JB's Inky Fingers

Free Stampin' Up! Stamps- Great Hostess Benefits

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Free Stampin' Up! Stamps is one of the great benefits of hostessing a workshop; learning new techniques, using new tools and spending time with your friends and family are some of the other benefits.

Sunday afternoon, Sharon hosted seven of her friends at a workshop in her basement. I showed a how to make a goody bag from the Top Note Die (113463) and Big Shot (113439) and heat embossed a card with White Stampin' Embossing Powder (109132) and the Simple Friendship (113397) stamps. Then the guests got to get their fingers all inky!
Everyone made a refrigerator magnet featuring our favorite hooter on the Two-Step Owl Punch (118074) and a 3x3 love card in Rich Razzleberry (115316) card stock which turned into the group's new favorite color.

Browsing through the catalogs, it appeared a challenge to decide which items to order; but everyone earned Free Stampin' Up Stamps from the Sale-a-bration promotion.

I love sharing the stamping bug with new and experienced crafters. It proved to be contagious at the workshop yesterday as several ladies signed up for more classes later this month. Sharon earned three Free Stampin' Up! Stamp sets, an Embossing Folder, a Bigz XL Die and an Embosslit Die for having fun with her friends on a Sunday afternoon. Call or email me today to book your workshop and receive the same great benefits!

Making Cards - Save the Date!

2011-03-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Spring has sprung and love is in the air! This weekend I spent some time making cards for another wedding! My step-son and his fiance are getting married in August and we made the Save the Date! cards on Sunday.

Mambo Melon and Pumpkin Pie are great happy colors! On top of the Pumpkin Pie (105117) card stock we adhered Mambo Melon (115320) card stock which was embossed with Perfect Polka Dots (117335) embossing folder on the Big Shot (113439) and added a strip of Sweet & Sour Specialty (117390) Designer Series Paper. The next question is who is Sweet and who is Sour. The wedding invitations will be coming out in June; a bit more on the formal side.

To order your custom hand-made invitations or announcements for a special occasion, phone or email me.

Card Making Techniques - Embossed Imbedding

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Embossed Imbedding is my newest favorite technique. It is super simple and looks Fabulous. Punch out multiple shapes, for this card I used the 1" circle punch (119868) and the 3/4" circle punch (119873). The card base is Basic Black (121045) card stock and the punches are from the Brights Collection (119706).

Adhere all the spots onto the card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (100755). I have never been a fan of liquid glue; however, I really cannot say enough good things about this glue. Only a tiny amount is required, it dries quickly so you don't have to hold things together for a long time yet it gives a bit of time to get things arranged perfectly. Definitely falls into a Friday Favorite for me!

Grab the Square Lattice (119976) embossing folder and put the card front in it. Insert the folder and card into the BIG SHOT and crank away. Out the other side will emerge a card that looks like all the punches are part of the card base.

If you are missing any of the tools or supplies needed to create your own masterpiece using this nifty technique, call or email me to order them today. Remember, if your order is $50 you will get a stamp set for FREE; but only during Sale-a-Bration! and that ends on March 31st.

Great Things Come in Little Packages!

2011-03-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Glad my husband doesn't think so, as I am not in a little package. However, this adorable little purse is so easy to make with the Big Shot! (113439) And it can contain something as simple as candy or as wonderful as a pair of diamond earrings.

I have a new customer (Hi Sharron) that is very Patriotic and I chose the color theme in her honor. Card stock base and 2 small hearts are Real Red (102482). Base is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots (117335) embossing folder. The lower half is Night of Navy (100867) card stock as is the large heart. The Whisper White stripe is punched with the Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882) and the handles are created using the Large Oval Punch (119855).

If you are searching for a super set of phrases, then I suggest that you check out WORD PLAY (120651); it has a wonderful assortment of sayings in different fonts and styles. Wish Big is from that set and is inked in Night of Navy (100069) and Real Red (100052) Stampin Write Markers.

The whole shebang is finished off boldly with 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Night of Navy (119773)!

If you are itching for a BIG SHOT and love to get FREE products, then now is the time to call or email me. Hurry, Sale-a-Bration ends on March 31st!

Blossoms & Butterflies!

2011-03-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Blossom Push Pins & Butterfly Magnets adorn the Bulletin Board we will be creating later this month. The board is 16x20 and has lots of room for notes and photos. The sunny colors of this sample are Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait & Poppy Parade. For those who aren't quite ready for hot spring colors, there is a cool blues choice of Pacific Point, Not Quite Navy & Sahara Sand.

Come join in the fun, there are only a few opening left so phone or email me today with your registration. Class is on Friday, March 18th at 7:00pm or Saturday, March 19th at 1:00pm. Class is $20. Remember your stamping basic tools (Paper Snips, Bone Folder & Adhesive - Sticky Strip best for construction).

Out of My Comfort Zone

2011-03-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

It is time for Three Card Mon-Day! This weekend I challenged myself to use stamps that are outside of my usual style choice. I love flowers and flourishes and more realistic style stamps; today's cards were made using Fox & Friends (118565). Now I challenge you to go outside of your comfort zone, create a card with a stamp set that you haven't used in a long time. Send me a photo of your creation to share on the blog.

This Thank You note card is 4.25" square on a Real Red (102482) card stock base. The lower half is Soft Suede (115318) card stock that has been run through the Big Shot (113439) and the Square Lattice (119976) embossing folder. I really love the texture from this folder. The fox is stamped in Real Red (103133) ink on Very Vanilla (101650) card stock and punched out with the 1-3/8" circle punch. I punched a mat with the 1-3/8" scalloped circle punch. The strip down the center was punched on both sides with the Scallop Trim Border (118402) punch. The sentiment comes from A Word for You (120528) and punched with the Word Window (119857) punch.

It is so hard for me to believe that my grandson, Adam, will be turning 2 years old next month. It seems that it was only yesterday that I was making his birth announcements. This card welcomes a baby boy in Marina Mist (119682), Crumb Cake (120593) and Soft Suede (115318) card stock and inks. If you are welcoming a baby girl, simply change the colors to Certainly Celery (105125) and Pretty in Pink (100459). The monkey, whale, lion & owl were stamped on Very Vanilla (101650) card stock in a random pattern.

Alphabet Zoo is what I named this card. The base is More Mustard (100946) card stock. I used the most versatile embossing folder Perfect Polka Dots (117335) on a strip of Cajun Craze (119684) to give it some textural interest. The four animals are stamped in Always Artichoke (), More Mustard (), Cajun Craze (), and Early Espresso () inks. The animals have one section stamped on Crumb Cake card stock and adhered with Dimensionals to give a 3D effect. The card is finished with a button from the Regals Collection (119744) tied with some Pumpkin Pie (119253) 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon. I punched half a 3/4" circle in Cajun Craze and added a Garden Green brad from the Regals Collection (119737) to the bottom of the card.

I hope that you will take the challenge and create a few cards that include components that are out of your comfort zone. Email me to purchase the stamps that will help you expand your zone.

Friday Favorites - The Six Tools I Use Every Day

2011-03-04T08:00:00.010-05:00

I'm sure everyone's list would be different; but, these are essential in my daily creating.

* First and foremost, the Paper Cutter (104152) - you can't make beautiful cards without being able to cut/score a straight line.

* Second would be Paper Snips (103579) - whether you are trimming ribbon edges or cutting out an image, the sharp blades make it a breeze.

* Third is my trusty Bone Folder (102300) - what good is straight scores if they aren't burnished to make crisp folds.

* Fourth, the Bone Folder's alter ego, a Stylus (100663) - though the Paper Cutter has a scoring blade, I have a heavy hand and tend to rip the paper with it so the Stylus comes to my rescue. Score!

* Fifth helps me keep it all together, what else but SNAIL Adhesive (104332) - what good is making gorgeous creations if the pieces all fall apart - easy to avoid this problem with this double-sided tape.

* Last, but certainly not the least, is the trusty old pencil - I prefer the mechanical type with a white eraser as I don't need sharpener and the paper doesn't tear when I remove any markings.

Well, if you decide you must have tools, email me to place your order and I will throw in a mechanical pencil so you can take great notes too!

Three Great Things About Owning Your Own Business

2011-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

To be totally honest, there are good things and not so good things about owning your own business. However, the good things far out-weigh any negatives!

My #1 Favorite thing about owning my business is sharing my passion and obsession of paper crafts with others. I love when someone's eyes light up when they realize they CAN DO IT! Doing what you love is a reward in itself.

A second great thing about being a business owner is that for the most part you can work when you want. The more time you put in the more results you will see. I am very nocturnal and have most of my "creative mojo" between 10pm and 3am. If you are an early bird, you can work at the crack of dawn; the point is you work when you want to work.

Another super thing about being a Stampin' Up! demo is I decide how and what I need to do. I really love teaching, so I have lots of classes. During the holiday season, I make about 100 items for sale at craft shows. Though there are some guidelines to follow, for the most part, you decide what your business is.

If these great things have inspired you to become a demo or you would like more information about joining our team, email me or phone me today and you can become your own boss tomorrow!

Three Card Mon-Day!

2011-02-28T08:00:00.103-05:00

Okay Ladies (& Gents if you're out there) what do you think about my new banner? I am working at updating my blog a bit at a time so there might be some days that it is a bit wonky. I will continue to post as frequently as possible just the "prettiness factor" might be off from time to time. Enough with the chit chat on to the cards!

These cards are all made from the Hostess Set in the Mini Occasions Catalog called A Slice of Life (121952). The only way you can play with these adorable stamps is to Host a Workshop! You bring the guests & I'll bring the rest!

The card base is Peach Parfait (119794); there is a Pear Pizzaz (119795) mat behind the Sunny Garden DSP (119831). I ran a silver of Poppy Parade (119793) card stock through the Crimper (101618) and punched a tiny flower with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch (118309). The image is clipped onto some Linen Thread (104199); stamped in Basic Gray (109120) and colored with a Blender Pen (102845).

