razzleberry cottage wall

Here's a final sale-a-bration sample for the last day of sale-a-bration. sniff. I'm still in love with the in colour rich razzleberry so the cottage wall dsp has always caught my eye. I picked up the cottage wall dsp last month and it seemed necessary to also grab the co-ordinating cottage wall window sheets. Window sheets are like clear acetate sheets. They come in the 12X12 size. SU has plain window sheets and printed window sheets. This card uses the printed window sheet layered ontop of a white cardstock that had been stamped with the whimsical words sentiment. I didn't want to use any adhesive since you would be able to see it through the window sheet. Instead I took out my crop a dile and put a jumbo eyelet in the corner--with a matching razzelberry polka dot ribbon.

Great Inspiration

Have I mentioned lately that you fellow stampers INSPIRE me? In response to my draw, some of you have sent me pictures of the cards you've made and given away. Can I say that I LOVE seeing what others come up with?! Here's a couple pics. The taken with teal/trendy trees card was made by Pei Pei. It's hard to see but she clear embossed the images so that they are like little beads. The Inspired by Nature card was sent to me by Freida who said she is having a great time with her new big shot. My neice made the cheep talk card. Enjoy. Send me more pics. I love seeing them.

wild weekend

What a busy weekend! Stampin' clubs and workshops and another quick tv spot...plus a job change and family commitments. Whew! Fun but crazy busy. I wish I could upload some pictures of the projects from the workshop and club but my computer broke! Don't worry, when I have time I will steal down to hubby's computer and upload some pictures! I bought a new stamp: French Filigree background and it is KILLING me that I haven't had time to mount it and try it out. While I"m running around, I"m planning my French Filigree projects in my head. I can't wait to sit down and play with it. Nothing like untried projects stuck in the brain to drive me loopy. :-) Happy Monday everyone!

sale-a-brate birthday

I wanted to make a card with some extra paper I had left over from a workshop. I had something totally different in mind but this is what transpired. I wanted to make something fast and simple because ds would be coming home from school any minute.

Make a card!

Here's a handmade card that my son received for his birthday from his preschool teachers. Of course running on a preschool budget means they have to be as economical as possible. They made a card using leftover wallpaper border! How brilliant is that???? I have a draw contest going on where you can win a free stamp set. All you have to do is make a card and give it to someone. I don't care whether you use things you bought from me or not! Just do it! Make a card and give it to someone to encourage them.

If you're reading this and you haven't entered my draw yet, better get on it. Time is running out. The draw will take place on March 31st.

Vintage Medallion

When surfing on the net, I saw a few samples of the vintage labels sale-a-bration set combined with the Medallion. Here's my version. I used perfect plum and pale plum. I'd be very curious how night of navy and bashful blue would go together on this card but I haven't had a chance to try yet. The heart in the middle is from the something sweet set and the sentiment is from the ever popular Heard from the Heart

Eggcellent Eggs

My daughter and I played with the Eggcellent Eggs Kit from the occasions mini today. Nice to have so many die cuts to choose from. We have oooodles of stuff left so I guess I'll have to dye more eggs! The egg stands were very functional and help to show off our creations. My daughter was so proud of what she made.

Easter Treat Box

Here's a cute little box that I was thinking club D members could make this Saturday. However, I think I"ve decided on another type of Easter basket instead. I feel like the opening is too small for little hands on this box. (sorry, the O.T. in me keeps manifesting itself when least expected). Anyway, I still love this box so I thought I'd share it. I used my favourite jumbo wheel: Whimsy. Also, I think the sweet pea stitched felt adds some really nice dimension to the project. I also love the scalloped edge stamp from the eggcoutrements set. Of course it co-ordinates with the scallop edge punch.

I gave a side view of the box because I wanted to show how the handle has such a sweet, delicate look using the scallop trim border punch.

Want to get a night out every other month and learn to make some cool projects? Talk to me about joining a Stampers Club.

another sale-a-bration sample

I've been playing around with a few different things lately. I finished a few digital scrapbook pages (in line with my new plan to stay up to date with my scrapbooking!). I've also made a cute little Easter box/bag for club D members.

