Sweet Sorbet Simple Cards

I'm bringing back Simple Card Sunday!  I feel that it's important to send out cards to people, both for special occasions and just because.  And, with the busy lives we all lead, simple cards are the way to go!  Don't get me wrong, I love a card that I can get lost in...layers, stamping, embellishments and so on, but sometimes ya just need to do something quick and simple!

In my post last Thursday I showed you the box 'o cards I made for my grandma, with the promise that I would show you the cards today.  Well, here they are!  I did 10 cards total and to keep it simple I did 5 designs, 2 of each design.

And, there they all are!  I kept with the colors from the Sweet Sorbet DSP and used the Petal Parade stamp set as well as a variety of sentiments.  I think it took me less than an hour total to make all 10 cards...cute, easy and simple!

Don't forget that Sale-A-Bration starts at the end of the week.  With every $60 you purchase (before shipping & tax) you will qualify for a FREE SAB item...including the Petal Parade stamp set, the Sweet Sorbet DSP and the embossing folder I used on the last card pictured!  Start making your list so you're ready to order when SAB starts!

Have an inspired day!

Sweet Sorbet Stationary Box

Last fall my grandma moved out of the house she has lived in for longer than I can remember and into a senior's lodge.  I was happy that she made the decision that it was time, but I know it was difficult for her.  And, I know it was difficult for all of us!  I have so many memories of going to visit her at that house when I was a kid and my own kids have memories of visiting her at that house.  I remember my parent's putting my brother and I on the Greyhound and we would ride the bus to go visit her (what a different world we live in now...I don't think I could do that with my boys!).  I remember her making us homemade french fries and she made the BEST donuts!  She had a swing in the backyard that my brother and I would play on for hours!  She would take us to the park and the Farmer's Market to see my other grandparents.  She would take us on walks and to the lake.  She would take us shopping and for dinner with her friends and relatives we didn't know!  But, most of all, she showered us with love.  While I'm sad she isn't in that house anymore, I'm thankful we got to visit with her this summer and that I will always have the memories...and that we will make new memories with her living in a different place!

So, after all that, you're probably wondering how that relates to stamping, right?  Well, I decided that she needed a special stamp with her name and new address and, of course, some cards to go with it so she could send notes to her friends.  And, I had to put all this in a special little box, 'cause that's what I do!

I used the Sweet Sorbet DSP which is one of the Sale-A-Bration items this year!  This is such fun DSP...I can't wait to use it on more projects!  I took my colors for this project right out of the DSP.  The box and lid are basic black.  I added a Pool Party layer which was sponged and stamped (with the new Petal Parade stamp which is one of the SAB items this year too!) with Pool Party ink.  Then I added a layer of the DSP and finished it off with some ribbon!

It's a super easy box to put together.  Here are the measurements as well as where you need to score.

Box Base:  8 1/2" x 8 1/2" (score 1 1/2" on each side)
Box Lid:  7 5/8" x 7 5/8" (score at 1" on each side)
Insert:  5 1/2" x 7 1/4" (score at 3 3/4", 4 3/4" & 5 3/4")

Here's what it looks like open.

There's 10 note cards with envelopes, a personalized stamp and a Basic Black Stampin' Spot in there for her!  Check back on Sunday to see the cards I made!

Remember, when Sale-A-Bration starts next week, you can get the SAB items free with every $60 of product you order (before shipping & tax).  So start making your list because there is some super fun SAB products this year!

Head on over to my online store to get some cardstock, note cards with envelopes and a personalized stamp so you can make this project for someone special in your life!

Have an inspired day!

A Broken Heart

Those of you who read my blog regularly know that about a year and a half ago I suddenly lost a close friend and it rocked my world.  You can read about it here and here.  Well, today my world was rocked again.  My friend's widow tragically passed away yesterday in a scuba diving accident.  Him and his girls were spending the long weekend in BC relaxing.  I am numb with grief once again.  I can't believe that someone we just saw and talked to is gone.  Just when life was seeming "normal" after losing their mom, those two girls are now orphans and having to deal with the loss of another parent.  My heart breaks for them and for the extended family.

