Digital Content CDs for a BUCK?!

Yes, you read that right! From now until February 12 (or while supplies last) you can get your hands on any of these content discs for just $1. That's not a typo--they're just one buck!!!If you want to learn more about what is on each disc, click the item numbers.

• Simple Snapshots Content CD pictured above (127185)
• Avant-Garde Collection DVD (125841) 
• Cheerful Treats Digital Content CD (124237)
• Express Booster Pack DVD (124889)
• His & Hers Collection DVD (125842)
• October, December, Whenever Collection DVD (124485)
• Sweet Retreat Collection DVD (125840)

Since the discs are on the Clearance Rack, they can be purchased either through me or my online store. So get yours today, while they last!

The Perfect Baby Card

Looking for the perfect baby card for someone who is expecting? Look no further - I have just the card for you! It uses the Baby Tees Jumbo Wheel, and couldn't be any easier to whip up. Customization is easy, too, by changing the colors. In this case, the mom-to-be knows she's having a girl, so Pretty in Pink, along with Wild Wasabi and Daffodil Delight was used.

I didn't even bother to snap the ink cartridge into the Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle. Rolling it a few times on the ink pad was all that was needed to roll out the image.  Of course, if you're planning on rolling multiples, it would be better to snap the ink cartridge into the handle. :-)

This is another "mailable" card, because the knot on this bow isn't very thick. As long as you are using good-quality envelopes like our Medium envelopes, available in Whisper White, Very Vanilla, and Crumb Cake, there should be no problems! So, there you have a perfect baby card - quick and easy to put together!


Stamps: Baby Tees wheel, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Shimmery White
Ink: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots folder, Blender Pen, Ticket Duo Punch, Eyelet Border Punch (retired), Pretty in Pink 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (retired)

SUOC63, Are You Feeling the Love?

This week's challenge at SUO Challenges is to make a CAS (Clean And Simple) Valentine. There are so many great new products in the Spring catalog, that Hearts A Flutter bundle for instance, that it couldn't be any easier!

The scalloped heart die and stamp from that bundle were used on this card. The die cut was colored with markers to give the illusion that it was matted. Pretty neat, huh? A little embossed border with the Adorning Accents folder added just the right amount of texture.

Stamps: Hearts A Flutter, Loving Thoughts
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real red, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents folder, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals

Sunglasses Warning & Blog Candy Winner

Since Nikki, from Canada, was the only person who left a comment on the last post, she is the winner of the blog candy. (See, you should have scrolled all the way down!) Nikki, I sent you an email for your mailing address.

Now, about the sunglasses warning.....this card is so cheerful and bright, it might damage your retinas without protection! I made this for a special friend, but I'm not naming any names, because it goes in the mail tomorrow.

I just couldn't resist the Tangerine Tango/Rich Razzleberry combination again. Seriously, whoda thunk that I would be doing such crazy combinations? It's the Sycamore Street DSP, I tell ya. It's doing something to my brain, and now I'm even looking at Summer Starfruit with a new eye. *gasp!*

So, for all you frozen folks that can't wait for Spring to arrive, here's something bright and cheery to help you hang on.  Groundhog Day is just a few days away. Surely Punxsutawney Phil won't see his shadow, and we'll have an early Spring. It looks like there's a 30% chance of snow that day, so keep your fingers crossed!

Stamps: Madison Avenue (FREE Sale-A-Bration item)
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Sycamore Street DSP (FREE Sale-A-Bration item)
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, VersaMark
Accessories: Big Shot, Floral Frames Framelits, White Heat n Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack (FREE Sale-A-Bration item), Stampin' Dimensionals

Simply In Love With This Color Combination

And simply in love with all the new Sale-A-Bration goodies. Love exploded is blooming all over my craft room. Today I made FIVE Valentine-themed cards! I guess once I started looking up funny Valentine's greetings the other day, I 'got in the mood', so to speak.

The is one of those great mailable cards.  The square knot on the ribbon was tied loosely enough that I could flatten in onto the glue dot, thus reducing the bulk.  So, no extra postage needed for that envelope!

No need for a greeting, since I'm pretty sure the intent of the card is clear. I love, love, love this color combination, don't you?! It reminds me of a Fifties diner, though I have no idea how I could possibly know what colors were popular way back then. (Heehee!)

