Clearance Rack Blitz

                                          

As of yesterday, Stampin' Up has added over 300 new items to their clearance rack.  What's even better?  For the very first time there are STAMPS included at up to 40% off original prices.  You're not going to want to miss this one!  You'll find a bunch of old favorites we thought were retired and gone forever available again, but only while supplies last.  To take advantage of this head on over to my stampin' store now by clicking HERE, you'll thank me for it later. ;)  I went on late last night & stocked up on all sorts of goodies.  I want to make sure you have the same chance to get yourself an early Christmas gift at a fraction of the normal cost.  Happy shopping! 

Mojo Monday 271/ New Years

Sorry the photo quality on this one isn't great, but I thought I would snap a quick one with my iphone so I could just blog and go.  It's been way too long since I've done a Mojo Monday and I just knew that waiting to do a "real" photo would mean I wouldn't actually post it.  So, we'll make do with a little lack of focus and some less than perfect lighting. ;)  The card is soooo shiny in person though... glimmer paper makes everything sparkle!  I got to try out one of my new Single Stamps for this one.  In addition to releasing a few stamps from sets within the current catalog, SU also came out with a few never before seen stamps for sale as singles.  Isn't this new year's greeting great?  The stamp is super big & at $6.95 a great bargain too.  It's a perfect solution for folks like me who rarely get it together in time to send Christmas cards, but have just a bit of free time at the start of the year.  Head on over to my SU website to look at this and the other single stamps--- available for a short time only!

Fancy Friends Kit

I'm so looking forward to my class this month.  We're going to make gifts using the new Fancy Friends kit from Stampin' Up.  The kit includes all we need--- even two stamps & two mini ink pads for everyone!  I'm going to, of course, add my own flair by teaching a fun technique to add a little extra pizzazz to all our cards. Class is from 1-4 on Sunday the 16th.  RSVP today by commenting on this post or sending me an email.  Class fee for 6 cards is $20 or $30 if you want to make 26 cards to create several gift bundles.  Make sure to RSVP by Friday the 7th so I can order all our goodies!!

Ribbon Framelits Case

Ah, it's Christmas card time again!  I saw a version of this card at Stampin' Up Regionals in Denver and knew I just had to make it.  All of the fillings for each framelit come from ribbon.  It was such fun to use ribbon in a brand new way.  It creates unexpected texture and is super easy to do.  I resisted buying the Holiday Framelits Collection and the  Scentsational Season set that goes with it, but since SU offers it as a bundle, how could I go wrong?  Of course, the stamps aren't featured in this card. They are super cute though and will make fun additions to the liner & envelope.  I hope folks like it at my Fancy Xmas Card Class tomorrow!

Manly Mojo/ Mojo Monday #255

My new goal for classes is to have at least one "masculine" card for each one.  I've considered having an all masculine class, but I think I like the sprinkling idea even better. Then folks will always have at least one on hand (& I don't need to think of five masculine designs all at once!).  So, this week's Mojo Monday sketch needed to go manly for me.  I found inspiration in an unexpected place--- Floral District designer paper.  With so many blossoms, I didn't think I could find a design that work work for my manly theme.  However, one of the "B" sides worked just great.  All it needed was a little bit of soft suede sponged around the edges.  It's hard to believe I used to dislike this color.  Now I use it ALL the time!  I went with the distressed look on my stamped piece.  My distressing tool took care of the edges & my color spritzer added just enough to my repeated stamps.  I even think the accidental stamping of the edge of this stamp adds to the distressed look.   That's why I didn't redo it.  I am the Accidental Stamper after all.  My very favorite part of this card is the combo of the embossed scallops & the pierced ones along the side.  It was such a fun alternative to a punched piece of paper.  The card didn't really need another layer & this way I could include that element more subtly (and use even more toys!).