I am thankful that Kevin was able to come out of the hospital today and we can spend the day together sharing memories.  And, I know that my boys are in good hands with my mom until Kevin and I can get home tomorrow and comfort them too because I know all three of them are sad for their friends today.

I'm going to close by sharing a card I made yesterday at my friend Rose's house.  Kevin's night nurses were absolutely fantastic while he was in the hospital and he asked me to make some cards for them.  I chose to use nice soft colors (Pink Pirouette, So Saffron and a new In Color, Pistachio Pudding).

Hug your loved ones tight, tell those who mean the most to you that you love them, keep in touch with old friends, be kind and thoughtful and live with no regrets because you never know when something will happen that can change everything in an instant...you never know when something tragic will happen and someone you talked to just a few days ago will be gone.

What a Week!

This last week has been a crazy emotional roller coaster!  My husband and I celebrated our 14th anniversary by driving 2 hours away from home for him to have a spinal fusion surgery done.  We were both nervous about the surgery.  And, to top it off, it was a busy week for me trying to get everything done that I needed to before his surgery and the 5 days I would be spending away from home and my sweet boys while with him until he's ready to come home.

I'm happy to say that his surgery went well and he is now on the long road to recovery.  He's still in the hospital, and will be for another couple days, but I've already noticed an improvement in the way he walks!  And, he has told me that his nerve pain is better (not gone, but much better) and he has some feeling back in his foot already!  Yay!  I am trying to be super positive that he will make a full recovery and be good as new in the next few months.

While in Calgary, I visited with my good friend Rose.  I enjoyed a wonderful dinner with her and her family and then I got to join her stamp club!!!!  I had a blast being the "student" that evening and meeting her club members.  They were all so welcoming and sweet!  It was wonderful getting to know all of them!

Like I did with my clubs this month, Rose's projects were a mix of retiring product and some sneak peeks of new stuff!

We made a fun box using the retiring Fancy Favor Box.  This is a die that I will definitely be missing a lot when it's gone!

We also used some fun new products...a new color (Strawberry Slush), 2 new stamp sets and the super fun new Simply Pressed Clay and the Clay Molds.  I made a button!!!!  So fun!

We also did 2 cards, but I'm only going to show you one today!  I'm saving the other because my clubs are going to make it next month with some super fun new products.

This card uses some of the Spring Catalog products (get them while you can...the Spring Catalog is done at the end of the month!) and a retiring color (Not Quite Navy).

It was a fun evening spent with a great friend...just what I needed!

Have an inspired day!

Happy Birthday, Eh?

April marks the 10 Year anniversary of Stampin' Up! coming into Canada!  I am thrilled that 10 years ago Shelli made the decision to bring Stampin' Up! to Canada.  I was demonstrator 217 in Canada and will be celebrating my 10th anniversary at the end of August this year.  Here's a fun fact...of all the demonstrators that joined Stampin' Up! in Canada in the first year that Stampin' Up! was in Canada, nearly 100 of them are still active demonstrators.  I am one of those!!!!  Here's a look at a little Stampin' Up! Canada timeline.

I have seen so many changes in Stampin' Up! in the last 10 years and I'm so excited to see what the next 10 years brings!

So, in honor of Stampin' Up! Canada turning 10, I thought I would share a fun birthday card today. 

I used some great new product for this card...and since it's April you can finally order these products!  That's right, its Summer Smooches time and you can order some sneak peek products from the new Annual Catalog coming out June 1!!!!

On my card, I used the fun new stamp set, Bright Blossoms and the fun new DSP, Summer Smooches!  I chose the fun bright color combination Real Red, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White.  Here's a close up of some of the details...

