Green Birthday

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by Monica Gale's "Birthday Girl" card.  I loved the colors and layout so I decided to only change the sentiment (if I had the striped ribbon I would have used it!).

  To make the flower, I used the faux suede technique (click here for my picture tutorial) and then crumpled it up.



Stamps: Well Scripted (retired)
Ink: Basic Brown
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Patterns DSP (subtles)

Tools & Accessories: Fancy Flower Extra-Large and Scallop Trim Border punches, Circle Ice brad, 5/8" grosgrain

ribbon

 

It's Sale-A-Bration Time! Woohoo!

     It's Sale-A-Bration time at Stampin' Up! and now is the best time to place an order or host a workshop!  Not familiar with Sale-A-Bration?  From January 25 - March 30th there are 3 ways to earn FREE products...

1. Spend $50 and earn 1 FREE Sale-A-Bration product of your choice
2. Host a workshop with sales totaling at least $300 and earn 1 FREE Sale-A-Bration product in addition to the already generous hostess benefits
3. Join Stampin' Up! by becoming a demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration and get 15% off your starter kit.  Plus get a bonus bundle filled with over $50 in FREE product!

If you are interested in placing an order you can e-mail me at any time or visit my Stampin' Up! demo website (here).  Download the Sale-A-Bration catalog (here) and start choosing your free items!

* Does anyone else have the Cool and the Gang song "Celebrate" stuck in their head or is that just me?

Free Fabric Tutorials!

     Love the new designer fabric in the Occasions Mini but aren't quite sure what you'd do with it?  Download this free document with instructions on how to make this adorable Scallop Square tote bag as well as five other simple and easy projects using Stampin' Up's new line of designer fabrics. There are 2 apron patterns, instructions on how to make flower pins, a pincushion, and notebook cover.  All items can be seen on pages 38 and 39 of the Occasions Mini.  Haven't seen the mini catalog yet?  Click (here).
     The designer fabric can be found on page 38 of the Occasions Mini and comes in two styles: Springtime Vintage (121817, $9.95) and Sweet Stitches (121818, $9.95).  Each includes three coordinated designs in an extra-wide fat quarter size - each piece is approximately 28"x18".  You can use the fabric with the Big Shot and rule-based dies.

Download the PDF (here) and start creating!

A CAS Circular Birthday

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by Dawn Griffith's birthday card over at Dawn's Stamping Thoughts.  I love the colors brown and pink together and instantly knew I had to make my own version of her beautiful card.  To be honest, I think I might have drooled a little on my laptop when I first saw it. 
      Have I mentioned that I am also absolutely loving the new Build A Cupcake and Create A Cupcake punch and stamp set?!  If it's possible to wear out a punch and stamp set I think I may just do that within the next few weeks - every single card I've made has used those two products!  I'll be posting these cards soon.
     It's hard to tell from the photo but the main card stock is textured Very Vanilla.      

Paper: Very Vanilla (textured), Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Tools & Accessories: Circle punches, Build A Cupcake punch, Tombow Multipurpose glue, Dazzling Diamonds 



Just One of the Many Reasons Why I Love Being an SU Demo

     Look what Stampin' Up! sent demonstrators - absolutely free!  A pack of Love Impressions Valentine's Rub-Ons!  These rub-ons can be found on page 8 of the Occasions Mini catalog for $7.95. Aren't they just the cutest things?!  Imagine my surprise when I opened my latest order and found this sitting on top!

     Deciding to become a Stampin' Up! demo was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I get paid to share my love of stamping with others!  But there are other perks as well.  Besides being able to pre-order new stamps sets a month before they're available to customers and the awesome demonstrator discount I receive when I purchase items I also occasionally receive little gifts like this!  In these tough economic times it's nice to know that your hard work is appreciated.  Stampin' Up! truly values it's demonstrators and is the best "boss" I've ever had!  If you're interested in becoming a demo just let me know - I'd love to share more information about this wonderful job opportunity with you!

Just a Bit of Snow...

     Here's a photo of my husband's new car.  Yeah.... we had a bit of a Nor'easter last week.  My area of NH received 22" of snow.  And it's only January.

Quick Sparkly Snowflake

   Hello!  Today's card was inspired by my need to use my Northern Flurry embossing folder before it retires (although by the time you read this it will be retired).  If I remember correctly, I purchased is embossing folder waaaaay back in September (gasp!) but just never got around to using it (gasp again!).

   Anyhoo, this card was super easy to make and I may even call this a Clean and Simple card (CAS).  To make the snowflake sparkle I used Heat & Stick Powder (pg 196, $4.50) and Dazzling Diamonds (pg 196, $4.50).  If you're not familiar with how to use either medium, I encourage you to head over to Dawn Griffith's blog and check out her video tutorial (click here).  I'll be honest and say this is only the second time I've used the Heat & Stick Powder and I've had it for over 5 years!  After watching Dawn's tutorial (and simply loving her card that went along with it!), I decided to dig my container out and give it a shot. 

     It's important not to overheat the powder with your heat tool when using it, you don't want it to melt smooth like you would regular embossing powder.  I find it works best if the H&S Powder is a little bubbly - it will be tacky to the touch.

Stamps: Snowflakes (retired)
Ink: Marina Mist, VersaMark
Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry embossing folder (retired), heat tool, Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, 1 3/4" punch, Coluzzle (retired), Marina Mist taffeta ribbon
 

Quick Project: Fortune Teller Gift Basket

     Creating favors or gift boxes can bring back childhood memories. Join Stampin' Up!'s Brian Pilling as he shows how to make a cute fortune teller gift basket.

Another CAS Baby Card

     Hello!  This should be my final baby card for a while (I hope!).  Looking for a cute but quick card to help inspire me I searched "CAS baby" at over at SplitCoast and bon2stamp's card was one of the many that popped up!
    To make this card more of my own (and to make it fitting for a boy!), I changed the color and added a jumbo circle brad rather than a flower.

Stamps: Occasional Quotes (hostess)
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark

Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, jumbo circle brad (retired), heat tool, clear embossing powder 

Quick Project: Treat Cup Card

     Invitations with a twist and treat! Join Stampin' Up!'s Brian Pilling as he shows how to make a treat cup birthday invitation.

Inspired By Stars

      Hello!  Today's card was inspired by danascott96's card over at SplitCoast.  Since just about everyone I know is having a baby I'm in need of yet another baby card.  I searched "CAS baby" on SplitCoast and this was one of the cards that popped up! (CAS is an acronym for clean and simple)
     I absolutely loved her layout and design so so I kept it the same.  Dana used a non-SU! stamp set for her card but I loved the idea of white stars on a colored background and I decided to try the emboss-resist technique.  If you've never heard of this technique or would like to see a demonstration of it, head over to Dawn Griffith's website to view her video tutorial (click here) or check out the emboss-resist picture tutorial (click here) over at SplitCoastStampers.
     Because I used the emboss-resist technique I wouldn't classify my card as clean and simple, like Dana's.  Although this technique is simple once you get the hang of it, it did take a bit of time to complete this card.


Stamps: Nursery Necessities (retired), Short & Sweet
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Marina Mist, Barely Banana (retired), Bashful Blue, Pretty In Pink
Tools & Accessories: Corner rounder, clear embossing powder, heat tool, brayer, button, linen thread, Stampin' dimensionals