Floral District Mojo/ Mojo Monday #254

This is one of the first signs I may actually be getting back into gear: I completed my Mojo Monday card on MONDAY.  That hasn't happened in a long while. :)  Tomorrow is the start of a new school year for me and I hope to get off on the right foot.  Hence actually focusing on my Mojo Monday sketch.  I know my organization is bound to deteriorate as a new job begins, but I wanted to start with things as well off as possible.  That way, they have a lot further to go! :)  I've been eyeing this pattern from the Floral District designer paper ever since it arrived as part of my title benefit bundle.  Isn't it lovely?  I knew I wanted to create something elegant with it.  However, I was struggling a bit until I added Night of Navy to my color mix.  Originally, I had a Tangerine Tango pennant on the far right, but that just wasn't doing the trick.  I was inspired by some simple Night of Navy Grosgrain ribbon and decided to sponge my layers with Night of Navy as well.  The overall effect could work for any occasion from birthday to sympathy.  I like to keep things versatile because you never know what sort of card you'll need next.  Do you recognise the leaf stamped on the small rectangle?  It's from the Language of Friendship set & is designed to punch out using the XL Bird Punch.  I just inked that bit of the image with my markers so the leaf could fly solo on this card.  Perhaps I would punch some leaves to go with it next time around?  We'll see what folks decide to do at class this month.  I bet no two cards look alike.  That's one of my favorite parts of class!

Scallop Circle Flower Throwdown/ Color Throwdown #204

It's such fun to see a photo of something that makes you think "I want to try THAT" and then sitting down and doing just that!  In this month's Stampin' Success (the magazine just for SU demos...let me know if you want to join the team so you can get inspired each month too!) they pictured a flower made from lots of little scalloped circles and glued together using hot glue & the new Silicone Craft sheet.  Well, I just had to give it a try since my very own Silicone Craft Sheet arrived this week along with my new glue gun.  Such fun!  I went over to the folks at The Color Throwdown for color inspiration & found this week's pallet includes Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray & Very Vanilla.  Since I really wanted to use pearls on this card, I replaced the Very Vanilla with Whisper White & then just went for it!  I've never used hot glue with paper crafting before.  Wow, was that easy!  And no hassle at all thanks to my Silicone Sheet.   I didn't even have to worry about burning myself because I could glue straight on to the sheet.  No need to hold anything and glue at the same time.  Excellent!  I was a little startled to find that I have four different sizes of scallop circle punch now.  How about that?  Oh, and there is also the scallop circle Big Shot Die.  Tee hee... I love creating layers!!  This card ended up as an easy show stopper!  I don't think it'll fit in an envelope though...

Fall Jar Project

Well, this was about the most fun crafting ever!  I decided I was going to attempt a project with my new Autumn Accents die & thought I would try the wreath pictured in Stampin' Success (the demo only magazine from SU).  So, I went off to buy a wreath form.  While shopping for one, I saw a display of canning jars and inspiration struck!  I went home to play with one of my jars & a bunch of leaves/acorns created via my Autumn Accents die.  Oh, and most importantly, with my first ever purchase of burlap.  (The kind lady at the fabric counter was very patient with me as a total novice at buying fabric by the yard.)  Running burlap through the Big Shot is hands down my favorite thing of the moment.  It cuts so cleanly and gives these great little accents.  Love them! I'm sure you'll see them featured in a card soon.  After fiddling a bit with crinkling leaves, spritzing with gold, and stuffing my jar I had an excellent little fall accent.  I can't wait to put it on my mantle!  I think it's a prime candidate for a September project class, what do you think?

It's Bigger on the Inside?

Some times you just need to meld the geek in your life with the crafty bit of your life.  That happened to me when I realized the ONLY card that would do for my friend's birthday was one that featured Dr. Who.  So, I decided to consult the crafty folks in the know and found a great tutorial at Crafty Cow Creations--- "how to make a Dr Who card" .  What could be more perfect?  Of course, I had to modify things just a bit AND I simply had to add a Tardis.  What is the Doctor with out his Tardis?  Now, I have new toys that would have made things even easier.  At long last, Stampin' Up has self adhesive googles!!  Yeahy!  I'm a huge fan of things with google eyes, so you know I ordered those little guys right away.  I also have a silver Stampin' Dazzle Marker which would have made the wording look ever so much better than the white crayon I used.  But that's ok.  Sometimes the Doctor just can't wait.

Good, Better, Best/ Color Throwdown #203

 I let my card for the Color Throwdown this week sort of evolve from good, to better, & finally to best by adding a bit of bling each time. I modified the colors just a bit this week and went with Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake, & Marina Mist.  Boy do they ever look like summer to me! I've found a couple of new stampin' obsessions lately.  One is the Lacy Brocade folder from pg 6 of the new Holiday catalog.  It's my new very favorite as you can see from this card. I'm also super into the Vintage Faceted Buttons.  They add fun subtle bling that just makes the card pop.  We'll do the "better" version of this card in class at the end of the month, but you can always upgrade your card to "best" by ordering some of these great buttons.  I'm already almost through my first box!

