Occasions Mini Stamp-a-stack

Here are the cards we are making at tonight's stamp-a-stack. All of the cards use something from the Occasions Mini. The original ending date for that mini catalog was May 31st, but Stampin' UP! extended it to June 30th so you still have time to order.

This is a very simple card, the stamp set is "so much". I used the coluzzle to cut the circle around the flower and adhered the glitter using sticky tape (I love that stuff). Simple but not boring.

This card uses the rub-ons, die cut blooms and summer picnic designer paper. The die cut bloom are really fun to use with rub-ons or layering, makes quick and easy cards.
This card uses the afternoon tea designer paper and the "live your dream" stamp set, and of course my favorite punch the scalloped circle punch.

Another card using "live your dream"stamp set and afternoon tea designer paper. This time it's paired with kraft paper and ribbon and a piece of the carousel notes.
This card is fun, I used markers to color the words in different colors, and cut the main image an irregular shape just to add a little something interesting. the paper is from summer picnic and the brads are from the silver hodgepodge hardware. the stamp is from the set "full of life" it has a lot of great sentiments in it.

Father's day cards

Here are a couple of cards that I made for Father's day.

I used a chipboard star and covered it with real red prints paper. I don't use chipboard a lot but I do like the look of it. I stamped DAD using school house serif and cut out the letters. To add a little more texture I covered the letters with crystal effects to give it a smooth glossy texture.
This card is one we will be making at the "It's raining men" class. The image is colored using our stampin' pastels.

I still struggle with "man" cards. But I'm making myself make more of them so they become more natural. I just instinctively go for ribbon and flowers.

Scrapbooking Accomplishment!!

I don't but a lot about scrapbooking on my blog because I just don't do it enough. I tell people that I scrapbook because I'm a mom and the guilt of not scrapbooking would consume me. So I'm a pretty simple scrapper. I figure there are three important components to scrapbook pages; pictures, journaling and embellishments. Pictures are most certainly the most important part, and the journaling continues the story of the pictures but the embellishments well they are just eye candy. So why is it we (I) stress so much about the embellishments that sometimes I go for months with out scrapbooking??
Last month I decided to overcome the worry of embellishments and layouts. I went to the library and got a great book of all different scrapbook layouts, the best part was that it was organized not by theme or season but how many pictures you had per page. I thought it was genius. After I sorted my pictures of the Zoo (above) I counted how many pictures I had then looked for a layout that would work with that many pictures. How easy!
Everybody scraps a little differently. Some people have a topic for your scrapbook that is on going like "The Holidays" or one of your children and you add to that scrapbook every year. Or maybe you scrapbook events like vacations or weddings, where there is a definite end. I tend to scrapbook chronologically. I have a scrapbook for every year (actually one year usually take two albums so I have vol 1 and vol 2). Of course both my kids have a baby book, although I wasn't scrapbooking then so it is just a normal baby book. And I do occasionally do a album that is and event (I'm starting our Disney Vacation Album).
Anyway last month was National Scrapbooking Month (did you know there was such a thing?) so I decided that I need to do some serious catching up on my scrapbook. I was up to June 2006 (nearly two years behind). So I cleared off my work table, got out my 12 x12 paper (stopped myself from making a quick card) and started working. I wanted to finish 2006 by the end of May 2008. In order to do that I did not use a lot of embellishments. I did a few titles but focused mainly on the great pictures and had fun jounaling.
I'm proud to say that I did in fact finish 2006 and it is a great feeling. I've decided to attack the Disney vacation pictures (June 2007) before I start on the actual album for 2007.

I hope you will be inspired to do some scrapbooking, remember focus on pictures and journaling, that's what is going to wow your loved ones years down the road not the layout or the buttons, ribbon and brads.

ChipBoard 25% off

May is national scrapbooking month so to help get you scrapping Stampin' UP! is offering 25% off all On Board Chipboard products in the Fall/Winter Collection when you spend $35 in product.

In addition they are giving away a free Hobby Blade when you purchase the cutting mat. These tools are great for easy layering.

These promotions end May 31, 2006

Sorry there's no pictures--I'm having some technical difficulties!

Little League Time

I'm the youngest of three and every spring/summer we all played little league. In my memory from Rainy and cold Spring break until hot and humid Fourth of July we were at the ball park every night and every Saturday for either a practice or a game. Every evening we'd rush home from school search through the dryer for a clean uniform (if it wasn't there we'd check the bathroom floor). Dinner was eaten in a rush either before the game or practice or in a rush after so we could get to bed at a reasonable time. I remember the year my mom was in charge of the concession stand, I'm sure that I ate more hot dogs, nachos and frozen pizza for dinner that year than ever before.

These are some of my favorite childhood memories. I will admit that I never like playing ball but I loved being at the ball field. Over the last few years I've wondered if these memories have been exaggerated. Surely we weren't there every night it just felt that way to my 8 year old self so that's how I remember it as an adult.

Well this year I have confirmed that my 8 year old memory is right on! Emma and Caleb are both playing ball this year and every night someone has a practice. This Saturday is the first day of games, and I find myself saying "please don't let their games be at the same time, but don't make them too far apart either". From now until around the 4th of July I will be watching games, sometimes with an umbrella and other times with sunscreen. Family dinners will be quick and easy and occasionally frozen pizza, hot dogs or nachos. And I hope Caleb and Emma remember this season of the year with as much fondness as I do when they are all grown up.

What does this sappy memoir have to do with you, well you can expect fewer samples to be posted. My goal is one post a week, and I'll continue setting that goal, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it if I don't make it.

Man Cards

Last Saturday a few of my stamping friends got together to make cards. The general consensus was to make "Man-ly" cards. This is a subject that most cardmakers struggle with so I thought you'd like to see what these stampers made. I wasn't feeling well so I had to cancel, I was so bummed. I highly encourage you to get together with some friends and stamp. Share tools and stamps and feed off of each other's creativity. Sometimes you need someone to say "it's a little plain" or "That's plenty of Bling".

Kristie's Card: Lovely as a Tree stamp set


Tracy's Card: Wanted stamp set

Angie's Card: Wildlife Reserve Stamp Set

I hope you are inspired by these ladies. I'd love to see what you do with your own stamps. Send me an email you might make it on my blog.

Stamp is from the Full of life set in the occasions mini. I used markers so that I could highlight the word happy by using a different color. You can really see it in the picture but I also used dimensional to pop up the sentiment.
I left the sentiment off of this on, I thought I could make it whatever I needed at the moment I need it. I used one of the brads from the new silver hodgepodge hardware (I really love this stuff) for the center of the flower.

These cards were so fast and easy to make. I used the new die cut blooms. The colors match the summer picnic paper so it's like they were made for each other. (Old olive, pumpkin pie, real red and bashful blue)