Stamp: Madison Avenue (FREE Sale-A-Bration item)
Cardstock: Pool Party, Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Framelits, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Square Lattice Folder, Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack (FREE Sale-A-Bration item)

So, what is your favorite color combination for Valentine's Day? Do you like the traditional red and/or pink & white? Do you go for a more dramatic combination like red, black, and white? Or are you totally into non-traditional combos, like orange and pink, or purple and black? Leave a comment about your favorite, and I have some blog candy for the winning comment. Winner will be announced Sunday evening.

Best Valentine's Greetings

Some of the best Valentine's messages (to me, anyway), are ones that make me laugh. Don't get me wrong, I like the mushy stuff as much as the next girl. But my husband's ability to make me laugh, and his warped sense of humor, are some of the things that first attracted me to him, so I'm not miffed if his card to me is humorous, rather than sappy. I know that he loves me - he shows it in a million little ways all the time.

In that vein, I thought I'd share a few that I've seen recently that cracked me up. (One of these is rated R......you've been warned!)

Card front:
Did you know it takes ONE HOUR of rigorous sex to burn off the calories from five pieces of Valentine's chocolates?
Inside:
Eat the whole box. I've got plans for you tonight, Valentine!

Card front (with illustration of heart from medical book):
You make my heart have premature ventricular contractions

Here's another great reason for making your own cards...
Card front:
Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetie
Inside:
If this card hadn't cost $6 you would have gotten chocolates, too.

So, you see, it is possible to get the message across without being too mushy. And, just so I don't lose street cred with my female friends, here's a sentimental-type Valentine.

Stamps: Affection Collection
Cardstock: Naturals White, More Amore Specialty DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso (stamped off once)
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Stripes embossing folder, Artisan Embellishments Kit, 5/8" Flower Trim, stapler (non-SU)

You can Google "Best Valentine's Greetings" and come up with a bunch of ideas for your own message to put on your handcrafted, special card to your love. And have enough left over for those chocolates!

Sale-A-Brate Good Times, Come On!

Today begins the biggest, most anticipated sale event of the Stampin' Up! year, Sale-A-Bration! You get to choose a free item from the SAB brochure for every $50 in product you order, and the selections in this year's brochure are absolutely delectable! There's the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (see sample on card here), or the coordinating ribbon/button pack, there are six different stamp sets (not counting the special offerings from the annual catalog), there's an embossing folder, a card kit, two different digital content discs, or an adorable punch to choose from.

And there's more! If you get some friends together for a party, and the party totals $150, in addition the the $25 Hostess dollars you can spend on anything in the catalog, you'll get a free pack of the Silver Glimmer Paper, SU's Silver Anniversary gift to you!  Want more?  Have a $400 party, and in addition to the Silver Glimmer (and $65 Hostess dollars to spend), you'll receive a SAB bundle which includes the Sycamore Street DSP and Ribbon/button pack, a stamp set, PLUS get 50% off any item in the catalog!

Want even MORE? Join my stamping team, and get 25% more in your $99 starter kit. So instead of $125 in products, you'll get $156.25 in products of YOUR CHOICE. For only $99. Plus you'll get all the other benefits that Stampin' Up! lavishes on their demonstrators and, last but not least, ME as your upline!

So, what are you waiting for? Contact me if you'd like to receive a SAB brochure, or any catalog for that matter. I'd be happy to show you what the products look like, since I have them all (one of the demo perks is pre-ordering), book your party, or answer any questions you might have about joining my team.

And, just because you scrolled all the way down here, here is a card just for you!

Stamps: Vintage Verses (FREE SAB item!), Sunshine (from Single Stamps Assortment 4)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Ink: VersaMark, Whisper White Craft

Accessories: Heat Tool, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Sponge dauber, White Stampin' Watercolor Pencil

Getting My Freak On!

It's that time of month, time for the Tour de Freaks blog tour. As a new Control Freak Swapper, this is my first tour so I hope you enjoy my little projects!  We are featuring items in the Sale-A-Bration flyer, and holy moly, there are some fabulous things in there! Remember, you can get those products FREE with a qualifying order from your Stampin' Up! demonstrator, from Jan. 22 to Mar. 22!

If you just arrived here from Lisa Martz's blog, you're in the right place. If you started here, you can just click the link at the bottom of all the tour posts, and follow along in a circle....eventually you'll end up back here.

