My Little Cowboy

Today I have a little digital to share with you!  Sawyer went for some pictures the other day in his "picture shirt"!!!  That's what he calls the shirt he wore for our family pictures and then again for his pictures the other day.  Each year when I get outfits for our family picture and school pictures I try to coordinate the three boys.  This year I found some western themed shirts at Gymboree and went with it!  They all have the same colors, just a little different designs.  Sawyer's shirt said "Howdy" on it and had a cowboy boot, so he was totally playing the part.  At the photo studio, he was being a goof and pretending to be a cowboy, so the photographer went with it and got him a hat and a horse!  Check out these cute pictures...

I love his little bare feet...I have a thing for little feet!  He was such a little ham!

I kept my digital page super, super simple so the focus stays on the pictures.  In fact I finished it in about 10 minutes!  Impressive...Kevin even commented how fast I had it done!  I used the 2011 Noteable Calendar download for my DSP.  The title is the Just Perfect Alphabet and I just sized and placed the letters differently.  I finished it off with a Modern Label punch filled with Not Quite Navy, matted with Early Espresso and finished off with 2 Vintage Brads!

So fun and so easy!  Did you know that you can earn a FREE Digital Content CD with Sale-A-Bration?  The CD has ALL the images from ALL the SAB sets this year.  All you have to do to get it is place a $60 order.

Gotta run!  I have a few classes to prep for.  Have an inspired day!

Embossed Fabric

Hello!  Today I'm going to share my favorite of the three cards my club girls made this month.  We embossed fabric!!!!!

This card has a lot going on!  It's an Early Espresso card with an Early Espresso Lattice cut with the Big shot.  The Lattice die is one that I definitely do not use enough!  Over top that is a strip of Old Olive which was stamped with the leaf image from Just Believe.  And, on top of that, is the fabulous focal point flower!

I used the new Fun Flower die in the Occasions Mini to cut my flower.  To get the look, I glued my fabric to a scrap of cardstock (I used the gluestick, but the Fabric Adhesive would work well too...with your glue stick you don't have to get the iron out though!) and then ran it through the Big Shot (fabric side down on the die).  After you have the flower cut out, you run it through the Big Shot again, this time with an Embossing Folder.  I used the Finial Press Embossing Folder and to accentuate the embossing, I gently rubbed my Early Espresso sponge over the flower.

It's finished off with a punched Rose Red flower and a flower ribbon slide from the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware set which has a piece of Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon through it.

So, what do you think?  Which one of the fabric cards was your favorite?

Have an inspired day!

A Fabric Flower

What do you think of the fabric Stampin' Up! is offering?  Did you even notice it in the mini...LOL!!!  I was a little scared of it at first.  I mean...I paper craft and do not consider myself a sewer.  But, after going to Leadership in Nashville, I am a changed woman!  Stampin' Up! encouraged us to add just one thing to our business or lives (they're calling it +one).  Well, I have a lot of +ones and one of them was to incorporate the embellishments and fun stuff in the minis into my projects rather than be scared of it or hoard it!!!  And, they showed us some fabulous ideas to incorporate fabric into paper projects!!

So, I decided to show my club girls how fun and easy it is to incorporate fabric into their cards and projects!  It adds a fun dimension and texture to any project.  For the card I have today, I, again, used the Springtime Vintage Fabric (the Sweet Stitches one kinda creeps me out...only the orange fabric though!) and made it into a flower.

The card is Pear Pizzazz with a layer of Crumb Cake on the bottom.  The Crumb Cake layer is stamped with the En Francais stamp (which I sponged with ink before stamping to get a light, imperfect image...almost like a watermark).  There's a piece of Baja Breeze Seam Binding along the top of the Crumb Cake layer.  The flower is put on a Night of Navy tag which was cut with the Two Tags die.

It looks a bit familiar doesn't it?  That's because I used the same layout as this card I shared yesterday.  You can see how you can take the same layout and make it look completely different by just changing a few elements on the card!

