snow bird

Dasher looks dashing....

...in pearls.  There are even a few pearls in is antlers.

Classic Christmas

Red, Green, Santa...this is a Classic Christmas Card!!

Become a Demo Today!!

rudolph

Online Spectacular!!!

If you ever considered getting My digital studio...now is the time at 50% off!!

Old fashion Christmas...

a little more bling...

I LOVE all the white on this card...the textures are beautiful and in real life the rhinestones' sparkle takes your breath away.

Is there such thing as too much bling?

I love these self adhesive rhinestones...they really create a WOW!

Something I learned last year...

 The silver is duct work tape from the hardware store embossed using embossing folders...quick easy and self adhesive :)

One Layer Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I made a pumpkin with punches...

Gratitude

Here's another fall...

leaves...

Back Again...

I'm so grateful to have had some time to stamp this weekend.  I hosted an all day stamping/scrapbooking event and I was actually able to create as well!!  I've been working outside the home the last few weeks so I"ve had a hard time working in stamping time.  Here is one of the many cards I made Saturday.  This week I'll be showing you Fall/Thanksgiving cards...next week I'll let you peek at the Christmas cards.

All Day Crafting and Scrapbooking!!

Saturday November 6th

9am to 9pm

Irvington Presbyterian Church

Cost is $25 (includes lunch and dinner)

Bring your own supplies to work on.  This is a great time to work on scrapbooks, make Christmas cards, or get a jump start on holiday gifts!!

RSVP by October 30th!

snowflakes into wreaths

 My first year as a demonstrator I was planning a Christmas card stamp-a-stack and realized I didn't have enough Christmas stamps to make 4 different cards.  I saw an idea to use a small flower stamp in different greens to make a wreath.  I immediately fell in love.  On the original card I used the flower from a retired set called Heartfelt Thanks.  The last five years I have made some variation on this idea.  This time I used snowflakes.

I love embossing folders

Especially this one with snowflakes.  With this simple Christmas card no one can tell me they send too many cards to make them. 

Christmas card reworked

I used a basic design from last years Christmas Card stamp a stack and made a new card for this year.

Happy World Card Making Day

Did you know that cardmaking is so important that it has it's own holiday?  Well it does and it's today.  I encourage you to take a moment and make a card for someone (and don't forget to send it).  The joy of giving cards is what hooked me to this craft!!

Here's one of the cards we made at the Christmas Card stamp-a-stack.

First Christmas Card Stamp-a-stack

Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack

Monday Sept 20th at 6:30pm

my house

Cost is $15

You will make 12 Christmas cards...all supplies included.

RSVP by noon on Monday

Halloween Milk carton, with different focal point

I used the stamp set from the mini catalog that has 4 sayings...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentines Day!

To get a sampling of Holiday crafts come to my class on Wednesday at 6:30.  We will cover all 4 of those holidays.  Cost is $15 and you must pre registers.

Halloween Sweet Treat Cup

Tangerine Tango, Elegant Eggplant
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
Spiderweb embossing folder, White craft ink

 This is another sample that I made up for the Indy Style show.  I knew I wanted to make a Halloween treat but couldn't decide what to make.  I love the spiderweb embossing folder in the Holiday mini.  I used a whisper white craft stampin' spot to rub across the top to highlight the spider web. 

Halloween Mini MIlk Carton...as seen on TV

Tangerine Tango, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant
Sweet Centers stamp set

1. Cut Tangerine Tango Cardstock using Big Shot and milk carton die.  Then fold all score lines.
2. Apply adhesive to the tab and attach to the inside of box.  Apply adhesive to Old Olive satin ribbon and wrap around the box. 
3. Apply adhesive to the bottom flaps of the box and fold in.  Fill box with candy of your choice.  Close the top of the milk carton with a staple or brad.  Be careful to only close one end so the other can open to pour out the goodies.
4. Using markers apply ink directly to the rubber stamp.  After all colors have been applied gently huff on the stamp and stamp onto Whisper White card stock.
5. Punch the stamped image out using a 1 1/4 inch circle punch, punch tangerine tango cardstock using 1 3/8 inch circle punch, punch elegant eggplant cardstock using the scalloped circle punch.  Adhere these together and attach to the milk carton using dimensional adhesive.
6. Give to someone you love!

Today on Indy Style....ME!!