I got yet another sale-a-bration set. I've been meaning to get this "hello again" set since I already own the co-ordinating wheel. No better time than now since it's available as a freebie. This flower is perfect for markers. I used melon mambo, crushed curry and old olive.

sale-a-brate Easter

I like the cutesy Easter themed things but to me Easter is still a highly significant and meaningful Christian celebration of the power of God to do miracles. So, I wanted to do an Easter card that had more of a reverant feel. This layout and colours is based on something I saw in a magazine. The priceless stamp set swirls and the vintage labels sale-a-bration set seemed to work well together. The halfback pearls from the pretties kit add that extra elegance.

Stampin for Easter

I'm starting to plan some Easter projects. Club D will be meeting the weekend before Easter and I'll be doing another TV segment on Rogers Daytime on March 29th which will be focusing on Easter projects. Here is my first attempt at something. This was entirely too difficult for TV (imagine peeling all that stickys strip backing!) so no go on this but I think it's still cute enough to share with you. I used the medium window sheets and ran it through the big shot using the pillow box die. I then stuffed it with "grass" and a couple of hershey kisses, wrapped it with some certainly celery 5/8" ribbon and stamped the image using lavender lace. Sticky strip is crucial for this project.

Also, I just wanted to share a little tip with you all. The solid image stamps sometimes do not hold the ink colour well the first few times. What you can do is to sand the rubber lightly with the sanding block. This will help in giving you a nicer image. See the difference in the picture.

My digital scrapbook pages

I finally did it! I used my digital studio to create scrapbook pages! I have to have a 5 pg minimum to print individual pages through Stampin' Up so I'll have to complete a few more pages before I can see the hard copy product but I"m happy with how it looks so far. I have to admit, there are some serious advantages to digital however this spread took me waaaaayyyy longer than a traditional spread would've taken. I think I get more perfectionistic when using the digital program. Hopefully, I"ll get faster! I'm going to try to scrap my photos as soon as I take them so that I won't be so behind on my scrapbooking.

Dinner with Shelli

the gang: myself, Esther, Shelli, Christine, Lyne, Caroline and Sara. Here's Shelli and her daughter

Dinner with Shelli was just as I had hoped. Our dinner gang was a small group of seven. Shelli and her daughter Sara were so kind and gracious. It really did feel like having dinner with a bunch of ladies who love to stamp. Shelli made a point of talking to all of us and including everyone in the conversation. It was just as I suspected: The CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up is a down to earth, nice person. Conversation ranged from travelling, child birth, stamping, recruiting and more. Special thanks to Esther who organized the dinner and who, 8 months pregnant, is doing so well in her Stampin' business, she won the workshop of a lifetime! Anyway, it was a fun night out and here are the pictures.

Just a few more hours...

...until I meet Shelli Gardner CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up. I'm actually not as excited as I was when I first found out that my downline had won a contest and that Shelli would be coming to Markham. Now, the big question is what card do I make for the founder of Stampin' Up? I was going to give her the night of navy/bashful blue vintage vogue card I had made a couple of days ago as I know vintage is Shelli's style...but just today I decided to make and give a card using the welcome neighbor sale-a-bration paper instead. I mean, that's what I want to say to her: "welcome". I figure she's going to know that the paper is the welcome neighbor paper right? I went all out and used my textured soft suede card stock and polka dot ribbon. :-)

A card for Fiona

A while back there was an experience where I put a big foot in my mouth. Fiona is at my house and we're looking at various stamps. I pointed out the Go green St. Patrick's day stamp in the occasions mini and I say "who makes St. Patrick day cards anyway?!" Of course Fiona is Irish and makes St. Patrick's day cards! Today I made a card for Fiona using my Framed with Love set and the heart punch. Of course Teeny Tiny wishes has a happy st. patrick's day sentiment. Ta Da! My first St. Patrick's day card!

If I had the Hard to Say stamp set, I would stamp inside the sentiment that says:

"You know that thing I said? I wish I hadn't. I'm sorry."

sale-a-brate vintage vogue

Isn't it brilliant how Stampin' Up releases the new stamp set in the occasions mini (vintage vogue) and it co-ordinates so well with the sale-a-bration set vintage labels and the scallop trim border punch. They all go together so well it's incredible! Here's some samples! The pictures don't look as good as the real thing. Let me know if you want to drop by to see my samples live!