Jerry's Core'dinations Birthday

Welcome to August and the start of the Holiday Mini Catalog season!  Today is also my father-in-law's birthday.  So, to kick off both events in style I created a birthday card for Jerry with some of my new toys from the Holiday Mini.  I started out with the super exciting Core'dinations cardstock. This cardstock comes in three colors (Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, & Gumball Green) and has a slightly lighter shade hidden in its core.  Hence the name.  The hidden layer comes out when you texturize &/or sand the paper.  I did both here to bring out the sort of Crumb Cake layer beneath.  For sanding I Used the new Stampin' Sanding System you can also find in the Holiday mini.  I also used a few new Big Shot toys on this card. The Wood grain embossing folder was simply a must as was the Lacy Brocade (used on the large leaf).  Speaking of the large leaf, that lovely maple leaf is part of the Autumn Accents Die you'll find on pg 33 of the mini catalog.  Never fear, there is a coordinating stamp set for that die.  Stampin' Up makes things so easy!  Visit my website to view the new holiday mini catalog or contact me today to get your own copy!

Raining Flowers Embossed Windows

I decided to play with bits and pieces I had lying about today.  First off, I had several Early Espresso bits cut out when we created frames using the Labels Framelets in class a while back.   I couldn't resist using white embossing powder on those deep dark espresso pieces & thought the puff ball flowers from Raining Flowers would fit the bill nicely.  I just did a little double stamp with the solid image to create a sightly different image. I also have a bunch of Calypso Coral ribbon from Sale-a-Bration.  I put these together along with the brand new Argyle Embossing folder for a simple & unique combination.  Oh, and there is sponging involved too, of course!  The whole combo has a fun retro feel to me, don't you think?

Love & Care Batik

This card was ever so much fun to make.  I hope folks in class enjoyed it as well. :)  I decided to play around with a retired hostess set that I actually never got a chance to use.  Such a shame, as it's a lovely set.  So, I got out my markers & had a great time creating a batik effect.  First you color the stamp using light colors.  Then, just dab it with darker colors here and there.  Finally give the stamp a "breath of life" and then stamp.  Viola!  What do you think?  Oh, and while we're on new ideas that I find amazing, how about the new Butterfly punch?  I added a pearl and used the Elegant Lines folder with some sponging to add just a little bit extra, but it's super elegant all on its own.  It's one of my very favorite additions to the Stampin' Up punch family.  If you need to add it to your collection too, just let me know and I'll place an order.  Some things simply shouldn't be resisted! 

Color Throwdown #202

When looking for inspiration, I often just need a starting place.  For this card, I visited the folks over at the Color Throwdown for a launching point.  This week's colors include: Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, and Bermuda Bay.  Such fun! So, while I usually don't include retired colors in my cards, I dug up some old textured cardstock in the lovely shade of Bermuda Bay.  Perhaps one day Stampin' Up will bring this former In Color back out of retirement.  It's so very deep and complements the other colors in this challenge nicely.  I knew I wanted to include one of the new Vintage Buttons for my class this month.  They add such an amazing touch!  Photography doesn't quite do them justice, but they have lots of facets and add so much more to each project.  You'll want to get your hands on some if you haven't already. :)

Natural Composition Mojo/ Mojo Monday #251

Whenever Stampin' Up releases a new catalog, I go right to the designer series paper to pick which pack I'll buy first. :)  This time around, the choice was clear: Natural Composition Specialty.  I love the neutral color & the embossed images.  By stamping on Crumb Cake card stock using Versamark & clear embossing powder, I was able to create a perfect accent with the Nature Walk stamp set.  Mojo Monday gave me the sketch idea.  I wanted to keep the color pallet simple, so I stuck with Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Primrose Petals.  The Primrose I needed to mute a bit, so I took out my sponges and went to work using my Soft Suede ink.  Elegant and simple.  Just the way I like it. 

Summer is in full swing!  In fact, there are those who like to say it's nearly over. I'll hear nothing of that though. :)  I'm just getting back into the stamping groove of things.  Who knew that I would have more time to stamp during the school year than in the summer?  I certainly didn't think that would be the case.  Leave it to Stampin' Up to give me yet another reason to have fun in my studio.  This stamp set is called Reason to Smile and is available via special promotion this month only.  If you place an order of $50 or more then you can order this lovely little set for just $5!  Reason to smile in deed.  Contact me today or visit my website to place a qualifying order. 