An old watercolor technique revisited

Sometimes what is old, becomes new again.  I was going through some old cards and I found a card that reminded me of one of my favorite watercolor techniques.  Do you know why it's my favorite?   Because it is so easy.

1. Cut the watercolor paper in half.  Using watercolor crayons lightly color the entire piece of paper starting with the darkest color first.
2. Use aqua painter or paint brush to paint water on to the paper.  Work the water into the crayon until it is the desired lightness.
3. Set the paper aside to dry while you work on the other parts of your card.  You can also use your heat gun to dry the paper.
4. When paper is completely dry stamp line image on top of the water colored paper using a dark ink such chocolate chip or early espresso (as used here).

Simple card from a workshop make and take

 We made this at a workshop a week or so ago.  Super simple.  The pearls and embossing make it look so elegant!

Sometimes the paper is so pretty that's all you need

This card is a perfect example of that.  I love the colors in the Greenhouse Gala designer series paper.  In fact sometimes I love the paper so much I hoard it and I don't use it.  I must have gotten out this pack of paper a dozen times this month, looked at it, touched it...but I didn't dare cut it.  I'm very happy I finally did.  I wanted to give this paper center stage so I paired it with one of my favorite says from "Full of Life" stamp set, and embellished with a small flower and brad.

Sept 1st brings exciting stuff!!

Today is the day you can order from the holiday mini!  Nope it's not too early to start thinking about Halloween, Thanksgiving or even Christmas.  It's time to start planning, and you are going to have a great time making projects with some of the great new products in the Holiday Mini.  A few of my favorites are the spider web embossing folder, beautiful holiday buttons, Autumn spice designer series paper, sound cards, fabric...oh there's just too much to list.  So take a look for your self!

Click the catalog to download in .pdf format!

The other great thing about September 1st is that it is the first day for the new Recruiting promotion.  Stampin' UP! is giving away this great craft tote to all new recruits from now until October15th.  Stampin' Up designed this great tote for stampers...my favorite thing, besides the color and pattern, is that it is designed to fit my 12 inch paper trimmer.  I've had several craft tote...none that fit my paper trimmer, or at least very well.

To learn more click on the picture above or just give me a call!

Last day for summer mini order!!

This was one of my favorite cards made this summer.  I love the ice cream...it just feels so summer.  It's not too late to order the the stamp set...get it today before it's retired!

We will also be making this card tonight at the Stamp-a-stack.

Not just for 4th of July

This card was made using the July 4th stamp set out of the Summer mini catalog.  The stars are great for boy and girl birthday...Stars also work well for baby theme cards.  Color scheme plays a large roll in the feel of the card.  Based on color scheme alone a card can feel more masculine or feminine, adult or child.  Think about who you are making your card for when choosing your colors.

This is a card we will be making at the Stamp-a-Stack Tuesday.  There's still time to register.

Stamp-a-stack tomorrow...not too late to RSVP

Summer Stamp-a-stack

Tuesday August 31st

6:30pm-8:30pm

Make 12 cards for $15

All supplies included.  Just come stamp and have a good time.

To crop or not to crop?

I was recently going through some old pictures.  As I was looking at them I realized that what I enjoyed looking at was more than the people in the photo, it was also the background. 

This picture of me sitting on my dad's lap is a perfect example.  When I saw it I immediately was drawn to the kitchen I grew up in.  I scanned the shelves in the cabinet noticing the Tupperware tumblers that we drank out of, the beautiful blue glass jars lining the counter (that I wasn't allowed to play with).  And of course the Wonder Woman place mat...all great memories. 

So what's my point?  Simple.  If this were a picture of my daughter sitting on my husbands lap that I was getting ready to scrapbook, I would crop out everything but the people.  I would pay no attention to what at that moment is simply a messy background.  But to those viewing the photo 30 years later, the messy background is just a fun to look at and brings back just as many memories as the people in the photo.

My answer to the scrapbooker's question of to crop or not to crop is....NOT to crop.  At least don't crop them all!  One day your child will look at your scrapbook and say something as silly as "I loved that place mat."  And isn't that the purpose of scrapbooks...documenting our life to spark the great memories later?

individual shots of watercolor kids

ok, so you've seen this one before.

Isn't she cute with her bright orange dress and her handmade valentine...I love her.  I also love that this card uses the square scallop die that is in the Holiday Mini (it might be my new favorite)

off to school...how sweet, do you think he's carrying her books?  I love this pattern of the prints designer paper.  I think it gives a great old fashion feel that really works with this stamp set.