I'm not naming names but I know 2 stampers who are expecting and only about 6 weeks apart! It was a total give-away when they both placed orders for all the baby related products. This card was inspired by these special ladies.

Daffodil Delight Card Stock (119683) and 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (119761) help to set off the Tempting Turquoise Card Stock (102067) and DSP from the Brights DSP Stack (117155). I added a little bling with a Tempting Turquoise Glimmer Brad (121006); they are available in the Mini Occasions Catalog in four different color assortments.

Simple announcements for a baby boy which could easily be made in Pretty in Pink (119938) with Certainly Celery Card Stock (105125) and 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109050) for a girl.

I wish both of you (you know who you are) easy pregnancies and HEALTHY BABIES!

I don't even drink coffee! But this stamp is so cute I couldn't resist. Card base is Real Red Card Stock (102482); the DSP is from the Love Letter assortment (117162) and the mat is Soft Suede Card Stock (115318); which is quickly becoming my favorite neutral. The image was stamped three times in Basic Black (101179); once each on Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650), Real Red and Soft Suede. I colored the center mug with Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (100082), added highlights with the Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (105021) and covered it all in Crystal Effects (101055) to make it shiny. The other two mugs were cut out and adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals (104430). The edges of the card base were pierced with the Paper-Piercing Tool (116631) and the lines stayed straight thanks to the Mat Pack (105826). The finishing touch is the 1/8" Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon (119261).

If you think these stamps are too cute, as I do, email me or give me a call to schedule your workshop. If you have one in March, your hostess benefits are increased & your guests receive free products due to the Sale-a-Bration!

Friday Favorites!

2011-02-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Long time no see! The Crimper (101618) is one of my favorite tools that is put away and therefore, I don't use it often enough. It is fun to add texture to your card or layout by crimping a component of your artwork. However, another great way to use the crimper is to make an envelope into a card.

Take a Medium Crumb Cake Envelope (107297) and seal it. Cut 2 inches of the long edge and put aside.

Stamp the butterfly from Simple Friendship (113397) in Always Artichoke ink (105219) on the larger half of the envelope. You want to stamp towards the bottom edge as the other piece overlaps quite a bit.

Run the stamped half of envelope through the crimper sideways so that the open side is to the left. (The crimps should run vertically through the stamped image) Cut a strip of Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (121782) 2 inches by 4-3/8 inches; adhere to smaller half of envelope. Cut a strip of Always Artichoke Card Stock (105119) 3/4" by 4-3/8 inches. Punch the long edge of card stock with Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882) and adhere to the lower edge of the envelope top.

Insert the crimped piece of envelope into the smaller piece of envelope, make sure not to cover up the stamped image but to have enough room at the top to punch both pieces of the envelope. Using the Crop-A-Dile (108362) punch two 3/16" holes in center of both halves of the envelope. Insert a 12 inch length of Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon (121000) through the holes and tie a bow in the front. You can use this envelope card to hold a gift card or fill it with some potpourri and use it as a sachet.

If you like this card and want to learn how to make other cards and 3D items, click on the classes page and sign up for your favorite class today.

Why are There Different Kinds of Scissors in the Catalog?

2011-02-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Paper Snips (103579) are especially for detailed paper cutting.

The Craft and Paper Scissors (108360) are designed for clean cuts on ribbon, fabric & card stock.

The Craft & Rubber Scissors (103179) are for heavy-duty cutting like twine, rubber, wood sheets or wire.

To keep your scissors in excellent condition follow these tips:

If scissors are gummed up or dirty, clean them with dish soap or rubbing alcohol and dry thoroughly.
When cutting wire cut the wire at the back of the blade, near the hinge, for greater leverage and to keep the tips of the blade sharper.
If your scissors become dull, cut through tin foil to sharpen them.
If your scissors need additional sharpening, fabric stores have professional scissor sharpening services or can recommend a reputable company.

Stampin’ Up! scissors are useful for so many projects and can be used to cut many different types of materials. You’ll get the best results if you use the scissors for their intended purpose.

With a little care your scissors will be around to help you create projects of all types for a long time! Please call (937) 416-0245 or email me if you have more questions about caring for any Stampin’ Up! products.

Big Shot Wednesday!

2011-02-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

My friend, G IV, asked his girlfriend to marry him on Christmas Eve last year. He came to me for help creating a special presentation of the ring. Click here to see the gift box the engagement ring was concealed in. Well, she said yes and my next assignment was to make simple wedding invitations in Early Espresso (119686), Very Vanilla (101650) and Tempting Turquoise (102067). After making several samples and going over all the details, here's what we came up with.

The Big Shot (113439) added so much interest without being overwhelming. I embossed the flaps of the Medium Very Vanilla Envelopes (107300) and the underlying Very Vanilla (101650) panel with Elegant Lines (119277) Embossing Folder. The actual invitation is printed on Velum Card Stock (101856) and finished off with a knot in 5/8" Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (117291).

I finished cutting, printing and putting the invites together this weekend and will present them to the very excited fiance this week. I hope they live up to her expectations and of course, I wish the wonderful couple a fantastic wedding day and a long healthy, happy life together!

Call (937) 416-0245 or email me if you have invitations that could use a bump into elegance and want to purchase your own Big Shot OR if you have a special occasion coming up and need help in creating invites and/or goodies.

Do you LOVE chocolate?

2011-02-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Valentine’s Day is famous for cards, flowers, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. An Easter basket wouldn’t be the same if it didn't contain a few chocolate bunnies. A chocolate treat can help brighten your day or top off an evening out with your friends.

Since chocolate is such a big deal, it makes sense that one of our favorite new items in the Occasions Mini catalog is the Eat Chocolate stamp set (122006). Images of chocolate paired and silly sayings are sure to make it a great stamp set for all kinds of occasions. One of the stamps is a to-do checklist; - laundry or chocolate - which would you check off first? I know what I’d choose!

Have you had a Chicks and Chocolate party? My workshop is available for you and your friends to indulge in stamping and chocolate. You’ll want to book your Chicks & Chocolate night during Sale-a-Bration for even sweeter rewards! Call (937) 416-0245 or email me today to schedule your sweet night out.

Three Card Mon Day!

2011-02-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

A Flower for all Seasons (111592) is a great little set that can be used for any type of card: Happy Birthday!; Thank You; Miss You; or Get Well for a few ideas. These mini images are just right for stamping in Basic Black (101179) and coloring in with Blender Pens (102845).

This card is Night of Navy (100867) and Daffodil Delight (119683). Embellished with three flowers from the Itty Bitty shapes Punch Pack (118309) and a simple knot in Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (109025). What a cute way to say hello to a friend who you haven't seen in a while.

Same stamp (don't you just love the little froggy?) different color scheme. A perfect compliment for the daisies in the image is the texture created by the Petals-a-Plenty (116824) embossing folder. The bright colors are Melon Mambo (115320) and Pacific Point (111350).

They say three's a charm and I believe this card would charm anyone. Dotted Spring (117134) background stamp on Crumb Cake (120953) make a wonderful card base. Basic Black (121045) and Pretty in Pink (100459) contrast wonderfully to create a beautiful focus point.

Take a look at your stamps and see how many different ideas you can create with the same stamp and different colors. Call (937) 416-0245 or email me to order this great stamp set or any other Stampin" Up! products you need to create your next card.

Score!

2011-02-17T08:00:00.003-05:00

What does scoring have to do with paper crafting you ask? Great Question!

Though a very simple tool the Bone Folder (102300) makes a huge impact on precision and ease of putting together any paper craft project whether it be a simple card or a complex 3D project. Scoring actually breaks some of the fibers in the paper making it easier to fold. Even if you are the lucky owner of a Big Shot and most of the scoring is done for you, the bone folder still comes in handy for burnishing.

Bone Folder (102300)

To get nice crisp folds, simply line up a straight edge (the groove in your paper cutter works very well) and run the bone folder down the side of the ruler. The side you score should be the outside of the fold - the little bump created by the score goes on the inside of the card. Once you have scored and folded on the score line, use the flat edge of the bone folder and burnish (rub) the fold to make it a crisp crease. It is said that "Its all in the details" and the bone folder helps every crafter from newbie to advanced create super fine details!

Get your bone folder today and Score! Score! Score!

Big Shot Wednesday!

2011-02-16T08:15:00.000-05:00

I love participating in swaps. You receive so many ideas and great samples to inspire your creative juices. This week I got my stock pile of goodies from my monthly card swap.

This card features two great components of the Big Shot; embossing and die cutting. My very first die was the top note, it is so versatile; it makes a great bag topper, use two together for a box or basket and of course, a super shape for a card. I also love patchwork; this is actually a lot easier than it might look. Using the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets (120805) makes it a breeze. Cut a piece of Adhesive Sheet 4.25x5.5 inches; apply same size card stock to one side of adhesive, apply pre-cut 1 inch squares to the other side of adhesive and then run it through the big shot with the Top Note die (113463). Presto! A patchwork top note! This is a great way to use up all those scraps of Designer Series Paper we all have. Click here to order your own Top Note die today!

What do I LOVE most

2011-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

about Stampin' Up! ? Superior Quality & Fantastic Customer Service!

Today being Valentine's Day and everyone expressing their feelings for their loved ones I decided to share my thoughts about Stampin' Up!

After owning a stamping/scrapping business that traveled the country attending conventions for five years it was a difficult decision to close down; but, I found the best DH in the world and my partner turned 70 and wanted to retire, so we closed up shop.

It took about a year for me to get itchy fingers to get back into the paper craft industry. I knew I wanted to stay at home with my new business and I had heard good things about Stampin' Up! yet I had never used any of their products or been to a workshop! Browsing the net, I happened upon Becky Rogers blog and started to inundate her with questions. What patience she has!!!! After about six million questions, I decided to join and have been very impressed ever since.

