Beautifully made by hand

Nothing compares to the handmade touch.

Check out this pretty card using the beautiful baroque embossing folder and the saleabration You're lovely stamp set. Some pink pirouette ribbon and coloring of the flower finishes it off.

Speaking of the handmade touch, our little guy (age 6) has become the little letter writer. Here's a note he's written to us:

I guess he gets his note writing skills honestly. I was cleaning out my daughters lunch bag and found this note my husband had slipped into her bag:

A handwritten note or card is precious. So much more meaningful than a text or email.  Why not drop a note to someone you love today? I'm sure it will be a blessing.

Best of snow!

Wow! A real dumping of snow yesterday! It's certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Earlier this week I dropped by a friends house. It was inspirational to see her craft  space. I think there is a direct correlation between the amount of crafting that can be accomplished and the organization of crafting supplies. Check out her space! I also couldn't resist snapping a picture of this creation using the best of snow stamp set from Stampin Up. Thanks Brenda for the inspiration!

Don't forget that these Best of Sets are only available until March 31st.  They are meant to be collected...when you've got 6, send in your collector card and redeem for a free stamp set!  

Check out all the Best of Sets on my online store

A perfect little gift bag

Check out this little muslin bag from Stampin' Up!.  Wouldn't it be perfect to hold some candy, gift card, jewellery or any small trinket gift?  This bag is stamped with the Christmas star image and sponged along the edges.  A little tag using the decorative label punch is a perfect addition.  The image on the tag is from the simply sketched stamp set (hostess exclusive) and the sentiment is from the petite pairs stamp set.   I love that you get 8 bags in a package.  Check out what other great things are available on my online store!

Grab your Greetings

Doesn't it seem that one can never have enough sentiment sets?  The whole look and meaning of a card can be altered depending which sentiment stamp you use.
Just until June 30th, Stampin' Up! is offering a GREAT promotion!  You can get 25% off select sentiment sets.
E-mail me at genevieve.ko@sympatico.ca to order or order online at www.genevieve.stampinup.net

Here's the sets on special:

Sassy Salutations: (132070 W and 126707 C)  Wood regular price: $28.95 Sale: $21.71 and Clear Regular price $17.95 Sale: $16.46
 
Sweet Essentials Wood Regular price $24.95 Sale price $18.71 (132085)
Sweet Essentials Clear Regular price  $17.95 Sale: $13.46 (126457)

 

 Petite Pairs: Wood Regular price: $35.95, Sale price: 26.96  (128706)
Clear Regular Price: $25.95 Sale price: $19.46 (122497)

Sorry the images are kind of blurry.  You know me...technologically impaired.

I had some wonderful mail that brightened my day this week.  I met a lovely stamper named Linda while I was in Fiji.  We had several chats by the pool about all sorts of things.  Being the small world it is, although she is from Maryland(?) her son is coming this Fall to Toronto to study at Ryerson. One of the things she said she would do is send me Swallowtail sample cards.  She was aghast that I had not yet purchased this butterfly stamp.  What a treat to get 4 beautiful sample cards in the mail.
Here's one of them using the Petite Pairs Sentiment and the lovely Swallowtail (131943w 129216 c)

Farewell patterned party

Patterned Party, a great birthday set is leaving...have you studied the retiring list yet? Don't miss out!

A lacy brocade tags till Christmas

A favorite card I made recently. The new core'dinations card stock is so fun!

More retiring samples

Can't help it! Have to share more samples using retiring product. I just don't want anyone to miss out!
The card using the party this way set was sent to me from stampin up congratulating me on earning the trip to Hilton head south Carolina. How fun!
The other card is a simple wedding card but I love how the richness of the concord crush color makes the card so much more striking. Don't wait until the retiring accessories list comes out to get your reinkers for the older in colors. They will sell out. Beat the rush and get them now!

sale-a-bration almost gone...

The once a year, fabulous sale-a-bration promotion is amost gone.  Only one week left!  I know many of you have already placed your $60 order to get your free stamps and accessories but if you haven't, make sure to do so before they are gone! 
Here's a couple ideas to help your inspiration:
This one uses pool party cardstock and the everyday enchantment dsp and brads (sale-a-bration exclusive!!)

