a new technique (for me - you'll see the post where I got it is from April) with the ribbon and button - so easy peasy and I LOVED the results!!! Check it out at the fab Nichole Heady's blog HERE.

Anyway I hope you enjoy!!!

(Note: The cupcake stamp is the same one Kristina Werner used in her previous Finally Friday video and I just had to have it - so my SIL and I hunted it down in KC this past weekend. Have you guys ever HAVE to have something crafty like me and this cupcake?)

Deals of the Week, Exciting News, & another card of course!!!

2009-10-13T21:25:00.004-05:00

Hello all!!!
Here's a super fun card I made using this year's In Colors for the birthday of one of my students in a small group we have at school. A little glitter, a little watercoloring and my fav cupcake stamp ever!!! There is quite a bit of space between the ribbon and the sentiment so I think I would change it by adding a strip of Crushed Curry cs or DSP in there but as I don't have the card anymore I'll have to live with it.

The Deals of the Week for this week are what I can only call a Sizzix Extravaganza! My Big Shot is probably one of my favorite tools to use on any and all paper crafting projects so I love the focus this week - especially the incredible discounting on those pricier XL dies!

Week 2 Deals of the Week

Item Description Special Price

115961 Perfect Setting Bigz XL die $25.99

114515 Flower Burst Embosslits die $5.99

116760 Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die $25.49

If you need to place an order just contact me or go straight to my Stampin' Up! Website to order 24/7! The special prices are only good until next October 19th, 10 am MST.

Finally my exciting news - I am going to be PUBLISHED in the special edition of Paper Crafts Magazine, Stamp It! Although it won't be released until January I am over the moon about my first publication! I'll post it on my blog after the magazine is released but I would highly recommend this magazine - packed full of beautiful card ideas - I have 2 issues and I look at them ALL the time!

Ok, all, back to grading but I hope you have a great week!!!

World Card Making Day PTI Challenge #4: Australia

2009-10-05T23:43:00.003-05:00

Here's the other challenge I was able to participate in! The Australia card required either masking or dotted outlines. I made a simple card where I punched out the Five Petal Flower from SU! out of scrap paper and masked the flower 3 times, sponging one of the in colors in each. Then I punched it out of the gorgeous Razzleberry Lemonade paper - all 4 flowers were outlined with dots, as well as the panel as a whole.

World Card Making Day PTI Challenge #2: Mexico

2009-10-05T23:34:00.003-05:00

The point of this challenge was to "travel" to Mexico - utilizing vibrant colors!!! I tried 2 techniques from the fabulous Dawn McVey's blog - the ruffles to mimick the ruffles on the Mexican dresses I found as inspiration and the flower to represent all the colors!!! I wished I had satin ribbon in all the different colors but as I didn't I used the luscious white satin ribbon I just received from Stampin' Up!

The inspiration photo is from allposters.com - I really enjoyed these challenges! They made me get out my sewing machine to attach the ruffles so now that I have it out I'll try to sew on some other cards soon! The "Australia" card is coming too!

SPCC #17 & Mojo Monday #106

2009-10-05T19:43:00.002-05:00

I combined 2 challenges and my must have sets from the Stampin' Up! 2009-2010 Catalog: Tree Trimmings & Teeny Tiny Wishes! An unconventional color combination came from Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Combos and I switched the layout from last week's Mojo Monday a bit. (Both challenge sites are linked in my sidebar)

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #17

2009-10-05T19:21:00.003-05:00

Hello all! I just looked again at the inspiration and it should be aqua instead of baby blue but I had fun playing with some non-SU! items for a change (I'm usually SU! only).

Hopefully you like it!!! :) Thanks for the challenge Dawn - I LOVE these colors although I'll have to make another card soon and follow the challenge colors closer!

Razzleberry Snow

2009-10-01T20:47:00.003-05:00

I just fell in love with Rich Razzleberry from the first moment I saw it! I LOVE it! Same thing happened with this set out of the Holiday Mini Catalog, Serene Snowflakes. Here's a peek at one card where I put the two together! It would really be pretty simple to mass produce for your holiday cards and the Frost White Shimmer Paint adds a bit of a "wow" factor!

Steps to Creating this Card:

1. Cut Rich Razzleberry CS at 4-1/4 x 11. Score at 5-1/2" and fold. Stamp 3 smaller snowflakes from Serene Snowflakes randomly on the base in Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink.
2. Cut a 3-3/4" Very Vanilla square and ink up the largest snowflake with Rich Razzleberry Ink. Use the thumping technique with a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker to get a little variation of color throughout the image. (Note: Thumping is just what it sounds like, use the brush end of the marker to thump right onto the rubber.) Sit the stamp face up on your surface and use a sponge dauber, regular sponge wedge, or paint brush to apply Frost White Shimmer Paint directly on top of the Razzleberry ink. Breathe on your image to re-wet it before stamping it in the center of the Vanilla CS. Sponge the edges with Razzleberry and the shimmer paint.
3. Cut a piece of Basic Black CS at 4-3/4" x 3-1/4". Center the Vanilla image panel in the upper part of the black and adhere with Stampin' Dimensionals. Tie the Black/Vanilla Wide Striped Grosgrain around the panel, under the image.
4. Stamp the sentiment from Warm Words on a Very Vanilla CS scrap, punch out with the Modern Label punch and adhere below the ribbon. Adhere the black panel to the card base.

Stay tuned for some My Digital Studio creations soon! There are a couple of new things from SU! so check those out:
1. New starter kit with My Digital Studio, as well as 2 stamp sets, 4 ink pads, 4 markers, paper, etc. for just $185! Check it out the contents here.
2. Hostess special still going on - reminder that the My Digital Studio portion of the promotion began today (starting today EVERYONE can order/own/play with My Digital Studio). If your workshop or single order is over $250 choose a product in the Mini Catalog for $10 (My Digital Studio and hostess sets excluded). When it reaches $400, you can order My Digital Studio for HALF PRICE!!! (normally $79.99)
3. Deals of the week starting up again - until October 12th order these products at a reduced cost!

Week 1 Deals of the Week

Item Description Special Price
109183 Trio Flower punch $10.99

109041 5-Petal Flower punch $10.99

110709 My Way punch $11.99

Christmas Swap

2009-08-16T22:12:00.003-05:00

Hello all! First day of meetings tomorrow and school starts Wednesday!

Here's another card from SCS Convention Swaps!

Stamps: Punch Pals
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black & Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pads, Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad
Paper: Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, and Basic Black card stock
Accessories: White & Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Earth Elements Brads, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Snowflakes #2 Sizzlits Set, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Earth Elements & Neutrals Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Tag Corner Punch

One Layer/Card Buffet Convention Swap

2009-08-13T12:03:00.004-05:00

Here's one of the best organized (Splitcoast) swaps I signed up for. I got great ideas back and I may try to post some of those in the upcoming days. For now though, here's mine.

Supplies
Stamps - Greenhouse Garden, Heard from the Heart
Paper - Naturals White
Ink - Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, & Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories - Old Olive 5/8" Grograin Ribbon, Circle Scissors Plus, Stamping Sponges, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Color Spritzer Tool

Convention was AMAZING!!!

2009-08-12T17:17:00.011-05:00

Hello all!!! I meant this to be a short post about Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City but I should know that with the awesome-ness of the three new product lines introduced that it would be a little longer - read on, you won't be disappointed! I was so excited this year because my fab upline Beth was able to go - in fact we booked hotel & plane before we could even register for the Convention itself! After we were all registered we went about finding random roomies on Splitcoast (I did this last year with great results as well) - Rose from CA & Tonya from right here in St. Joe (where Beth & I also live, can you believe it?). I've come back with almost 600 pictures, mostly with projects and inspiration, so I cannot wait to demonstrate some of these AMAZING ideas at workshops soon!

First off here's a picture of me with my roommates and a hint at a new product line debuting in our Holiday Mini Catalog!

If you guessed Build-a-Bear (BaB) you are totally right!!! Now I'll admit that before going to Convention I just thought the images in the new mini catty were cute but didn't think I really needed them. Now I want the stamps, the die-cuts (like paper dolls) and of course more clothes for my Stampin' Up! demonstrator BaB. (On Saturday, after Convention was over we rode the Trax to the nearby mall and Tonya & I outfitted our BaBs in some fun duds. It was a little tricky though because these BaBs aren't standard size. But I love how my little Melon Mambo-licious bear turned out, although she doesn't have a name yet! Ideas anyone?)

Cards made with the new Build-a-Bear stamps! They are too too cute! I love the cute little bear phrases!

Treat bags/gift sacks for Christmas/Halloween made with the Build-a-Bear Sizzix dies. Too cute!

Canvas tote bag made with the Build-a-Bear Sizzix dies and fabric! So cool that fabric is one of the 40 things the Sizzix dies will cut through.

Magnet board & paper doll set made out of the new Build-a-Bear Sizzix dies.

I'll try and share some more highlights another day but want to mention the other two product lines I'm nuts for!

My Digital Studio (MDS) - debuting sometime in September - is very very cool! You can download elements and use them in something like Photoshop, but when you see how easy the software makes it I think you'll agree that MDS is the way to go! I cannot believe how easy it makes not only digital scrapbooking or card making, but making entire albums!!! There was an area at Convention where we could see the products that printed out first hand and let me tell you it was amazing! You can design your own cover or get something simple like leather! The first word that came to mind was HIGH QUALITY! This product was incredible! The high quality results we saw will be attainable through SU!'s partnership with a printing company that guarantees that the colors printed will be the same as SU! colors (a must-have for those planning to combine the digital page with embellishments out of the regular catalog). You can also print them in other ways - I'm just excited about the quality guaranteed by this partnership!

Some pages from the album that was shown to us. You can see the ones on the left are hybrid as the new snowflake punch and buttons were used to accent what was done digitally.

Framed keepsake piece of artwork from the same skiing trip as the pages above. Sorry about the weird light in the upper left hand corner.

Finally the item I am most excited about!!! Simply Adorned is the new jewelry line!!! Until I saw it in person, I didn't really care one way or another. I thought it was pretty, but probably not something I would personally buy. HOWEVER, after seeing it in person, I fell absolutely IN LOVE!!! The charms come in 3 different sizes and the chains in 2 different lengths! The best thing about it? You can easily change out what is inside the charms to customize it for your outfit or the season or simply when you get tired of it. I CANNOT WAIT until September 1st, when I can order this product. I leave you with some samples of these beautiful projects. (I apologize for how blurry they are - I swore on my little digital camera screen that they were fine, dangit.) For more ideas/pictures, you can check out the fabulous post Patty Bennett made today about this same line HERE.

The one on the left is created with some of the new Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper & the stamp set designed to be used with this new line, Charming. Lucky winners received these pendants, made by Shelli & her family (signed by Shelli too) and you can see how beautiful they look on a length of ribbon as well as the chain (this ribbon is the new in-color Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon). The one on the right shows a frame image from Charming again as well as how to personalize the charm with your initial.

Personalization with your initial, as well as the Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper (another favorite of mine).

Not only personalizing the charm with stamping & watercoloring, but also the box that comes with the charm and how you could stamp & watercolor elements to gift give these gorgeous pieces of jewelry!

These little pieces are showing the front & back of possible charm inserts! It is so easy to just change them out as the charm is hinged (the hinge is very unobtrusive and is on the back size of the pendant). I cannot wait until I can order these and start creating!!!

2 Sketches 4 U Sketch - a little late! whoops!

2009-07-12T13:58:00.006-05:00

I cannot keep track of when all of these are supposed to be posted by, but I'm posting it anyway. The sketch is from 2 Sketches 4 U - a new sketch will be posted tomorrow so watch for it and give it a try! :)

I used the set Animal Stories as well as the coordinating Tall Tales Designer Series Paper. This was such a fun card to make. I also stamped the greeting "hello baby" from Teeny Tiny Wishes (I LOVE this font!) in Old Olive and the "bubbles" are from Circle Circus in So Saffron. I thought it was a fun look! Anyway, enjoy your Sunday!

Link to the post about the sketch HERE!

Diva Coffee Break Designs Sketch Card & Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge #50

2009-07-12T13:05:00.005-05:00

Hello! I combined a couple of challenges to make this card as well as a stamp set, Always, that I hadn't used yet! I also hadn't yet used the Billboard strip die so that was fun to use for the "{YOU". The colors I used were Real Red, Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White. 5-1/2" doesn't divide equally by 3 so the two outside strips are 1-3/4" wide which leaves the middle one 2" wide but I thought it looked great anyway.

You can find the sketch HERE!