Betsy's Blossoms Flower Mojo

For the third installment of Betsy's Blossom's Mojo Series, I decided to turn things on their side.  I wanted to use a few of the new In Colors, so I got out my Primrose Petals & Raspberry Ripple.  Summer is here and it's time to make things bright and shiny.  A little bit of whimsy seemed in order.  My favorite of the new Bitty Banners is the wavy one I've used on this card.  Isn't it fun?  The little leaves and the the flowers from Betsy's Blossoms were a great fit.  Add just a few rhinestones and we have everything we need for a summery twist on this Mojo Sketch.

Betsy's Blossoms Father's Day Mojo

Okay, here goes round two.  It's the same basic sketch as yesterday's post, but a very different effect.  I used my living room rug as inspiration for this design.  Well, that and the new Naturals Buttons.  Aren't they fun?  The muted colors and textured cardstock give a great natural feel to the card along with the hemp twine and faux wood buttons.  I find it hard to make more masculine cards, but had great fun making this one. Stick around for three more attempts at the Betsy's Blossoms Mojo Challenge.

Betsy's Blossom Mojo/ Mojo Monday 244

For my classes this week, I set a challenge for myself.  All five cards need to feature the Betsy's Blossoms stamp set from the new catalog AND I would use the same sketch as the basis for all of them.  So, I turned over to the folks over at Mojo Monday to give me inspiration.  Here's my first go around.  There are several fun new bits from the newest catalog.  The Midnight Muse ink and cardstock give us a glimpse at the new In Colors, the Daffodil Delight single stitched ribbon is brand new, as are the stamp sets & the Floral District designer paper.  All sorts of new fun products to play with!  Stay tuned for more of my Betsy's Blossoms series.

Color Throwdown #191

It's almost the end of the school year & I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I decided to take a couple of hours off Friday just to clean up in my studio and give myself just a little time to stamp. I'm so glad I did!  To get things started, I looked over at the Color Throwdown for inspiration.  I loved their color choices for this week & would have never put them together on my own.  They include: Pool party, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, and Certainly Celery.  I added in some Whisper White and Basic Black just to make things pop a bit.  Isn't it a fun combination?  I also wanted to take the time to use some of my stamps that will retire at the end of the month.  Fifth Ave Floral is one of the sets of classic images that I will miss.  I like it so much that I bought the Decor Elements inspired by the set to decorate my studio walls.  This layered rose is just lovely.  I can't wait to see it on my wall too.  I'll post a photo once it's up (and perhaps once I clean my desk). :)

Welcome Baby Mojo Style/ Mojo Monday 237

It's that time of year again... Stampin' Up has announced its Retired List. Each year, we find out what stamps won't make it into the next catalog. This year, the list is especially long because they are starting a new catalog system in June. So, there are many old friends to say goodbye to. I always remind myself that there will be lots of great new stuff to check out in the new catalog as I march out all my soon to be retired sets for a last hurrah.

Fox & Friends is one of the sets that will no longer be available after May 31st. It's such a cute little group of critters. I love using it for baby and kid cards. For today's example, I used the Mojo Monday sketch of the week. I was glad to find that it worked well with another goal I had--- to use my new Simply Scored Diagonal Plate. That's how I created all those great background scores. I'll be demonstrating how to get this effect & how to make your own envelopes with this tool at my Lakewood Stampin' Social next week & my Second Monday open studio in May. You're going to love how easy this tool is to use! Isn't it fun how the background scores match up so well with the baker's twine? I love it when things work out well!

Springtime Lilacs/ Color throwdown #187

Can you tell what I was cutting out in my garden yesterday? My lilac bushes are in full bloom and there was a chance of snow last night so I wanted to rescue as many blooms as possible while I still could. They inspired me to create paper versions that will last even longer. When I saw how well this plan matched with the color choices from the folks over at the Color Throwdown, I knew this was a great chance to get back into stamping and back into blogging too. The colors for this week's challenge were So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, and Lavender Lace. I replaced the Lavender Lace with Wisteria Wonder to make my little lilac sprigs. Please don't ask how many little flowers are in each cluster... I didn't let myself count! All I know, is that I punched a BUNCH of them with my little Punch Pack flower and then punched quite a few more just to make sure. I used all but four! Once I got the clusters together for a trial run, I knew I needed to do something with their centers. A tiny circle of So Saffron was too much. So, I glued them all in place and decided to solve that problem at the end. As I glued them, I liked how the little dot of glue started to give them each a center. Then it hit me, Dazzling Details would be just the ticket! So, I added a little dot to each of the exposed centers. Trust me, there are a lot more that ended up covered up. I may have gone just a bit overboard with layers. That's the fun part though, right? Now I have just a bit a spring to last for months & months.