My first project is a card using the Feeling Sentimental stamp set that also shows off the yummy Sycamore Street DSP and the Vine Street embossing folder. There are four SAB items on there!

STAMPS: Feeling Sentimental  CARDSTOCK: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Pool Party Core-dinations, Sycamore Street DSP  INK: Rich Razzleberry  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Vine Street embossing folder, Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack, Stampin' Sanding System

Up next is another card - this time using the Madison Avenue stamp set. The ribbon that comes in the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack is so gorgeous, it just cried out to be the focal point on this card!

STAMPS: Madison Avenue, Bloomin' Marvelous  CARDSTOCK: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Pool Party Core-dinations  INK: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Vine Street embossing folder, Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack, Stampin' Sanding System, Jumbo Sticky Rounds (cut in 1" circles), Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Pool Party Baker's Twine

And the last project is a quick and easy treat to slip in someone's lunch or mailbox. It's so easy to make! Just start with the scalloped tag from the Two Tags die, score at 1/2", 1-1/2" and 2-1/2" (starting from the rounded end, not the scalloped end). Stack two Hershey Nuggets inside and fold the tag around so the scalloped end is on top. Fasten with Snail or a Glue Dot. Thread ribbon through a button of your choice and tie it on. The little tag is from the Pretty Petites set, punched with the Petite Curly Label Punch - all of these are in the SAB flyer!

STAMP: Pretty Petites  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Sycamore Street DSP  INK: Island Indigo  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Two Tags die, Petite Curly Label Punch, White Baker's Twine, Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack

Your next stop on the tour is Patty Bennett's blog, Patty's Stamping Spot. Just click the button below to see what her creative genius has in store!

Stampin' Addicts SAB Blog Hop

Hello, and welcome to another wonderful blog hop from the Stampin' Addicts! We are so happy that you stopped by to see some of the ways to use the wonderful FREE items coming next week for Sale-A-Bration* (aka SAB).

You probably just came from Rhonda's blog, The Stampin' Bunny, where she featured the Vine Street Embossing Folder. She always knocks my socks off with her creativity! You can follow the link near the bottom to continue on to Heidi's blog when you're finished here, or click HERE for a complete list of the hop stops.

Today I'm featuring the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set, and I must say, it certainly is! The first card uses the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (SAB item) as a starting point. It's easy to choose coordinating colors from the DSP, so this card has Summer Starfruit and Rich Razzleberry as the main colors, with some accents of Pool Party to give it "pop". The little butterfly was heat embossed with Pool Party embossing powder to give a bit of shine, which matches the Pool Party Satin Ribbon (another SAB item!).

Sycamore Street DSP, Summer Starfruit, Rich Razzleberry, and Whisper White cardstock, VersaMark and Basic Black ink, Pool Party Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Bitty Butterfly Punch,

Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack

For the second card I toned it down a bit and chose colors to play up the Tangerine Tango Satin Ribbon (more from the Sycamore Street pack). I thought Basic Gray was the perfect background to show off the flowers. This is a very mailable card - no bulky bows or brads to jam in the PO machinery!

Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango, and Whisper White cardstock, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, and VersaMark ink,

White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder,

Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack

And lastly, here's a pretty, feminine card with a soft pink bow holding the little bouquet, kind of reminiscent of a nosegay (and I'll bet half of you don't know what that is, heehee!). The doily really helps the flowers stand out, don't you think? Now this card would need to be hand-delivered!

Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White cardstock, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Pink Pirouette/Rose Red Two-Tone Ribbon, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, and Old Olive ink, Big Shot, Vine Street Embossing Folder, Labels Framelits, Petite Curly Label Punch, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' Sponges

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Next in line is Heidi's blog, Running w Scissors Stamper, where she's going to wow you with the Feeling Sentimental set. I love the fun facts she has about the bicycle image! When you have a chance, stop by the Stampin' Addicts and say Hi! Membership is free and anyone who loves Stampin' Up! is welcome to join, whether SU demonstrator or hobby stamper.

*What is Sale-A-Bration, you ask? Only the biggest sale of the year from Stampin' Up! You can earn free goodies (with a qualified purchase), and this year has the best selection of products I've ever seen!

SUOC62 - New Toys!

Sorry for the week-long delay for the new SUO Challenge; Robin was very ill, but is feeling a bit better, so we're off and running again. We are going back on our regular two week schedule as of today. And what a great way to start anew, with new toys from the Spring Catalog (and Sale-A-Bration, too)!