Friends 24-7 Mother's Day Card

2009-07-08T14:30:00.003-05:00

I forgot to post this one! I made it for my mom for Mother's Day. Obviously the Baja Breeze is retired but any other blue would look gorgeous with this color combo as well (actually any other color really - I love combining one bold/fun color with basics like Chocolate Chip, Kraft, & Whisper White).

Hopefully I'll be back later today or tomorrow with some cards made with my new Stampin' Up! goodies which are arriving TODAY!!! Too bad my UPS man is usually here between 7 pm - 8 pm! Anyway off to work on swap cards for Convention!!! I'll be there in a month!

Late Night Stampers

2009-06-13T20:46:00.003-05:00

Hello!!! These ladies have been hired by the fabulous Sherrill Graff to make samples and swaps for Convention. I thought it would be 1) great to share their fabulous blogs with you and 2) I have the possibility of winning $50 in SU! products for sharing the links with you so why not?

Check them out when you have time!!!

1.Gretchen Barron gbarron56@comcast.net http://gretchenbarron.typepad.com/

2. Barbara Dondero barbaradondero@gmail.com http://BarbsStampingSpot.blogspot.com

3.Tammy Fite stampinmama@comcast.net http://www.stampwithtammy.com

4. Judy Jackson JudyStamper@verizon.net

5. Mary Brown mary@stampercamper.com http://stampercamper.com/ 6.Sarah Wills sarahwills@austin.rr.com http://sarahsinkspot.blogspot.com/

7.Selene Kempton e.selene@verizon.net http://stampinfunwithselene.blogspot.com/

8.Virginia Killmore vkillmore@gmail.com http://virginias-website.blogspot.com/

9. Elizabeth Sloman sloman4100@bellsouth.net http://www.mamastamper.com

10.Marisol Gutierrez atouchof_sol@yahoo.com http://atouchofsol.blogspot.com/

11. Dawn Bullock Dbullock28@comcast.net http://www.stampincreations.blogspot.com

12.Sandi MacIver sandi_maciver@comcast.net http://www.sandimaciver.com/sandi_maciver/

13.Stephanie Sullins stephenandsteph@earthlink.net http://owlwhimsy.blogspot.com

14.Susan Shields blestmomof6@cox.net http://createdwithlovebysusan.blogspot.com/

15. Rebekah "Becky" Jensen http://www.stampthat.com

16. Heidi Michel heartfeltblessings@gmail.com http://www.
heartfeltblessings.blogspot.com

17. Barb Slaughter stamper0910@yahoo.com

18. Lisa Milliron uniquedesignsbylisa@windstream.net http://www.uniquedesignsbylisa.typepad.com/

19 Connie Babbert iluvstamping@columbus.rr.com http://inkspiredtreasures.com/

20 Nancy Dawson nancy@centralva.net http://creativewishes.blogspot.com

21 Bethany Keeney bethanykeeney@hotmail.com http://keeneyfarm.blogspot.com/

22 Kirsten Brown stampinsilly@gmail.com http://imstampinsilly.blogspot.com/

23. Mary Jo Price-Williams technostamper@roadrunner.com http://technostamper.blogspot.com/

24. Elizabeth Hurst stampwithelizabeth@gmail.com http://www.animalscraps.blogspot.com

25. Vivian Swain florida_scrapper@earthlink.net http://floridastampinwithvivian.blogspot.com/

Other finds...

2009-06-11T05:35:00.005-05:00

I've been reorganizing my pictures and just found a couple of our shoebox swap from April. Here are my two cards - using Very Versatile & Sense of Time! I used sketch challenges for each!

End of the School Year Cards

2009-06-11T04:12:00.006-05:00

Hello all! These are a few cards I made for my coworkers. Two of our math teachers (out of 7 fulltime) retired this year so that is who the first 2 cards are for. The second two are thanking my mentor (one of the retiring teachers) for all she's done for me and thanking our department chair for her hard work this year! I'll try and post details sometime later today! Warning: As it was the end of the school year, I was having difficulty with original thoughts, so these all have some sort of story behind them that helped me get them all done in a short amount of time!

This one was CASEd from a swap I received at Stampin' Up! Convention 2008 last year! (So excited for this year!) The stamper that made it had used Wonderful You - an amazing stamp set that will retire at the end of this month. I used the fabulous Branch Out to recreate the same layout. Both this card as well as the next one used the Sale-a-Bration stamp set Congrats which is no longer available - but I didn't have any other retirement sentiments! (Now I do though - fabulous Teeny Tiny Wishes - a must-have from the new catalog!)

This one was CASEd from Mercy Kerin (I believe) - I'll try and link the card here later! It is super similar if not a complete copy but I was sure the retiree didn't care!

This one was the 2 Sketches for You Sketch for the first week of the Ultimate Card Showdown!

This one was also the Mojo Monday Sketch a couple weeks ago!

NEW STAMPS & IN COLORS!!! HOORAY!!!

2009-06-05T00:54:00.006-05:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new In Colors & stamps! Melon Mambo was my wedding color so now I have no excuse for not starting on the wedding album! My favorite new things - the POLKA DOTTED grosgrain ribbon (one side is plain which is really nice for any masculine cards) and IN COLOR MARKERS!!! We've been asking and SU! has listened. I didn't get them on my first order and now I'm regretting it! I'll miss the current in colors but I'm having a serious love thing with the new ones already. I'll be honest, these colors are even more beautiful in real life! (the brand new Razzleberry Lemonade DSP too - it is amazing!)

My friend Michelle Fischer has done a great comparison of the new in colors so I'll link you to that HERE. She also shows you the new ribbon as well as what the colors look like stamped on white and stamped on the matching paper (tone on tone).

Here's one with the Razzle Dazzle set and Teeny Tiny Wishes! I really like this color combination! Right now I'm wishing I had bought the In Color Stampin' Write Markers as I inked up the flower in the In Color (either Crushed Curry or Rich Razzleberry) then used a blender pen to remove the ink from any part of the stem (I attemped to ink as little as possible of the stem while still getting full coverage to the petals) then colored it with the Old Olive marker and breathed on it before stamping.

I also scored the Crushed Curry piece diagonally to add some texture and visual interest. I wasn't sure quite what to call it - both directions is faux tile so I'm just going with the general term dry embossing! Enjoy!

The color combination is one I jotted down when I was paging through the new catalog. It is featured on pages 22 & 23...when I went back to look for the page numbers I was shocked to realize that this combo is the HALLOWEEN color combo! Funny huh? Anyway I like it for regular cards but it'll be great for those Halloween ones too!

Stamps: Razzle Dazzle, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Shimmery White, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry & Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pads, Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: White gel pen, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Scor-pal

My sister called me Monday and asked me to make a card for a cousin of her boyfriend's. It is the cousin's 2nd child and she named her Lake (her first child is River) so I figured unconventional was ok!

I don't know how I feel about how dominant Crushed Curry is on this card...I may have to play around with it a bit more. Layout is CASEd from pg. 141 of the catalog (it is so fabulous!!!).

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Rounded Corner Punch, Trio Flower Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Crop-a-dile, 1/4" Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain, 1/2" Melon Mambo Polka Dotted Grograin, Silver Brad, VersaMark, Clear Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen, White Embroidery Floss

Final VSN Challenge & Upcoming Sneak Peaks

2009-06-05T00:42:00.003-05:00

Hey ladies!!! I HAVE the new IN COLORS and they are so fabulous!!! I'll post new samples using those items in a few minutes!

So this challenge was for the Glitz, Gleam & Glamour challenge - we had to glitter an entire panel/image. I'm not going to post information right now but if needed I'll come back and edit it to add it!

Last Chances for SU! products & another VSN Challenge

2009-06-01T15:32:00.006-05:00

Hey ladies! First of all I'll start you out with one of the final 2 VSN Card Challenges I participated in. This challenge was called Shopping in Vegas and included many different stipulations. Several of you have asked about where these challenges are so I'm going to link you to this one so you can see what it looks like - it is just over on the general forum under Splitcoast Challenges - Virtual Stamp Night, but here's SHOPPING IN VEGAS!

Anyway here's the card using the fabulous Branch Out stamp set and one of my favorite soon-to-be-retired In Colors Baja Breeze!

Stamps: Branch Out
Ink: Chocolate Chip & Baja Breeze Classic Ink, Cameo Coral Craft Ink
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, & Whisper White card stock, Baja Breeze Textured card stock, Walk in the Park & Chocolate Chip Patterns (tiny mat behind cameo layer) DSP
Accessories: Photo Corner Punch, Mat Pack, 1" Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Grosgrain, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Two Way Glue Pen, Chit Chat Rub-ons, Silver brads, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

To see the full PDFs for the Last Chance (previously called Retired) Stamps and Decor Elements just click HERE to go to my Stampin' Up! Website.

Finally I'll be trying to update daily the accessories that will be gone forever as soon as they are out of stock:
Item # Product Description Price Discount Sale Price Availability
112735 RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN 10.95 0.5 5.48 Available
112970 LO MEJOR DE TODO 19.95 0.5 9.98 Available
105143 DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR 9.95 0.5 4.98 Available
113888 RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS 10.95 0.5 5.48 Available
109044 PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM 10.95 0.5 5.48 Available
111364 RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8" 8.95 0.5 4.48 Available
106961 STAZON REFILL WHITE 4.95 0.5 2.48 Available
114341 COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT 9.95 0.5 4.98 Available
114316 RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS 13.95 0.5 6.98 Available
111414 RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN 10.95 0.5 5.48 Available
114351 DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY 4.95 0.5 2.48 Available
114338 COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS 9.95 0.5 4.98 Available
114019 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES 9.95 0.5 4.98 Available
114317 RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP 12.95 0.5 6.48 Available
102875 HEMP TWINE RED 2.95 0.5 1.48 Available
101259 HEMP TWINE BLACK 2.95 0.5 1.48 Available
113979 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS 7.95 0.5 3.98 Available
114350 DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO 4.95 0.5 2.48 Available
111363 RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4" 7.95 0.25 5.96 Available
111365 RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED 6.95 0.25 5.21 Available
111847 RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1" 8.95 0.25 6.71 Available
111371 RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8" 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
111373 RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8" 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
111372 RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8" 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
113884 RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT 10.95 0.25 8.21 Available
114318 RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET 12.95 0.25 9.71 Available
111374 RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8" 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
111370 RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8" 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
111415 RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS 10.95 0.25 8.21 Available
113887 RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS 11.95 0.25 8.96 Available
111416 RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA 10.95 0.25 8.21 Available
111338 NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II 12.95 0.25 9.71 Available
111879 RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA 7.95 0.25 5.96 Available
111277 RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY 10.95 0.25 8.21 Available
110730 DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES 8.95 0.25 6.71 Available
107272 PUNCH KEY TAG 15.95 0.25 11.96 Available
113980 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
111375 RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8" 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
112010 DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN 8.95 0.25 6.71 Available
113991 TASTE OF TEXTILES 9.95 0.25 7.46 Available
101399 STIPPLE BRUSHES 6.95 0.25 5.21 Available
112092 BUTTON BOUQUET 7.95 0.25 5.96 Available
112139 NOTES CAROUSEL II 11.95 0.25 8.96 Available
111336 NOTES SCALLOP II 11.95 0.25 8.96 Available
111840 CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT 2.95 Available
111841 CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO 2.95 Available
111843 CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE 2.95 Available
111839 CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED 2.95 Available
111842 CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS 2.95 Available
112161 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS 9.95 Available
112042 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN 9.95 Available
112156 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE 9.95 Available
112150 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT 9.95 Available
112153 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO 9.95 Available
111844 CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE 2.95 Available
111836 CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED 5.95 Available
111838 CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE 5.95 Available
113966 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE 9.95 Available
109123 STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN 3.25 Available
113981 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS 9.95 Available
112157 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE 9.95 Out of Stock
113975 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART 9.95 Available
114037 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER 11.95 Available
113978 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS 9.95 Available
112041 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE 9.95 Available
112468 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS 9.95 Available
111834 CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO 5.95 Available
114039 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY 11.95 Available
108590 CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12 8.95 Available
111337 NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II 9.95 Available
112471 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET 9.95 Out of Stock
112464 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER 9.95 Available
112006 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II 14.95 Available
111837 CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT 5.95 Available
112461 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE 9.95 Available
113993 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE 11.95 Available
112155 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED 9.95 Available
111353 CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11 5.5 Available
111348 CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11 5.5 Available
112172 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY 19.95 Out of stock
100900 GIFT SACKS WHITE 2.95 Available
114605 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS 42.95 Out of stock
102264 COLUZZLE STARTER KIT 19.95 Available
111346 CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12 8.95 Available
111835 CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS 5.95 Available
111350 CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11 5.5 Available
105668 TATTOO KIT I 13.95 Out of stock
111349 CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11 5.5 Available
109231 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS 54.95 Available
111351 CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11 5.5 Available
112165 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL 19.95 Out of stock
113950 DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE 8.95 Available
111345 CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12 11.95 Available
105669 TATTOO KIT II 13.95 Out of stock
111833 CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE 5.95 Available
113936 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES 19.95 Available
111347 CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11 7.95 Available
107288 ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE 5.5 Available
104310 CRAFTERS TOOL KIT 39.95 Available
111352 CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11 5.5 Available
113943 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET 19.95 Available
113925 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS 19.95 Available
112179 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES 19.95 Available
113911 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN 19.95 Out of stock
112054 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER 19.95 Available
111253 Blooms & Bulbs 6.5 Available
109684 Doodle 8.5 Available
111257 Happy, Happy Birthday 8.5 Available
109692 Love 6.5 Available
109568 My ABCs 6.5 Available
109682 Perfectly Pretty 6.5 Available
109687 See You Around 8.5 Available
109683 So Swirly 8.5 Available
111260 Something Fishy 8.5 Available
111262 Stems & Silhouettes 8.5 Available
105516 Watercolor Joy 6.5 Available

Wow that looks way better in my email too...yikes...again if you cannot read it don't hesitate to email me! Have a great day!

