A last minute Christmas Card

Sometimes in life we just need something quick, and this card is just that!  I used the note cards from Stampin' Up (already pre-cut, pre-scored and has a matching envelope- easy peasy).  I stamped my sentiment in Real Red and then used the Ornaments Framelits to cut my ornament out of Old Olive Polka Dot Parade paper.  I tied a quick bow, one of my many skills, and added it to the top with a glue dot.  It can't get much easier than that.

I'm so glad you stopped by.  I've been blessed to be part of Mary's "Stampin' Pretty Pals" since January of 2010.  They are a great group of demonstrators with awesome talent.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Years.

Sketch Frenzy Friday #113012

When I saw the sketch for this week's Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge I literally groaned out loud.  I thought about it throughout the day and then it clicked.  I think I was able to pull this whole card together in less than 30 minutes and I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.  I don't use my bird punch nearly enough so I was proud of myself for getting it out for this card.  I stamped the bird from the Betsy's Blossom's set and cut out the wings to glue to the bird punch.  I like how springy and friendly this card is.  What do you think?

PPA#148 Color Challenge

My husband is a photographer so we always send out photo cards for Christmas.  When I saw the color challenge this week I thought "Christmas Card, ugh, I don't need to make another Christmas Card" so I kept thinking on it.  Since we send out photo cards and the hubby has lots of photographer friends we end up receiving a lot of photo cards.  This year Saige is old enough to pull them (and their magnets) off of the refrigerator and that's a choking hazard so I had to come up with a different way to keep track of them.  I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I'd make my own version.  I really like they way it turned out and I made several of them to give to my mommy friends.  What do you think?

Sketch Challenge- SFF #112312

For the Sketch Frenzy Challenge for 11-23-12 I rotated the sketch.  I used some of the long style envelopes that Stampin' Up retired in the last catalog.  I think this style is the perfect size for a holiday card with $money$ in it!  I really like the prints in the Festival of Prints paper pack.  I think they're not too frilly to make good masculine cards.

Freshly Made Sketches challenge #63

I don't have a lot of Christmas shopping to do this year and I've felt like being crafty, but have needed a starting point.  I decided to play along with the Freshly Made Sketch challenge this week.  It's my first time :).  I started with the 2011-2013 In Colors because I knew I had almost a full package of DSP that I needed to use up.  I decided to go with Island Indigo for my main color.  I paired it with Sahara Sand and kept it pretty clean.  I really like the Mixed Bunch stamp set and I haven't played with it lately so I thought I'd dust it off.  What do you think?

Sketch Frenzy Friday #111612

During my play time over Thanksgiving I pulled together a card for the Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge for 11-16-12.  I love the International Bazaar product suite in the main catalog.  I think the colors are just beautiful together.  Here's my card.  What do you think?

PPA 147- Sketch Challenge

Over the Thanksgiving weekend my hubby encouraged me to disappear to my craft space for a while and have a little "me time".  I wasn't really planning it so I wasn't sure what I was going to work on.  I didn't feel like scrapbooking so I decided to play along on a few challenges.  Here's my card for the PPA sketch challenge this week.  I don't typically make square cards so this was a true challenge for me.  Let me know what you think.

Sketch Frenzy Friday card #110912

I follow several blogs and recently saw one where they played along with a sketch challenge called "Sketch Frenzy Friday".  Luckily they give you weeks to play along and I was able to get my card put together and photographed in time to link it up.  Here's a link to the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog.  And here's my card.  What do you think?  I stamped in Early Espresso directly onto the twill ribbon.  I wish I had a new ink pad (it's on the wish list!) but I think the lighter ink makes it feel a little more vintage.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Ours was filled with food, family and friends.  All the ingredients for a great day!

Cool new embossing machine- while supplies last

Do you love the look of embossed paper on a card?  Do you already own a paper cutting system and aren't ready to invest in the Big Shot?  Are you short on space?  Then you need the new Sizzix Texture Embossing Boutique machine.  Right now Stampin' Up has it for sale while supplies last (they've already sold 1500 of their 4000!).  Check it out below and be sure to order yours soon.

