it's a boy!

A friend from church had a baby boy a few weeks ago. I sat down today to make the card for her. I love simple. I CASE'd this right from a sample on the demonstrator forum. I've never used not quite navy, wild wasabi and marina mist together before. I like the combo!

I think I am starting to figure out how to work with wild wasabi. I really liked the colour but had no idea what to pair it with. Now with summer coming, wild wasabi is starting to seem like it belongs. The constant playing and experimenting I get to do as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is great. Honestly, if I didn't "have to" come up with new workshop samples and class ideas, I'd probably still be stamping exactly the same things as I did 4 years ago. Don't get me wrong, it's totally fine to do things the same. Same is good. Same is calm; but wow, all the new products and colours and stamp sets that I get to acquire and techniques I get to learn... it's an adventure I wouldn't trade for the world!

anniversary fun

As an anniversary gift to hubby, I decided I would give him a day out golfing. I talked to a friend's husband who was happy to save a date to golf with my hubby. I marked the day in the calender simply as "K out". (I was afraid if I didn't mark it in the calender I would forget or accidentally book a workshop) One day last week hubby saw the notation in the calender and was perplexed what he was going out for. He kept asking me and I said I didn't know. He was madly looking in all his e-mails wondering what he had forgotten. I felt so sorry for him as I could see it was driving him mad so when he took my son out to piano lessons, I took it as my opportunity to make an anniversary card. The card is not as lovely as I had hoped but I was under serious time constraints as I knew I wanted to let him know on the same day so he wouldn't be kept in the dark too long. I used the reflection technique for the horse and then punched out the heart from the framed with love set (which by the way is on promotion this month...free designer brads when you purchase this set). The sentiments were from friends 24-7 set and seemed perfect for our stage of marriage

We had gone away a few weeks ago for a little getaway. The best part for me was being able to finish and start conversations with my husband all in one go. Kevin just liked being able to do whatever we wanted. One thing that we did on our getaway was glow in the dark mini putting. We were happily putting along when we saw this. Of course it right away reminded me of our 3 little monkeys and I couldn't help but smile and nudge Kevin to take a photo!

Make two!

So, any of you that have attended my workshops know that I always say to make two of any card since you've got all the stuff out anyway and one 8.5X11 cardstock will make two cards. Last night I couldn't wait to pull out my love bug hostess set and my designer series paper. Here's what I made:

Often making two doesn't mean making them exactly the same...it allows me to try two different versions. I used my movers and shapers die for the big shot to create the peek a boo window and I'm using the tall tales dsp. I coloured one with the markers and the other with the blender pens and pastels. I think I like the soft look that the pastels give.

Now, these two cards came out of the the card that I had made for my friend Susan a while back. When I stamped her card, I stamped and cut out extra animals but never got around to using them. I used them last night to make two different cards.

I can't believe how the dsp lasts forever! I keep using it because it's so easy and fast but then I look in my box and I have still more to use. I love it!

Yes, I'm still stamping!

I haven't blogged in a few days but it's not because I haven't been stamping! I was busy getting ready for the stamp a stack last weekend and also went away for a quick overnight getaway with hubby. That was much needed! Anyway, I have no idea how to format my post and pictures so I can't put captions under the pictures describing things. You'll just have to figure it out from my explanation here:

The fifth Ave. Floral card using the green galore and tempting turquoise was a card I received from my friend Susan. Thanks Susan! I love receiving cards. The bashful blue card with the stitched felt embellishment was a quick thing I put together for a past workshop. I wanted to show how the dry embossing on the big shot worked but I think everyone liked the stitched felt embellishment more. The sweet pea dsp stack and the stitched felt embellishements are now completely sold out due to their popularity.

The cheep talk card and animal stories card were 2 out of the 5 cards at the recent stamp a stack. I love how using the markers on the cheep talk birds really makes them extra cute! I am also very proud of myself for having bought the tall tales dsp to co-ordinate with the animal stories set. It came in very handy for this stamp a stack.

Today I've been stamping getting ready for club and the new catalogue release. I'll post those pictures Sunday or Monday. I can't wait to show them to you becaue I have done so many things new to me. I've got my finished cards lined up in front of me and I"m so HAPPY! I love them. Come on out to my free workshop on Sunday and check them out for yourself.

come on baby!

My friend Susan is due to have a baby any day now. Her due date was Wednesday. I really liked this card but was very angry that somehow I smeared a touch of chocolate chip ink on the white cardstock. Aarrrgh! Ah well, as I heard someone say...if I wanted perfect, I should've gone to hallmark.

I"m loving the coloured epoxy brads and you know that Susan is a good friend because I spent the time cutting out each animal. I rarely cut out my stamped images even though cutting them out really makes them pop. It's just that it takes so much extra time. Makes me really love the punches that co-ordinate with stamp sets.

didn't make the cut for the card swap

Can you believe I"m still trying to finalize what card to do for the upcoming "cards appropriate for men" card swap?

I wasn't happy with this one because I thought it was a little too cutesy. I think I might do it for my son's birthday invites.

I am happy with my sale-a-bration freebie: this Animal Stories set. I can see it being really useful for baby cards and kids cards. It was probably too ambitious for me to try to turn it into a man card...but I still think it can be done.