Can't Stop Decorating...

I got my new Decor Elements in, and I am addicted! I decorated everything I could by myself. I will have to wait until hubby is home to continue. More pictures to come, but here is what I have done so far:

Decorating a jar with our free Decor Elements from Stampin' Up!

Everyone gave Decor Elements a whirl at club. My buddy Diane made this one.

I showed this Decor Elements photo swap album previously, but now I have added the Decor Elements embellishment.

And my pretty laptop. Up next, my daughter's ceiling and the van... stay tuned...

Arrived Safely in the Netherlands

So, I told you my husband and daughter are away visiting the in-laws this week. The first day he already sent me pictures of her new Dutch "clog" slippers - they are so cute!! It looks like she is surviving jet lag just fine!


Isn't she cute, showing off her little shoes??

One Week Left to Sale-A-Brate

There is one week left for Sale-A-Bration. Don't miss it! And here is the final installment of SAB samples... and I am trying to write this blog with a cat laying on me / on the keyboard. I hope for not-too-many typos.

The Button Bouquet is a great way to get your flower to pop.
Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, Sweet Celebrations, Autumn Leaf Prints (retired); Paper: So Saffron, SAB DSP, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi (stem, retired); Ink: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Button Bouquet, SAB Certainly Celery 5/8" Twill Ribbon - Love it!!

I found this card, made by 'sharmill', on Splitcoaststampers when I was looking for inspiration, and I HAD to CASE it (CASE = copy and share with everyone!). Very elegant and simple card!
Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Warmest Regards (retired); Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White; Ink: Black Stazon, Basic Black, Basic Black Stampin' Write marker, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery; Accessories: Aquapainter, rectangular mask, Dazzling Diamonds.

I made this one into a cute notecard, but you could also make this into a gift card holder as well.
Stamps: Polka Dot Punches; Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue, SAB DSP, So Saffron; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: White embossing powder, paper piercer + mat, Square Scallop punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain (can I say again - I just love the ribbon from SAB?!?), Linen thread, Ticket Corner punch, Square Ice brad.

And my friend Tina gave me a candy bar... now that I decorated it, I can finally eat it! These are cute favors to make for parties or baby/wedding showers!
Stamps: Yummy; Paper: SAB DSP, Whisper White; Ink: Bashful Blue; Accessories: 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon.

So, this week, my husband and daughter are out of town visiting family in the Netherlands. I have some cute pics I am going to post tomorrow of what is going on over there... See you then!

Been Busy with Swaps

Yesterday was a very busy stamping day. I had several swaps I had to complete and get in the mail. I was very productive, but unfortunately it killed my biking for the day. And now it is raining today. :( Here is the card I made for the "Monthly 1 Swap" -

Stamps: Inspired by Nature; Paper: Not Quite Navy, Glossy White, Basic Black, Urban Garden DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, More Mustard, Old Olive; Accessories: Brads, Ribbon, Brayer.

And I also participated in a swap using stamp sets from the upcoming Occasions mini catalog. I'll get the swaps back in the beginning of April, so I'll be able to show everyone what I received. It's a little early, but this is the Easter sneak peek I was talking about --

I'm not showing the whole thing because we may do this one at club in April. I don't want to spoil it!

Playing with Retro Lady

I got a chance to play with Retro Lady from the Sip by Sip, after my friend Nathalie and I discussed what the colors from the 50's were. Thanks for sending the images, Nathalie!! Here is the inspiration:

and the card:

Now I have to go buy more patterned paper, 'cause I just have too many plans in my head for this one!
Stamps: Sip by Sip; Paper: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP, Whisper White; Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: Baja Breeze ribbon, sponge.

The Scene of the Crime

We made these really cute little Hershey Nugget purses at the February SCS Binghamton Get-Together. I've been hanging on to mine to show all the ladies. Well, today I was following the trail... first a scarf off one of my daughter's bears, then the chair cushion on the floor, and then this....


There is her "Guck", as she calls it, and the little purse and the wrapper, but no nugget! Hmmm. So when I asked her what happened, she said, "in mouth". Well, I guess it was just too cute to resist!

Here's Some More Eye Candy...

Here's a few more Sale-A-Bration samples. I had so much fun making these, and they were easy!

A bunch of these cards would make a perfect notecard set for someone special!
Stamps: Polka Dot Punches; Paper: Kraft, SAB DSP, Certainly Celery; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: SAB ribbon, White embossing powder, Linen thread, Button bouquet.

Don't these colors feel like Easter? These would be perfect for Easter or Spring cards or that little baby that is coming soon!
Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, Season by Season (retired); Paper: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, SAB DSP; Ink: Certainly Celery, Versamark; Accessories: SAB ribbon, White embossing powder.

This cute pocket card was made with the Big Shot and Top Note die. How cute! And the Yummy stamp set is created to coordinate with the Top Note die too! This card design would be perfect for a little note or even a gift card.
Stamps: Yummy, Sincere Saluations; Paper: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White, SAB DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Accessories: SAB ribbon, Big Shot, Top Note Die.