Slots of Fun Challenge & Kristina's Color Challenge #51

2009-05-28T11:00:00.001-05:00

This one just asked to use the sketch below. I chose to combine it with Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #51 - I took the sketch very literally but have seen some great variations (check out Angie Tiemen's blog for her take with buttons replacing the two vertical panels). I normally don't have color problems ever since my light box creation, but for some reason on this one the So Saffron Brads look Kiwi Kiss-ish and the More Mustard designer paper looks Pumpkin Pie-ish. Bizzaro-for sure!

Stamps: Darling Dots (hostess set)
Ink: VersaMark
Paper: More Mustard Patterns (retired hostess) & Walk in the Park Designer Series Papers, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, & So Saffron card stock
Accessories: Chit Chat Rub-ons, Whisper White Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, So Saffron brads, White Embossing Powder, Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals, Signo white gel pen

Hitting the Tables Challenge

2009-05-27T21:53:00.003-05:00

Here's my 2nd entry for VSN! The challenge was to use only red, black and white. I needed some thank you cards so I made 2 (sent one, kept one). I love Ruby Red so it was a great chance to really showcase that beautiful shade of red - not too bright, not too dull, not too dark...anyway, onto this simple card

Stamps: Central Park, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Ruby Red, Basic Black, VersaMark
Paper: Whisper White, Ruby Red, Basic Black card stock
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, White Embossing Powder

Non-traditional Wedding Card

2009-05-26T18:18:00.005-05:00

So if you follow the lovely Angie Tieman you'll notice that she's been posting different challenges from Splitcoaststampers Virtual Stamp Night (VSN). I posted them in my gallery over at SCS (my SCS name is sarahbe492) so if you want to see them all now head there - otherwise I'll be posting one per day!

The first challenge (one is posted every hour - you have 45 minutes to complete it and then 15 minutes for clean up if you participate while it is going on (Friday night and Saturday - but uploads are due Monday so you can do them out of order or on Sunday as well) was to make a non-traditional wedding card. The challenge hostess specifically said she wanted bright, bold colors with a quirky style. Here's mine:

Stamps: Goody Goody Gumdrops (Hostess set)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, Stampin' Write Markers
Paper: Real Red & Summer Sun card stock, Pink Flamingo & Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Papers
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Circle Punches, Heart to Heart Punch, Pennant XL Bigz Die (Circle Scallop), Big Shot die cutting machine, Light Box, Punches Plus Template, Embossing Stylus, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals, Two Way Glue Pen

Easter Cards!

2009-05-17T21:31:00.005-05:00

Here are a few cards I made for family for Easter!!!

This one was a workshop card for March. I used Pale Plum, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla. I completely CASEd the card from my upline Beth from a shoebox swap we had, just changed out the Pretty in Pink from her card to Pale Plum. The thumping technique was used with the markers.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, All Holidays
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Creamy Caramel Stampin' Write Markers
Card stock: Pale Plum, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Designer Label Punch, Photo Corner Punch, SU! Texturz Plates, Big Shot, Mat Pack, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponges

On this one I used an awesome stencil - I have a pic of what it looked like before I assembled the elements on top of it and after. So simple to do - I put the stencil down and used a sponge dauber with the same color Classic Ink as the card stock (So Saffron).

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, All Holidays
Ink: Mellow Moss Classic Ink Pad, Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom, So Saffron, and Almost Amythyst Stampin' Write Markers
Card Stock: Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom, So Saffron, Almost Amythyst, Whisper White
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Small Kind Thoughts Stencil, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Sponge Dauber, Stampin' Dimensionals

Well ta-ta for now! I participated in a couple of Splitcoaststampers' Virtual Stamping Night (VSN) challenges so I'll be back with those soon!

Stamp a Stack "Fun Folds & Terrific Techniques

2009-05-07T22:00:00.007-05:00

Here are 4 of the 5 cards we made at my last Stamp a Stack! It was during Sale-a-Bration so some of the stamps and ribbon are no longer available but I'll show them to you as I'm sure you could adapt them with current supplies! The 5th card was one using the free SAB Designer Paper, similar to this card using the Pennant XL Bigz Die and the Big Shot. Well SAB is over, but remember that for the entire month of May, when you purchase any combination of textured card stock or Designer Series paper, you get ONE package (any price) FREE!

JOY FOLD & FAUX SILK TECHNIQUE (also Rock & Roll on closure medallion)

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Warm Words (I also used the stamp from Eastern Blooms which is exactly like the Baroque Motifs flower stamp so my attendees didn't have to worry about switching ink colors)
Ink: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White card stock, More Mustard Designer Series Paper (from retired hostess pack)
Accessories: Tissue Paper, Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Glue Stick, SU! Texturz Plates, Big Shot, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

POCKET CARD FOLD & BLEACHING TECHNIQUE

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Sweet Little Sentiments (current hostess set)
Ink: So Saffron, Old Olive, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Card stock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Bleach, paper towels, So Saffron Sale-a-Bration Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver brads, Round Tab Punch

BETH FOLD & FAUX LINEN TECHNIQUE
This one takes a bit of explanation & I'll try and take pictures of the fold sometime. You cut a piece of cardstock (here kraft) to 8-1/2" by 5-1/2" and score it at 4-1/4". Then you cut from that score line to the upper left hand corner to make the diagonal part. The inside piece (here Really Rust) is a piece of card stock cut at 10-1/2" by 4" and scored at 5-1/4". It is adhered to the full part of the kraft cardstock so when you open it you open the diagonal craft piece to the left and the Really Rust piece upwards. It sounds strange but if you try it with my measurements I think you'll get it easily! I call it the Beth fold because my fabulous upline Beth introduced me to it! She said it wasn't her original idea but didn't know where it came from - if you know let me know, maybe that person has a name for it. Perhaps the "over and up fold"...if you have name ideas for it let me know!

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, All Holidays, En Francais Background
Ink: VersaMark, Really Rust, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa Classic Stampin' Pads
Card stock: Glossy card stock, Kraft, Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Whisper White
Accessories: Sand paper, Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain, Designer Label Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

Z FOLD & GLITTER WINDOW TECHNIQUE

Stamps: Polka Dot Punches (Sale-a-Bration set), Wow Flowers
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper: Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey, Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Duct Tape, Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Double Rectangle Punch, Word Window Punch, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Mat Pack

Walk in the Park Designer Paper Class

2009-04-17T23:36:00.004-05:00

Hello again! Here's the 2nd sample for my upcoming class. See this post for all details. This card is again by Martha Town (she designed the amazing samples for this class - just a perk of being a SU! demonstrator - it is on the SU! website). Although Martha's samples only use the gorgeous In-Color Baja Breeze for card bases, we'll be using the other gorgeous colors that are in the Walk in the Park DSP as well - So Saffron, Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, and Baja Breeze! Did I mention how much I LOVE this paper? I cannot wait to scrapbook with it!!! (If you order the products, you will have PLENTY left over to use for more cards or scrapbook pages!!!)

Note: I will be only precutting the card bases (and SCORING - so important to have a clean crisp fold) and the DSP 6x6 squares for those who just choose the $15 class, so you'll be able to choose which card you do which way and with what paper. Remember I'm including full color instructions as well!!! Bring a paper trimmer and your fav adhesive!!!

***I MUST have both nofication of your intent on coming to the class and payment to order supplies by Wednesday, April 22nd!!! Don't delay, as spots are limited! :) I hope to see you there - we will have such fun stamping these simple and easily reproducible cards (those are the best kind as I know you probably have busy lives like mine)!!!***

Have a fab weekend! I'm up in Nebraska spending the weekend with my niece and nephew!!! So FUN!!! :)

Card Class with Products!!!

2009-04-13T17:11:00.010-05:00

Hello all! Here's a peek at just one of the cards attendees of my May Card Class will make (Card designed by Martha Town). I am going to hold my first product-based class on Tuesday, May 12th at 6:30 pm. Attendees will need to pre-order the Oval All Stamp Set ($16.95), coordinating Scallop Oval Punch ($15.95) and Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper ($9.95). The total for these items is $42.85, or with Shipping & Handling and Tax, $49.12. Also, with the April "Get Connected" promotion every $40 Mini Catalog purchase you'll receive any product on page 208 ("Under $10" page) ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! I LOVE these products and I know you will too! Pictures of all the products are below this post!

The total cost for this class is $50, including the 4 products (a possible $52.80 value) and 5 cards we will be making that evening. The money is due by Wednesday, April 22nd so the items are sure to arrive by the class date! Ribbon, corduroy buttons/brads, ink pads, cardstock, envelopes, and glue sticks will all be provided!!! You need to bring a paper cutter and your favorite adhesive (especially if you're not a glue stick gal)! (If you'd like to add on a SNAIL or Dotto Adhesive from SU! to your order let me know. You could also add on a pack of Basic Gray cardstock (40 sheets) and a Basic Gray ink pad to make 80 cards at home with your supplies - just over 80 cents/card.)

The best part is: not only are all your projects basically free but you'll also take home a versatile stamp set, punch, and almost a full pack of 12x12 beautiful double sided designer paper, as well as your FREE "Under $10" item (I LOVE the Mini Note kits!!!) and 5 simple cards (with full color instructions)!

***For those of you who may just want to make the cards, the class would include 6" x 6" sheets of each of the designs in the Walk in the Park designer paper (whatever you don't use is yours to take home - 6 different double sided sheets) as well as 3 pieces of the Basic Gray Curduroy Buttons (Page 6 of the Mini Catalog - you would get one of each piece). The cost for this class is $15 but remember that you won't get to take the stamp set and punch home with you then! :(

Without further ado, the fabulous products (Have I mentioned that I LOVE this mini catalog?)

The "Under $10" items (each class participant that purchases the Oval All stamp set, Scallop Oval punch and Walk in the Park DSP chooses 1 free):

EVERYONE attending will receive one of each of the following buttons:

Contact me today at scrappinNstampin@yahoo.com to reserve your spot and get your payment to me (either class option needs to be paid by April 22nd)! It will be a great time and I will draw for the ink pad of the winner's choice that night ($15 class participants get 1 ticket into the drawing and $50 class participants will recieve 3 tickets into the drawing).

***Notice to out of towners: I am offering the class as a kit by mail so tack on $5 to ship it to you and you will have full color instructions accompanying the pieces to make these beautiful cards. I am not able to stamp images and send them to you (against Stampin' Up! policy) so if you choose the $15 class ($20 with shipping), you will get the cardstock, six 6x6 sheets of the Walk in the Park DSP, 3 corduroy buttons and enough ribbon to complete the projects. I will mail the kits the week of May 11th.

***Notice to those unable to attend: You have the same options as the out of towners but will obviously not have to pay the shipping and handling. I will deliver the kits to you the week of May 11th.

DIY Photo Tent/Light Box

2009-04-08T22:14:00.010-05:00

Before Light Box

After Light Box

I've been wanting a photo tent for a long time, but not really willing to invest. I found on someone else's blog (sorry I don't know who) that they'd used this DIY tutorial to make a light box out of foam core board. I'm loving the difference it has made in my photos already - although I perfected taking photos on a ledge in my basement, the colors are more true and I get a perfect picture the first time every time.