Stampin' Up! takes great care to provide only high-quality products. There have been a few items that just didn't quite cut the mustard and instead of selling them to the customers, they were recalled. Every time I have needed to call the Stampin' Up! office, I speak with an enthusiastic and friendly associate. I have always been more than satisfied with the response whether it was replacing an malfunctioning punch for free or sending me an item I intended to order even though I ordered a different item; the staff really wants to HELP!

I only hope that my customers feel the same way about me.

Have a fantastic week and take time to think about what you love about your job. If you would like information and/or to be part of the Inky Fingers branch of the Stampin' Up! family, email me and I will welcome you with the same enthusiasm and even answer your six million questions.

Three Card Mon Day

2011-02-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today I have three great thank you cards to share with you. They arrived in my mail box Saturday as part of a monthly swap I participate in. There are some very talented stampers in this group.

This card is made with my favorite colors - Perfect Plum (101437) & Garden Green ((102272). It was stamped in Whisper White ink (101731) on Basic Black card stock (121045) and then colored in with chalks. Absolutely Beautiful!

Who says Real Red (102482) Whisper White (100730) and Night of Navy (Blue) (100867) are just for patriotic cards? This card says thank you in lots of languages in a classic and simple way.

Embossing adds so much to a card and this one is no exception. Melon Mambo (115320) & Pumpkin Pie (105117) are wonderfully bright and cheery on this sweet thank you card.

Sign up for a class or stop by on the first Thursday of the month to learn more stamping techniques and get all the supplies needed for your cards and scrapbooking layouts.

Friday Favorites

2011-02-11T20:14:00.000-05:00

Thank G-d its Friday! Today's favorite is not paper craft related; it is my favorite thing to do though, spend an evening with my husband without kids. Not often do we get a chance to do this, tonight the kids are enjoying a performance of Jeff Dunham, ventriloquist and DH and I are going out for dinner. If you get a chance go spend some alone time with your DH! More Inky Fingers posts tomorrow. Thanks for dropping by.

Better Late than Never!

2011-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

All this freezing weather might just have tricked me into thinking that it is Christmas time again! Not really, my scrapbook ladies wanted another layout for all the holiday photos they have from last year.

Big Shot Candy Box

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day is creeping up on us - are you ready? Are you looking for a unique way to give your loved one some sweets? When I first saw it I thought that it would make a great night stand for Barbie ... there goes my off the wall sense of humor.

How about using the matchbox die (114890) to create a cache of candy? I have stacked three drawers on top of each other; two Concord Crush (119792) card stock and one Blushing Bride (119796) card stock. They are wrapped with a strip of Lap of Luxury DSP (120436), bound together with Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon (117289), and have buttons (119745) and brads (119737) for drawer pulls. What wonderful things would you want to surprise your love with?

If you are ready to take your stamping experience to the next level and buy the Big Shot(113439), sure to become your favorite crafting tool OR if you all ready own this wonderful machine and want to add the Matchbox Die (114890) or any other dies to your collection now is the right time. Sale-a-bration will add free products to your order for every $50 spent! Click here to treat yourself to a Valentine's gift that will make all your gifts irresistible!

Monthly Stamp Club Tonight!

2011-02-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

It has been bitterly cold for the whole week and today is supposed to be even colder! I hope that won't deter my stamping ladies from getting inky fingers tonight.

Have you ever suffered from Stampers' Block? I am not referring to the clear acrylic ones we use to stamp with. I am talking about having all the great papers, stamps, inks & embellishments on the table in front of you and all you can do is stare at them and think "Now What?"

If this happens to you then simply CASE (copy and share everything). Imitation is the highest form of flattery; you can add your own flare to a card you love. That is what inspired three of these cards I have received from other great stampers.

If you are in the Fairborn area and would like to have a monthly night out to get your fingers inky and create several cards and/or 3D items, come join our stamp club. We meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm. For more information email me.

Three Card Mon Day

2011-02-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

The title is in reference to that street game where a guy mixes up three cards and you have to locate the Queen, known as Three Card Monty. Since my oddball sense of humor is often not shared by others I thought I would give a brief explanation. LOL

I made these cards using Punch Bunch (123211), one of the stamp sets you can get for FREE from the Sale-a-bration catalog. Simply make a $50 purchase and any item in the mini is yours FREE.

This card is very vibrant and for some reason the colors didn't want to come through in the photo. I had to take about a dozen pics of this to get one that did it a bit of justice. This card is a 4.25 x 4.25 Garden Green card stock base embossed with the Petals A Plenty (116824) folder. The flowers are inked with Pretty in Pink (100045) and highlighted with Melon Mambo (121074) markers. The image was punched out with the 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854). The wide ribbon is Pretty in Pink 1-1/8" Striped Grosgrain (119775) and the narrow ribbon is Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain (109025) that I colored with the Melon Mambo marker.

Another vibrant card; I must have been in a good mood today, lol. The base is 3x6 Real Red (102482) card stock with a Daffodil Delight (119683) mat and two Peach Parfait (119794) squares punched with 1-1/2" Scallop Square (119884). The center square is punched out of the card front and the Happy Birthday image is actually inside the card. The two Real Red buttons (119747) are laced with Pumpkin Pie 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119253) - no small feat getting that ribbon through those tiny holes! I had to "help" it through with the small end of the stylus (100663). This would be a great card for a kid.

Surprisingly, this card took the longest of the three. I couldn't come up with a layout that I really liked. I finally came up with this one and though it is by far not my favorite card, I can live with it.

The base is 4.25x4.25 Soft Suede card stock (115318) and Night of Navy (100867) mat. I must admit that the Soft Suede is fast becoming one of my favorite go to neutrals; it is very rich and blends well with everything. I punched a bunch of 3/4" circles and scribbled on them with Early Espresso (119680) marker for texture. The bottom edge of card front is torn and inked. The ribbon is 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta (119960). I do love the owl punch, need to sleep on it for some more layout possibilities.

If you want to make some great cards with these stamps, all you need to do is send me an email. Your products will be at your door in just a few days. Order Today!

Chicks & Chocolate

2011-02-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

You bring the Chicks & I will bring the Chocolate - oh what fun we will have!

Do you need a night out with the ladies? Would you love to create a few cards? How about munching on some divine chocolate treats?

The easy solution is to host a Chicks & Chocolate Night. You don't even have to clean your house, you can have it at my place. February is the perfect month to indulge you and your friends as there are so many additional benefits from Stampin' Up! due to the great Sale-a-bration promotion.

For every $50 purchase made by a Chick, she will receive her choice of free product from the Sale-a-bration catalog! And when your C&C night equals $300 you get your choice from the Sale-a-bration catalog on top of the super hostesses benefits that are always offered. One free hostess stamp set; $30 free product from any current catalog; a free Idea Book & Catalog AND a hand made gift from me.

Call (937) 416-0245 or email me today

to save the date you want to host a fun girls' night out!

Packers or Steelers!

2011-02-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday!

No matter which team you support you can win during the Superbowl with this quarterly special! Get out your Stampin' Up! wish list and score your own touchdown with this bonus:

Call me during the 1st quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE ribbon assortment!
Call me during the 2nd quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE Designer Series Paper assortment!
Call during the 3rd quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE button & brads assortment!
Call during the 4th quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE stamp!

Remember that during Sale-a-bration! any $50 order gets a free item out of the Sale-a-bration catalog! (Order total before shipping & sales tax)

Superbowl is Sunday, February 6th!

Call me @ (937) 416-0245

Friday Favorites!

2011-02-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

If I had to get rid of all my stamps except one, Build a Blossom (121994) would be the one I kept! Of course, that is if I could also keep the matching Blossom Petals Punch (121808). These two products let you make the most beautiful three-dimensional flowers easy as pie! (Actually, easier as I can't make pie!)

So versatile, small, medium or large; single or multi-layered; and stamped on colored or Whisper White card stock. Each combination creates another beautiful flower.

This flower was made by stamping the leaf stamp in Not Quite Navy ink (103008) on Not Quite Navy card stock (101722). This is the quickest way because you only ink one stamp. Simply cut a strip of card stock about 1.5 inches wide and stamp seven times; remember to leave enough room between the petals so they don't get eaten by another part of the punch. Place a few drops of Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755) on a small scrap of card stock and adhere the petals in a circle. Stamp a center in a complimentary color; punch it out and adhere with the glue.

This flower is quite large; it is almost the size of a standard card and it makes a big impression. It was made with the largest petal stamp in More Mustard ink and card stock (103162 / 100946) with an Early Espresso (119670 / 119686) center piece and Old Olive leaves (102277 / 100702).

This flower was stamped on Whisper White card stock (100730) and used two stamps. The bottom stamp gives the shape and should be stamped in either a lighter color or stamped off once before making the petal. The second stamp gives all the detail and needs to be darker. The two layers of this flower add more dimension and a button finishes off the center perfectly.

If you agree with me and just can't live without this wonderful stamp set & punch duo; it can be yours in about a week.

Baby Wipe Techniques

2011-02-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

As promised here is the scoop on the three baby wipe techniques featured on Three Card Mon Day.

Supplies: Baby Wipes (non-alcohol); Re-inkers (several colors that compliment each other); glossy card stock

The simplest technique is Baby Wipe Swipe. Fold the wipe on half two times. Put a few drops of each color on the folded edge of the wipe. Drag wipe across glossy card stock. I needed to go over the same area three or four times to get good coverage. I like solid images stamped in black on top of this background.

The messiest technique is Baby Wipe Tie Dye. Fold the wipe in quarters; starting at the folded point, add drops of ink (darkest first) to wipe forming a circle. Open wipe up and twist it tightly like you are wringing out a cloth. Open wipe up and lay it down on the glossy card stock and press (this is where it got messy - my hands were as colorful as the card stock). As long as the wipe is damp, you can make multiple backgrounds. Solid images look good here as the background is quite vivid.