This one is a super simple one using the beautiful fresh vintage set in blushing bride.  The blushing bride colour along with it's 2010 in colour teammates, pear pizzazz, poppy parade, peach parfait and concord crush will be gone very soon so order your cardstock and refills now before they sell out in May.

I'm STILL loving that pleated satin ribbon!

A little bit of beauty

I wanted to share this card with you.  I case'd it right off the facebook page of my team stic girl Paula.  Isn't she talented?  I loved this card so much when I saw it like a month ago but it took until now for me to make it.  No matter how busy we all are, making time to make something beautiful is always worth it.  It's like a little pick me up in an otherwise busy, long day. 
Making something beautiful brightens my spirit.  I hope it brightens yours.  Just take a moment for yourself and craft a little something.  I know you'll be glad you did!
I actually made this card as a demonstration with my church small group friends.  One of our activities was to share our life story, significant events etc so that we could get to know each other better.  Kevin came up with the idea for me to share my life story while making a card, with the elements being metaphors for my significant life events.  Because this card had so many elements: the tearing, ribbon, embossing, sponging etc, it was a good choice.  If you want to hear about my life journey, just ask!  I'd be happy to share with you.
Recipie:
River rock , soft suede, pink pirouette, rose red, naturals ivory cardstock
first edition dsp
textured embossing frame
beautiful butterfly embosslit
pretty in pink satin ribbon

We're a team!

So, last week was one of those crazy busy weeks full of workshops, classes, kids extracurricular activities and all that jazz.  With all my Stampin' events, Kevin was on duty a lot.  He doesn't complain but I see that it was wearing on him a bit.  This week is much better but I realized that I am scheduled to go away with a girlfriend on a scrapbooking weekend.  Kevin will be left alone with the kids again.  Hmmm, the guy is great but I"m recognizing he might have a rough go this weekend.  What to do?  I bought him an electronic present.  He's been eyeing a new e-reader.  In my ignorant mind, one e-reader is the same as the next and he already has one so why another?  But then I realized, that's probably what he thinks of my stamps.  You've got one, you've got em all.   So, since I couldn't be keeping him company this weekend, I figured he could be occupied with this gift.  I also made him a card which I case'd right off the demonstrator website.  I love this card so much it is going to be one of the cards at my sweet and simple class on November 25th.  It uses the Well Worn DSP and the Petite Pairs stamp set.  The colours are River Rock and Soft Suede. 

I really wanted this card to express how much I appreciate him and that even though there are seasons of busy-ness with Stampin' Up, there is no doubt in my mind that my family is the priority.  I never want him to think I don't care for him or the kids when I am out and busy stamping. 
I'm not sure if he totally got all the mushy sentiments that I was trying to convey but he sure likes his new e-reader.  He's been playing with it and reading the manual all night.  :-)

I'm getting ready for a club meeting and I wanted to show some different techniques with embossing folders.  I made a card which I liked.  I was quite pleased that I had come up with the design by myself but something seemed to be missing but I was still quite happy.  I showed hubby and he looked at it and said it was nice.  Then he said maybe it should have some glitter around it and I got so excited.  He was absolutely right!  I ran right down to my stamping area and put on the tombow glue and the silver glass glitter.  MUCH BETTER!

 I immediately (jokingly) asked him if he had ever considered being a stampin' up demonstrator since he had such a good eye.  I informed him that the free Big Shot promotion was ending tommorrow.  He smiled and told me that one Stampin' Up! demonstrator in the house was enough.  Grin.  It's fun to feel like we're a team. 
So, if you want to see the rest of this card, come on out to club on Monday night.  Let me know if you want to drop by.  $15 or free with $30 purchase.

Such cute buttons!

In case you couldn't make it out to my open house last month, I wanted to show off these cute little 3X3 cards I had on display. I copied the ideas from the pictures in the new idea book. This stamp set called Button Buddies is so versatile because it can be used for so many occasions and when paired with the Petite Pairs sentiment stamp set, it's just so cute! I am happy just looking at these cards. Of course, I love embellishments and the button buddies set makes it so easy to use my beautiful buttons.

Do you want to earn free, cute stamps and embellishments? Make sure to join a club or set a workshop date with me. I always have things I want to share and we always have fun!