The card above was designed by my fab sideline Kelly for the new catalog shoebox swap we had in January using the stamp set Just Buzzin' By, Candy Lane Designer Series paper, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pink Pirouette Cardstock, Scallop Edge Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Jet Black Staz-On, So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker, Stamp-a-ma-jig and Two Way Glue Pen. See my swap cards for this event at this post.

Here is the other card she designed (taken in my basement before the light box). This one uses the Top Note Die, Dreams du Jour stamp set, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip card stock, VersaMark and Chocolate Chip ink, Felt Fusion Too, Stampin' Dimensionals, and Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Here is my favorite card from the swap!!! My awesome upline, Beth designed this one - one of the reasons I love it so much is that it combines two of my favorite stamp sets: Inspired by Nature and the En Francais background stamp. Tip: Either brayer on the ink or rub your ink pad then tap on it all over to get the entire background stamp inked. Then lay the background stamp rubber up, put your card stock on top with a piece of scratch paper over the top and rub. I've had great results with this method!!! Now for the supplies: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, and Basic Black card stock, Cutter Kit (to distress the edges), Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (used a sponge dauber to rub on a bit of Creamy Caramel ink), Basic Black and Creamy Caramel Ink, Stampin' Sponges, Wide Oval Punch, and Gold Brads.

Beth's other swap used a great product - the embosslit!!! It dry embosses and die cuts at the same time. Specific products are the Sweetest Stem embosslit (exclusive to Stampin' Up) and the coordinating Sweet Stems stamp set, Jet Black Staz-On and Baja Breeze Classic Ink, Aquapainter, Urban Garden Designer Series paper, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray and Whisper White card stock, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

I love these ladies, their creativity and how much I look forward to any get togethers we are able to plan!!! Have a wonderful day!

Kristina Werner's Color Challenge #48

2009-04-06T19:53:00.004-05:00

I cannot believe it has been so long since I have posted...aaaahhh! Life has been so crazy lately. I'm hoping to change that soon though - today I joined a group of Splitcoast Stampers that all want to post more regularly to their blogs and support each other through comments - so hopefully that'll help me.

First of all, I want to say that this was quite the challenge as I combined Kristina's Color Challenge with AmyR's Friday Sketch #54 (not this weeks sketch but a great one for this stamp set).

I really enjoyed making this card - can you believe it was the first time I inked up Trendy Trees? Such a great great stamp set with 2 super useful sentiments. However I did not use the sentiments - I made it a night of firsts by breaking into my Chit Chat Rubons. My dh ordered the rubons for me as an extra bonus when he ordered the set of Bold Brights Classic Stampin' Pads that I so desperately wanted for Christmas.

I'd like to try to include more measurements (as well as recipes):
1) Cut Baja Breeze card stock in half (through the middle of the long side) so that your piece measures 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Score it at 4 1/4"
2) Cut 3 pieces of Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper at 1 1/2" x 3 1/4". Adhere 2 pieces 1/4" from the top and sides and the middle piece will be centered between them (1/4" margins on the left and right as well as the top for the middle piece too).
3) Cut Whisper White card stock at 1 7/8" x 4 3/4" and stamp tree trunks in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink. Use a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the tree tops and stamp them in Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze Classic Inks. (Optional: Use a torn post it note to mask off where you want to sponge the grass in Kiwi Kiss Classic Ink.)
4) Cut a layer of Chocolate Chip card stock at 2" x 4 7/8" and Baja Breeze card stock at 2 1/4" x 5 1/8". Sponge Chocolate Chip Classic ink on the edges of the Baja Breeze.
5) Apply chosen Chit Chat rubon (there are so many to choose from in both chocolate and white! - although you could also stamp a sentiment in the same area) in the lower right hand corner.
6) Use white taffeta ribbon to tie a bow around the card.

See ya later chickadees! I'm hopefully going to churn out Dawn McVey's challenge for this week tonight so I'll be back! :)

PTI Color Challenge

2009-02-14T22:08:00.002-06:00

Hello everybody! Papertrey Ink's big release is tonight and you may expect contraband stamps(non SU! stuff) on this blog soon thereafter. I MUST have Dawn McVey's first PTI release Damask Designs. Anyway Nichole Heady is giving away 4 of Dawn's sets, 2 at Dawn's blog for commenting and 2 at her blog for making a card before the official release (midnight eastern) with one of Dawn's unique color combinations from her 18 cards using Damask Designs. Here's my card copying her color combo of kraft, dark chocolate, raspberry fizz, and vintage cream (I translated into SU! colors kraft, chocolate chip, pink passion, and very vanilla). I am so loving my BRAND NEW set, Fifth Avenue Floral as well as Elegant Cheer (not new to the SU! catalog but new to me).

Anyway have a great night! Cross your fingers for my hopes of winning!!!

Catalog Case

2009-01-21T16:23:00.004-06:00

Hi! Here's a case of a card from the brand new Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog 2009. That's all for now! :)

Shoebox Swaps

2009-01-15T21:53:00.004-06:00

Hi! Tonight my awesome upline Beth and my fantastic sideline Kelly (blog to come soon...right Kelly?) got together to do a shoebox swap. We each brought 2 cards and all the supplies to make them (paper pre-cut to make it more speedy) - the reason for "shoebox" is that all the supplies should fit in a shoebox.

Here are the two cards I made for our mini-event! I'll be posting pictures of Beth and Kelly's cards soon! Anyway I used a great set out of the new catalog - Love You Much for the first one. I also used a sketch I found at CPS (Card Positioning Systems - it was challenge #24). I LOVE that sketch and will probably use it again in the near future!!!

The second card was a request from my upline - she loves Organic Outlines but doesn't own it (I won it at Convention this summer! Won it! Me - who never wins anything!!!). Anyway, I bought a DVD of techniques demonstrated at different Stampin' Up! regional seminars last year and wanted to try a technique from it: Craft Smoosh. You cut open a page protector (I used an extra 6x6 one from an SU! album - perfect for a card front) then smoosh one craft spot color on one side of the page protector and another color on the other side. Then smoosh the two together, roll with a brayer, put in two sheets of glossy cardstock back to back - glossy sides out, roll over with the brayer and pull out. At this point you have several choices: 1) let it dry (since it is glossy cardstock and craft ink this may take a while) 2) emboss with clear powder (what I did on this card - the piece is in the background) 3) emboss with Iridescent Ice Embossing powder (It was too busy for this card but absolutely beautiful!

You can also put drops of the metallic Encore reinkers into the page protector and smoosh for another amazing look! When you are all done smooshing (you could probably get 4 card front pieces if your spots were super juicy), just take a baby wipe and clean off the page protector until the next time you want to smoosh! Fun technique! The card is a bit busy for me but in the end I ended up loving it! I also used a sketch for this one - this time SCS sketch #210 (I'll try and link that up later as well). High hopes for tonight - I was up until 4 am last night so I might be fading fast really soon!!!

Hopefully I'll be back later with a supply list, entry for Kristina Werner's Inspiration Challenge, and a case of a catalog (yeah new catties!!! I LOVE it!!!) for my Swapper Anonymous group (a support group for people who sign up for far too many swaps!) HI SA girls!!!

WORDLE!!!

2009-01-11T12:32:00.004-06:00

I'm in love with Wordle...here's the one I did just by typing in my blog address. The larger the word appears, the more it is used. Apparently I talk about Designer Series Paper frequently (too bad I'm a hoarder of it so I don't use it as often as I talk about it!)

I think I'm going to try to find one of the Bible...that to me would be super interesting...I'll be back later if I can get that going. I bet it would take the site forever to generate that one! Have a happy happy Sunday!

Valentine's Bundle, Retired Accessories, & Inventory Blowout SALE items!!!

2009-01-05T22:55:00.004-06:00

I apologize for not posting the Love You Much Bundle earlier - it is such a cute stamp set, paper, and punch!!! I LOVE the punch! I used it recently to make a wedding card by punching the stamped hearts as well as just out of cardstock to vary the effect. Too cute! Anyway, here's the pertinent info about the prices and order number (you cannot order individual items out of the bundle until January 19, 2009). I also LOVE that the hugs & kisses image fits into the scallop circle punch! Too cute! I hope to be back with some samples tomorrow! :)

Here is the list of retiring accessories - they are only available until supplies run out!!!

Item # Product Description Availability
111377 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS ROOF GARDEN
112012 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS SEASON TO SHARE
112088 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS TRUE ELEGANCE
102782 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 12X12 Not Available
104188 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 6X6
105384 ALBUM LINEN POST MELLOW MOSS 6X6*
104516 ALBUM LINEN POST NAVY 6X6
105381 ALBUM LINEN POST REAL RED 6X6*
103977 BUTTONS BOLD BRIGHTS*
103978 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS
103981 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS & NEUTRALS
105446 BUTTONS RICH REGALS
105445 BUTTONS SOFT SUBTLES
103604 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 12X12
102174 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 8 1/2X11
112465 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BANBURY
112462 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GEORGIA PEACH
112463 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GHOSTLY GREETINGS
112040 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GREEN TEA
112470 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAIKU
112460 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAWAII PAPAYA
112469 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HOLIDAY TREASURES
112458 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER JUNIOR VARSITY
112459 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MAINE BLUEBERRY
112466 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MUIRFIELD
112149 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PARISIAN SUMMER
112467 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PRESTWICK
111355 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SUMMER PICNIC
112039 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WINDSOR KNOT
112963 ELEMENTOS PARA TARJETAS DIAS FESTIVOS HECHOS A MANO SIMPLY SENT
106523 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE FIVE-IN-ONE CARD COVER
104104 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE MINI
107298 ENVELOPES CONFETTI WHITE MEDIUM
110695 ENVELOPES OPEN END KRAFT SMALL
109115 ENVELOPES OPEN END VERY VANILLA SMALL
103372 METAL EDGE TAGS ALUMINUM WHITE SQUARE
107925 ON BOARD BITTY BOOK*
109190 ON BOARD CLIPBOARD 9X9*
109180 ON BOARD SIMON UPPER
112086 ON BOARD SOMETHING SEASONAL
107923 PAGE PROTECTORS RING 3.25 X 3.25
104942 PUNCH 1/4 INCH CIRCLE
104943 PUNCH 1/4 INCH SQUARE
107273 PUNCH 3/4 INCH SQUARE
104389 PUNCH DOUBLE CIRCLE*
100391 PUNCH HANDHELD 1/8 INCH CIRCLE Not Available
104830 RIBBON GINGHAM CARAMEL
104829 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT BLUE
104828 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT PINK
104831 RIBBON GINGHAM MOSS
109037 RIBBON GROSGRAIN MORE MUSTARD 1/4 INCH
110282 RUB ON ANCHORED
111806 RUB ON CHILLS & THRILLS
111805 RUB ON SCHOOL DAYS
111417 RUB ON WORD FLURRIES
110283 RUB ONS TAKE NOTE
112193 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN I WISH
112186 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN PINA COLADA
112068 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUMMER HOME
112043 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN U R SWEET
112061 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN WINTER RETREAT
112016 SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS HANDMADE HOLIDAY
109868 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT LIFELONG NOTES
103647 STAMPIN STORE MINI
105813 WRITE ME A MEMORY FONT CD VOL II
107212 MATEYS MAP
106749 BRIGHT BULBS
109672 BRONCO
104100 MAKING TRACKS
108978 SANDY SHELLS
110332 SNOW
101233 SNOWFLAKE
109694 SWEET STARS
111249 TAKE A NUMBER

*This item is discounted and included on the Inventory Blowout.

Finally, the INVENTORY BLOWOUT...there are items that have already retired, will retire January 18, 2009, as well as a few items that will appear in the new catalog! They are offered at discounts of up to 50%...check out that Holiday Country Living Kit - what a great deal at 50% off!!!

Here's the link to the flyer with all products and prices listed!!!

I hope you can find something that interests you and get a great deal on it at the same time!!! Contact me at sarahbe492@hotmail.com if you need anything or go ahead an order online through my SU! website (Click SHOP NOW and then add the items you want to your basket!)

Have a fabulous night guys!!!