Happy Birthday Wishes/ Pentagon Treat Box

Yes, I do know that it's Valentine's Day, but it's also my friend's birthday. So, while it may seem crazy to not post a Valentine today, I wanted to share this great little box with you instead. I made it as a wrapper for a tiny birthday gift. Isn't it fun? As a Stampin' Up demonstrator one of my many perks is a monthly magazine. SU has just done an overhaul of this magazine and filled it up with all sorts of ideas I can't wait to try. This little box was one of them. With just a 5 x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock & my Simply Scored it was a cinch to make. The ends are closed using two Simple Flower punches. Ever so simple and yet very functional. It would make a great container for little Valentine treats as well! Too bad I didn't learn how to make them until it was too late for this year. Oh well, there's always next time!

Mojo Monday #227

I went a little designer paper crazy with this week's Mojo Monday sketch. It's hard not to with all the lush choices in the Paisley Petals pack. Each design complements the others so well & the color pallet is so versatile. Ever since I saw the images as a preview on the demo website, this designer paper made me think of tapestry or upholstery. It's just lovely. Kindness Matters also grabbed my attention as soon as the catalog came out. It was one of my first orders. Silly me, had I but waited, I could have earned this set for FREE with Sale-a-Bration. At least I can save you the same mistake. These little butterflies can be yours when you place a $50 order during SAB. It's one of the regular catalog items that made its way into the Sale-a-Bration catalog. Just visit my website today and click on "shop now" to get your free set. Don't make the same mistake I did!

Color Throwdown #177/ Always Elegant Valentine

It's time to bring a little love to this Super Bowl Sunday. Here's my try at this week's color scheme from the folks over at The Color Throwdown. Our very Valentine choices were Basic Black, Melon Mambo, and Whisper White. I'm a huge fan of all that co-ordinates in the stamping world (guess that's why I'm a Stampin' Up demo, huh?) and so I love how the lines from the Always Elegant stamp set go so well with those created by the Elegant Lines embossing folder. It causes an over all effect that just flows together. I feel like my card has its fancy pants on... perhaps a tuxedo? The organza ribbon along with the pearls add that dressed up feel as does the slight shine from embossing my black stamped images. Some times it doesn't take much to dress things up just a tad. It also goes to show that you don't need a whole bunch of stamps to make a really great card. Since all the stamps in a Stampin' Up set are designed to work together, you often just need one set to make a full project. It's just another way that co-ordinating products make my life easier. Now, if only the same applied to my closet... then my mornings would be easier too!

A Recycling Challenge

A few weeks ago, one of my stampers gave me a bit of a recycling challenge. She has a whole bunch of little bitty tins and wanted to know if I could do something crafty with them. I think my mind has been chewing on this challenge ever since. Today I decided to experiment. I've created a mini magnetic shadow box with the tin and it was super fun. It's a tribute to Sale-a-Bration too! I used some of the Everyday Enchantment paper along with the butterfly brad from the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack. The Everyday Enchantment line is available only though SAB and I'm very taken with it. Before the promotion ends in March I know I'm going to get my hands on more of both! When something this lovely comes as my free bonus, I know I'm dealing with the right company. :) If you want to make sure you get your Everyday Enchantment paper or accessories contact me today to place an order, or pop on over to my website and click on "shop now".

Mojo Monday 226

It's been simply forever since I did a card challenge and I really wanted to get back into the groove of things today. So, I checked out what the folks over at Mojo Monday had to offer. Of course, I found a sketch that was just perfect to get my creative juices flowing. It's a "round or square" week over at MM and I went for the square option.