I made the DSP ruffle by punching along the edge (so it would have kind of a scallop edge) and then running it through the crimper a few (or 5 or 10) times!  By running it through the crimper, you break the fibers of the paper a bit, so you can easily ruffle it.  It's stuck onto the cardstock with some Sticky Strip so it will stay right where I want it!  I stamped my sentiment with my favorite sentiment set, Petite Pairs, and then punched it and embellished it with a little scrap of Ruffled Lucky Limeade ribbon (love this ribbon!).  And, finally, I couldn't resist blinging it up a bit, so I added some rhinestones!

What do you think?

Here's a fun picture of the product included in the Summer Smooches special this month!

Paper, stamps, ribbon and a die...oh my!!!!  But don't forget the fabric, brads and a decor stencil!  Some of these products (the brads and stencil) will only be available during this promotion.  Be one of the first to play with some sneak peek products from the upcoming Annual Catalog and place your order today!  You can find all the info on the Summer Smooches promotion here.

Have an inspired day!

Hostess Bookmarks

Like I have mentioned a few times, I had a new club start recently and with a new club starting I decided to try some new stuff with them!  I think they are enjoying being my "guinea pigs" for some of my new ideas and the few things I have changed or started have been going so well that I think I'm going to start doing them with all my clubs!

One of the things I decided to try was a hostess bookmark (thanks for the idea Kristine!).  A while back I ordered a boatload of clear vinyl bookmark sleeves.  One of the things I've done with some of them is make some bookmarks for my club members with everyone's hostess  months on them.  With this fun little hybrid digital project, everyone knows when their hostess month is as well as when everyone else's month is so if they need to trade hostess months they know who to talk to!

This one is a little different than the ones I gave my club girls.  On theirs, their month is printed in Tangerine Tango, and a little bigger than the rest of the text so it stands out.   The part with their months was done on My Digital Studio, and I used the Summer Smooches download for the flower...which is part of the April promotion and you will be able to get it beginning April 1!  After it was printed and on the bookmark base, I added a little bling in the form of a rhinestone!

You'll see some strips of DSP tied with some Whisper White Baker's Twine along the top of the bookmark...those are also part of the Summer Smooches products (not the Baker's Twine, just the DSP!!!).  Did you catch the Daffodil Delight ribbon tied at the top?  Yep, it's part of the Summer Smooches suite too!  *wink*  I bet you can't wait until April 1 to get your hands on these super fun products!!!!!  In addition to the Daffodil Delight ribbon at the top, I used Tangerine Tango and Island Indigo.  I love all the texture with the three different ribbons!

I think my club girls were surprised and delighted by these fun bookmarks...at least I hope they were!!!!  I had a blast making them and giving them to my club girls and can't wait until my next club starts so I can do this again!

Today is Tuesday and you know what that means...NEW Digital Downloads!!!!  You can find today's downloads here.  Check them out...I know there's something in there that you will love!

Well folks, that's all for today!  Have an inspired day!

Tulips!

There are some things that just scream spring to me!  One of those things is Tulips.  The other morning my mom called and asked if we were going to be around.  She had a meeting to come to down here and wanted to stay with us for a night.  It was really short notice, but of course I said it was ok!  Yesterday before she went back home, she came back here for a little visit with the kids and when she got back to the house, she had some tulips for me.  I love them!

Now, I don't get flowers very often, so I had to search for the "safe place" I keep my one and only vase in!!!  I put the tulips in some water and they looked pretty, but needed a little something.  So, this morning I added some ribbon and a super cute tag to the vase.

I used my favorite Two Tags die and cut half of the tag that folds.  Then I embellished with a strip of So Saffron DSP which I edged with some Lucky Limeade cardstock that was punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.  I stuck the punched pieces on the DSP so that just the little scallops were peeking out and then I stamped one of my favorite sentiments on it.  You can find this sentiment in the Pursuit of Happiness set.

The flower was done with the new Blossom punch which you can find in the Occasions Mini right now.  Or, you can sign up for my  Blossom Punch/Mixed Bouquet class on March 30 and get one as well as doing some fun projects with it!  If you want more info on the class, please let me know.  I need to know if you want to join me by Monday at the latest!