Shelli's Holiday Challenge

2008-12-11T00:32:00.005-06:00

Wow! 2 posts in 1 day! Maybe I'll get Kristina's challenge done tomorrow and then we'll really be impressed with the resurrection of my blog! :)

Anyway, I made this box out of 4 scallop envelop dies for the Big Shot. You may have seen it before, but I decided to take it on with transparencies or acetate! Tricky tricky! Let me tell you these things are slippery. Anyway I embellished it with the snowflake from Season of Joy stamped in White Staz-On and the Christmas image from the Hostess Level 1 Set: Punches Three (retiring January 18th, see below for more details). The Christmas sentiment was stamped in Kiwi Kiss Classic Ink on Whisper White Cardstock, then punched out. Then I stamped it again on Whisper White with Read Red ink and cut out the middle portion. I popped it up on dimensionals, and adhesed (SU!'s Jaron Winder's word for adhering anything to something else) it onto another scallop square punch that I had rotated 90 degrees. Instead of folding the small flaps inside the box, I kept them outside and used the 1/8" Crop-a-Dile punch to punch 2 holes about 1" apart then threaded Narrow Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon through and tied knots at each of the four corners. I am showing a picture with candy (Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses are my favorite) and without, so you can get a better idea of what the box looks like. Even though I didn't use a flash, I know the pics look a little glare-y but without angling the camera, you couldn't even tell it was the scallop envie die! This is so much cuter in person! Give it a try and let me know if you have trouble/need clarification! I'll try to be better about posting but if not, have a very happy holiday season!!!

Stampin' Up! Retired List Discount & FREE Shipping!

2008-12-10T16:01:00.004-06:00

Hi everyone! I am so sorry I have been absent for so long. I am just posting this special right now but when I get home I plan to post some new items as well!!!

Yesterday the retired list came out from Stampin' Up! These are products that after January 18th will no longer be available so you have to get what you want before that date! :)

The special discount and shipping apply from December 7-23. The discount is 10% off all RETIRING stamp sets and FREE shipping (I've been told SU! has never done this before) is only on orders of $70 and above. You can order directly through my website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! You can access the retiring stamps by clicking on "Shop Now" at my website and then the box at the bottom center of the screen that says "Time to Retire". Below is a list of the sets and the 10% off price to assist you in making your selections (click on it to enlarge)!

Also, I haven't yet posted the information on the Catalog Sampler discount which began December 1st. You receive 20% off any stamp set in that Sampler when you order just $20 worth of merchandise. To find these stamp sets, go to my website, click "Shop Now", then in the left hand menu click "Specials" and then "Sampler Stamp Promo".

I apologize about the abundance of information but I'll be back later with some projects. :) Hopefully I can churn out a Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge card tonight...I'd better run so I can get my papers graded and supper made so I'll have time to stamp later. Take care!!!

Kristina Werner's Inspiration #25

2008-10-10T19:51:00.001-05:00

Two cards this week! Super quick post b/c I only have 4 minutes until deadline (couldn't find my camera anywhere)...I'll try and get the recipes down now anyway, hopefully Kristina doesn't watch the seconds on these things...

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes & Occasions Collection
Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue, So Saffron, Ruby Red
Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Ruby Red, VersaMark
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Narrow Certainly Celery Grosgrain, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Ok - I know I cheated on this one because owls aren't Ruby Red, Ballet Blue, So Saffron, or Certainly Celery so I used various browns and More Mustard and of course Pumpkin Pie for their beaks and feet. I love these little guys and this is the first time I've inked them up since buying them (I used a cruisers set at our Sealed with a Stamp, Ink. group meeting back in April). I also used the Aquapainter which is a special this month (1 large one for $7.25) although I use the medium one more frequently so I'd recommend buying the regular package in the catalog! :)

Stamps: Owl Together Now
Cardstock: Watercolor Paper, Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue, So Saffron, Ruby Red
Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Ruby Red, Ballet Blue Stampin' Write Marker, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, VersaMark, Timber Brown StazOn
Accessories: Small & Large Tag Punches, Staples, Narrow Certainly Celery Grosgrain, Stampin' Dimensionals, Aquapainter, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Kristina's Color Inspiration #24 & New SU! Promos

2008-10-02T02:48:00.000-05:00

LOVED these colors from Kristina Werner's 24th Color Inspiration Challenge! I'm obsessed with the Curly Label Punch Bundle - so fun! Go to my SU! website to order it now! I couldn't decide on Pumpkin Pie or Chocolate Chip ribbon so I did both! :) I'm also totally loving Stitched Exotics but I meant to stamp the Top Note Die with the Stitched background (LOVE that stamp!) Oh, well that's what I get for crafting at 3 am. Without further ado, the supplies are:

Stamps: Stitched Exotics, Curly Label Punch Bundle, & Calendar Alphabet & Numbers
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Kiwi Kiss Classic Inks
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Curly Label Punch & Trio Flower Punch, Silver Brad, Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Sizzix Big Shot w/ Top Note die, Stampin' Dimensionals

NEW SU! INFORMATION - Many new specials began today with some of the great specials carrying over as well!

BIRTHDAY/CELEBRATION PROMO - During the month of October, buy one of the following stamp sets on the Birthday Promotion for 20% off when you spend $20.

Item # Page # Description Retail Price 20% Off Price
109439 62 Big Bold Birthday $27.95 $22.36
112895 62 Cumpleaños genial y divertido (Spanish Big Bold Birthday)* $27.95 $22.36
111532 63 Party Hearty* $26.95 $21.56
110994 64 Bitty Birthday $12.95 $10.36
111618 64 Crazy for Cupcakes* $23.95 $19.16
111546 65 Simple Birthday Thanks* $17.95 $14.36
111702 65 Time to Party* $16.95 $13.56
108559 68 Crab & Company $27.95 $22.36

AQUA PAINTER - Along with the Birthday Promo, SU! is offering 1 large Aqua Painter (normally sold in a pack of 2) for $7.25 (Item #114617). Offer good while supplies last - no minimum order required. Until October 31st.

DECOR ELEMENTS PHASE 2 - More images, more colors - check the entire line out here for shopping or here to just view the catalog.

HOLIDAY MINI CATALOG - Check out all the great products - including the entire Big Shot offering - here for shopping or here to view the catalog!

MINI STARTER KIT PROMO - $99 until October 11th! Sign up with me before then and receive a special gift!
Stamp-Focused Starter Kit:

Item Code Description Price
109515 Fun & Fast Notes stamp set $30.95
105548 Bold Brights card stock assortment (8-1/2" x 11") $7.95
101179 Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad $5.25
104332 SNAIL Adhesive $6.95
100730 Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") $7.50

Scrapbook-Focused Starter Kit:

Item Code Description Price
111570 Contempo Alphabet stamp set $40.95
113059 Simply Scrappin' Petal Party $19.95
105212 Pixie Pink Classic Stampin' Pad $5.25

Home Décor-Focused Starter Kit:

Item Code Description Price
111656 Inspired by Nature stamp set $23.95
114088 Décor Elements Chocolate Classic Ff $3.95
114126 Décor Elements Medium Chocolate Long Stem Silhouettes $17.95
114285 Décor Elements Applicator $1.95
111835 Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin' Pad $5.25

* Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about signing up to be a SU! demonstrator! I LOVE it and I'm sure you will too! :) Also don't forget - if you buy the regular ($199) Starter Kit before October 11th you will get to choose an additional stamp set from anywhere in the catalog FREE!!!

HOSTESS EXTRA FREE SET PROMO - Hold a $350 workshop before November 30th and choose one of the following stamp sets in addition to your Hostess Only Stamp Sets and Hostess Money:

Item # Description Retail Value
111564 Flight of the Butterfly $31.95
112911 Vuelo de la mariposa (Spanish Flight of the Butterfly) $31.95
111676 Puns from the Past $27.95
111660 Just Jawing $25.95
111624 Dreams du Jour $18.95
111700 Thank You Kindly $13.95
111714 Wow Flowers $12.95
112955 Flores llamativas (Spanish Wow Flowers) $12.95
111600 Bella's Bloom $12.95

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY - WCMD is Saturday October 4th! Find someone to celebrate with in your area or if you are in the Saint Joseph, Missouri area contact me for information regarding a WCMD event at my home on Monday, October 6th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Space is limited. Cost is $5 or FREE with a $30 purchase! SU! is offering 20% off all Simply Sent Card Elements and Simply Sent Card Kits on pages 176 & 177.

I know this is the longest post EVER but please contact me if you have any questions or would like to sign up to be on my mailing list (email for events/promotions and regular mail for mini catalogs or other mailings from SU!) Have a fantabulous day!

Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge #23

2008-09-17T18:08:00.000-05:00

Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment & Say It With Scallops
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Bravo Burgundy, & Old Olive
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, & Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads; Bravo Burgundy Marker; Chocolate Chip Kraft Pad
Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sewing Machine

2 Sketches 4 You & Kristina's Color Inspiration #22

2008-09-12T23:02:00.000-05:00

Over at Angie's blog I saw a card she had made and LOVED it! As I read, she mentioned that it was based off of a sketch challenge over at 2 Sketches 4 You. The sketch this week is wonderful and I'm hoping to do the bonus card sometime soon as well.

The color scheme came from Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #22. I didn't get it in on time but I loved the colors anyway...I did end up substituting Baja Breeze for Soft Sky. I used the Poppin' Pastels technique (stamp image in VersaMark then chalk over it) for the first time which is why the flowers look different. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Stamps: Stitched Exotics, Stitched Background, & Curly Label Punch Set
Ink: Rose Red & Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pads, VersaMark
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, & Regal Rose
Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Rose Red Narrow Grosgrain, Curly Label Punch, Sponges, & Stampin' Dimensionals

Online Ordering!!! Yeah!!! & Ordering Giveaway (Oh yeah and the Big Shot)

2008-09-10T13:31:00.000-05:00

The day has arrived (well technically did yesterday)! You can now order online from Stampin' Up! If you'd like to place an order just head to my Stampin' Up website at sarahnaber.stampinup.net - maybe you need to get that Big Shot that I've been seeing so many amazing projects with. All you have to do is click on "Shop Now" in the upper right hand corner of the screen and then browse for what you want.

I saw a project yesterday where the person had cut balsa wood with that Top Note die (I used it in this post) Anyway back to the information on online ordering - I'd love to offer a giveaway to the person who places the first order with me from online! I will send you a hand stamped notecard set, a bunch of Top Note dies, and even some different ribbons (just got the Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain - totally yummy)!!! I am so excited about this because it allows anyone to order at anytime - so important in today's technology age!!! :)

I also forgot to post that the Big Shot, Stampin' Up! exclusive dies and many other dies are available to order from SU! now too!!! Check it out here.

I'll be back later today with Kristina's Color Inspiration Challenge #22 (you should try it too - go here to check it out and post your link in the comment to let others and Kristina check out your entry)!!!

Simply Scrappin' Kit Madness!!!

2008-09-09T22:03:00.000-05:00

I LOVE the new baby Simply Scrappin' Kits! I just used the Rock-a-Bye Boy (F/W catty pg. 173) Kit to make a 20 page 6x6 scrapbook. It coordinates with Nursery Necessities, which I used to make the card and decorate the bag. I LOVED using the Scallop Edge punch on the top of a gift bag I bought at Target (I cut off the top and punched holes for handles - not SU! ribbon because I hoard that!) - it worked like a dream, although you may need to lean on it a bit on the edges when you're punching through multiple layers. The colors - Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue and Tangarine Tango - are amazing as well!!! Anyway I seriously encourage you to take the plunge and buy one of these - originally I thought $19.95 was a little steep for what you get - but when you get it into your hands and feel the weight of the textured cardstock and the sturdiness of the cardstock stickers you won't regret it. Have I convinced you yet?

*Sorry about the shiny-ness of the pictures of the scrapbook. I just couldn't take the time to get them out of the page protectors at the time. :)

Kristina's Color Inspiration #21

2008-09-04T00:14:00.000-05:00

Ok - so Principal's day is Friday. The high school I work at has co-principals (as in 2!!!) and 1 Vice Principal so I made 3 cards tonight. I really struggle with masculine cards and used retired stuff on the male principal and male VP's cards so here's the one for our fantastic Principal (obviously a woman with these colors...)

I also tried to take an artsy picture so you'll have to let me know which one you prefer. I'm totally loving this card! I love the technique on the flowers which is adapted from a Convention Make and Take idea. I never thought about using the daubers directly onto the rubber but I LOVE it! I inked the stems first (removed ink in flower areas with a baby wipe) then sponged on Regal Rose and finished it off with a bit of Rose Red at the ends of the petals. I think I'll try simplifying it for a workshop soon! I loved the way it turned out and that Top Note die is just to die for (no pun intended). Have a fantastic day! Thanks for another great combo Kristina!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Absolutely Fabulous & Polka Dot Background (I'm so obsessed with SU! background stamps right now...love to clear emboss this one but I didn't do that tonight)
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, VersaMark
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Accessories: Sizzix Top Note Die (SU! Exclusive die), sponge daubers, Scallop Edge Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Narrow Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon (mine seems just a shade too dark for Rose Red...anyone else with this problem?), left over stamp remnants to pop up the Top Note die part (Whisper White portion of the card)

P.S. I LOVE COMMENTS on my tiny little blog so please leave some!