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine--test product

Give the gift of texture. The Texture Boutique works with our Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil, or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece. This machine embosses only; it does not die cut.  Stampin' Up! has 4,000 available to be sold only while supplies last. If this product test goes well, Stampin' Up! may offer the Texture Boutique again in the future.  Purchase just the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine (item 132657) for $29.95.

HOW ABOUT A SPECIAL BUNDLE PRICE?

To help you with your gift-giving needs, Stampin' Up! is offering a special Texture Boutique Bundle (item 132700) that includes the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine and the Flower Garden and Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folders for $39.95 (a $45.85 value).

PPA 146- Everything Eleanor meets Riding Hood Red

I have a card club meeting on Sunday and I needed another card for the ladies to put together.  The PPA Color challenge this week is Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red.  Cherry Cobbler seems to be my "go-to" red, but I really liked this card once I had it done.  I haven't used the Everything Eleanor stamp set much and most of the time I've just used the swirl stamp (since they retired the Baroque Motifs set)  I got the idea for this card from a card I saw on Splitcoast Stampers.  Splitcoast Stampers is a great resource for card ideas.  You can search by Stampin' Up! stamp set name and see all the great cards people have made.  Here's a link to the one I CASEd.

Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks for stopping by!

PPA 145- Sketch Challenge

Saige took longer naps this weekend (I think we wore her out at the Zoo and the park!) so I had some time to play the PPA this week.  I love how easy it is to use Stampin' Up!s designer series paper (DSP)-everything coordinates and they tell you what colors were used.  Easy peasy!  I flipped the sketch on it's side this week to come up with my card.  What do you think?

I used Lucky Limeade with the Festival of Prints small pack.  I love the size of the papers in the smaller pack (perfect for matting a photo) and there are several of them that are non-Christmasy.  Be sure to give it a second look.  Thanks for stopping by.

p.s. as I was getting ready to post this I noticed that it looks a lot like Mary Fish's (my upline) card.  I guess it was a subconscious copy.  Great minds, right?

Inked Embossing Folder Challenge

I went over to see a friend's newly renovated upstairs.  It was awesome, to say the least.  She had a custom rug in a green and off white chevron pattern.  It reminded me of our embossing folder.  Later in the day I was looking at fellow bloggers posts' and came across this challenge.  The Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge this week was to ink up an embossing folder.  Here's what I came up with:

The white isn't as dark as I would have liked, but I'm still happy with it.  The green is Lucky Limeade.  I love how it matches the baker's twine.  I'm going to miss that bakers twine in the In Colors when they retire in May.  I hope you enjoy and try to play along on a future HSS challenge.

PPA 142- Color Challenge

Hi there!  I saw the colors for this week's challenge and thought, "hummm, Halloween?" but then I thought about it some more and decided I wanted to try to go beyond Halloween and try to do something different.  I somehow also managed to incorporate another challenge.  It was a total coincidence (or maybe it was in my subconcious while I was working on my card).  Fellow Stampin' Pretty Pals, Nina and Naki, are doing a new challenge each Friday.  Check it out here.

So here's my card.  It uses Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant and Pumpkin Pie.  I only used 1 stamp and the chevron embossing folder.  Whew!  Let me know if you have any questions.

 

PPA140- Color Challenge

You'd think with almost 2 weeks to play the PPA I could get my card together on time, but this color challenge stumped me.  I'm happy to say I finally came up with something, albeit a little bit late.  I'm so happy with it that I'm going to post it anyways :).  The colors are Marina Mist, Summer Starfruit and Real Red.  We'll be making this at my September Card Club.

The stamp set and sentiment I used is the Days of Gratitude set.  I'm trying to be grateful for each day that I get to spend with this precious little one.  We took a little vacation to Ohio last month.  Here are a few photos of our time away.