There are two sneak peek items on this project!  Can you guess what they are?

And, on a day when I look out my backdoor and see this...

And my dogs go outside and end up looking like this...

Seeing this on my dining room table is fantastic....

Thanks for the tulips mom!

Have an inspired day!

A Sneak Peek!

It's almost time to Sale-A-Brate!  We have some fun products that you can earn FREE with every $60 purchase (before shipping & tax) beginning Jan 24.  Today, I have a simple card to show you featuring the Designer Paper and brads you can earn FREE during Sale-A-Bration.

This is a super simple card made using the 1 1/4" Circle Punch.  You can do this with ANY Designer Paper and get fabulous results!  Ok, so the DSP is a sneak peek and so is that sweet little butterfly brad!  I also used one of the new Edgelits from the Occasions Mini on the Pool Party strip.  I'm calling it the scalloped scallop edgelit because that's exactly what it does...each of the scallops have a scalloped edge...so cute!

Have an inspired day!

Happy Summer!

Yahoo!  Today is the first day of summer...and it's a BEAUTIFUL day!  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and I can hear the frogs at the pond.  The only downside is the mosquitos right now...they are vicious and blood thirsty.  It needs to get super hot so they all die!

In honour of the first day of summer, I thought I would share the summer frame I did for a recent class.

It is so bright, fun and summery!  Are you wondering what color my background and letters are?  I used the new Island Indigo.  It's like a lighter, richer version of Not Quite Navy.  I love it!  My letters are on Sahara Sand cardstock and the fun summery elements are on a variety of bright polka dot DSP.  I used the Patterns Stack DSP for this in Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant.

What's a summer frame without a sun?!?!  I used Daffodil Delight sponged with Tangerine Tango to make my sun.  The middle is the 2 1/2" Circle Punch and the rays were punched with the new Pennant Punch...lovin' that punch!!!

More summer stuff...watermelon (YUM!), grape popsicles (YUM!) and a beach ball (Fun!).  All are made with punches.  The watermelon is the 1 3/4" circle and the seeds were made with the new Triple Layer Blossom Punch.  They are the little pieces that get punched out from the middles of the flower petals...perfect watermelon seeds, don't ya think?  The popsicle is a Tag punch with a Word Window for the stick.  Did you notice the bite?  I love the bite...even though I never bite my popsicles!  The bite was made with the Scallop Oval punch.  And, the beach ball is some more circle punches.

FLIP FLOP SEASON is here!!!!  Summer isn't complete without flip flops, so we had to have a pair of those included in the frame!  My flip flops are Tangerine Tango with Daffodil Delight ribbon to make the part that goes over your foot.  If you look really close, you can see they have a little bit of a design on them.  That was done with a new jumbo wheel called Starburst.  It's a great wheel for backgrounds and, like most of our wheels, it coordinates with a great stamp set!

Who wants lemonade?!?!?!?  This little beauty is my favorite part of this project!!!  I've seen lemonade cards floating around the web for a few years now, but had never tried it my self...until now!  The cup is made from Cardsock Vellum which was sponged with Daffodil Delight.  Then I folded in the two long sides and glued them down so that the middle popped up a bit forming a glass shape.  Before I glued it down, I ran a bit of glue along the top and dipped it into Dazzling Diamonds glitter...the perfect sugared rim!  My little lemon is a circle punch (3/4" in Daffodil Delight) which was embellished with more of those watermelon seeds...only this time I punched them from So Saffron cardstock.  Perfect lemon segments, don't you think?  The whole thing is completed with a bendy straw which I trimmed down to fit into my cup.  It's the perfect touch...and is making me want a glass of lemonade!

Here it is hanging in my front entry...

There you have it!  Happy first day of summer...hopefully the weather is super summery where you live and you can get out and enjoy it!

Have an inspired day!

Birthday Chocolate

I have another sneak peek for you today...this time some hostess product. 