A couple more cards...

2008-09-01T19:59:00.000-05:00

Hi! Sorry I've been gone so long - I'm going to try to get in a better routine of posting. This week will be crazy because I'm making a baby book for my dad's longtime administrative assistant's daughter. I'm so excited to use the new baby boy Simply Scrappin' Kit to do it - Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, and Old Olive look so great together! Maybe I can post some of the pages here in the coming days!

I'll be working on this project while I'm watching the opening of Season 2 of Gossip Girl tonight and Season 6 of One Tree Hill. They are two of those shows I don't often admit to liking but I guess every girl's gotta have at least one of those...I have several!!!

Anyway, the first card was my father-in-law's birthday card. I totally copied the entire thing from one of the Stampin' Success mags (a demonstrator only publication - just one reason for you to sign up! That $99 deal or the free stamp set with $199 starter kit deal is going to be ending soon!). I totally look forward to getting my SS every month, but this is my very favorite idea I'd ever seen in it (and the main reason I bought Frames with a Flourish). I had messy mechanics inside (staple and brad backings) so I decided to cover them up using the BRAND NEW SU! ONLY Top Note die - I put a matching one on the other side of the inside of the card and used it to write on (since regular pens won't really be showing up on Chocolate Chip cardstock). I think I'll be using this idea more in the future!

Supplies:
Stamps: Frames with a Flourish & All Holidays
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Kraft
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic and Craft Inks
Accessories: Silver Brads, Staples, Narrow Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Top Note die, Stampin' Dimensionals

The second card is one I demo-ed when I was in Lincoln having an impromtu party with my mom, sister, aunt-in-law and neighbor. It uses the amazing set Eastern Blooms which is on that 15% off stamp set promotion (ends September 30). One tip that helps me use those stamps more is that my husband sawed apart the wooden block with 3 flowers on it and I mounted each of them individually (just cut apart the rubber and the label). It was so easy but I think I'll use it more as a result!

Supplies:
Stamps: Eastern Blooms & Heard from the Heart
Cardstock: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa
Ink: VersaMark, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch (LOVE IT!!!), Narrow Whisper White Grosgrain, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Corner Rounder Punch

A few new cards

2008-08-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I made using Inspired by Nature & Flight of the Butterfly for my husband's grandma as a thank you:

Supplies -
Cardstock: Bashful Blue
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, & Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Inspired by Nature & Flight of the Butterfly
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch & Stamp-a-ma-jig

This is a card I made using Dreams du Jour, one of our BRAND NEW sets! It is a thank you I made for my aunt:

Supplies -
Cardstock: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Black, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, VersaMark
Stamps: Polka Dot Background, Dreams du Jour, & Flight of the Butterfuly (for Thank you so very much stamped inside the card - my new favorite stamp! Love the font!)
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Scallop Edge Punch, Basic Black Narrow Grosgrain, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Square Punches, Blender Pens, Dimensionals

This card was one of my swaps for convention using the baby wipe technique (I used it for 1 swap and ended up using it for 2 more - I LOVE that technique)! It was the best swap I was in - my TRACK 8 swap!!!

Supplies -
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, So Saffron, VersaMark
Stamps: Priceless & Absolutely Fabulous
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop punch, 1", 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Whisper White Narrow Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Silver Brads, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Paper Piercer (love to poke holes in the scalloped edges, Baby Wipes (non-SU!)

Stampin' Up! New Catalog & Mega Specials!

2008-08-12T13:20:00.000-05:00

Hi! Stampin' Up!'s exciting new catalog just went into effect yesterday! I was so excited about ordering new goodies that I forgot to post about all the specials going on!

If you want to find the new catalog (it is a giant PDF): click HERE

Additionally, we have a really exciting 15% off of 10 Brand New Stamp Sets: click HERE for that flyer with details.

Also, you can sign up to be a demonstrator with a mini starter kit in 3 different focus groups (Stamp Focused, Scrapbook Focused, or Home Decor Focused). The mini starter kits are $99 and just like the traditional starter kit, you can substitute selected items to personalize it to your taste: click HERE for more details.

Finally, if you would rather sign up with the traditional $199 Starter Kit, currently you can select an additional stamp set up to a $47.95 value from anywhere in the catalog!

The recruitment promotions expire on October 11th and the stamp set promotion ends September 30th.

Contact me now for more details or with any questions!!! Have a fantabulous day!

Convention Roomies

2008-08-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

I said I'd post a pic of my roomies from Convention and I still hadn't yet!!! We met somewhat randomly on Splitcoast Stampers and I think we were all surprised with how well we got along as we only knew each other from SCS and through messages! They are truly awesome ladies! What a privelege to room with such amazing people - I was the young demo of the bunch and they were all so willing to share and give me new ideas! So from left to right are: Sheri, me, Vil & Michelle. It was especially cool because we were from completely different areas...the 4 of us represented Canada, Missouri, Florida & California.

The two pics above are from our whirlwind trip to see Stampin' Up!'s Riverton Main Offices! It was really cool but we missed the rooms that are set up with products and photographed for SU!'s catalog!

Awards Night was on Thursday, so Vil & I slipped out to take photos of all the display boards while they were reading the 100 Best Demos. It was not crowded at all so although we missed the rest of Awards Night it was totally worth it as I got pics of ALL the boards that night!

Waiting for the general session to start - new face here is Amber, another SCSer that Sheri met because they were both from Canada and looking for room info on SCS. I love the connections that website allows us to make!

The night of my birthday, we signed up for an 80s Mania Night and Sheri, Michelle and Amber all dressed up. Vil & I did the 80s hair and makeup but not the clothes. It was a fun night although we were all exhausted by Friday!

Anyway, we are about 30 minutes until the new catalog goes live so I've got to finalize/figure out what I'm getting for sure!!!

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #18

2008-08-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

I LOVE this week's colors! I totally thought that the Summer Sun/Green Galore confusion could be easily solved with the brand new 2008-2009 In Color KIWI KISS (I'm sure Kristina didn't put it in there as it isn't availabe for customer order until MONDAY - let me know if you need me to order you some of this amazing color!)

Anyway I thought I'd do double duty by making the card for my new friend Amanda's birthday which is tomorrow. My family is coming into town tomorrow so we're celebrating tonight! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA!!! Come to think of it I don't think she knows anything about this blog so I'll have to tell her after I give her the card tonight!)

Sorry Kristina for the terrible picture - one of these days I'm going to invest in a better camera. She does her videos with the Flip Ultra and I saw a PINK one the other day - now do I have enough viewers to warrant a video camera? NO - but the idea of a pink one was almost enough to send me over the edge - plus it is so cute and compact!

Supplies:
STAMPS: All Holidays, Jumbo Outline Alpha, & Dotted Lines Jumbo Wheel
CARDSTOCK: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red
INK: VersaMark, Classic Basic Black
ACCESSORIES: Scallop Edge Punch (order that MONDAY too!!! LOVE IT!!!), Flower Fusion, Black Brad, Pumpkin Pie Narrow Grosgrain, Paper Piercer, VersaMarker, Old Stamp Discarded pieces (instead of Dimensionals - gives more height! Used Glossy Accents to adhere the rubbery portion to the card & just peeled off the other side), Glue Dots (to make the awesome bow - my new favorite kind after making one on the Make and Take gift bag at convention), Clear Embossing Powder

Everybody have a FANTASTIC day!!!

Sue Daly's Summer Challenge

2008-08-07T17:07:00.000-05:00

Hello again! Sue Daly had a fun idea and since I have very few people frequenting my blog I thought I'd try it to get some new reader/viewers. So she sent me a beautiful card (the photo seriously doesn't do it justice) and supplies to make a creation of my choice. My favorite part is the gorgeous paper piercing!!! Amazing - I think you can at least see that detail in the crummy photo of mine. Go to her blog to see more of her work...but here's a little sampling:

Ok - here's my creation using supplies she sent me, besides the Pink Pirouette and Kraft cardstock, punches, and hemp. I also used stamp sets of my own including the brand new Inspired by Nature (grass), Flight of the Butterfly (small flower stamp), and Wow Flowers (Happy Birthday circle)as well as the oldie but goodie Short and Sweet. Ink used was VersaMark, Ruby Red, and Chocolate Chip. I tied the hemp through the button and stitched a stem (mostly covered by ribbon) for the large flower. I super heavily distressed the edge with a scissors - a skill I had to learn at Convention as the Cutter kit (with distressing tool) was no where in sight) - I thought it made it look rougher and more grass-like. FUN! The DSP, chipboard flower, hardware, ribbon, Old Olive & More Mustard cardstock were all sent to me by Sue.

Although I don't have much left over I am going to try to make another card or other creation using what is left of Sue's goodies. My family is coming to visit this weekend and next week is crazy so I don't know when it will happen but be on the lookout. I was pretty productive today and also made a card for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #18 so I'll be back in a sec with that! :)

Celeb-Blogger Anxiety at Convention!

2008-08-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

So probably one of the highlights of convention was getting photos with 3 of the 5 bloggers that I HAVE to look at everyday!

So first of all I have to tell my Kristina Werner story...

I LOVE Kristina Werner! Her creations, her personality...she's just too fun! Anyway I had the thought that she might be at Convention since she's an SU! employee but when I saw it posted on her blog that she was excited to take photos with us I was just hoping for the opportunity.

I know I totally sound like a stalker now...but I just think that she is FABULOUS! So I was running through the convention main hallway on my way to my hotel on Wednesday (check in day, Riverton tours, and of course the SCS dinner) and I saw her taking photos - I even said to my upline (who I was on the phone with at the time) "I just saw Kristina Werner!!!". I think I had to repeat myself because I may have been screeching it...hahaha :) but my swap was coming up in no time so I could not stop.

Fast forward to Friday, my 26th birthday - I was walking in about the same area and just thought darn wouldn't it be a great birthday present if I could take a picture with and meet Kristina Werner? So I keep walking and guess who I see? It was perfect birthday karma!

There was another lady getting her picture taken with Kristina and chatting with her and as I stood there I just got more and more nervous. I'm such a total dork around anyone I don't know. So I finally get up there and stick my hand out and say "Hi I'm Sarah" oh and wait for it...my favorite part - Kristina says to put that thing away and hugs me. She's just as warm in person as any avid lover of her blog would think! I just hope that both of us are at convention next year and I don't spaz out again! My new Canadian friend Amber took the photo and began conversing with Kristina about the P.F. Chang's phone number (Kristina looked it up for her) and about local scrapbooking stores. I just stood there...although I vaguely remember saying something like "I'm the girl who emailed you asking for names of great local scrapbooking stores"...could I be a bigger dork?

I'm sitting here laughing right now because this is so funny to recall. Oh and I'm thinking that Kristina will probably read this and agree that I'm a total nerd...

Ok onto my other 2 favorite bloggers...

I have another story about this one...I was going to my upline group meeting (SWAS Ink.) and as we're driving I said something about a great video I had watched on Angie Juda's Chic n' Scratch blog. My lovely upline Beth says "You know she's going to be there today right?" I said "Why?" and Beth says "She's in our group too"...

So again I was a total dork the first time I met her...I'm pretty sure I said something super eloquent like "Hi, I read your blog everyday" Anyway, thank goodness Angie's super nice as I occasionally have to email her with questions (ps if you don't have her Chic Stand for your paper piercer you've got to get it - wonderful for traveling) and of course look forward to seeing her at group meetings and CONVENTION!!!

So I randomly saw Angie when I was wondering around the Sizzix Big Shot Marketing area (woohoo Stampin' Up! What a great area to branch into!!!) and we took a photo together. She also gave me some great business advice! Thanks Angie!

So Angie and I are walking together and guess who comes up to talk to Angie? Dawn Griffith !!! Anyway they apparently know each other and they were such a hoot to watch interact. I think between the 3 of us we definitely had more energy than normal humans should!!! :) It was great to meet her as well but I think meeting her with Angie helped ease my celeb-blogger anxiety.