The flower is made from 3 strips of fabric that are 1/2" x 6".  You lay the strips (right side down...the most vibrant side is the "right" side) in a star shape and glue them together in the middles.  Then you start folding the ends in, gluing them as you go.  It's finished off with a fabulous Springtime Vintage Button.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my favorite of the fabric cards my clubs did this month.  Have an inspired day!

Playing with Fabric

Hello!  I hope everyone who had a long weekend this past weekend had a good one!  We had a quiet weekend hoping that Taylor will start to get better!  He managed to get the flu last week and is having a hard time fighting it off.  He's been sick for a week and a half and is now complaining that his ear hurts and sounds like he's getting a cold.  He's been sick for a week and a half now.  I'm glad there's no school this week, so he can just rest and get better!

My stamp clubs played with fabric this month and we had loads of fun!  Over the next few days I will show you the three cards they did!

I *heart* this card!  It's so simple, but so eye catching!  It reminds me of my Grandma and is the perfect card for her birthday.  Both my Grandma's have birthdays in June, so I will definitely be saving it for her (and making another for my other grandma!).

I started with a Not Quite Navy card base which I stamped with the Wonderfully Worn stamp.  This is such a great background set to add just a little something to a card!  I layered on a piece of Baja Breeze which has a piece of Rose Red Seam Binding around it and some paper piercing.  Both the Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze pieces are sponged around the edge with Not Quite Navy ink.

The fabric is from the Springtime Vintage set.  You can see I layered a Rose Red tag (cut with the Lots of Tags dies) and an oval which I stamped with the rose from the Baby Blossoms set.  The Happy Birthday is from the Fabulous Phrases set.  I just put both stamps on the block in the position I wanted them and stamped away!  That's one of the perks of Clear Mount stamps!  There's a lot of dimension in this card!  The Rose Red tag is put on the card with dimensionals and so is the oval. 

A little tip...I have found that the SU Glue Sticks are great for sticking fabric to your cards!  One more little tip...I remember learning in Home Ec (a long time ago!!) that fabric always tears straight.  So, don't be afraid to tear your fabric into the size pieces you want ladies!  Not only does it tear straight, you also get a fabulous frayed edge!

And, one more thing....

Penny sits so good for pictures (Ollie always tries to eat the camera and doesn't stay still long enough!), so I get all kinds of great shots of Penny!  Sadly, I think I take more pictures of Penny and Ollie than the kids.  There's something about this one that just makes me laugh!!!  Maybe it's her ears...or the angle...I don't know, it just makes me laugh!  I wonder what she was thinking as I took this picture?!?

Have an inspired day!

Have You Sale-A-Brated?

Have you Sale-A-Brated with Stampin' Up! yet?  Have you earned your LA Stamper Bingo card yet?  Time is running out to earn your Bingo card...the game starts in just over a week and you can't win without a card!  Check out the box my order came in the other day...

Yep, stamps talk just like your kids do on long trips!!!!  The box came with the smiley face.  I don't know if it was drawn on at SU or if my fabulous Fed Ex guy did it!!!!

Enough of that.  You came here to see some stampin', didn't you?  Today I'm going to share the second make & take from my open house last week.  It's a super fun birthday card!

This card was inspired by a lot of cards I've seen out there on many blogs and Stampin' Connection (the demonstrator online community).  My colors for this card came directly from the Ice Cream Parlor ribbon...Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Old Olive.  Bright, cheery and soooo birthday!

The base of the card is Pacific Point.  The scallop squares were punched from the other three colors mentioned above.  For a little added fun, I ran the Old Olive squares through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  The only Pacific Point square was stamped with the birthday stamp from the Punch Bunch set (love it) and then stuck on with some Stampin' Dimensionals.  All the squares were tiled on a piece of Whisper White and trimmed to fit.  The card is finished off with some Daffodil Delight Pom Pom Trim and, of course, the Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon.