PPA 138- Color Challenge

It's another color challenge over at the Pals Paper Arts blog.  I managed to carve out a bit of time to make up a card for a friend using the PPA colors.  They selected Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.  While I like all of these colors by themselves, I'm not sure that this color combo was one of my favorites.  I'm sure I'll still be thinking about it and trying to come up with something I like better.  I still wanted to share this one though.  It's good to keep playing with what you own and I try to make it a point to do something each week.  I hope you enjoy...

PPA 137- Sketch Challenge

I took a little time the other day to play the PPA sketch challenge.  I'm behind on printing out photos to scrapbook so I'm getting a little more time to make some cards.  I think this Betsy's Blooms set is one of my new catalog favorites.  I also played around with the new edgelits.  I didn't have any baker's twine in Midnight Muse so I made my own.  I read the tip on some blog or a Stampin' Success magazine (I can't remember, sorry), to just use the white twine and make marks on it with one of your markers.  I taped mine down on my craft space and will admit that I had blue hands after it was over, but I like the effect.  Thanks for stopping by.  If you have any questions just leave a comment or send me a an email.

PPA 136- Color Challenge

I know what you're thinking... wow, two posts in one week!  I know, I'm shocked too :).  It happened by accident.  I needed a Father's Day card and when I looked at the PPA color challenge my wheels started turning.  I had just gotten a box of Stampin' Up goodies and was anxious to try them out.  Here's what I came up with.  What do you think?

New stuff: Polka Dot Parade paper, Large Scallop edgelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon. 

Pals Blog Hop- New Catalog Goodies!

Welcome to the Pals New Catalog Blog Hop! The Stampin' Pretty Pals are excited to share some fabulous cards and projects showcasing our favorite products from the new Stampin' Up! Catalog! You've probably hopped over from Angie Blake at Angie's Musings, I'm stop number 10 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for new Stampin' Up! products from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track.

I absolutely LOVE the new catalog and can't get enough.  I love being a demonstrator and that I get to put my hands on the new stuff a month before everyone else!  Here are a few cards that I created with my new toys.

New items: Betsy's Blossoms stamp set, Itty Bitty Banners stamp set, Floral District DSP, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

 New Items: Raspberry Ripple paper, Midnight Muse paper, Patio Party DSP, Whisper White 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (colored with a Baja Breeze marker), Make A Cake Stamp set

Now hop along for more inspiring ideas from Nancy Gleason at My Stampin' Space, stop number 11 on the Pals New Catalog Blog Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by, I'd love to know what you think!

Blog Hop Line-Up:
The Blog Hop Line-Up is below:

1. Nina Dee at Deesigns by Nina Dee 
2. Brian King at Stamp with Brian 
3. Susan Lankford at Stamp and Scrap with Susan
4. Angela Richwine at Stampin' Away with Angela
5. Debbie Pierce at Stampin' Sunshine
6. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
7. Kim Luithle at Kim's Stampin Stuff
8. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
9. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
10. Kylie Nicolosi at Kylie's Crafty Corner
11. Nancy Gleason at My Stampin' Space
12. Marian Kay at All Aboard the Crafting Train
13. Shannon Jaramillo at EZPeasyCards
14. Mary Fish at Stampin Pretty
15. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
16. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
17. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
18. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
19. Leslie Davis at Ellalicious Elements
20. Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin' Blog
21. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
22. Kimberly Deacon at Delightful Stampin
23. Kris Kilcoyne at Kween Bee Kreations
24. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
25. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
26. Mikki Sarkisyan at Mikki's Creative Corner
27. Sandie Conner at Pretty Provisions
28. Max Conrad at Stamp to the MAX
29. Angela Curry at Kindred Stampers
30. Nakaba Rager at My Stampin' Blog
31. Wendy Smith at West Wind Curiosities
32. Laurie Mercer at My Stampin' Blog

 