And of course our brand new blogger, the cofounder and CEO of Stampin' Up Shelli Gardner! I was so lucky to get a picture with her! As I walked up to her she said 2 more pictures so I was really happy that I got in there in just the nick of time! I was hoping to get one with her at regionals but someone said that she doesn't attend every regional so I was hoping for an opportunity at my first convention! What a special photo for me to have! Her blog just went live Sunday and it is so CUTE!!! Go check it out by clicking on her name. Isn't she super photogenic? I look so silly next to her!

Anyway more pics to come soon...I gotta get one up of my awesome roomies!!! (Hi Michelle, Vil & Sheri! Miss you gals already!)

Convention & First Post in a Month!!!

2008-08-05T08:34:00.000-05:00

WOW!!! I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted! I've seriously been working on my 16 SCS swaps day and night, night and day for the last month! I didn't even get to making any general swaps...oh well. Today I'll be working on getting some Stampin' Up! Convention photos to all of you. It was so amazing and I have oodles to share - not the least of which is my excitement! Check back later!

Scrapdango GDT Search

2008-06-25T22:42:00.000-05:00

Hola! I made this layout for the Scrapdango Guest Design Team Search and although I cannot get it to load on their site (www.scrapdango.com - go check them out, the members are awesome and I love their message board, gallery, and monthly kits) I thought I'd put it on here. I'm going to include the link in the thread about the GDT but we'll see if they accept me as an actual entry or not. Most times computers are amazing, but sometimes they overwhelm me with frustration!

Here's my info that goes with it...along with a little bit about the process (we had to ink/distress the papers, use chipboard, and do some type of stitching):

I had so much fun with this one!!! I inked the edges of every paper - mostly with SU! Chocolate Chip (I sponged it onto/into the KI lace) but inked the background one with a Colorbox Cat's Eye in Copper for some extra shine. I used acrylic paints to paint the "D" and "C" chipboard and left the rest of the letters as they came. Finally, I used my sewing machine to stitch for the first time!!! I used white thread straight down the red/green piece near the edges. I used brown thread around the green photo mat. I also used a bit of embroidery floss to hand stitch a bit on the edges of the journaling block. One additional fun thing I tried here - I printed my photo on textured cardstock (looks more worn already because of the ridges) and then I sanded the edges of the photo before popping it up with dimensionals on the green mat. Hope you like it! Thanks for looking!

Note: The name tag is something you have to wear at Discovery Cove and they attach a map to your lanyard which is what the thing under my name tag is. I really wanted to include them - I love actual souvenirs from any trip/place/event!!! :)

Brown, Green, & Red Patterned Papers - My Mind's Eye
Yellow CS - Stampin' Up!
Polka Dot Pattered Paper - Deja Views
Blue Dot Lace CS - KI
Ink - Stampin' Up! & Colorbox
Thread - Coats & Clark
Embroidery Floss - DMC
Journaling stamp - Scrappy Cat
Chipboard - "D" & "C": Provocraft & rest of letters (white): Heidi Swapp
Green Staples (hard to tell in photo) - Making Memories
Ric Rac - Hobby Lobby
Journaling Pen - Zig Writer

* Sorry the photo isn't super straight - my title really is (I'm a psycho about straightness so this drives me nuts) - I was having camera issues tonight!

Have a great day! Hopefully I'll be back with a card or layout using Kristina Werner's new Color Inspiration challenge!

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #12

2008-06-20T14:57:00.000-05:00

Hi again! I love the colors in Kristina's challenge this week - So Saffron is one of my favorite Stampin' Up! colors (if not my very very favorite)! So here's my card - for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday as well!

I really wanted to stick with a mostly neutral color scheme and was inspired by the white circles in the photo so I made my own attempt at this one! Originally I started punching circles from vellum cardstock but was having adhesive issues so I abandoned that for the white circles in the finished product. Hope you like it!!!

The photo isn't so great but I used Wild Wasabi ink on the So Saffron piece and it looks gorgeous. Also you can't totally tell but the entire frame is popped up on dimensionals as is the sentiment. I really love this card!

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Punches: 1/2", 1", 1 1/4" circles
Other: Dimensionals (lots of them), White 1/4" grosgrain

Retired List

2008-06-20T14:51:00.000-05:00

Hello! Stampin' Up released their list of retiring stamp sets (will not be in the Fall/Winter 2008 Catalog). Make sure you get these stamps before they are gone!!! Here's a link to the file with the retiring stamp sets.

You can either leave a comment here with your name and phone number or name and email or contact me at scrappinNstampin@yahoo.com if you need to order any of these great sets! One of my personal favorite image sets - Year after Year is retiring - check that one out for sure!!!

I'll be back in just a couple with this weeks entry for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge!

Fresh Cuts & Fresh Cut Notes

2008-06-11T17:56:00.000-05:00

Hi! New set (available for order in June only until new catalog is released August 11th) making its debut in the brand new catalog!!! I LOVE this set despite my aversion to flowers (that's wearing off as I become more deeply entrenhed in card making & scrapbooking). It is such a fun set with 5 great stamps! Here's a link to my upline Beth's blog for her photo of the set as well as using it with the Fresh Cut Notes which are laser-cut so you can see through the petals! Worried about writing on the inside of the card? Just stamp your image (the large collage stamp is great for this) and cut it to just 1/4" smaller on each side than the acutal cards and glue inside with the image facing outward!!! Also then if you have a stamping boo-boo you don't ruin one of these gorgeous cards. Maybe I'll try and do a tutorial on that this week, once I recharge my camera batteries (I took today's photo on fumes). Anyway here's the card I made using this incredible set ($21.95 and you get the notes for $5 - they are regularly $8.95).

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #9

2008-05-15T00:17:00.000-05:00

Ok so I got this done for the first time (under the time limit). I really enjoyed using STARS because I LOVE stars. I also tried a new idea...can you spot it? By the sentiment (Congratulations from the Great Grads set) I punched out a small star and traced around part of it. Using a hobby blade, I cut around that star in the upper corner and slid my main image panel under it. I really like the way it turned out and plan on sending it to my best friend Sara who just received notification of some amazing med school accomplishments! (Way to go Sara!)

Anyway, I hope you like it...leave some comments on my unfrequented blog...PLEASE!!! Have a fantastic day! Almost to the weekend now! :)

Craft Fair Items

2008-05-15T00:05:00.001-05:00

I sold both the paperclip bookmarks from my open house and this new "girlier" version...

I also had these post-it note keychains (tutorial found at www.chicnscratch.typepad.com):

Nugget boxes (combined tutorials from Chic N Scratch & Splitcoast - used the Bohemian papers):

Cello bags with Peppermint Patties (I'm obsessed with the Chocolate Chip/Certainly Celery combination):

Thank you card (CASEd from Chic N Scratch as well):

Mother's Day card (ribbon only is not Stampin' Up! - I totally hoard my SU! ribbon):

Father's Day card (I don't own any SU! eyelets yet!):

Graduation cards (in the colors of the 4 high schools in our town):

SU! Convention Bound

2008-05-11T18:09:00.000-05:00

I am soooo excited! I am going to Stampin' Up!'s Convention from July 30th-August 2nd (coinciding with their 20th anniversary). I am making bunches of different swaps, both general and ones I've signed up for with my ladies over at Splitcoaststampers! Here's a pic of one that I'm doing for the "Dream" 3D Items Swap...

***Note: I DID NOT make this project, but will be remaking it as it was a fantastic idea. I received it in my email from Scrapbook & Cards today (http://www.scrapbookandcards.com/) which is a Canadian publication that is available both in stores and for FREE online. I LOVE it!!! Please check it out!

Anyway, I participated in a craft fair this last Wednesday so I'll be posting pictures from all the projects I made from that...as soon as I get them photographed!!!

Cards, cards, cards...and our dog!!!

2008-04-23T19:21:00.001-05:00

Well I haven't been scrappin' for a while but I've participated in my first Stampin' Up swap with my SU group! Below is my very first swap ever! I used stamp sets of Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Year after Year, Warm Words, Everyday Flexible Phrases & Sweet Celebrations. I also used Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, & So Saffron cardstock with Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum & Versamark inks. I colored the elephant with Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, and So Saffron chalks and hairsprayed it to set them so they didn't rub off! Of course, none of my projects would be complete without lots of punches so here I've used the 1", scallop, and word window.

The other swaps are my favorites that I received from the swap...

And finally, my two projects for my Stampin' Up Open House on Sunday. The first is a card using the set Enjoy Every Moment and its coordinating wheel (which I received FREE...you can too until April 30th)! The base is Sahara Sand, with accents in Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, & Pumpkin Pie. I also used Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Versamark inks. To add a little something extra I ticket corner punched the main sentiment block and its Pumpkin Pie mat then added a paperclip with Tempting Turquoise ribbon tied onto it. Finally I used the 1/2" punch to punch out the flower and Stampin' Dimensionals to pop it up from the sentiment and Dimensionals under the sentiment to pop it up from the card too! I really love this color combo which I got from www.scraptitude.com and plan to switch out the Tempting Turquoise with Wild Wasabi to do Kristina Werner's weekly color inspiration later tonight!

My other project is a giant paperclip bookmark. I have used the sets Sweet Celebrations and Seeing Spots. I used the scallop punch to punch the two bases and E6000 to put them together, sandwiching the paperclip in between and the 1" and 1 3/8" punches to punch out the circles to layer. I stamped the star using my Real Red marker (I don't have the ink pad yet) and cut it out (although I just got the star punch and will check if it fits). I used Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, and Pumpkin Pie cardstock. I also used Pumpkin Pie grosgrain and the double stiched Wild Wasabi ribbon. I secured the Wild Wasabi ribbon with a glue dot since this item will be used and "singed" the ends of my ribbon in the blue part of a flame so they won't fray (I always do this with altered projects and items where the ribbon may constantly be touched or rubbed up on something. Stampin' Dimensionals were used to pop up the star...ok so super long so I'll just say have a great week!

Oh yeah and we got our Miniature Schnauzer puppy, Oscar yesterday so here's a few pics of him as well!

I've Been Away for Too Long...

2008-03-30T11:29:00.001-05:00

Luckily I don't have a defined fan base that is going crazy looking for new things here. It's just been busy lately...I've been trying to get my Stampin' Up stuff together and some samples made. I also participated in a contest at Scrappin' with Grace...so the 3 layouts are from that (didn't make it to the final week)! I just made 2 SU cards I love but I submitted them to a Canadian magazine (you can also view the entire thing online at www.scrapbookandcards.com) so I won't be posting them here until I hear that they didn't make it into the issue. I keep having photography problems too...aaahhh!

Anyway, here's some news from Stampin' Up:

*Free Wheelin' Promo - with any of these sets - Wonderful You, Life's a Breeze, Pun Fun, Year After Year, Stiched Exotics, Enjoy Every Moment - you receive the wheel that coordinates FREE until April 30th!!!

*Hostess Promo - Have a party that totals $350 or more and receive an additional $25 in hostess "money" to spend anywhere in the catalog!

*Wild Wasabi Textured Card Pack - 16 sheets of 4-1/2' x 11-1/2' Wild Wasabi textured card stock that has been scored at 1-1/8' and 5-5/8' for $3.95!

Please let me know if you have any Stampin' Up needs...shipping goes up April 1st!!!

Yeah!

2008-03-03T22:50:00.000-06:00

I made it through to the first round of Last Scrapper Standing at Scrappin' with Grace! We have an awesome sketch to work with...you should go try it (you can find it in the message board)...I'm really excited to get started! I'd really like to get it started and finished tomorrow because my starter kit from Stampin' Up comes on Wednesday (so says the UPS tracker)...excited to play with that!

Well anyway it's getting later and I'm thinking I may stay up later tomorrow to get this challenge a rollin' so I'm headed over to watch the Make a Card Monday video at Kristina Werner's blog (http://kwernerdesign.com/blog/ if you haven't found it yet)...she's so fun and has AMAZING ideas. Go check it out!!! Well that's all for tonight...I was at school from 7 am to 8 pm tonight so I've gotta get off to bed because I'm exhausted!

Busy busy busy...

2008-03-02T14:17:00.000-06:00

Hola! Thought I'd update you on my week...it's been kinda nuts! On Monday I sent in my paperwork to become a Stampin' Up Demonstrator! I'm way excited and between my upline Beth and the ladies over at SCS (splitcoaststampers.com) I feel like I just can't wait to get started. Also on Monday I received my SU order (before I decided to be a demo) with my Baroque Motifs set, Purely Pomegranate Pad & Refill, Tag Punch, and the BEST part...my FREE set for Sale-a-Bration! I'm not kidding you, the set is the reason I spent $50...totally worth it! It's called Lots of Thoughs and it is so super-versatile...go check out SCS creations with it at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=12357

Wednesday brought 2 things...1 fun 1 not...#1 I received my demo # when enabled me to get onto SU's demo only website and SCS's demo only forum...such great resources. #2 Stomach ache...school ends at 2:40 and at 2:37 I had to leave my Algebra II class to fend for themselves because I had to get to the bathroom.