A little tip...I've experimented a bit and found that the best way to adhere the Pom Pom Trim is the SU Glue Stick or Mini Glue Dots.  Sticky Strip also works, but you have to trim it or fold it over to make it fit...which sometimes is more work than it's worth!!!!

Have an inspired day!

What I Love About Stampin' Up!

Today I'm going to start by showing you one of the projects from my Open House last week.  I'm gettin' a little flack for being a tease and only showing you a small part of the project!!!  *wink*

It's a fun magnet!  You see it here stuck to the bar at my desk that holds some little shelves and tins where I store all kinds of things that I need right in front of me when I craft (things like adhesive, scissors, my clear blocks, etc)!

Last week, my friends Allison and Kristine both blogged about what they love about Stampin' Up! and that got me thinking.  What do I love about Stampin' Up!?

Allison talked about how she loves that all our products coordinate together so beautifully.  She's right...that's a fabulous reason to love Stampin' Up! and one of the reasons why I started using the product.

Kristine talked about the relationships and friends she has made.  She is also right.  The relationships and friendships I have made through Stampin' Up! are so special.  In fact, one of my closest friends is a friend I made through Stampin' Up!...we talk almost everyday and I never would have met her if it wasn't for Stampin' Up!.  In addition to her, I have made countless more friends (both in my classes and clubs as well as my demonstrator friends) that are a direct result of me joining Stampin' Up!. 

One of the great things that Stampin' Up! has done for me, is boost my confidence.  Those who know me well, know that I'm kinda shy and pretty quiet.  However, most people who meet me at workshops and events would have no clue!  When I talk about Stampin' Up! I almost become a different person...well, at least you see a different side of me!

But, I think the thing I love best about Stampin' Up! is that Stampin' Up! gives me the opportunity to change people's lives.  I know, it sounds a little hokey, but it's true.  I'm addicted to the feeling I get when I give someone a special card or handmade gift...especially when it's an unexpected card or gift!  I'm also addicted to seeing the look on someone's face when they open a card I've made just for them.  It's great!  And, this is what leads me to my project for today!  Check it out...

Isn't it fabulous?!?  It's a little outside my normal stampin' comfort zone, but I had an idea last night and after my club girls left I sat down to make that idea into reality...and it turned out they way it looked in my head (I *heart* when that happens!!!).  As I was making this, I knew exactly who I was going to give it to and I knew she would love it!  So do you want to see what's inside?

A set of four magnets made just like the Open House project.  I went with the Elegant Soiree DSP for this project and decorated the magnets with punched flowers, butterflies, pearls and words that fit my friend to the "t"!  Here's a closer look at each of the magnets.

I love, love, love the way the box turned out!  I started with a Bitty Box, cut from Crumb Cake cardstock.  I stamped it with the Sanded background (Crumb Cake ink), the En Francais background (Early Espresso sponged onto the stamp), butterflies from the Clearly For You set (Baja Breeze ink) and sponged with Early Espresso ink on all the edges.

The top is my favorite part of the whole project and has a lot going on, so rather than me trying to explain it all, I will just show you!

Well, there you go!  I am thrilled with how this project turned out and I was so excited to give it to my friend.  Oh yeah...the look on her face was great when I gave it to her!!!

So what do you love about Stampin' Up!?  Could Stampin' Up! fill a void in your life?  If you want more information about it, please let me know and we can talk about you becoming a demonstrator on my team of fabulous ladies!

Have an inspired day!

Pieced Mosaic

As promised, here is the second way to do a mosaic that my Stamp Clubs learned last month.  I'm calling this a pieced mosaic.

