10 Year Anniversary

Today I celebrate ten years of marriage with my wonderful hubby! Here's the card I made for him: 

Stamps: World Treasures stamp set, In Stitches jumbo wheel

Card Stock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Designer Series Paper: Floral District

Ink: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Paper Daisies, Summer Starfruit Dahlia

Punches: Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Trim Corner

I got a little help from this week's Mojo Monday sketch... which I really needed since it has been so hectic at my house. Nothing like a good sketch to get the creativity flowing!

For the "circle" part of the sketch, I used three Paper Daisies, each separated with Dimensionals. The Summer Starfruit Dahlia makes a perfect flower center. Daisies are my favorite flower, and they were a big part of the overall theme of my wedding.

I whipped up this little page in My Digital Studio so you could see what a good-lookin' group we were  :}  Well, time to run and have dinner with my guy! Enjoy your weekend!!

my new friend, Eleanor

I might just have a new best friend. Her name is Eleanor. I have barely had any time to get to know her, but the time we've spent together stamping has been wonderful. Want to meet her???

I'm sure you think she's as pretty as I do! Today I'm sharing the first card I made using my new stamp set called Everything Eleanor  :}  I used three stamps from this set on my card - the "label" shape, a flower, and the bird - all of which I fussy-cut with my Snips.

I started with a 4-1/4" square More Mustard card base. Then I added a 4" square of Fan Fair DSP, which I dry embossed using the new Chevron Embossing Folder and lightly sanded the raised surfaces. The sentiment, from the Loving Thoughts stamp set, is stamped in Island Indigo ink onto Island Indigo card stock. 

Isn't the layered flower pretty??? I used 4 layers of Fan Fair DSP, which I die cut using the Floral Frames Framelits, and then sponged the edges with Riding Hood Red ink. An Antique Brad holds the flower together and makes a lovely flower-center.

I'll bet you would like more details on that flower, wouldn't you... Surprise! I have a video for you today!!  :} 

Easy, right?!! I can't wait to make more  :}  Thanks for dropping by today!

I'm still here...

Isn't it "funny" how every time you get really good plans into place, with all the details worked out, that something throws every plan out the window??? At least that what happens to me... a lot. I guess that's why I'm not much of a "planner."
Everything started out fine... I loaded up the mini-van and drove to Illinois. It was hot, and there was plenty of construction, but that's to be expected, so no biggie. My hubby and I were helping my brother and sister-in-law throw a party to celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary. While I watched the three kiddos, my hubby worked his magic on the mountain of kabobs, and my brother and sister-in-law prepared the most amazing and beautiful spread of food. My brother works in catering for Illinois State University, so he knows how to make all the pretty little extras and arrange everything so it looks sooooo fancy  :}

We even managed to get a "not too bad" family photo! I'm amazed that both of my boys were looking at the camera! I only wish I had asked one of the dozens of guests to take a photo of the whole family. I'll have to remember that for their 50th!  :}
I was planning on driving back home Monday, but my youngest son's asthma flared up, big time. As it was nearing bedtime, hubby and I decided we needed to head to the ER. The extra meds in the ER weren't working very quickly, so he was admitted. We ending up spending two nights in the hospital with him  :( 
Aaron is doing much better now. He's running around and playing with all his favorite toys. If you saw him today, you would never guess he had been in the hospital this week. Thank goodness kids bounce back so quickly!
So now I'm not only behind on all of my housework and home improvement plans, I'm behind on posting projects, too. I have lots of projects to share, so in between laundry, mopping, painting, etc. I'll be getting those photos ready to share with you. Thanks for sticking around!  :}

Special Offers

I am soooo looking forward to Friday evening - my "NEW CATALOG" PARTY!!

A good hostess always has something special for her guests, right??? Well, here it is! I'm offering the following specials for one week only: 

We are going to have so much fun at the party! Food, friends, and stamping... life is good  :}
While there will be extra perks for joining me in my home, I understand that some people have bosses who don't understand why "but there's a stamping party" is a reason to get the night off (what's up with that?). Plus, I know some of you would have to purchase a plane ticket to physically be here. And, we want to save that moohlah for stamps, right?? 
**GOOD NEWS!! If you order any of these bundles from my online store, you will get the special offers too! But don't wait - the last day for this offer is next Tuesday (June 12, 2012).

Notes:
These special offers are only available through me.
Online orders will earn "stamps" on your Rewards Card.
If you order these bundles in person, your freebies will be in your bag when I deliver your order.
If you order these bundles online, I will mail your freebies with your Thank-You card.
Click here to view the Stitched Satin Ribbon.
The embellishment "grab bag" contents will be a surprise... but will make you very happy!
Click here to view the Framelits storage cases - they are shown in the video.

If you have any questions, you can email me (stamp_pad@wi.rr.com) and I will answer right away  :}  Happy shopping!

introducing my Online Rewards Card

I wanted to come up with a special way to say "thank you" to my online shoppers. You can find all of the details by clicking on the new tab - the Rewards Spot - at the top of this page. 

And congratulations to Jana - the winner of my BLOG CANDY!!  Jana, send me an email  (stamp_pad@wi.rr.com)  with your address so I can mail your prize to you  :}

beautiful wings

I found another clean and simple card sketch that I just love. 