May Pals blog hop

It's a Retirement Party! It's the Pals Blog Hop! It's the Pals Retirement Party Blog Hop! Today the Stampin' Pretty Pals are sharing some fabulous cards and projects showcasing our favorite retiring products! You've probably hopped over from Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti, I'm stop number 10 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for retiring Stampin' Up! products from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track

 

Retiring items: Peach Parfait paper, 2010-2012 In Color DSP, Baroque Motifs stamp set

 

Retiring items: Blushing Bride paper, Style Beautiful stamp set, retired satin pleated ribbon

 

Retiring items: Pear Pizzazz paper, 2010-2012 In Colors DSP, Daffodil Delight ribbon, Fox and Friends stamp set

 Now hop along for more inspiring ideas from Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards, stop number 11 on the Pals Retirement Party Blog Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

1. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
2. Mary Fish at Stampin Pretty
3. Kim Luithle at Kim's Stampin
4. Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin' Blog
5. Leslie Davis at Ellalicious Elements
6. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
7. Laurie Mercer at My Stampin' Blog
8. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
9. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
10. Kylie Nicolosi at Kylie's Crafty Corner
11. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
12. Max Conrad at Stamp to the MAX
13. Mikki Sarkisyan at Mikki's Creative Corner
14. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
15. Shannon Jaramillo at EZPeasyCards
16. Susan Lankford at Stamp and Scrap with Susan
17. Nancy Gleason at My Stampin' Space
18. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
19. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn

PPA 133- Sketch Challenge

I got a few minutes to play the PPA Sketch Challenge this week.  I dusted off my Gnome Sweet Gnome set and put my thinking cap on.  I thought this set was adorable and was super excited to earn it for free through the Stampin' Up Book-A-Thon last December (another perk of being a demonstrator).  I hope you enjoy it!

PPA132- Color Challenge

Saige's 1st birthday has come and gone (more on that in another post) and I had some time last night to actually play around in my stampin' stash.  I really liked the colors in the PPA challenge this week so I was happy to carve out a little time.  I pulled out the Kindness Matters stamp set that I got for free during Sale-A-Bration (but you can still buy it from the catalog).  Have I mentioned that I love Sale-A-Bration?  I got so many great FREE items this year!  Back to the card... I felt like this set with Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip was the perfect combo.  I must have been channeling my inner Ann Schach because I distressed the edges and added pearls (I even thought about getting out the spritzer tool, but decided I had done enough).

If you have any questions I'm just an email away!
Here are a few photos from the obligatory Texas Bluebonnets photo shoot :)  She had been fussy all day long, but once we got her outside she was happy just to sit and eat the flowers.  he he.

Club Cards

I had my March Card Club meeting a few weeks back and here are the cards that we made.  I tried to make good use of the Sale-A-Bration DSP.  I just love Sale-A-Bration time and I really enjoyed the matching suite of products that they had this year.  If you have any questions feel free to post a comment and I'll respond ASAP.

 I copied these two cards as well (I just love how people share their work!) but I can't find the blog of the person that I saw it on.  I'm so sorry.  It was the best make-n-take and I love the clean look of the card.

 This one is a take on Jenn Takacs' card here.

This one is a take on Dawn Olchefske's card here.

Birthday Calendar Class

Well, as promised, I'm posting the final images of my Birthday Calendar.  I did this workshop in January but went to the Stampin' Up Leadership Conference the next day and I'm not sure where the time has gone since then.  My apologies.  My stampin' friends really enjoyed making this calendar and we all had a great time socializing.  I hope you enjoy the photos.  If you have any questions please leave me a comment and your email address so I can respond.

Cover:

 January:

 February:

 March:  

(This one is hard to see in the photo.  It's the Fresh Vintage stamp set in Certainly Celery and Pink Pirouette)

 April: 

(There are also Bashful Blue crosses, but they're hard to see in the photo)

 May:

 June:

 July:

 August:

 September:

 October:

 November:

 December:

 Thanks for stopping by!