My favorite technique is Baby Wipe Stamp Pad. Fold wipe in quarters. Add drops of ink, starting with the darkest color. Tap a solid image stamp on the inked baby wipe and stamp onto any card stock. This is the only technique of the three that does not require glossy card stock.

Email me if you have any questions. I would love to see your creations with any of these techniques; please send photos! Have a great week and try to stay warm.
Happy Stamping!

What a night!

2011-02-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

BRRRRR! It is well below freezing here and we are finally starting to defrost. Last night my neighbor's tree fell down on the electrical wires and the whole area lost electricity (and of course internet). Our heater is electric so the temp dropped quite a lot in the house. It is amazing how dependent we are on power. Nobody knew what to do with themselves and so we all went to bed hours before usual. Candles just don't give off enough light to see stamped images, but I did try! Now that we're back up and running, I can get back to stamping! Happy Stamping and Keep Warm!

Great for a gift to a friend or yourself!

2011-02-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

Obviously, I love greeting cards; but, even more I love when they are packaged in a pretty container. Here are 5 cards with envelopes and 5 tags stamped with Greenhouse Garden (113824) nestled inside a self-wrapped box. You can make a set just like this one to keep or give to a friend.

Class is Friday, February 18th @ 7:00pm OR Saturday, February 19th @ 1:00pm.

Registration and payment ($20) is due by Tuesday, February 15th.

Bring a new friend and both of you will receive a gift from me.

Click here to register today!

Three Card Mon Day

2011-01-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

You never can tell where a color combination will come from. I was getting ready to make cards for our Thursday Meetup. Reinkers are needed for the techniques on these cards; I only have 5 colors so I picked three that might work together - Rich Razzleberry (115664); Pacific Point (111840); & Daffodil Delight (119672). Wow! was I ever surprised how much I like this color combo - what do you think?

The stamp set is Simple Friendship (113397). The first card is made with Baby Wipe Swipe technique.

This 3x3 mini card was made with the Baby Wipe Tie Dye technique.

The butterfly on this card was stamped using the Baby Wipe Stamp Pad technique.

Check back later this week for more details on these techniques. Get this beautiful stamp set this week and I will include 3 sheets of glossy card stock in your order.

Teddy Bears - Gotta Love Them!

2011-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love teddy bears? Join us to create a monthly layout featuring an adorable paper pieced bear. We will be meeting once a quarter to create three 8x8 2-page layouts. You can participate in only one section if you choose; however, if you come to all four sections there will be a bonus class to make a matching album. The first class is coming up; class is either Friday, Feb 25th at 7:00pm or Saturday, Feb 26th at 1:00pm. Registration and payment of $20 are due by February 22nd. Here is a peak at two of the month's layouts.

Superbowl Sunday Special

2011-01-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Whether you are a Superbowl fan or a Superbowl widow you can take advantage of this Super Special! Get out your Stampin' Up! wish list and score your own touchdown with this bonus:

Call me during the 1st quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE ribbon assortment!
Call me during the 2nd quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE Designer Series Paper assortment!
Call during the 3rd quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE button & brads assortment!
Call during the 4th quarter of the game and place a $30 order - get a FREE stamp!

Remember that during Sale-a-bration! any $50 order gets a free item out of the Sale-a-bration catalog! (Order total before shipping & sales tax)

Superbowl is Sunday, February 6th!

Call me @ (937) 416-0245

Friday Favorites!

2011-01-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every time I get a new package of DSP (Designer Series Paper) I am amazed at how gorgeous they really are in person. The photos do them no justice. In the current Occasions Mini Catalog, my favorite DSP is Springtime Vintage (121782). I love the florals and there are eight colors in the designs to mix and match making it extremely versatile. Here are two samples of projects made with this DSP.

This mini calender is made from chipboard covered in the DSP. It features a cork board made from our Cork Sheets (119819) and thumb tacks stamped with Tiny Tags (118592) in Pear Pizzazz (119784) and Not Quite Navy (103008) inks.

I am totally GA GA over the Build a Blossom stamps (121994) and Blossom Petals Punch (121808)! Hint Hint, you might be seeing this featured in an upcoming Friday Favorites!

If you like this DSP as much as I do, or just want to sample it in real life - here is a package for you!

Twelve 6x6 pieces of DSP (2 of each design)

Twelve 8.5x5.5 pieces of card stock (2 each of 6 colors)

Six feet 1/2" poly ribbon in Pear Pizzazz

Two 2011 mini calenders

Two 1x3" pieces of Cork Sheets

Two Build a Blossom Flowers (like on card)

Directions for both the calender and card featured in today's Friday Favorites.

Enough to make 2 of each item and several more of your own creations!

$12.00

Join Stampin' Up!

2011-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Whether you would like to earn some extra money or simply get your Stampin' Up! products at a discount, now is the time to sign up as a demonstrator.

During Sale-a-bration (January 25th - March 31st)

all new demos get 15% off their starter kit

plus a bonus bundle filled with over $50 of FREE products and shipping is FREE!

I Love Free Stuff - Don't You?

I would like more info on becoming a Stampin' Up! demo

Big Shot Baby!

2011-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

Have you been wanting to get a Big Shot for a while now and just couldn't justify the expenditure? Well, now is the right time !!! Take advantage of Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration and get started on the path of Big Shot heaven! If you purchase the Big Shot (113439); Bitty Box & Envelope bigz xl die (115967); & Lots of Tags sizzlits 4-pack (114508) I will give you the Perfect Polka dots textured impressions embossing folder (117335). Simply email me if you would like to substitute different dies/folders. By making this purchase you qualify for one level one hostess set, three Sale-a-bration items and $15 in additional products all for FREE! That is a value of $80 for FREE! This offer is good from January 25th through March 31st, 2011.

SALEABRATION is here!

2011-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

For the next 10 weeks Stampin' Up! is giving away Free Products and there are three easy ways to earn them. Anyone who makes a purchase of $50 receives any item in the Sale-a-bration catalog for free! The more you purchase, the more free items are yours; one item for each $50 (before shipping and sales tax). You can choose from exclusive stamp sets, Designer Series Paper Packs, Ribbon & Button Pack & Digital Content CD to use with My Digital Studio. More information on two additional ways to earn FREE product later this week!

January 25th - March 31st

Three Easy Ways to Earn FREE Products!

Email me to get your Sale-a-bration catalog today. FREE Product!

Three Card Mon-Day

2011-01-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

You can be ready with a card for any occasion with the Take a Spin stamp set! (121937W/122015C) This set has four stamps that look like game boards; one just for birthdays, one for eight different celebrations, one cheering on good work, the final describes all good characteristics. Use markers to ink up one section in a different color from the rest and point the Spinner Hand (121893) to it so it really stands out.

Purchase Take a Spin this week and I will include 4 Spinner Hands at no charge.

Friday Favorites

2011-01-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Friday is my favorite day of the week, TGIF! It seems the perfect time to highlight some of my favorite Stampin' Up! products including colors, stamps, and tools.

I love the look of monochromatic cards; my favorite color in the Regals Collection is Not Quite Navy card stock (101722) and Classic Stampin' Pad (103008). The Simple Friendship stamp set (113397) is so pretty and versatile you can make an ugly card with it. Here's a simple card that any friend would love to receive.

Purchase the Simple Friendship stamp set this week
and receive three sample cards as a gift from me.

BIG SHOT WEDNESDAY

2011-01-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Wednesdays we'll explore some of the wonderful things that the BIG SHOT 113439 can help you create by adding textures and die shapes to embellish your paper crafting. Today I am featuring the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder 119277. Here are the before and after version.

The before card is clean and classic but maybe a bit on the boring side.

Simply run the Whisper White card stock in the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder and the Big Shot adds tons of texture and takes the card from simple to simply elegant!

What could you do with this great texture?

Purchase the BIG SHOT this week and receive the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder

as a gift from me.

Three Card Mon Day

2011-01-17T08:00:00.017-05:00

No slight of hand here; Mondays I will be sharing three different cards created with the same Stampin' Up! stamp set. This week the stamp set is Flight of the Butterfly 111564; it includes an assortment of butterflies which fit our Butterfly punch 119848 and sentiments shaped like flight paths.

Cardstock: Whisper White 100730

Inks: Basic Black 101179 & Poppy Parade 119782

Cardstock: Whisper White 100730

DSP: Concord Crush 117158

Inks: Old Olive 102277; Basic Black 101179; & More Mustard 103162

Cardstock: Whisper White100730; Old Olive 102584; Peach Parfait 119794

DSP: Peach Parfait 117158

Inks: Basic Black 101179 & Peach Parfait 119783

Embellishments: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon 119265

Tools: Butterfly Punch 111564; 1" Circle Punch 119868; Big Shot 113439;

& Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder 117335

Purchase this stamp set this week and receive all three cards as a gift from me.

Shopping Anyone?

2011-01-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love to participate in swaps. I try to make cards that others will appreciate and love getting back a variety of cards that use Stampin' Up! products in ways I would never had thought. Great way to be inspired. The latest swap group I joined is for the entire year of 2011. Each month there are three themes to choose from and I opted to do double duty with two cards. This month I chose girl's birthday and thank you cards. I got all kinds of mojo last weekend so these got in the mail early; the other swapper's cards should be here in a few weeks and I will share the bounty with you all as soon as I receive it. I will be trying to give more info on the products used in the cards I create to share all Stampin' Up! products with you.

Most of us girls love to shop, add to that a sumptuous selection of cakes and what a birthday it would be! I could brag all day about how great my husband is in supporting me; he basically says "As long as you are happy"; however, his appreciation for our wonderful craft lacks big time! When I showed him this card, his response was "are there pink shopping bags?". Oh well, I pretty much feel the same way when he tells me all the details of the latest OSU game.