What a perfect way to show off some of my new Sale-a-Bration products! The square stamped image and the designer paper are items I got FREE thanks to SAB and you can too! Just place an order of $50 to qualify for a free item from the Sale-a-bration catalog. The more you spend, the more you earn for free. Each $50 in products earns you another free set, pack of paper, or other great SU item from the new Sale-a-Bration catalog. I love the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper featured in this card (and not just because it was free). You'll be seeing way more of that soon. Contact me today to place your order or just head on over to my SU website & click on "shop now". Start collecting your FREE stuff today!!

Tospy Turvy Valentine

Finally, here's the last card for our Valentines Theme class. Isn't it just too cute? When the Turtle and Co stamp set first came out, I saw a get well soon card with this little guy upside down & thought it was such a great idea. The sentiment from the Sale-a-Bration set Sprinkled Expressions was a perfect fit for a topsy turvy turtle friend! Remember that starting on the 24th (just two days!) you can get a free item from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog for every $50 you spend. The fun lasts through the end of March. There are so many great products in the SAB catalog that you'll want to stock up on all your stamping needs now. I love getting free stuff when I order my ordinary stamping needs like Whisper White, envelopes, & Stampin' Dimensionals. I'll need them all anyway, so why not buy in bulk when I can get fun toys for free? If you're one of my Colorado stampers, you can join in my Stamp Club as well. That way, your stampin' dollars can go even further! More details soon...

Gnome Valentine

I told you things would get a little more silly with today's post. Isn't he just darling though? I knew I wanted to make a Valentine that combined both the Gnome Sweet Gnome & Gnomenclature sets (how could I possibly own one with out the other?) but I didn't really want to color my little friend in with markers. I thought about water colors, but we just did that on another card.... Then it came to me, how about a sepia tone Valentine? Add in just a little splash of color with a bit of Cherry Cobbler and my gnome doesn't require any coloring at all. The new Adorning Accents heart mini-folder created and fast & fun boarder and worked great on my Cherry Cobbler accent piece. Then, out came my new Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to add just a little bling. I added a little sponging to all my Very Vanilla pieces and was ready to go! He's clearly just looking for someone to love. And isn't the frog just the cutest?? More fun with Valentines in store for tomorrow...

Doily Valentine Easel

I'm ever so excited about our Valentine Theme class this weekend. I think I'll even sneak in a couple of the cards to Thursday's class in Lakewood. I would hate for folks to miss out on these beauties! Today's example would do quite nicely as an anniversary card as well as a Valentine. The "white on white" embossing of the card front adds just the right amount of texture to complement the doily pattern from the Flirtatious Designer Series Paper. I love how the Wisteria Wonder cardstock makes the Pretty in Pink from the designer paper just pop! Easel cards are such fun because they're really made to display. That way you can show off the beautiful card while your personal inscription remains hidden. The best part is, now folks can score their own bases for this card in class using my Simply Scored. This new scoring tool makes making non-traditional folds a snap! This card is one of the more "serious" cards from the Valentine line up. Check in tomorrow to see the lighter side of the holiday when I let whimsy take over!

Sprinkling Happiness

Today's post is my modification on the Mojo Monday sketch from yesterday. I really wanted to play with my new Gnome Sweet Gnome set. It has, as the name implies, super cute little garden gnomes but also great little accent stamps. The flowers, wheelbarrow, & watering can are all from this versatile set. Can you tell I'm having a bit of Spring Fever? Of course, they're predicting snow for tonight...no early flowers for me. The lage flower accent was great fun to make. It is made from the Blossom Builder kit available in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. The kit includes two pages of textured die cut flowers along with two sizes of Blushing Bride Rhinestones. Fast & fun just like the Create & Keep kit. Now I've captured a little spring for this January day.

Good to Great #5/ Create & Keep Class

Last round for the Good to Great challenge. With the Create & Keep Simply Sent Kit you have everything you need to make ten cards & a box to keep them organized. In these posts, I've shown you how I made the cards & how I added just a few touches to change good to great. That's what I'm offering in my Create & Keep Classes. If you host one, you and all of your friends can make all ten cards & the box for just $25! I'll also toss in a free pack of Stampin' Dimensionals for anyone who places an order at your class. With all the benefits of Sale-a-Bration just around the corner, you and your guest could end up with all sorts of free goodies! Contact me today to learn how!

