Thankful for Chicken Pox

As many of you know I've been working as a Substitute at my kids school for the last 6 weeks. What I originally thought would be 2-3 days a week part time job was turning into an everyday full time job. I have a very hard time saying no :) But all that changes Monday, in the morning Emma woke up with little spots on her face, she's always breaking out so I didn't think much about it. When we went to school I told her teacher to let me know if it seemed to bother her. at the end of the day when I got her there were more spots, we went to the school nurse and she said--chicken pox. The diagnosis was confirmed by dr. grandma who came over for dinner that night. Tuesday morning she had more spots and a slight fever. so why am I thankful, well I've now been home for three days and I've gotten so many things done (including laundry there is NOTHING on the basement floor). Emma doesn't feel too bad, in fact I think she's enjoying it. We've had lots of mom and daughter time, and what's our favorite thing to do together. . .STAMP!!

I made the birthday whimsy card using some scraps that were on my table. I love the stripes in the summer picnic paper, I think it's perfect for a boy birthday. And the new silver hodgepodge is so easy to use because the frames are made to fit our punches!!

This is a card I made as a make-n-take at a workshop on saturday. I love pastels and I think some people over look them. on this card I used the live your dream stamp set, with versa mark then took a q-tip and rubbed so saffron and always artichoke lightly over the versa mark. The image just pops out like magic. The ribbon is tied in a knot and adhered with a glue dot, this is a great way to use extra little pieces of ribbon. I know no one wants to waste anything.

Well, Emma probably won't be back at school until at least Monday, so hopefully I'll have more to show tomorrow.

Occasions Mini Try It club

This mini Catalog is full of great new products like paper, hodgepodge hardware, ribbon and rub-ons. We want them all but who can afford that?? So I'm offering a Try-It club. This way you will get a taste of several different products without breaking the bank!!

Here's what you get:

Chunky sprinkles (one color)

Love Birds Rub-ons (1/2 Sheet)

Perfect Day Rub-ons(1/2 sheet)

Carousel Notes(2)

Silver Hodgepodge hardware

Chocolate Chip Poly ribbon (2 yrds)

Old Olive Poly ribbon (2 yards)

Die Cut Blooms

Summer Picnic Designer Paper (1 6x6 sheet of each design)

Afternoon Tea Designer Paper (1 6x6 sheet of each design)

Cost is $25

This Club will close on March 16th! If you want two orders you can choose a free Sale-a-bration Set.

Occasions Mini Catalog

I love this mini catalog. . . Haven't seen it yet well, check it out here http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/occasionsmini08_US.pdf

The card in the picture uses the new summer picnic paper, old olive poly ribbon (this is great to work with) and the die cut flowers. We will be making this card at the stamp-a-stack on Wednesday March 5th.

I'll try to post more samples later.

Kristie's Cards

I posted some pictures of cards I made on Saturday night while stamping with some friends. One of those friends emailed me pictures of what she made so I could share with all of you. Thanks Kristie!! These cards used scraps of Outlaw designer paper, she got them from my new catalog party. I had my scrapbasket out for everyone to take what they wanted, I also had my punches so many people made lots of scallop punches to take home. She also used the Baroque motifs stamp set.
This card was originally designed by Tracy then Kristie changed it and mad it her own. The flower is from Time well spent Hostess set.
This card uses the retired stamp set Big Blooms, this is such an awesome set I'm sorry they retired it, and even sorrier that I didn't get it before it retired. Tracy was very nice to let us play with it!

One fun night of great stamping with Friends

Last night I spent the evening with some friends stamping for fun. Some of you may not realize this but I don't make time to stamp for myself very much. I'm usally stamping to get ready for a class or workshop. But last night I just played. I had three goals 1. use stamp set that I didn't have at home (the great thing about stamping with other people is sharing your stamps and tool) 2. use some of my scraps (they are starting to really pile up) and 3. have fun with friends. I accomplished all three. I didn't make a big dent in my scraps but I did use some of them.

The next three pictures use the True Friend Stamp set. I didn't love this when it first came out but it was very easy to work with and I think I fell in love with it last night. I used a lot of versa mark on these cards. It makes a great background.


the next two cards use Baroque basics. I have Baroque motifs and use it a lot. I also used the big flower from the pretties kit and laid it on the bayou blue stamp pad. Then I used my bone folder to press the flower into the ink pad. The color was still a little blotchy so I used the aqua painter to brush the the color all over the flower. I then let it dry and adhered it with crystal effects. I punched a circle of chocolate and coverd it in crystal effects to give it a shine and adhered it to the center of the flower.
These next two I made with the Birthday Whimsy Sale-a-bration set. I love it. It's perfect for all birthdays; boys, girls, men, women, friends. . .everyone! Both cards were made using the In colors.
Okay so I have wanted big flowers and little flowers forever--why don't I get them? I don't know becaue they are awesome!!!!!!!!! So easy to work with. I think they would be great to do a one sheet wonder with. You all know what that is don't you?

I also have to say that last July when the new In Colors were released I wasn't in love. I espcially didn't love the purely pomegrante. But I've learned to love the pomegrante, especially the thick satin ribbon.

Well I hope you like all the ideas. I'm getting a shipment of new toys tomorrow so keep checking this week for more samples.

Valentine's Day

I have people ask me all the time what kind of cards I really send to people. Do I send left overs from classes or do I make special cards for each individual. Well the answer is yes to both.

For most classes I cut enough for 2 or 3 extra cards in case someone brings a friend or comes that didn't rsvp. So after the class or workshop I make the remaining cards, then I put them in my card box. I use these cards for different occasions through out the year. However there are times where I will make a card specifically for a person. This Valentine's Day I made special valentines for my husband and my kids. They also made a special valentine for me and for their friends.Emma (5 years old) made this card for me using Loads of Love, I opened the stamp pads and let her loose with my scraps and she made this beautiful card. (she even got the driver in the truck perfectly)
Emma and Caleb (7 years old) also made their own valentine's for their classmates. They each stamped and colored the goody bags then put a sticker label on the back with to and from. This is one of Emma's. I know because she colored all the eyes pink and Caleb said that made them look sick.

these are the cards I made for Caleb and Emma, I think it's hard to make a boy valentine but the elephant works great!

And of course I made a special one for my husband, I love the brown satin ribbon and could use it on every card, but that would break the bank so I only use it on special cards. I also used two of my favorite stamp sets define your life and baroque motifs.

The three cards I made are 51/2 inch squares. My mom-in-law came across a box of 5 1/2 in square envelope a while back and gave them to me. I only really use them for cards that I'm going to hand deliver because they require extra postage. But I love the look of a square card. I think it's just something different.

So now you've seen some of the things that I've made. . .I'd love to see what you've been making. Take a picture and email it to me. I'll post your project on my blog.

Spring Stamp-a-Stack

It's been a while since I've offered any classes at my house. that's because my loving husband has been working very dilligently on our dining room. It's not done yet but he's made great progress. However there are just so many great things that I want you to get to play with out of the Sale-a-bration catalog and the new Occasions mini catalog that I couldn't not do a class. We will be using rub-on, die cut flowers and new hodgepodge hardware!!!

March 5th at 6:30pm, My House, the cost is $20 for 15 cards and envelopes.

Please RSVP by March 2nd and invite a friend!!