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink

DSP: Melon Mambo

Inks: Basic Black, Melon Mambo Marker

Stamps: Birthday Bakery (Hostess Set)

Embellishments: Pretty in Pink Satin and 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and some hot pink tissue paper.

The cup of flowers is colored with our pastels; I was surprised how vivid the colors came through and will be turning to the pastels more often as a coloring choice.

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Rose Red & Pear Pizzazz

DSP: Springtime Vintage (Occasions Mini)

Inks: Basic Black

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes

Embellishments: SU Pastels (Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze

Scallop Border Punch, Pear Pizzazz Poly Ribbon and SU Dimensionals

Scrapbook Club

2011-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

As promised, here's Cupid! Has this little imp shot a heart at you?

I have been blessed with my DH of 2 years with the added benefit of a grandson. I can't resist a little Grandma bragging. Adam is the sweetest little devil I ever laid eyes on, lol.

Stamp Club

2011-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

The first stamp club of 2011 is filled with Valentine's projects. As previously confessed, I am a punch fan. Recently I found a super talented designer at paperpunchaddict and will be using many of her great designs. Check out the adorable cherub on the Scrap Club pages on Wednesday. The first photo is a bookmark, I love the papers in the Love Letter pack and the stamp set Simple Friendship is fast becoming one of my favorites.

This adorable elephant is on top of a pull out drawer filled with York Peppermint Patties. Yummy!

Ooops! This card is supposed to have a lollipop slid under the pink stripe. Mental note: buy lollipops!

Pink & Gray, what can I say? This is a pocket card, pull up on the heart and card slides out.

More from the Inking Everything Ladies

2011-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you all enjoyed the wonderful cards from our team swap that I posted here on Saturday; so as promised, here are the rest of the swap cards.

The papers in the Springtime Vintage DSP package are so gorgeous and have eight colors in them so the variety of combination is endless.

Isn't the ribbon adorable, who would have thought to stamp the tape measure on it? Love it!

This treat holder contains a yummy York Peppermint Patty inside, gotta love those Treat Cups, they can make any card into a gift.

One of my personal favorite color combos is black and white with red. This card sparkles from the black bling added to the heart.

My Upline Rocks!

2011-01-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

I was lucky enough to happen upon a fantastic Stampin' Up blog when I was looking to become a demo. Even better than the blog is the blogger! Becky Roberts is super creative, friendly, and a very positive and supportive upline.

Stampin' Up! had a goal last year to recruit 10,000 new demos during 2010. In November we were about 1500 short of that goal so an special on the start up kit was offered. Becky took it very seriously; not only did she recruit the 10,000th demo but she recruited over 20 new demos in just 2 weeks!

Becky organized a swap among her demos using the new products from the Occasions Mini. Here are half of the great creations of our Inking Everything group and I will post the other half on Monday.

I adore this Build a Blossom stamp and punch set. You can't go wrong with it.

This card was made using "Take a Spin"; it wasn't initially on my must have list but after seeing the great samples my fellow Inkers have made, I will have to add it to my shopping list.

The candies on the card are all embossed and look good enough to eat. Who couldn't complete that to do list?

This photo does not do the card justice. I love the pocket card style and the stamp is so versatile.

Stop by Monday to see more of the great cards created by my Becky's wonderful team!

Thursday Meetup

2011-01-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

On the first Thursday of each month we gather at my workshop for a couple of demos and a free make-n-take based on a stamping technique or tool. Today we will be playing with a brayer. The first card is an example of Embossing Resist; the second card shows the technique Joseph's Coat. Both of these techniques make great backgrounds which is so easy since the Stampin' Up! inks match the papers. The third card is a make-n-take and shows wax paper resist background. If you are in the Fairborn, OH area and would like to attend, send me an RSVP email.

New Mini Occasions Catalog is Here!

2011-01-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

I am new to Stampin' Up and have been falling in love with the products more each time the UPS guy delivers an order; but I am plum crazy about the products in this mini catalog!

Last post I admitted to being a procrastinator and having a goal of action this year. Today I will confess to being a punch junkie, especially when the stamps and punches match! I adore the stamp/punches "Build A Blossom" in this catalog. I signed up for a new mini catalog swap and here are my 2 entries using this fantabulous set! I think the blue card is my favorite card that I have made in a long time. I hope you enjoy them too. As soon as I receive the swap back, I will post the other amazing cards.

Email me if you would like your own copy of this great mini catalog. Have a great week!

Julie

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

I must admit, my middle name is PROCRASTINATION. I have tons of plans and ideas but tend to put off everything to later. My goal for this year is to put the ideas into action. With a little luck and some will power, this will be a blog you want to check in on several times a week.

My first post I am going to call "She said Yes!"

My good friend, we'll call him G IV came to me a few weeks ago asking for help. He was planning on asking his girlfriend to marry him and wanted some assistance with presentation. We browsed the internet for some basic ideas and came up with this little chest of drawers. As you open each drawer, a note pops out; the first drawer has a small bottle of perfume in it (my time with you is a perfumed garden); the second drawer has a small candle in it (you light up my life); the third drawer has some candy in it (you are the sweetest person I know) and the fourth drawer ... Well, the note says "FOREVER ?" and inside the box was a ring.

The awesome flower on top is from our brand new Build a Blossom stamp set and punch. They are both available as of January 4, 2001. Click on the new Occasions Mini catalog icon to see all the great new products. If you would like a copy of the catalog, drop me a note.

Fall Swap Samples - Last Day

2010-11-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is it for fall cards. Next week I'll start posting the winter and Christmas cards I swapped. Speaking of Christmas cards, our Stack A Stamp of Christmas cards is coming up next week and to accommodate everyone's busy schedule we've added another session on Friday night. I will post a sneak of one of the cards we will be making later this week. If you are in the Fairborn area and want to make a great impression on your loved ones with hand made Christmas cards, come and join us. Click on the class page for more details.

Fall Swap Samples - Day 4

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

This card has lots of coloring detail, it really makes me think of the leaves changing colors; something I didn't get to experience until I moved to Ohio seven years ago. It is truly gorgeous here, especially in October and November. If you can't live without any of the images, paper or embellishments, email me and we'll get them right to you.

Fall Swap Samples - Day 3

2010-11-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

My step daughter recently told my husband that she wants to get lots of packages in the mail like I do. I must admit that it is super fun to make these, read what everyone thinks about your creations, and ooh and aah over your favorite cards. Also, think how nice it would be to drop someone a hand made card just because.

Fall Swap Samples - Day 2

2010-11-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Just imagine all the wonderful goodies you could put in this cute little bag. What are you thankful for?

The Swaps have arrived!

2010-11-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

I love to join swaps and have been very busy doing so since I signed up as a Stampin' Up! demo. In case you are unfamiliar with swaps, I'll fill you in. A hostess decides on a theme and quantity and lets everyone know (usually on different websites) anyone who wants to join makes multiples of the same card for that theme and sends them to the hostess who then sends one of each card to each participant. Clear as mud? Anyway, I signed up for several to get ideas for all the fantastic stamps and products in the new catalog that I haven't had a chance to get yet. I am going to post the fall entries, one a day, until they are all up; then I will switch to Christmas and winter. All these cards were created by fellow stampers; if you love one and need some more info I will try to answer any questions. I wish the photos did them all justice. Enjoy and Happy Fall Ya'all!

November is here!

2010-11-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

Everyone still on a sugar high from last night? We always get way too much candy, few trick or treaters in our neighborhood, and end up eating most of it ourselves. Snickers are my favorite. Well now we need a place to commemorate all the great costumes and yummies. Here is the 2 page layout and a card my monthly scrapbook club made in October. If you live in the Fairborn, OH area and would like to join us, we'd love to have you. All the photos are from last year and showcase my grandson's spooky expressions, lol.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T00:14:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe October is all ready over. Here are the items my monthly card club did for this spooky holiday. They were cased from my talented upline Becky with a few changes to make them my own. If you live in the Fairborn, OH area and would like to join our club email me, we would love to have you.

Perfect Handmade Holiday

2010-10-25T00:44:00.000-04:00

Stampin' Up! has done it again! We have a wonderful special that saves you 20% while you are getting ready for the upcoming holidays. The ABCs of handmade holidays are Amazing cards; Beautiful packaging & Cherished gifts. Check out all the great combos listed below and email me if you would like to place an order.
Happy Stamping!

Bundle Description			Clear-Mount Bundle	Wood-Mount Bundle
*Vintage Christmas Card Bundle* Bells & Boughs Stamp Set Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper	Holiday Mini pg. 19	Holiday Mini Pg. 18	Item #: 124068 Sale Price: $19.92 Spanish # 1204070	Item #: 124067 Sale Price: $23.92 Spanish # 124069
*Contempo Christmas Card Bundle* Contempo Christmas Set Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 45	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 174	Item #: 124072 Sale Price: $17.52 French # 124074	Item #: 124071 Sale Price: $20.72 French # 124073
*Tags til Christmas (TTC) Bundles* *TTC Bundle #1* Tags til Christmas Set Decorative Label Punch *TTC Bundle #2* Tags til Christmas Set Ornament Punch	Holiday Mini Pg. 24	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 203	*Bundle #1* Item #: 124078 Sale Price: $31.92 Spanish # 124080 French # 124082 *Bundle #2* Item #: 124477 Sale Price: $31.92 Spanish # 124481 French # 124479	*Bundle #1* Item #: 124077 Sale Price: $38.32 Spanish # 124079 French # 124081 *Bundle #2* Item #: 124478 Sale Price: $31.92 Spanish # 124482 French # 124480
*Gift Packaging Bundle* Gifted Set Mini Lunch Sacks	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 30	Holiday Mini Pg. 13	Item #: 124084 Sale Price: $19.92 French # 124086	Item #: 124083 Sale Price: $26.32 French # 124085
*Simply Adorned Gift Bundle* Charming Set Simply Adorned 1" x 1-1/4" Charm Simply Adorned 24" Chain	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 130	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 189	Idea Book & Catalog pg. 189	Item #: 124076 Sale Price: $39.88


*Frame Gift Bundle (non stamp bundle)* Definitely Decorative Chunky Frame Small Chocolate Chip Dotted Flourish Décor Elements Definitely Decorative Catalog pgs. 9 & 23		Item # 124075 Sale Price: $19.92

How many more days

2010-10-08T08:35:00.001-04:00

until Christmas? Well, in case you didn't know I will tell you. Only 79 days left until Christmas. I have a class next Saturday (October 16th) and we will make a bunch of xmas tags in a holder. To jump start you all into the holiday spirit, here are some of what we are going to make. Check out the details on my class page or drop me an email if you would like to attend (in Fairborn, Ohio) or receive a class kit via the mail (anywhere not in Fairborn) The class is $20 (plus shipping for kits) and we will make 12 assorted tags. Happy Stamping!