Thursday and Friday I spent in bed...still with the same dang stomach bug. We don't get ABC (stinkin' crazy satellite problem) so I was catching up on my shows...Dance War finale and Cashmere Mafia from last week and noticed that they had all seasons of LOST online (free?!? yes! need to hurry before they remove them). Anyway, I'd heard oodles of good things for years about it and had just never started watching it...now I'm on episode 8 and totally hooked! (Along with my other 18 million shows...Project Runway, Ugly Betty, One Tree Hill, Grey's Anatomy, America's Next Top Model, Desperate Housewives, Pushing Daisies...) Yesterday I went to the Urgent Care (less wait than the ER) and he said it is probably some stomach virus...gave me some meds...so far so good...we'll see!

Anyway, I'm dreading going back to school tomorrow as teachers have progress grades due Tuesday and now I'm way behind. Hopefully the students and parents will be understanding! However, I am hoping that my demo starter kit will be coming tomorrow as it was mailed Friday!

Also I'll be uploading the long promised clock that I finally got finished...hopefully my husband can fix the arms as the hour hand just flails around...argh! All products are French Kitchen Reminisce besides American Crafts Thickers and the acrylic paint I needed to paint them with (they were already red but it was too bright...aaahhh!)

University of Nebraska LO

2008-02-24T17:12:00.000-06:00

Here's one of my college pages...specifically THE college page! I used those gorgeous Reminisce French Kitchen papers on this and I LOVE them!!! They are so versatile with the double sided of the same pattern in different colors! Anyway, I'm still working on the infamous clock using the same paper...maybe I can get it done tomorrow - we're eating dinner at our friends' house, I need to get my Stampin' Up order together, and I have to get some tests graded!!! But here's this one for now...I'll post the Easter layout I did at Archiver's last night as soon as I add the journaling. Thanks for looking!

The complete list of supplies: All pp (besides Nebraska N's), Journaling Sticker - Reminisce (French Kitchen), Labels - Dymo, Slick Writer, Thickers, Rub on letters - American Crafts, Ribbon - Doodlebug, Both N papers from Scrap Your Heart Out in Lincoln, Nebraska

Productive & A New Business Venture...

2008-02-24T12:09:00.000-06:00

Hi! I went to Archiver's last night and got one 2 page layout done (minus the journaling) and plan on finishing the other one I started there sometime today. On the 2nd one I used the French Kitchen line by Reminisce that's posted below as a part of my DT stuff from SWG! I am using the non-kitcheny ones to make a page about my college so it's exciting how multi-functional it is! There were only 10 of us last night but it was fun because people were more chatty than perhaps when every table is full so that was really enjoyable...some amazing ladies there!

I'm going to sign up to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator!!! I'm mailing my stuff tomorrow and am very excited about it! I love their stamps and the matching ink, paper, brads, ribbon, markers...so handy and simple! Plus in the long run I think $$$ is saved by not buying cards at $5 and it's always fun to get a homemade card! Well that's it for now...I'll get those layouts posted and my kitchen clock I'm making with that French Kitchen paper too!

Updated blog...YEAH!!!

2008-02-19T22:29:00.000-06:00

First of all, here's my first layout with the Scrappin' with Grace Reminisce FLIRT! kit that I received for my role as the February Guest Design Team Member! You have to have this line! Pictures will never do it justice...you can head on over to www.scrappinwithgrace.com and go to the message board or gallery to see what the other Design Team members have done with it - they are completely amazing! I'm also going to post the cards that I made this weekend for a Stampin' Up Stamp Camp...they are so cute - NOT my design but so great I wanted to share them anyway.

So I'm super excited...although I love having a counter on here, my music is a total breakthrough and blessing! I have such an eclectic style and I hope you see that. I love country, R&B, Rock, Pop, Christian, Alternative, Musicals...pretty much every type of music besides headbanging and screaming. I think of everything on my page the music almost tells you more about me than anything else. Leave me a note and let me know what you think.

Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T21:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Love Day! My husband of 2 years and I didn't do anything exciting for the "holiday"! We grilled some chicken and I tried to make a chocolate chip cheesecake...my chocolate chips sunk to the bottom...argh! (It tasted fine thank goodness) We watched "Chicken Little" and just spent some quality time together! Lately I've been spending so much time either on my computer doing scrapbooky things or actually scrapbooking and feel like I haven't spent as much time with him, so today's been great! Speaking of which, he's waiting for me down on the couch...see ya soon!!!

Here are a few cards I made for my February Guest Design Team appearance...with the amazing FLIRT! line that I highlighted in my previous post. (The kit is availabe at www.scrappinwithgrace.com/store under Reminisce...at $2.00 retail for the glittered paper the kit's a great deal!) I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the French Kitchen line...although I completely love it I don't have room in my kitchen for anything else, nor do I scrapbook recipes. I already have a recipe book and box, so I'm thinking about making a clock (I actually got the idea in Reminisce's gallery at www.designsbyreminisce.com) If nothing else, the blacks, whites, and reds can be so multipurpose as there are several of them that aren't necessarily kitchen related - but I LOVE the cute stickers! I'll post pics here of whatever I end up doing!

2008-02-10T21:18:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! I had a totally crazy weekend! On Friday night, my friend from work and I went to her church's crop from about 6-12:30. Then I went back on Saturday from 10:30-4:00 after printing off more pics to make the layout above! I did it using a sketch from pagemaps.com and using the word "LOVE" which was a the week #1 requirement for the Heartfelt February Contest at Scrappin' with Grace. I only completed 2 one page layouts in my whole time there (and 5 cards) but I had a great time getting to know the ladies and helping each other make pages we were proud of!

When I got home I had an AWESOME surprise!!! My kit for February Guest Design Team Member at Scrappin' with Grace came! It had 2 amazing lines in it - both by Reminisce. I'm going to post a pic of these amazing papers here too...the FLIRT! line is gorgeous and glittery and double sided. The only paper that isn't double sided is the amazing scalloped edged heart and the decorative edged square paper with the glittery hearts around it! The other paper I received is not yet online at Scrappin' with Grace but is called French Kitchen and is in black, white, and red double sided papers. In the pictures I have shown two pics of each with the double sided papers flipped over...love them!

So after all of that, we went to Nebraska on Saturday night, ate with my family and then had a cousin's wedding shower on Sunday (today). Now we're back home and I can't believe I already have to go back to work tomorrow...I heard we were supposed to get more snow but my students just cannot afford more missed days! Hopefully I'll get into a better trend of blogging at least a couple of times per week! :)

Another past layout...

2008-02-01T22:05:00.000-06:00

I think I'm going to try submitting the Basic Grey layout I posted last time to Basic Grey for consideration for their gallery. I don't know if I'll get chosen but I might as well try...the only non-Basic Grey things are the purple fiber, white eyelets & brads, pen, white chipboard letters and background paper. I'll post here if I get selected. It didn't say anything about not having it posted somewhere else on their agreement so hopefully it being in the galleries at my favorite websites and here on my blog is ok.

Nothing too new today...I'm just so excited that it's the weekend. Tomorrow is the big February crop at Scrappin' with Grace 10 am to 6 pm CST. I'm excited for that and that I know the challenges will push me to create new things!

I'm posting another layout I made for a DT Call...they were all for the same call actually so that week was crazy (lots of 2 am nights)! I love putting the picture within my blog posts better than my crazy slideshow because you can actually see the layout!

Being Me Layout...

2008-01-30T18:01:00.000-06:00

Hi! Today was pretty good...I'm still sick and coughing tons but I feel better. Sickness is strange! Anyway, I wanted to post the layout I did about me as it was my first one EVER! I did it for specific request for a layout about yourself for a Design Team call. Although I didn't make the Design Team, I am SOOOOOO happy I applied, if even just for this layout. I really enjoyed the exercise of self-reflection and using the Basic Grey Urban Couture papers which I fell in love with before I had any BG in my stash. I don't often toot my own horn, but this layout is one that I am super proud of - I like the composition of it and the fact that I was able to use fibers, ribbon, chipboard, circles, and pink - all things I LOVE!!! I also got the opportunity to journal about my wedding day as that was when the picture was taken! I just really liked the end result and wanted to share my feelings about it here...so here's the "Being Me" layout!!!

2008-01-29T17:02:00.000-06:00

It's been a long time since I've posted but I get frustrated by the fact that my blog looks so ugly in comparison to others. This is because I'm new and don't know how to do anything but that doesn't lessen my frustration.

After finding the internet scrapbooking world, I have applied for 3 design teams and although I haven't gotten onto one yet, just applying has made me think more about specific design elements and create new layouts and cards I love.

I was asked to be the Guest Design Team Member for February for Scrappin' with Grace which excites me to no end. Scrappin' with Grace is the first message board and people I became involved with online so it holds a special place in my heart. My first act as GDT is to be involved in and design games and challenges for the Scrappin' with Grace Crop on February 2nd from 10 am to 6 pm CST. Come on over for a fun time!!!

Here's just one of the layouts I made for the DT call...using felt I cut with my Cuttlebug and a Sizzix die:

SNOW DAY!

2008-01-18T01:36:00.000-06:00

We had a snow day today...well actually yesterday since it's Friday morning. I thought I'd accomplish a great deal, but in reality, I spent the day scanning old photos into the computer (to crop & remove red eye) and then uploading them to walmart.com. It took me 2.5 hours to get all of that done - and I forgot some pictures. But I'm going to ScrapMania at Archiver's Saturday so I had to get some pictures printed off to take with me...last time I went, I forgot my pictures - how much sense does that make? Off to bed...

2008-01-13T04:03:00.001-06:00

Scrapbooking...

2008-01-13T03:19:00.000-06:00

As I scrapbook from my freshman year of college, I keep thinking how discongruous my scrapbook is from my actual college life. I was in a sorority starting from day 1 of college, but I've never been a typical sorority girl. However, looking at my pages, you would think that all I was involved in was my sorority. Strangely enough, that just happens to be what I have pictures of as The Picture Man was at every event. I am so adamant about people not considering me a "sorority girl" that sometimes I forget to be proud of it. I was chosen by a group of girls as someone they thought worthy enough to pass their secrets on to and entrust with the future of an organization that is important to them.

One of the things I was involved with in the house was leading the Bible study with another girl for a couple of years, and although I didn't see any girls come to know Jesus as their Savior while I was there, perhaps I planted some seeds or just made them think differently by the life I lived. I know there were times I made mistakes in trying to show my sisters His love, but I hope I impacted some of them positively. Although I don't keep in touch with many of them, I still talk to my four best friends from my sorority as often as possible. People who hated sororities always harassed me about "buying" my friends and I will forever say that if these four women are the ones I "bought", they were worth every penny. This makes me want to go contact some sorority sisters that I haven't spoken to in a while...

Normal day...

2008-01-08T23:16:00.000-06:00

A day in my life usually looks like this:

6:45 am - Get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, & hopefully remember lunch on my way out the door

7:15 am - Need to be out of the house to arrive at work on time

7:30 am - Required to be at school, getting ready to teach those eager young minds

7:45 am - School day begins, classes all day with one 83 min plan period and a 30 min lunch

2:40 pm - School day ends

3:00 pm - Allowed to leave school for the day, typically stay to do more planning, grading papers, tutoring students

5 - 6:00 pm - Time I typically leave school, arrive home 15 min later (unless I stop by Hobby Lobby or Michaels to buy scrapbooking supplies or Walmart for groceries)

5:30 - 7:00 pm - My husband and I eat between these hours (tonight it was just after 7 - homemade cheesy potato soup...yum!)

Rest of evening - Watch TV, play Wii with my hubby, scrapbook, get in touch with friends, read, clean, etc.

NEXT DAY...begin again!

***I have always wanted to scrap one of the "day in the life of me" pages so maybe with this journaling I'll be motivated/not forget to do so!

New to Blogging

2008-01-07T21:53:00.000-06:00

Hi! I'm new to the blog thing! Not sure how this is going to go, but I just joined a new scrapbook site, Scrappin' with Grace and it seems tons of people there have blogs. I thought I'd try one out for fun!