Good to Great #4/ Create & Keep Class

There is just so much you can do with the new Create and Keep Simply Sent Kit. In this series of posts, I've given you just a few ideas. Don't worry, I still have a few more up my sleeve for the last post tomorrow! For today's card, I added a few specialized items in my second version. The boarder image on the card front reminded me of the doilies from the Flirtatious Designer Paper so I added one of those. I also thought it would be great fun to add a little paper daisy and pearl to the mix. The end result is simple yet elegant and it's all put together in a flash. The quick assembly of these cards was one of the things that inspired me to offer the Create and Keep classes where you can make all ten cards & their holder in just one sitting! Talk about instant gratification crafting. :) Contact me today to set up your date and make just a little time with friends to craft this new year.

Good to Great #3/ Create & Keep Class

Round three in my good to great challenge...just two more to go. Remember that for this challenge I am making a pair of cards from the Create & Keep Simply Sent kit. In the first, I use only supplies from the kit, and then, for the second, I spiff things up just a bit. The spiffed up cards along with their storage box are all included in my Create & Keep Classes. You can host one of your very while new Occasions Mini catalog is available--- now to April 30th. Contact me today to reserve a date!

My second card this round required a switch in orientation, but kept the same basic lay out. I just added a little In Color Ruffled Ribbon along with a punch to back my sentiment. Very little changes, but they both make things pop!

Good to Great #2/ Create & Keep Class

Time for round two! This time I used a bunch of the scalloped boarder self adhesive pieces from the kit all together on my card front. They make a fun effect, don't you think? Of course, I needed to take things a step further in my improved version of the card so I added some Whisper White grosgrain ribbon. I also used dimensionals to pop up my greeting along with a Framelit I cut out using the big shot. They are just small improvements, but they make a big difference. I would love to help you create a full kit of these Create & Keep cards when you host your own Create & Keep class. Contact me today to schedule your own card making adventure!

Good to Great #1/ Create & Keep Class

Okay, here's the first round of "good to great" cards made with the supplies from Create & Keep Simply Sent kit. The kit comes with more than enough embellishments to create ten great cards. I just can't leave well enough alone, so I've added bits to each of the cards to make them even better. This is the first example. The pieces to form the card to the left are all from the kit. Nothing else is needed, not even adhesive. They stick all on their own! In the bottom card, I added just a few things. There is an extra strip of Whisper White, one eyelet, a couple of mini brads, & a Whisper White Wide Oval. Oh, and, of course, a couple of Stampin' Dimensionals. As an incentive for folks who attend a Create & Keep class, I'll throw in a pack of dimensionals for each person who makes an order at a Create & Keep Class. That way you'll be all ready to trim out another kit if you decide to order one! Stay tuned for more examples of how to turn these kit cards from good to great without using a single stamp.

Create & Keep Box

This post is the first in a series. I've made them to introduce you all to one of the most exciting products from the new Occasions Mini Catalog, the Create & Keep box. This Simply Sent kit includes everything you'll need to make ten cards along with the box store them. As you can see, the box even comes with dividers to keep your cards organized. As with everything, I can't quite leave well enough alone, so I added little bits to the cards & the box. The Pearls on the box front are the first example. They're just a little touch that makes a big difference. For each of the five pairs of cards, I'll show you what you can make with the kit alone along with my improved version. It will be a sort of "good to great" presentation. It's also how I would like to introduce a new class that you can host! The Create & Keep class is a way for you & your friends to make the box and all the cards (including my additions) for just $25 each. That's just $2.50 a card not even counting the box or dividers! The cost will cover the purchase of the kit (along with shipping and handling) along with all the embellishments I'll provide to kick the cards up a notch. Contact me today to host your very own Create & Keep class. It will be a great way for crafters and non-crafters alike to stock up on cards for the new year or create a wonderful hand-made present! Keep checking in to see all the cards you can make with this great new product.

New Year Resolutions

It's a brand new year which means it's time for New Year Resolutions. I got a bit of an early start on mine. I really really really wanted to add more organization to my stamping studio. Do you know the feeling? So, I let the Clearance Rack help me out. There I found Ribbon Keepers. I ordered both the small and large sizes & they have turned my mess of ribbon shelves into a MUCH more organized space. Each order of Ribbon Keepers comes with two keepers that are designed to stack with this great snap system. I didn't have the space to stack them, so I used them separately. They're super easy to put together and make a huge difference. It's the best organization that $4.79 can buy! The keepers shown here are the "small" size. Visit my webstie today to get a start on your New Year's organizational goals!