The roses are in the Artisan Embellishments Kit, along with all kinds of tasty morsels for dressing up a card. I swear I nearly swooned when I saw them in the catalog, and then again when I actually had them in my hands. Well, maybe not swooned exactly....more like hyperventilated. It's true! Would I lie to you?

The Very Vanilla lace and Primrose Petals seam binding ribbon are in the kit, too, as well as the button (that is practically hidden by the bow - poor planning on my part). Love the new Oval Framelits, too. So many fun ways to use them!

Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous (leaves, greeting - SAB item), French Foliage (spatters)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals

Ink: Crumb Cake, VersaMark

Accessories: Big Shot, Oval Framelits, Fancy Fan and Perfect Polka-Dots folders, Designer Frames folder, Artisan Embellishments Kit, Vintage Trinkets

And now, if you've scrolled all the way down here, I'll tell you why I used the spatters from French Foliage on the card. I was eating pizza at my craft table, you see, and a sausage decided to hop off the pizza right onto my just-finished card. Once again, instead of a shining example, I am a horrible warning! Let that be a lesson to ya!

Just Thinking....

....about how much I really like this Just Thinking stamp. I used it for the Create With Connie and Mary challenge here, and couldn't resist using it immediately again!

This time, I eliminated the patterned background of the stamp completely, choosing to just use the circle greeting. The Window Frames Framelits make a nice background, especially when embossed with the Square Lattice folder. This is a very "mailable" card - no bulky bows or brads.

And now, I want to introduce a new stamp set made just for men! Yes, real men CAN stamp!!! Check out the video on YouTube here:  DUDE, YOU'RE WELCOME!  It's hilarious, and now there is no excuse for a guy to say, "I forgot my wife's birthday!"  More information on the kit, which contains everything your guy will need, can be found HERE.

Card details

Stamp: Just Thinking

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Midnight Muse, Comfort Cafe DSP

Ink: Midnight Muse and Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Big Shot, Window Frames Framelits, Square Lattice folder, Petite Pennants Builder Punch, White Baker's Twine, Rhinestones Basic Jewels

JUGS #171 Challenge

Over at Just Us Girls, the challenge this week is a technique challenge - get inky with your embossed cardstock!

This is fun to do, because it really helps the embossing to "pop". The Chevron embossing folder was used to represent waves on this card, and the new Cloudy Day folder represents, uh....clouds. :-)

Okay, four for four, though I just barely made it under the wire this time. :-)

Stamps: Easy Events
Cardstock: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Shimmery White
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin pie, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Chevron and Cloudy Day embossing folders, Pearls Basic Jewels

Fab Friday Challenge, FabFri09

I am on a ROLL, baby - three days in a row of challenges! (Wonder how long I can keep this up this blistering pace?) This card was made for the Fab Friday 09 challenge, which is this sketch:

As soon as I saw all the cute images in the Spring Sampler stamp set, I immediately thought of this card.  Well, not necessarily this layout, but I knew I had to use these images for a birthday card.

Okay, I can hear all the groans from here......sorry, I just had to be punny today.  It's Friday!  This did made me stretch a little out of my comfort zone.  It's a lot brighter, and a bit more simple than usual. The DSP colors were chosen to coordinate with the image colors, and the sun just had to be yellow, and the bird just had  to be blue (it is the blue bird of happiness, after all).  And this is a little bit of a hybrid card, too. The greeting was made in My Digital Studio, and printed with my printer.

Well, I'm off to fetch groceries. Hope you all in the frozen north don't get slammed too hard by the blizzard. And for you lucky demos at leadership in Orlando.......pbbbttt, I'm not speaking to you anymore! Well, until tomorrow, anyway.

Stamps: Spring Sampler
Cardstock: Whisper White, and Melon Mambo, plus Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, and Lucky Limeade DSP
Ink: StazOn Black, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Daffodil Delight Button (Designer Brights Collection)

CCMC234 - Another Challenge!

Two days in a row, woot! Today it's the Create With Connie and Mary Thursday challenge #CCMC234, and this time it's a color challenge:

Aren't those colors just gorgeous together???  So, here's my card for the challenge:

Stamp: Just Thinking
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Midnight Muse, Pink Pirouette DSP
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Midnight Muse
Accessories: Big Shot, Window Frame Framelits, Perfect Polka-Dots folder, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

FMS68 and Resolutions!