I made a Box #2 in Concord Crush and stamped a Happy Birthday from the new Happiest Birthday Wishes hostess set.  I am lovin' this set...it's a GREAT birthday set, that I know is going to be a popular one!  I made a belly band with the new Cheerful Treat hostess DSP...again, lovin' this DSP and I know it will be popular too!!!

The stamped image is another one from the Happiest Birthday Wishes set.  It was colored with markers (Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade...a new In Color!..., Melon Mambo and Basic Gray), stamped on Whisper White and punched out with the widest oval punch.  It is layered with a piece of Melon Mambo that I cut with my Big Shot and one of the dies from the Lots of Tags sizzlits set (you need this set of sizzlits...it's so versatile!).  You'll notice that I embellished with two little Pretty In Pink brads and some Pretty In Pink Grosgrain ribbon.  This little medallion is put on the belly band with some Stampin' Dimensionals.

So, ya wanna know what's inside my pretty little box?  Here's a little teaser...tee, hee!!!

Ok, here's a better look...

I wrapped 12 little chocolates with DSP from the Cheerful Treat pack.  Twelve chocolates fit in the box, so it's a great way to show off ALL the patterns from the DSP pack!  And, because I know you're going to ask, the chocolates are from Costco.  They're swiss milk chocolates and they come in a HUGE pack...I know, shocker!

So what do you think?  Do you love this new DSP and birthday set as much as I do?  If you do, you're going to want to book a workshop with me so you can get it FREE!!!

Have an inspired day!

Paisley Petal Thanks

I am LOVIN' the Paisley Petals DSP that's on special this month.

The base of my card is Cherry Cobbler, with a layer of Marina Mist.  Then I added a piece of the DSP and tied a piece of Night of Navy Grosgrain where the DSP and cardstock meet.  I used the Four Frames set (also on special this month!) stamped with Night of Navy.  When I punched it, I cut it in half and topped it with a scallop oval, a large oval and finished off with a Night of Navy button tied with some linen thread.

The "thanks" is from the Fabulous Phrases set...a must have set for your collection!

Have an inspired day!

Paisley Petals

You know I've been impatiently waiting for my tulips to come up.  Well, I think I know why they're not.  One word...PENNY.  Yep, that's right...PENNY.  She digs them up, chews the roots off and destroys tulip bulbs by playing with them and tossing them around until they break into little pieces and then she moves onto the next one...grrrrr.  As much as it makes me mad, it is kinda cute to see her "fighting" with a tulip bulb!!!

On to stamping!  I'm so excited to tell you about the special this month...

I love little sneak peeks and hints...don't you?  Well, for the month of April, you get a sneak peek at a stamp set and pack of DSP from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue!  Yep, you read that right...2011-2012 Catalogue!!!!!!!  Click on the Specials & Promotions button at the top of the page to get all the details.  Let me tell ya, if this DSP is any indication of what's to come in the new catty, I can't wait!!!!! 

And, now, here's a look at a fun class I'm offering featuring the absolutely gorgeous DSP.

It's a Stationary set!  At the class, you will make the box, 10 cards (with envelopes) and a whole lotta interchangeable sentiments for the cards.  Each card features the gorgeous designer paper and the lucky recipient of this Stationary Set can mix and match the sentiments with the punched scallop oval mats.  How fun is that?!?!?

Please note, your box may or may not be the same colors as my sample.  I will be sure your DSP and box colors coordinate though!  You will have a variety of DSP pieces from the Paisley Petals pack to complete your cards.

This project would make a FANTASTIC gift for teachers or Mother's Day!

I'm offering this class on Thursday, April 14  at 7:30pm.  The fee for this class is $20 for one set or $35 for two.  Please contact me to register!  Space is limited so register early to avoid disappointment!

I had so much fun with March Madness!  I had Kevin choose a number for the March 31 post and he chose #4, which was...Kim!  Congratulations Kim!  ALL March Madness prizes will be mailed this weekend (I was going to mail them earlier, but decided to wait so if you won multiple prizes I could put them in one package!).  Congratulations to all the winners...I hope you had as much fun with it as I did!

Have an inspired day!