Love this...these images fit perfectly into this square and it really makes the focal image pop.  As I was coloring the image I thought...I want purple tights :)

You have until August 31st to order this great kit...contact me today!!

Watercolor Card Kit

I'm offering the Watercolor card kit using the new Greeting Card Kids stamp set until August 31st.

Kit cost $15 and includes paper and accessories to make 8 cards and directions.

What you need to complete these cards are: stamp set, stazon ink in black or brown, aqua pen or paint brush, ink pads (pumpkin pie, real red, rich razzleberry, old olive)

With this kit you get to play with so many fun new things, the stamp set, brights buttons, brights brads, brights designer paper, water color paper!  It's a great deal.

If you need it shipped please add $5 for shipping.

Celebrate Summer with a Stamp-a-stack

So everyone is lamenting the end of summer because school has started...but it's not over yet people!!!

To Celebrate what is left of summer I'm having a Summer Stamp-a-Stack!

We will make 12 cards using products from the Summer mini, this will be the last chance to order the products from the Summer Mini catalog...so don't miss it!

Summer Stamp-a-Stack
August 31st at 6:30
My house

Cost is $15 if you prepay...$18 the night of the event.

gratitude...a sneak peak

There are several things on this card from the new holiday mini that will be available September 1st. The stamp set is beautiful. The coordinating designer paper is wow!! It's actually the weight of card stock and has texture as well as the design. As you can see for this card I used the designer paper as the focal point of the card.

And last but not least the square scalloped die for the big shot...I'm in love!

I got some new stuff...

When I first looked at the catalog this stamp set jumped out at me. It's

called greeting card kids. I love it. I used the aqua pen and the ink pads to water color it...I still need practice doing that. The pumpkin polka dot paper is from the brights prints stack of paper and the button is from the brights button collection. I was never a big fan of the brights collection before the color renovation, but now it's one of my favorites!!!

Oh and the sentiment is a sneak peak from the Holiday mini....check tomorrow for another sneak peak.

Ever have a card you don't love....

Then you add this and change that ... then you love it!!! That's how I was with this card. I'm pretty happy with the end result.

Butterfly, fly away

A little more bling on this butterfly...love it! I used the paper piercer to free hand a design to look like it was flying. The background was a little plain so I used the elegant lines embossing folder. It has the same fluttery feel that the embossing on the butterfly has.

Today's seems very funeralish

I think the card is beautiful, but with the black and the pearls is makes me think of a funeral. This card is so simple, but the elegant ribbon and the adhesive pearls really make this card go from blah to wow. Have I told you how much I love the self adhesive rhinestones and pearls...LOVE THEM!!

Wedding Thank You

It's not really but that's what it makes me think of. I love the texture of the wallpaper embossing folder with the black satin ribbon...wow! The cardstock is rose red and pink pirouette.

a little faux stitching

This flower is from apple blossom level two stamp set. I used the same flower for the background as I did for the focal point. Added some faux stitching (free hand paper piercing then use white gel pen to make the stitching). I thought it needed a little something else so I added a few paper buttons with twine and bling!!

I love the self adhesive rhinestones. I would say that so far they are my most favorite thing in the new catalog...what's yours?

Printed Petals

I love this flower from the Printed Petals stamp set...it's so easy to cut out!! I used a build a brad for the center but you could easily use a circle punch, or button. so cute!!

August Hostess Special

What a great time to have a workshop...contact me today to schedule yours!

My first stamp set out of the new catalog

had to be "Morning Cup" I've been waiting for a new coffee/tea stamp set since they retired "like it a latte". The sentiments in this set are great "a morning without coffee is like sleep" How true!!

You should also know that this is my first clear mount set. Yes you heard correct I have made the switch to acrylic blocks and clear mount stamp sets. Why would someone who claimed just a month ago that she would never switch, switch?

1. You can see what you are stamping and where you are stamping.
2. They are so much easier to store
3. They are CHEAPER!!!
4. Stampin' UP! is now selling a very cool case to hold your acrylic blocks.

But I knew most of that before, what sold me was when I used them at a fellow demonstrator's house. I was wowed by how easy they were. Now I'm still not sure how I'm going to work some of my stamp-a-stacks. I"m worried I won't have enough blocks but I'll figure that out soon enough.

The moral of this story is if you are thinking about whether you want something or not, or if you'd like it...play with someone else's before you make your decision.