Flowers Forever!

2010-10-06T08:32:00.000-04:00

Another creation with the versatile and fun stamp set Simply Said. Who doesn't love flowers? I wouldn't mind receiving some for any reason or no reason at all! Hint Hint DH, lol too bad he doesn't check out my blog too often. :)

Have you hugged your dog today?

2010-10-05T08:20:00.001-04:00

What about you grandson (or other loved one) I am certainly a doggy lover and even more an ADAM lover and just couldn't resist this post as my little (7 lbs) girl and not so little boy (30lbs) sit on my lap as I type. I dare say in my totally objective opinion that they are the cutest duo I have ever seen. Here is my proof and another card from Simply Said stamp set. Happy Stamping!

Quite a week it was!

2010-10-04T08:11:00.001-04:00

Full of many activities and emotions! My mom and stepdad were here for three days and DH got to meet them. We had a very pleasant time which is no small accomplishment for me and mom, lol. On Thursday, I had my first workshop and three of the ladies signed up for a monthly club, yippee! This weekend sped by and I got lots done, not usually what happens on "days off". All in all, nothing to complain about here :)

Well enough blabbing about off topic stuff, let's see what I kind find in my stash of photos for you to hopefully enjoy. I hope you all have a great week and remember to concentrate on the positive things you experience every day. Happy Stamping! I wish the photo was better but it is one of my favorite cards with this stamp set. (Simply Said)

Last but NOT Least ...

2010-09-25T08:12:00.000-04:00

Tulips! This pocket style card is fairly new to me and I can't seem to get enough of it. I like finding new and different card folds, especially easy one; and this one is Super cute!

Cardstock: Blushing Bride; Old Olive; Mango Mambo (love this color!) & Whisper White

DSP: Old Olive

Markers: Blushing Bride; Mango Mambo; More Mustard; Baja Blue

Embellishments: Scallop Border Punch; Mini X Punch; Pretty Pink 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

And then there were Daisies!

2010-09-24T08:06:00.000-04:00

Daisies make me smile. My step-son's fiance has chosen them for their wedding flowers. I am making their invitations and other paper items. The only kind of frog I like is the kind I can stamp, lol.

Cardstock: Night of Navy; More Mustard; Whisper White

DSP: Night of Navy

Markers: More Mustard; Garden Green & Baja Blue

Embellishments: 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon; Scalloped Edge Border Punch; Mini Flower Punch

Poinsettias & Cardinals

2010-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

What a perfect combination for winter. I love poinsettias; they are big and festive, just like me, lol.

Cardstock: Old Olive; Poppy Parade; whisper white

DSP: Old Olive

Inks: Basic Black; Poppy Parade; Chocolate Chip; Old Olive

Embellishments: 5/8" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon & Old Olive Brads; Dimensionals

Flowers for Fall

2010-09-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

A Flower for All Seasons is one of my current favorite stamp set. The images are so versatile and adorable; great for any occasion. The sunflowers are first since we are closing in on Autumn. Check back the rest of the week for the remaining flowers/seasons.

Cardstock: Peach Parfait; Early Espresso; Crumb Cake; Old Olive; More Mustard &Very Vanilla

Markers: Peach Parfait; Early Espresso; More Mustard; Old Olive

Embellishments: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon colored with More Mustard Marker & Pumpkin brads

Butterflies are Beautiful!

2010-09-18T13:22:00.001-04:00

Who doesn't love butterflies? They are so elegant and colorful. Flight of the Butterfly #111564 includes four images that fit perfectly into our Butterfly Punch #119848. Did I mention that I love when punches and stamps match, lol? I enjoy surfing all the amazing SU blogs and it never ceases to amaze me how the KISS (keep it super simple) technique always catches my eye. Here is a sample of a KISS butterfly card:

Stamp set: Flight of the Butterfly

Cardstock: Whisper White

Inks: Poppy Parade & Basic Black

Accessories: 3/16" Corner Punch

Another thing that seems to catch my eye is a card with a fun fold. The gate fold card is simple to make and adds interest to the standard card size. I would consider this card a sample of KISS also.

Stamp set: Flight of the Butterfly

Cardstock: Whisper White

DSP: Night of Navy

Inks: Old Olive; Basic Black; & More Mustard

102 Days til Christmas

2010-09-15T12:07:00.000-04:00

Amazing how fast the days fly by! Anyone remember worrying over Y2K? That was almost 11 years ago! Anyway, back to Christmas creeping up on us as a very fast pace. I got three classes scheduled for Christmas items to help you get ready. How about 3 cards made from my favorite Christmas stamp set, Holiday Lineup.

Have a Merry Merry Day and check in tomorrow to see what I have up my sleeve.

Happy Tuesday!

2010-09-14T11:50:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I just wake up and feel super great and today is one of those days. So a super favorite card is what I will share with you today. One of my favorite things about Stampin' Up! is the great punches. Currently in first place it has to be the cutest owl ever. This card is similar to one in the 2010-2011 catalog, a few alterations to accommodate my inventory. Hope you "owl" enjoy the card and fly over to the catty to see more great punches.

Monthly Club & Classes

2010-09-13T01:00:00.002-04:00

The best part about being an SU demo is sharing the passion of stamping and seeing people's faces light up when they learn to create new things. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just moments away and we will be celebrating with our stamped creations. There will be photos of the projects we will be making at our monthly club and fall classes posted later this week. Check out the area on the sidebar for all the details.

I'm Baaack!!

2010-09-12T00:45:00.004-04:00

With lots of photos and great news! I decided last month to join the wonderful group of ladies (and a few men) at Stampin' Up! I jumped on board and have been busy creating cards and other goodies to share. The great box of goodies was delivered by the man in brown a few weeks back and here are some of the things I have done with the yummy contents.

A new thing I learned about myself is that I really prefer rubber. Stampin' Up! now offers stamps mounted and unmounted and they are all laser cut so no more fighting with the scissors. This adorable set used to make these cards is called Fun & Fast Notes and has 8 stamps in it; a good variety for every day card making needs.

Copic Certification Class

2010-04-05T21:18:00.002-04:00

I promise, I have not abandoned my blog. It seems time just flew by and I haven't been feeling super creative, so blog didn't happen. However, I did attend a Copic Certification Class last weekend and ...

All I can say is WOW! Sally Lynn MacDonald has more energy than the pink bunny. The class was so informative and quick paced, I am super pleased I was able to participate. Some of the simplest tidbits of information really seem to cause light bulbs to go off over my head, lol. My favorite was a great explanation of the Copic numbering system, which I will share here. I think the letters are pretty clear, the represent the color family, ie blue, violet, yellow, etc. The part that was not so clear were the two numbers following. Well, the first number represents how much gray is in the color, the lower the number the less gray in it. The second number represents the intensity of the color. This makes choosing colors that compliment each other (not same color family) quite easy. If you love R21 and want a blue to go with it, just choose B21, or G21 for a green. They will always look great together. I hope this tidbit will set off a few lightbulbs for you. I will jot down some more of my lightbulb moments as I remember them and hopefully all the practicing I am doing (required to absorb and perfect all the 8 hours of info provided by Sally) will start to pay off in beautiful colored images.

I am ADDICTED

2010-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

to Magnolia stamps! I am lucky that there are so many nice stampers willing to share as I don't own any of the stamps but am able to play with the many images sent to me. Thanks ladies! I recently signed up to the Yahoo! group for Magnolia and am awed and somewhat intimitdated by the wonderful artistic ability of its members. Each month there is a theme for the front page card and one of the submissions is selected randomly and posted on the site. I decided to give it a try for March, which theme was BRIGHT. I gave in to my biggest fault and procrastinated too much to get in posted in time for consideration; however, I don't think anyone could say that it doesn't qualify for not being bright enough, lol.

Butterfly Tilda is having flitting around yet another new style of card, a tri-shutter. The papers are from a super portfolio I found on special at the local discount store (tons of paper & embellishments for $3). She has been colored with copics; if anyone is interested in which, I can start adding them to the page, let me know. There are some epoxy stickers and liquid applique for shine. Another copic quick tip, paper is so important. I am not sure which I like since all my images have been donated, but I do see a huge difference between them. Some of the papers let the ink bleed a lot and it is difficult to remove even with the blender. I have purchased some paper (need to check brand) and want to get some from GKDesigns; I will let you know my thoughts on both as I use them.

Well, have a super Thursday! Weekend is creeping up, yeah! Thanks for stopping by! See you tomorrow.

Julie

Easel Card

2010-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Different card styles attract me and I am always looking for new ones. Here is my first attempt at an easel card. Not tremendously embellised as I was more into getting the thing to stand up, lol. I used some Bazzill cardstock and scraps of pretty pink paper. The round stamp is from a new set I picked up "Just Saying" by Inkydinkydoo. Gotta love MS border punches, they have become one of the things that stay on my table. The raffia just seemed to fit the color scheme and feel of the card. A few brads and some glitter glue snazzed things up a bit. If you would like to make an easel card, jump over to splitcoaststampers.com and check out their resource section.