Sale-a-bration samples

I can't believe this is the last month for sale-a-bration! It went by so fast! I know many of you, like me, have picked up a few of the sale-a-bration items. Over the next, few, final weeks of sale-a-bration, I'll share with you some of the projects that I've made using my freebies. Here's two cards I made last night. (I took my own advice and made two at a time). As usual, I fall in love with some in colours right at the end of the season. I didn't think much of Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo at first, but I guess now that the warmer weather is arriving, these colours suddenly seem bright, beautiful and just perfect! I had a mild panic attack when I realized I didn't have the bermuda bay ink pad to co-ordinate with the paper that I had just stuck down. Then I remembered that I had the assorted markers. Hooray! I used the bermuda bay marker to ink up my stamp. These cards use the sale-a-bration items of the welcome neighbor designer series paper pad, the scallop trim border punch, and whimsical words stamp set. Enjoy the warm weather!

Sweet Pea

Many of you have seen my work in progress chipboard book for my friend's birthday. I'm proud to say that I finally finished it. Success with my first On Board product! Thought you might like to see some pictures of my favourite pages. The On board books , along with the sweet pea designer series paper and sweet pea stitched felt pieces, all from the occasions mini, worked together so well it was really an enjoyable experience to make this mini scrapbook gift. Of course, the card was easy to make: more sweet pea dsp and a stitched felt piece to co-ordinate with the gift! I hope my friend enjoys this book to insert pictures of her little baby "sweet pea".

spring is almost here!

I loved the weather yesterday. I took my daughter with me to a Stampin' Up workshop yesterday. It was a nice change to be a guest, not a "demonstrator" (although I still couldn't stop myself from raving about my favourite new products). Here's the cards we made. Another tulip card using that new bird on a branch punch. And of course the amazing medallion makes a lovely card everytime. Anyway, my daughter enjoyed helping me make the tulip card. She stamped the sentiment and glued the tulip petals on. In the afternoon we went to the disney on ice show at the Rogers centre. The show was amazing and dear daughter loved every minute. If only I could bottle that enjoyment and excitement!

Enthusiastic Stampers

I had a super time at the Christian Horizons day program this afternoon. It is a day program serving adults with physical and mental handicaps. Their enthusiasm was so honest, it was heartwarming. Here are some of the people proudly showing off their creations.

digital invite

Okay, so I've been busy preparing for club this weekend and an upcoming workshop so no time to stamp and mail invites for my sons birthday. I whipped up this card on my digital studio and just e-mailed people. (I had a cuter, more compelling image of him but changed it since I don't like flashing my kids faces on the internet)

It was so easy because I used one of their pre-made designer templates and just changed it around a bit (removed the flower and put a star instead) and added text.

keep it simple

In thinking about what to do as the make 'n' take at the day program this Friday, I realized that it has to be simple because I don't know the extent of handicap that the different individuals will have. As well, it will be a mix of men and women. Yikes! Flowers, butterflies and cutesy stamps are not the first choice here. What to do? Lovely as a Tree, of course!

I'm happy with the outcome. I like how the brocade blue, mellow moss and kraft paper work well together. Kind of soothing.

Great Experiences!

I was just thinking today about how being a Stampin' Up demonstrator has opened up such interesting experiences for me. Of course being on tv was fun and exciting, but I've still got a couple of other really neat things coming up. I'll be having dinner with Shelli Gardner CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up in just a few weeks. I'm really excited about this because there are things I want to talk to her about and I just want to chat stampin' with her. I"m guessing this will be really fun and informative. Also, I just confirmed today that I will be able to do a stampin' workshop with mentally and physically challenged adults at a day program called Christian Horizons. Talk about combining my faith with my skills as an occupational therapist and a stamper. That's a 3-in-1 combo for sure! All this stuff is extra icing on the cake. I'm still in it for all the great people that I get to know and meet through regular workshops and clubs. Thanks everyone! I"m still having fun!