And if you know me, you know I LOVE candy baggies! And they look so much classier when you cover the labels with designer series paper! Here is another example of using the Yummy set with the Top Note die, and the Top Note die is also sized to coordinate with both the small and medium cello candy bags.
Stamps: Yummy; Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, SAB DSP; Ink: Certainly Celery; Accessories: Boho Blossoms punch, SAB ribbon, medium cello bags.

Check back next week for the last SAB installment, and I'll give you a peek at Easter using a set from the Occasions mini sneak peek - available now...

My First Tutorial!! - Creating a Rim for your Tab Punch Basket

Here it goes...

1. Make your basket with the tab punch (fold in half, So Saffron used here).

2. Punch out (in Certainly Celery DSP) just the upper arch portion of the tab punch.

3. Lightly glue that punched piece onto scrap paper.

4. Take the tab punch and punch again (lower than your original punch) through the Certainly Celery DSP + scrap paper to create the lower arch of the rim.

Here is the result. It wasn't perfect, so I just attached to the scrap paper and punched again.

5. Remove scrap and attach to basket.

Well, that was easy!

Well, I found out how easy it is to upload. No excuses now! So, without further ado, here is some more SAB samples.

Here is a sample I CASED from Aly Schilling. The really elegant paper on the left is from Taste of Textiles. And what a nice use of the Pretties Kit! The card is in Old Olive and the heart uses silver embossing powder.

The colors for this card are Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss. The DSP is from Bella Rose. This is one of the 3.5 x 3.5" cards I made that I am using for thank you cards.

And here is a card we made at club last night. This uses the new eyelet edge punch.

Here is a close-up of the Easter basket, made using the tab punch and the large and small oval punches. Super cute! Here is a trick for creating the green "rim" of the basket - First punch out in Certainly Celery DSP just the upper arch portion of the tab punch. Next lightly glue that piece onto scrap paper. Finally take the tab punch and punch again (lower than your original punch) through the Certainly Celery DSP + scrap paper to create the lower arch of the rim, remove scrap, attach to project. I'll try to take pics and post - Haha! It will be my first tutorial!! Just like all the cool kids! :)

Speaking of club, we tried our hand at some Decor Elements on glass jars. I recently got some pictures back from a Decor Elements Photo Swap, so I wanted to show them off, and I hurried and decorated this photo album Monday night with SAB paper, Certainly Celery CS on the inside covers, and Chocolate Chip Go-Go Boots letters made with the Big Shot. Wouldn't you know it, but I got out of the shower Tuesday morning, and my photo album now said " ECOR ELEMENTS". My daughter and I were calling around the house for the lost "D" - of course it was a mangled mess. My daughter loves the Big Shot, but I bet she was confused as to why those letters were not loose like they were Monday night when we cut them out!

I'll post more SAB next week, so make sure you check back!

Today is the day....

... I try to post my first picture!

First off, you can receive a free catalog if you place an online order through my demonstrator website through April. Stampin' Up! has such great catalogs - you definitely should take advantage of this offer if you don't have one!! I also have my class schedule on my demo website, so check that out!

I am going to post Sale-A-Bration samples each week through the end of Sale-A-Bration. If you don't already love the free sets, designer series paper, and ribbon, you will!!! Don't miss your chance to get some for yourself; you only have until March 31! Check out my demo website and see how!


Here is a picture of the doorprize we received at the February 21 SCS get-together in Binghamton, organized by Conductorchik Kris. This event was so much fun! We each brought a shoebox project for our table (8 ppl), participated in swaps (I did ATC and demo quality), shared some AMAZING food, and did some group make-n-takes after lunch. And it was only $17 plus shoebox and one swap! I met some great new friends and learned some cool new stamping tricks. Did I mention I won the grand doorprize - a snowman stamp set, designed by Cookiestamper Diane? And... I was enabled to fall in love with dew drops and half-back pearls. Oh the budget!

This is a little baggy that is held together with Top Note diecuts. Isn't it cute? It uses the Sale-A-Bration designer series paper and Sale-A-Bration 3/8" So Saffron grosgrain. The stamp set is called "Yummy" from Sale-A-Bration. And the white organdy ribbon can be found in the main catalog.


Here is a side shot of the Top Note baggy.


And here is one of the group make-n-takes we made at the Binghamton SCS get-together. This box was made with the Big Shot die called Box #2, Yummy stamp set, Pink Pirouette cardstock, and Raspberry Tart designer series paper. This little baby went together so fast! This would be a great idea when you have to make lots of party favors!


Edit to add: Kris had these 3D accordion flowers as table centers, so I was inspired to try my hand at it as well (although a much scaled down version!). I stole my husband's chop sticks for these. Do you think he will notice?? They are cute and pretty easy if you have a scoring blade on your cutter.

I have more pictures to share of projects I designed... I will post after club meets on Tuesday... I don't want to spoil the surprise! Thanks for looking!