I seriously love how "clean" and "not fussy" this card looks! And it only took a few minutes to put together  :}

I started with a Crumb Cake card base, and then added a 3-1/2"x4-3/4" layer of Summer Starfruit card stock. My sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set. I "inked" the stamp with a Primrose Petals Marker, and using a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I stamped the bottom "happy birthday" onto the Very Vanilla card stock first. Then I repeated the process using a Raspberry Ripple Marker for the top-most "happy birthday." For the middle "happy birthday," I inked the entire stamp using the new firm-foam Summer Starfruit ink pad. Then I die cut the banner using one of the Bitty Banners Framelits.

I die cut my card stock butterflies with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit... sooooo pretty. Can you believe I didn't use any Stampin' Dimensionals on this card???? Crazy!

Before I show you a few more beautiful wings, don't forget that today is the last day to be entered into the BLOG CANDY drawing! Click here for the details.

Since I was enjoying the butterfly theme in my craft room this morning, I thought I would whip up a cute little 3x3 card for a friend. 

I used Calypso Coral card stock, ink, and Baker's Twine for this little cutie. The images are from the My Friend stamp set. I die cut two layers of White Waffle Paper using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die. I'm sad the Waffle Paper retired... you can make some neat things with it. If you don't have any, you can die cut a few layers of tissue paper for a similar look.

And now, for the last "wings" in this post...   Look what I found this weekend: 

This mama robin sure picked a silly spot for a nest! I hope we don't get a downpour before the babies are grown. When it pours really hard, the rain streams over the edge from the upper level and down into the lower level gutter. Plus, this is right outside my door to the backyard... you know, the door my boys and all of their neighborhood friends use 7 million times a day!!! Keep your fingers crossed that we see some of those scrawny little baby birds soon!

Thanks for dropping by today!! Have a fabulous day  :}

a simple card sketch + a few reminders

What a beautiful day! I can't wait to run around outside with my boys. But first, I gotta share some creative stuff  :}

I found a neat blog with some great card sketches. They're not fussy, and therefore, easy to recreate! The clean and simple card sketch 192 caught my eye, so I had to whip up a card.

To keep things simple, I started with a 3-1/2"x5" pre-cut, pre-scored Note Card (love these things!). I added a 3"x4-1/2" layer of Calypso Coral card stock (using Dimensionals).

Before I added the Whisper White layer, I used the Simply Scored to score two lines an 1/8" apart. The Calypso Coral DSP is die cut with the Big Shot using the new Apothecary Accents Framelits. I did end up adding three embellishments, but they're super simple. The Calypso Coral Baker's Twine is tied around the cupcake wrapper before adhering it to the card with a Dimensional. I used a 2-Way Glue Pen to add Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter® over the "frosting." And a Whisper White brad adds a very subtle detail.

Before I sign off, I have two reminders... 

After you open your My Digital Studio program, click on "Help," and then click on "Check for Updates."

And last but not least, click here for details on how you can win some BLOG CANDY.

Thanks for stopping by... Have a wonderful day!!!  :} 

 

new Ink Pads & Blog Candy reminder

I can't wait to replace my Classic Ink Pads... the new pads are really that much better. I've been using the new pads from the new In Color Collection, and it's amazing how crisp the stamped image is, especially when it comes to large and solid images.  I'll let "my BFF" Shannon West demonstrate:



Don't forget to "follow this blog" so you can be entered into the BLOG CANDY drawing! More details are in yesterday's post. Have a fabulous Saturday  :} 

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Happy New Year!!

Well... new Catalog year  ;)

So, how do you like my new look for the blog? It's always fun to change things up a bit! Plus, it gives me another reason to play around with My Digital Studio. I used the new Fan Fair Collection DVD, which is full of fabulous digital images, to create the blog design. So, now we have to have a new coordinating digital project to go with the new look, right??!!

This digital scrapbook page is for one of my closest friends, Dawn. Doesn't she have adorable boys? A pre-designed "scrapbook" is included on the Fan Fair Collection DVD, so all I had to do was to work with the page I liked. I dropped in the photo of her family, changed it to a sepia tone, "scooched" around a few elements on the page, added the number "stamps," and typed my text... that's it!

Now, I know you can't wait to add this digital collection and all the other new goodies to your shopping cart, BUT, the new catalog doesn't open until 1pm (Central Time).  Aaagh! I feel your pain  ;)

Soooooo, how about a little BLOG CANDY while we wait??!!!! Here's what you need to do to be entered in the BLOG CANDY drawing...

Become a follower of my blog-
Look at the column on the left for the "Networked Blogs" box. Click on "Follow This Blog." Only blog followers will be entered in the drawing  :)

Would you like three extra chances to enter the drawing??? Of course you would!
After you become a blog follower, you will be entered again into the drawing for doing each of the following:
1) Follow Me on Pinterest, and "pin" any 1 of my cards or scrapbook pages.
2) "Like" my Facebook Page, and comment on any project photo
3) Go to my Stampin' Up! website, and "contact me" to request my Newsletter

Choose one, choose all, but you have to be a blog follower to win at all ;) 

Wanna see what the blog candy is??

On Monday afternoon (June 4th), I will draw one name to win 4 of my cards and a Ribbon Wreath  :)

Good luck!!!

Annual catalog

 Stampin' Supplies