It is finally starting to warm up here in Dayton, around 40 degrees yesterday and today. I am one of the oddballs who loves the cold and snow, but even I am ready for a little more warmth. It still isn't warm enough to be outside for any length of time so maybe I will be able to have fun at the craft table this weekend, if life allows for it. LOL.

Happy Hump Day! Thanks for stopping by. See you tomorrow.

Julie

Edwin is here!

2010-03-02T10:28:00.002-05:00

I must admit it is hard to give loving attention to both the blog and the copics/stamps without ignoring the family, lol. I haven't posted in a while but have quite a few for this week. Several generous stampers have sent me Magnolia images to play with. Edwin here is my first. Like with everything else, coloring with copics has a learning curve. A quick hint to anyone looking to start buying them, get the super light colors first; I have found that the image gets very dark quickly when blending with some of the colors I have. But, I am still addicted. I convinced my friend, Mary, to join a monthly copic group in Pickerington which is about 1 1/2 hours from us. We went to our first meeting on Sunday and colored some great cupcakes which I will post when they are completed; hopefully not too much procrastination, lol. The store is called Pizzaz It and they have quite a large scrapbook inventory, great staff, and a good selection of sketch copics. On March 13th, we will be selling stuff at a "garage sale" in the store. If you live near by (within 1 1/2 hour) stop by.

Back to Edwin, the papers are a combination of Bo Bunny and ? from my stash. Added some ribbon and buttons and liquid applique to the bike, the dimension it adds is pretty nice. I also tried a new to me technique with prisma pencils for the background, it really adds interest to the image and he doesn't look like he is floating on the bike.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Tuesday. See you tomorrow.

Julie

Happy Birthday Tammy!

2010-02-21T02:13:00.000-05:00

A sistah from SBS29 is celebrating her birthday today! This lady looks like she is about to have a super day and that is what I wish to Tammy today and the whole year! Have fun!

Julie

SBS 29 1st challenge

2010-02-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Our sisterhood has issued its very first challenge and here is my submission to it. It is hard to see in the background I have stamped flowers in versamark. The butterfly was a freebie on a digi site and I colored it with Copics and my favorite Spica markers. Go Spicas!

Sweet Shop Challenge

2010-02-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Playing with my Copics again. Having fun and looking forward to adding more colors! This card is for the Sweet Shop 43 challenge. I really love making cards with the sketches. I have been surfing quite a bit on the SCS swap forum and have several packages going out and several packages coming in. I'm sure the ones that come in will be appearing in my upcoming challenges in the not so distant future; and I hope the ones going out will make the receivers smile. Thanks for stopping by; happy stamping! Julie

Happy Bee Day!

2010-02-13T21:21:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I made enough cards to post a new one every day and it was tons of fun to get all the feedback comments. I am going to try for a repeat this week. My Sunday card is a double challenge: D2D stamps and Sweet Shop sketch. I have never done a circle card and my round cutter wasn't big enough so I had to trace a plate; but, whatever works. :) If you haven't used the Spica glitter pens that are made by the Copic people, go out and get some, they are so super!

Happy Bday Victoria!

2010-02-13T21:02:00.004-05:00

Today is my DSD's 17th birthday! I had a blast making her a bday card and took advantage of the Artful Inkables challenge at the same time. I showed the card to my DH and his overwhelmingly positive comment was "that will work". I sure am glad that Vic liked the card and showed more enthusiasm than Greg, LOL. I am so envious of you lucky ladies whose hubbies will go to craft stores, give opinions and enjoy their creations. I love him anyway, :).

My best effort

2010-02-12T02:03:00.000-05:00

to win the chance at being Mo's guest designer for the month of March. I followed the sketch and had a blast with my Copics and hope the results are Mo worthy. Happy Stamping!

Julie

BEAR HUGS TO ALL!

2010-02-11T01:54:00.000-05:00

Friday Sketchers Challenge posted the following Thursday? Better late than never, I say! Here is the second card that I have practiced my Copic coloring on. I have learned one very important thing about the markers; you really want/need the super light colors or it all becomes quite dark very quickly. I wasn't going to get the light ones until much later and they have jumped to the top of my list now. I absolutely love the Spica markers and probably have been using them too much lately. Just a bit of sparkle without being overwhelming. I can't wait to get my hands on the 12 new colors. Love the sketch and who doesn't love a bear hug? Thanks for looking. Stop back soon.

AND THE WINNER IS...

2010-02-11T00:11:00.002-05:00

by totally random drawing, (everyone's name on a slip of paper for each entry and husband picked one out) one of our SBS29 sistahs ...
Joanne Gilch. Congratulations! I will send out the candy as soon as the snow lets up here a bit. There were 36 new followers and so the first $100 of product will be in your goodie box.
Keep an eye on the blog; I will try to entice more followers with candy a little later.

Mega Blog Candy!

2010-02-10T23:59:00.001-05:00

This post will stay on top until February 10th so the winner can get a nice Valentine gift. There is a lot of goodies in the blog candy as previously promised! The specifics are listed below.

All you have to do to win is:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Become a follower on my blog.

3. Make a post or post photo of candy on your blog.

4. Refer a friend to become a follower. Have your friend include your name in their comment.

There are four chances to win; include in your comment how many entries you have.

Included in candy for up to 50 followers signing up:

50 sheets Bazzill textured cardstock (8x11) (10 colors)

1 flipbook album kit (little girl)

20 clear envelopes (3x8 & 3x4)

2 clear check book covers

1 set unmounted ruber (5 stamps) (love, hearts, anniversary)

1 package adhesive sheets

1 sheet epoxy (31) stickers (island style)

10 bookmark sleeves

1 box hand-stamped watercolor cards

1 hand-made scrapbook in a box (classic autos - heritage style)

1 Prismacolor watercolor pencil - white (great for highlights)

4 Art Impressions stamps (shoe, sassy, flower, & Japanese symbol)

If 51-75 followers sign up - these items will be added:

1 flipbook album kit (little boy)

2 large jars Sparkle N Sprinkle glitter (waterfall & sunny daze)

2 Frame It sets (hearts & ovals)

3 Marvy ink pads (black, salvia blue, & bubblegum pink)

If 76 or more followers sign up - these items will be added:

1 pack Marvy markers (magenta; ochre; eggplant; pine; sepia; terra cotta; prussian blue)

3 envelope templates

1 glitter glue (crystal)

1 texture brush

3 Tsukineko fantastix coloring tool

15 yards ribbon (1 foot of 45 styles)

Thanks so much for checking out my blog and participating in the blog candy event.

Happy Stamping!

Julie

Ooops!

2010-02-10T01:29:00.001-05:00

I made this card for the Bellarific Friday sketch and only had 2 slight problems. I used the sketch but not a Bella stamp (DUH!) and I was too late to submit it. Oh well, my friend had the sentiment stamp and I have a bunch of shoe stamps so I just stamped without thinking. Never happened before and never will happen again, right! LOL. Maybe next time I can actually remember to use a Bella image and be able to submit my card on time. One can always hope.

At midnight tonight, I will pull a slip with someone's name on it who will be the lucky recepient of the blog candy! I will post winner tomorrow. Good luck to all. Happy Stamping!

Happy Birthday Kathy!

2010-02-09T01:21:00.000-05:00

A sistah from the SBS29 group has a birthday today and I hope she received the card I made her before she and everyone else gets to view it here. The party girl is sitting atop a huge box of good wishes that are especially for you Kathy! Have a great day and a healthy, happy year!

Designed 2 Delight Progressive Challenge

2010-02-08T01:38:00.002-05:00

This is a fun challenge and everyone who participates gets multipe FREE digital images. This was really a challenge for me as I have never colored an owl; so I decided to use creative license and went with matching the paper colors via colored pencils. I really am pleased with the results and can't wait to see what the next digi image is. Thanks Designed2Delight!

Procrastination

2010-02-08T01:06:00.003-05:00

is my middle name. I have lots of ideas, tons of good intentions, and even more procrastination. However, this weekend, I rocked it out. I created 7 cards: 2 bday cards and 5 challenges. I now have posts for the entire week! Yeah!

I have a limited selection of Copics but finally decided to give them a try after my class last month. Today's card I made for MOJO124 sketch challenge. I love the expression on this little lady's face and it required few colors. As I progress in ability and selection, I will include the Copics I use if anyone is interested. Thanks for looking. Check back daily this week as I have all the posts ready and the computer doesn't procrastinate. (LOL)

The blog candy entries are continuing to creep in a few at a time; there are about 40 so far and there is still 2 more days to hit the 51 spot or even the 75 spot. I've had fun surfing all the great blogs of those who have signed in.

Better Late than Never??

2010-01-25T21:50:00.008-05:00

Last week I promised a blog candy to be posted later in the week. I did the first part by gathering up all the goodies (and there are a LOT of GOODIES!) But, I didn't take a photo or post it here, yet. I am working on that tonight and will have it posted with the details tomorrow morning. In the meantime, please peruse the last two cards I made and share your similar experiences. Thanks!

Have you ever worked for several hours on a simple card and not loved the outcome? Or thrown together a card in a few minutes and adored the finished project.

I experienced both of these while creating cards for a swap I joined. The first (red & white) one I kept trying different things and papers and layouts and nothing seemed to fit. The card is okay but not something to write home about.

The second (black & white) just seemed to know on its own where to put what piece and I love it.

Don't forget to

check in on Tuesday to see what I have done.

Happy Stamping!

Julie

Check out this great blog and fantastic blog candy!

2010-01-17T22:28:00.002-05:00

This collection of super stuff would make any one of us a happy camper if we were to win! In fact, it has inspired me to dig through my stashes and create my own assortment of blog candy to give away. Check back later this week and see what I have come up with, in the meantime, click on over to Kellie's new blog.