For this one, you need some scraps of DSP.  Cut your DSP scraps into random size and shape pieces.  Take a strip of Sticky Sheets and peel off the red liner.  Stick your DSP pieces to the sticky sheet.  It's ok if they hang over the edges...you can trim it up when you're done.  You want your pieces to be fairly close together, but not so close the embossing powder won't stick.  After you're done sticking all your pieces on, trim up any hanging over the edge and then sprinkle embossing powder over the whole thing.  Shake off the excess and heat until the powder melts.  Then peel the paper backing off and stick it to your project.

Voila, you have something like this...

Here's the SAB scoop on this card.  If you order the Styled Silver Hodge Podge Hardware, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Pinking Hearts Border Punch and Silver Embossing Powder (all used to make this card), you can get the So Happy For You SAB set (the words on this card) FREE!

I would love for you to try this technique and leave me a comment letting me know how it turns out for you.  Have an inspired day!

Makin' Mosaics

Happy Valentine's Day!

In January, my stamp clubs learned how to do the Mosaic technique two different ways.  Today, I'm going to show you one way and check back tomorrow for the other way!

So, lets have a look at the Stamped Mosaic card.

Pretty, isn't it?   To make the Mosaic part, you need to make your own mosaic stamp.  Use the excess rubber from when you punch your stamps out.  You want to cut it into random size and shape pieces.  Then you want to stick them to a spare block (or a little chunk of wood).  You want to stick them pretty close together...not touching, but close!

Now the fun begins!  Stamp an image and color it.  Stamp over it with your newly made mosaic stamp using versamark and then clear emboss it.  Once you're done embossing, brayer over the whole thing with a dark color ink.  To finish, wipe the excess ink off with a paper towel.  The embossing will resist the ink and you will end up with something like this...

So easy, so fun and it makes a great impact!  Give it a try and leave me a comment telling me how it turns out.

Have an inspired day!

A Little Teaser

So, what are you doing this afternoon?  If you're in the Lethbridge area, I would love to have you drop by for some Sale-A-Bration and Occasions Mini stampin' fun!!!  I will have some samples out and about for you to have a look at, as well as some yummy snacks!  But, the best part (other than visiting with some good friends) is the projects.  And, I have two ready to go for the afternoon...

I know...I'm mean teasing you like this!  *wink*  You'll have to stop by to see the projects in their full glory and, of course, make them!!!  Trust me...they're super fun and you're gonna love 'em!!!

Here's another wonderful part of the Open House.  With every qualifying order ($60 or more), you will earn a Sale-A-Bration set (not only can you choose from the 6 pictured in the catalogue, but the dozens listed on the back page of the catalogue!) AND you will get a Bingo card which means you will be able to join the fun Bingo game next month!!!  When you're placing your orders, you're gonna want to mention the code word MELON MAMBO to me and you will get a package of Rhinestones or Pearls FREE with your order!

If you book a workshop to be held during Sale-A-Bration, you will receive 2 bonus BINGO cards and if you sign up to be a member of my team, you will receive 5 bonus BINGO cards!  This offer is only valid on Open House day.

Look at the stack of Bingo cards I have ready to give out...seriously, they want to go home with you!!!

One more thing, if you bring a donation for the Food Bank, I will give you FREE shipping and GST on your order. To take advantage of this special, orders must be placed during the open house.

That about sums it up people!  Drop by anytime between 1 & 5.  If you need my address and/or directions please contact me!  See you this afternoon!

A Chocolate Card

My final chocolate project is a card!

This is such a fun card!  Rather than have it fold in the middle, the two edges fold in to the middle.  Each of the two sides is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  It's finished off with a fun focal point with some stamping, some ribbon and some bling!

Check out that glittery heart!  That's the Glimmer Paper again.  Did I tell you how much I love that paper?!?  I'm really hoping that we see more of it in the Idea Book & Catalogue in July...I would love to see it in more colors (are you listening Stampin' Up!!!!!).

Now, I just did this as a card in the class, however, Kelly mentioned that it would be super cute if you had a packet of hot chocolate inside.  GREAT IDEA (thanks Kelly)!!!  So, after everyone left, I attached a piece of Real Red Satin ribbon in the middle of the inside and tied a packet of hot chocolate inside.