Note: The SUO Challenge will be delayed a week, because our fearless leader has been ill.

We should be back with a new challenge on the 15th!

One of my resolutions this year is to be more consistent in my blog posts, and to that end, one of my other resolutions is to participate in more challenges. Sometimes a sketch or color challenge is just the kick in the kiester I need to get creative.

So this week, I'm playing along with Freshly Made Sketches challenge #68. My friend, Jennifer Timko, is on the design team there, and I love seeing her take on the sketches! Here's the sketch for this week:

And here's my take on it:

I rotated it 90 degrees so the greeting would fit on the Everything Eleanor label. It's so soft and feminine looking IRL. I made one of Jennifer's magic bows, spritzed it with water and scrunched it up. Why is it the "messy" bows look so fabulous when someone else does them, and mine just looks sad?

Tomorrow, Mr. Brown is bringing more goodies from the Spring Catalog, woohoo! I had to exercise great restraint and wait to place my main order until after the first of the month. So now I'm anxiously waiting to see my favorite guy tomorrow (outside of immediate family members, lol)!

Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Vintage Verses (FREE Sale-A-Bration item, starts Jan. 27)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Big Shot, Fancy Fan folder, Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon, Artisan Embellishment Kit (lace and button)

Love Note Treat Box Tutorial

Hello, stampers! I promised to show you how to make the treat box from last weekend's blog hop, so here you go! The first picture below shows the cutting and scoring diagram with basic instructions. For some of you, that's all you'll need to be off and runnning.

BASIC DIAGRAM & INSTRUCTIONS

For others (like yours truly), it helps to have step-by-step instructions with pictures, so that is what follows.  You can click on any picture to enlarge it for detail.

I hope you enjoy making this cute little box! It would be adorable with a heart-shaped window and the top filled with candy conversation hearts!

The materials and tools you need are:
Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Stampin’ Trimmer

Sticky Strip

Cardstock 8½" x 10"

DSP 3" x 3¾"

2½" Ribbon (taffeta works well)

If cutting a window, you will also need:

Big Shot

Die for cutting window

3" x 3¾" Window sheet (acetate sheet)

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1.       On long side, score cardstock at ½", 2", 5¼", and 6¾". (Forgot to draw dotted lines on this step, sorry!)

2.       Rotate cardstock 90° clockwise. On short side, score cardstock at 1½", 5½", and 7¾".

3.       Cut on solid lines at top and bottom, as shown.

4.       Trim off excess from ½" score line, leaving ½" tab.

5.    With the trimmed ½" tab against the top of the trimmer, fold back the two 3¼" flaps and line the folds up on the ½" line of trimmer. Cut off excess, leaving ½".

7.       Align score line of TOP LID with groove of trimmer and trim off  ¾". Don’t cut the INSIDE TREAT FLAP!

8.   Align the score line on TOP LID with the ¾" line on Stampin’ Trimmer and using scoring blade, score on INSIDE TREAT FLAP ONLY.

9.   Round corners on TOP LID. Score ¾" from rounded corners (this flap tucks in). Go back and enlarge your cuts so they look like narrow Vs. (This helps the box close properly.) Your box should look like this (Note: from this point on, dotted lines aren't shown):

10.   Adhere DSP over center panel on BOX FRONT, as shown.

11.   Fold back the TOP LID and INSIDE TREAT FLAP (so it will fit through Big Shot) and cut the opening using desired die. Note: The die will leave an impression on TREAT FLAP. Helpful hints: Make sure the top of the window opening will be at least ¾" below score line, so bottom of INSIDE TREAT FLAP won’t show when finished. Also, hold the die in place with a sticky note to keep it from shifting while cutting.

 








12.   Adhere window sheet inside window, and apply Sticky Strip to bottom flap, and vertically to the INSIDE TREAT FLAP, as shown.

13.   Fold box and apply ribbon to INSIDE TREAT FLAP; adhere ribbon halfway down on adhesive, then loop ribbon back and adhere end on remaining adhesive.

 








14.   Adhere side flap to box back.

15.  Fold up bottom flaps and adhere. Tuck INSIDE TREAT FLAP into box, and close TOP LID.

Remember, if you need any of these materials or tools, I can help you - just click on the "Shop Here 24/7" link on the left! If you have a question, my contact info is there, too.