Naughty and Irrisistable?

2010-01-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Another great find in our shop hopping was this adorable naughty stamp that I could not resist. The card sketch is from SC246. The top photo is the outside and the little lower photo is the inside. They came out different colors in the photos but are made from the same cardstock. I'm really bad with remembering which supplies are from which company. As always, card stock is Bazzill and ribbon, papers, brads, etc. are from my stash. I think this card will be a good one for my DH, but he doesn't really get the whole stamping/papercrafts addiction. His comment is usually something monotone like "OH". Not real inspiring but I gotta love him anyway, lol. I guess my eyes glazing over when he discusses the details of the latest basketball or football game, play by play is payback. Hope you enjoy my cards more than he does.

Happy Stamping!

Julie

Valentine collage

2010-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

While blog surfing, I find myself drawn to cards that use the collage layout, so I decided to go ahead and give it a try. Mary and I went shop hopping recently and we found a huge bin of unmounted rubber stamps for $1 and went hog wild. I used both new and old favorites from ever growing stamp collection and embellished with a little ribbon, glitter glue and punches. An easy card to make and I might just try the collage style layout again.

Happy Stamping!

Julie

Copic class results

2010-01-12T20:31:00.004-05:00

I must admit I have neglected my new blog this last week; but, I do have a good excuse, lol. I took a class in copics and haven't been able to stop playing. I have oohed and aahed over all the beautiful cards I see on everyone's blogs and I have watched many tutorials and have not had the nerve to jump in. I finally did so this weekend and boy am I hooked! The class was a Pizzaz It Scrapbooks in Pikerington, OH (near Columbus). Great store, super inventory and very friendly staff!! We only used 6 colors and got great results, I guess that is not showing much modesty, but I am thrilled with the ease of it all. Another great bit of news is that Sally McDonald is going to teach 3 classes there in March and I got to sign up for them all! I am super excited about those. So, if you haven't all ready, go ahead and jump right in to the copic world! I am waiting to place an order for more pens and hope to have lots more cards to share.

Happy Stamping!

Julie

Stamping Blog Sisters #29

2010-01-06T23:48:00.003-05:00

This is a group of fellow bloggers who are helping each other stay motivated and inspired. I am thrilled to be part of this great group of ladies. My name is Julie; I am 44 years old and married to Greg (for a little over a year). We have 4 kids and a grandson and a furry pup too. I have scrapped/stamped for about 20+ years. About 6 years ago, I was a CTMH consultant and for the last 5 years I owned a SB company with my "guardian angel", Mary. We traveled the country to convensions, teaching classes and selling our own line of SB mini album kits and stamps. Mary opted out at the beginning of the year and it is impossible to do on my own - sooooo, I figured another good outlet of my itchy and inky fingers would be a blog. LOL. I hope you enjoy my rambling and my creations. I am looking forward to our new friendship.
Happy Stamping!
Julie

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-01-05T00:05:00.005-05:00

All my plans were for naught. I was going to add bling and gadgets to my blog and make multiple posts over the long weekend; but, alas life happened. LOL.

My mom's birthday is on Thursday and I a have mailed the card on time this year. The layout is challenge SSS37 from The Sweet Stop. The beautiful woman is one of many that Sparkle N Sprinkle has in two sizes. I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and baby oil. I read recently that baby oil works like the odorless mineral spirits and I totally agree. I have not had the greatest results with the spirits and found the baby oil to blend easily. Added a little bling with spica markers and glitter glue. The sentiment says The secret of staying young is... (outside) Living honestly, eating slowly and lying about your age. Lucille Ball (inside). I hope my mom likes it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Happy Stamping Ladies!

Cutie Pie!

2009-12-30T01:30:00.003-05:00

Keep those challenges coming! They do inspire me and I have made more cards in the last week than in the last 3 months (excluding xmas cards for bazaar). I am totally focused on finding a class in copics somewhere within driving distance from my home. I own over 30 markers; but they are not color matched in sets of 3 like they need to be so right now they are more frusterating than fun. Enough complaining, we need good vibes for the new year!!!

This challenge is from the sweet Sunday challenge #SSSC50 This cutie pie is by Imaginations! The cardstock, as always, is Bazzill, not sure what the DP is, the border punch is lattice by Martha, and the ribbon and brads are from my stashes, origin unknown. Coloring by prismacolor pencils. One of my christmas presents from DH is Masterful Color, sadly it is still on backorder. It is supposed to be full of step by step techniques in layering colored pencils. I am impatiently looking forward to its arrival. :)

Have a great week, another 4 day weekend for me, hopefully I will get lost more "stuff" on my blog.

Happy Stamping!

It's in the Bag!

2009-12-27T21:02:00.002-05:00

The last day of a four day weekend; sure went by fast. This card is helping me multi task. The first task is participating in the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge SSS36. The second task is a sneak peak of some great digital images that will be available here next month. A friend of mine, Rodney, is a super artist and he has agreed to let me post some of his drawings. Check in with me early next month and see some more of his adorable graphics.

The card is 5.5" square; cardstock is Bazzill walnut, blush, & coal. The DP is DCWV bling pack. Purse Puppy is a preview of Rodney's images. Colored with prismacolor pencils and some glitter glue, buttons, and rhinestones for bling.

Let it snow!

2009-12-26T18:43:00.005-05:00

Amazing how fast Christmas comes and goes after waiting for it impatiently for months, lol. Well, lots of food and gift opening later and it is time to create.

My goal for this new blog is at least 3 new posts a week, but would love to post daily. Here is my latest challenge creation. Even though it is late Saturday I am contributing to Mojo Monday.

Once again I am using some of the recently acquired paper blocks, this one all cool and wintery as it is here in Fairborn, Ohio. No stamping on this one just great papers, glitter glue, ribbon and a great epoxy sticker for bling. This photo is showing up black when everything in the card is blue. I guess I am still working on perfecting posting photos.

Try to stay warm and have a great week. Happy Stamping!

Photo Ornaments

2009-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

New Years Day 2008, I was lucky enough to go out on a first date with the man who became my DH only 9 months later. I am now blessed with hubby Greg; my son Nick who is away in college; and Greg's three kids: amazing Christian who is learning to play the saxaphone; creative Victoria who is mama to our newest addition, grandson Adam (8 mos) and big brother Roger and his lovely girlfriend Chelsea.

As I mentioned yesterday, I found these photo ornaments on sale and could not resist. Simply colored them with sharpies and embellished with glitter glue and pretty ribbons. By no means fine art but fun, easy and quick.

Hats off to you!

2009-12-21T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hello Ladies. I bet you are all as busy as I am getting ready for Christmas. Yesterday I finished all my shopping and just have a bit of wrapping left.

I was able to sneak in a little time to complete the Friday Sketchers card and hope you like it. Joanne's had a huge sale going on and I picked up three packs of DP from DCWV; the black and cream assortment was used here. The lady stamp is from Art Impressions and the saying is Sparkle N Sprinkle; flower punch is Fiskars and the brads & button are from my stash. Another great find were wood picture ornaments @ 70% off. Stop in tomorrow for pics and details.

My First Post!

2009-12-17T22:12:00.005-05:00

This card I made following the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge SC259. The Stamp is from Outliners inked in Stazon Timber Brown. The cardstock is all Bazzill: Aspen, Pinecone & Yellow. The DP is from Bo Bunny, Autumn Table. I love Martha Stewart's new border punches and have recently splurged on a few. The edging is done using the lattice punch. The ribbon and buttons are from years of collecting everything for scrap/stamping.

JB's Inky Fingers

Free Stampin' Up! Stamps- Great Hostess Benefits

Making Cards - Save the Date!

Card Making Techniques - Embossed Imbedding

Great Things Come in Little Packages!

Blossoms & Butterflies!

Out of My Comfort Zone

Friday Favorites - The Six Tools I Use Every Day

Three Great Things About Owning Your Own Business

Three Card Mon-Day!

Friday Favorites!

Why are There Different Kinds of Scissors in the Catalog?

Big Shot Wednesday!

Do you LOVE chocolate?

Three Card Mon Day!

Score!

Big Shot Wednesday!

What do I LOVE most

Three Card Mon Day

Friday Favorites

Better Late than Never!

Big Shot Candy Box

Monthly Stamp Club Tonight!

Three Card Mon Day

Chicks & Chocolate

Packers or Steelers!

Friday Favorites!

Baby Wipe Techniques

What a night!

Great for a gift to a friend or yourself!

Three Card Mon Day

Teddy Bears - Gotta Love Them!

Superbowl Sunday Special

Friday Favorites!

Join Stampin' Up!

Big Shot Baby!

SALE*A*BRATION is here!

Three Card Mon-Day

Friday Favorites

BIG SHOT WEDNESDAY

Three Card Mon Day

Shopping Anyone?

Scrapbook Club

Stamp Club

More from the Inking Everything Ladies

My Upline Rocks!

Thursday Meetup

New Mini Occasions Catalog is Here!

Happy New Year!

Fall Swap Samples - Last Day

Fall Swap Samples - Day 4

Fall Swap Samples - Day 3

Fall Swap Samples - Day 2

The Swaps have arrived!

November is here!

Happy Halloween!

Perfect Handmade Holiday

How many more days

Flowers Forever!

Have you hugged your dog today?

Quite a week it was!

Last but NOT Least ...

And then there were Daisies!

Poinsettias & Cardinals

Flowers for Fall

Butterflies are Beautiful!

102 Days til Christmas

Happy Tuesday!

Monthly Club & Classes

I'm Baaack!!

Copic Certification Class

I am ADDICTED

Easel Card

Edwin is here!

Happy Birthday Tammy!

SBS 29 1st challenge

Sweet Shop Challenge

Happy Bee Day!

Happy Bday Victoria!

My best effort

SALEABRATION is here!