There you have it!  Hopefully you've been inspired to create some chocolaty projects.

Have an inspired day!

Wrapped Chocolate Bar

Although the Chocolate Book (here) was the most popular when I did the class, this project is my favorite of the bunch!

I've actually done these before a number of times and I always love how they turn out!  It's such a simple project and concept, but always delivers a WOW!

You take a 6x6 piece of DSP (I used Elegant Soiree) and put adhesive on three sides.  Then you wrap it around your chocolate bar (I used Caramilk...but Kit Kat works too, just not Chunky Kit Kat) and then pinch the ends shut.  To keep the ends together and add a little pizzazz, you crimp the ends.  Just remember to crimp until you feel the resistance of the chocolate bar and then back out.  If you go too far you will squish your chocolate bar, so don't force it!

Then you can embellish as desired.  I started by tieing a piece of yummy Early Espresso Striped Ribbon around it.  I *heart* that ribbon!!!  the project is finished off with a fun tag.

The colors for this project came straight from the Elegant Soiree DSP and the stamped image is from Eat Chocolate (Occasions Mini).  I did use the dot image from Extreme Elements on the tag.

This project is perfect for party favors, wedding favors or just a fun little gift for someone special.  Check back tomorrow for my last chocolate project.  Have an inspired day!

More Chocolate!

Today I'm going to share a super fun and easy project with you.

Now, I know the picture looks a little blurry...it's not really, the ink is smeared on my stamped image courtesy of a little brown dog named Oliver!

This is a York Mint Patty which has been wrapped with a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock and a piece of Springtime Vintage DSP cut with the Perfect Setting die.  It's secured at the bottom with some Rose Red Seam Binding and a fabulous button.  The hardest part of this project is threading the ribbon through the button!

The image is from the Eat Chocolate set and was colored with Markers before being stamped so that you get a multi-colored image.  So fun!

Now wouldn't it be exciting to come to work and have this little gem sitting on your desk as a surprise?  They're quick and easy enough that you could make some up for some special friends, co-workers or teachers.  And, they're easy to change up for any occasion...like Valentine's Day!!!

Check back tomorrow for another fun chocolate project.  Have an inspired day!

A Chocolate Book?!?

Yep, you read that right...A Chocolate Book!!!  I had my Chicks & Chocolate Class last week, and then demoed the projects in Millet at a demonstrator meeting this past weekend and the most popular project by far was the chocolate book!

It's made out of two CHOCOLATE BARS!!!!!  How cool is that?!?!?  I used two Hershey Bars and wrapped them in a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock (what else!!!) to create the book.  It's finished off with a piece of Very Vanilla Stain Ribbon and a fun image from the Eat Chocolate set (in the Occasions Mini).  Don't you think the Pink Pirouette looks so nice with the Chocolate Chip and Vanilla?

Ok, so a book made out of Chocolate is cool, but the best part is the inside.

It's the "Rules of Chocolate"!!!  Click on the picture to make it larger so you can read it...it's cute!

I have to thank my friend Connie in Oklahoma for this fabulous idea!

Over the next few days I will share the other three projects that the girls did at the class, so be sure to check back.  Have an inspired day!

Cupcakes & Crafts

Mark your calendars and plan to attend my Cupcakes & Crafts class on March 1!  All the info can be found on the Event & Class Registration page here.

Here are the project class participants will be making.  I should say that all the box ideas were inspired by Jessica over at Expressive Designs.

In addition to making the fabulous boxes, all class participants will all receive the Build-A-Cupcake Punch and full color instructions with their registration.  And, of course, we will snack on yummy cupcakes during this class!  Pre-registraion is a MUST for this class and payment MUST be received before February 25 so I can order your punches!

Contact me today to register and reserve your spot for this fun, fantastic class!