Something Old, Something New!

I have just received my catalogues today and I'm like a kid in a candy store!!!LOL!!! One of the coolest things that Stampin' UP! has added to this seasons catty are the Stampin' Technique pages. Scattered throughout the book are instructional pages with photos, guiding you step by step through various techniques. Fabulous idea!!! and what a bonus for you....and especially to newbies just discovering stamping :)

Well I've created my must have list and working on a wish list....is there really a difference!

As a toast to the past I've included these beautiful cards that my Mom made with a retired set that she purchased. These cards are just gorgeous; she has a real flair for water colouring. The images are stamped in black stazon ink and coloured in using the water colour crayons and aqua painter.

Never Before Seen Promotion!!!

From August 11-September 30, Stampin' Up! is providing never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalogue--no additional purchase necessary. From August 11-September 30, Stampin' Up! is providing never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalogue--no additional purchase necessary.

This is such an exciting time for Stampin UP! With the arrival of the new catalogue comes so many amazing deals and new products!!! Contact me for details on the new recruit specials, and hostess bonuses starting August 11th!

Download the flyer!

http://www.stampinup.com/ca/documents/Never_Before_Seen_CA.pdf

Lovely as a Tree

It has been a long time and my poor blog has been very very neglected. On the up side I have been enjoying the weather and keeping busy:) I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer so far! I have to admit I am soooo excited, Stampin' UP! has some very exciting things happening over the next few weeks.....the new catalogue is coming out and I feel like a kid at Christmas! I just can't wait...LOL! I have many projects to share with you, so check back the updates will be happening more frequently for the next bit as I try to catch up and share.

I grouped some cards that my mom, aunt and I made with the Lovely as a Tree set. These cards make fabulous masculine cards.....always a challenge...lol. Or they are great as Christmas cards as well. I plan to make some with white glitter to look like snow at Christmas time.

We tried different colouring techniques to get slightly different effects. The tall Christmas tree was coloured using water colour crayons. Stamp the tree in stazon ink, it helps to minimize the bleeding, and colour with 3 water colour crayons. Using the aqua painter blend the colours together. It gives it a very natural look.

The oak tree with the tear across the bottom was a card that I did at one of my club workshops. Everyone was intimidated by the card, but once they saw how easy it was they dove right in! I wish I had taken a picture because all of the trees turn out slightly different but equally as beautiful. We have been experimenting colouring with different techniques and we have really enjoyed it! If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it....it's easier than it looks :)

Introducing Decor Elements!

Introducing Décor Elements™. . . Stampin’ Up!®’s new addition to our Definitely Decorative® product line! Our Décor Elements designs coordinate with many of our exciting products, so you can combine them to make beautiful, handcrafted home décor pieces. Personalize your surroundings with a variety of exclusive images designed to create a customized, unique space. With our self-adhesive vinyl elements (which are easy to apply and remove), you’ll discover how easy and cost effective it can be to do your own decorating!

Hodgepodge Hardware Discount!

From July 1 through August 10, the following Hodgepodge Hardware finishes are being offered at a special 25 percent discount:

• item #105532 pg. 188
  Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware, reg $35.95 on sale for $25.08
• item #105531 pg. 188
  Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, reg $35.95 on sale for $25.08
• item #105515 pg. 188
  Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, reg $35.95 on sale for $25.08

Don't wait too long--these products are retiring and are only available while supplies last! Contact me to place your order today!

Embrace Life!

Sometimes simplicity is everything. I was inspired by a card that my mom did, actually the only thing I changed was the colours (this is what I had on hand) and the scallop at the bottom, she had a different punch. Maybe I should be taking credit for her creativity? LOL! I couldn't do that....there's more than enough creativity and kudos to go around.

The flower is from the Embrace Life (pg.84, item# 111011) set and coloured in with Pale Plum and Perfect Plum markers. The card stock is Very Vanilla and Perfect Plum, a very elegant and rich combination. The sentiment is from Short & Sweet (pg.146, item# 109369). The scallop was made with the corner rounder....I did a tutorial a while back if you haven't done this yet. Voila! Another card done and many many more to go! lol!

My Dear Kind & Wonderful Friend

This is a quick and easy but very elegant card, if I do say so myself...lol. Yep that's me patting my back...I truly love this sentiment "My dear kind & wonderful friend" I think it's because that's exactly how I feel about the ones I love. I feel truly blessed and fortunate to have such wonderful women in my life, with the kindest of hearts, that I am truly proud to call my friends. I wish they had this stamp but with the word Mother replacing Friend. Although I am lucky that my mom is both my friend and my mother.

So this card is made with Basic Grey and Soft Sky card stock. I am really going to miss Soft Sky when it retires in August with the rest of the In Colour family. I don't know how Stampin Up! is going to top themselves this year! The background is stamped in Encore Silver ink, with the Baroque Motifs (pg. 120 item#109403) and the sentiment (All Holidays pg. 146 item #109397) is embossed in silver embossing powder. Sheer ribbon is added for that elegant touch and voila! Quick and easy and oh so beautiful!

Wonderful You!

I have the cutest little story to tell about my bestest gal pals while we were making this card at a recent club. I'm telling this story with love and affection:-) My girlfriend B was the first to arrive, and she started making this card. When she got to the end she picked up the "wonderful you" stamp looked at it and said "wonderful me!" and stamped it on. My friend L arrived late and about an hour or so later she was making the same card....she picked up the same stamp and said "wonderful me!". B and I started laughing.....I kept looking at them wondering if it was me or their reading! LOL! Actually I know the truth, they were right, they truly are wonderful!

This card was made with Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip cardstock. The background was wheeled on with the Stemp & Silhouettes wheel (pg.91 item #111262) in So Saffron. I stamped the leaf stamp from the Wonderful You (pg. 91 item#111181) stamp set in Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery. It's such an elegant set with so many possibilities. When I got this set I thought it would be great for double stamping....but I have yet to do that with it! I've coloured in the outlines of the flower, I've stamped the solid leaves, maybe next time I'll double stamp!

Happy stamping! I hope you are enjoying creating as much as I am!

Escape with Stampin' UP! and Save!

Put down the phone, turn off the computer, and break free from the ‘e’! Remember when you got letters in your mailbox instead of your inbox? On June 25, 2008, Stampin' Up! is taking the day to unplug and unwind, and reconnect on a personal level with friends and loved ones through handmade cards. And we invite you to eScape with us throughout the month of June!

Reconnect with your “wireless network” by attending an escape event or hosting one of your own! Take advantage of the 25 percent discount on select products in the eScape bundle to help you create that special message from the heart.

eScape Bundle (item 113700):
Circle of Friendship stamp set p. 143 $22.95
Love Notes assortment p. 167 $11.50
Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad p. 165 $6.75
Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon p. 191 $10.50
Total (non-bundled) $51.70
eScape Bundle price $36.05

Contact me to place your order! A great savings so take advantage...I know I will...lol.

Happpy Father's Day!

Manly cards are more challenging than making something pretty and full of flowers and butterflies and all things feminine. Or is it just me? Maybe it's the fact that most of my stamps center on a more feminine theme....that definately doesn't help things :) On the up side that means I get to buy another stamp set...oh no! lol!

Well I figured the best place to start was with a manly colour scheme. I did the same card in two different colour ways....can you guess which one I did first? The top left card is made on basic grey, blue bayou and whisper white card stock. I used the encore silver ink pad to apply the ink all over the dotted stamp, and used the brayer to apply even pressure on the back of the inked stamp. The happy father's day stamp is from the All Holidays stamp set. This has turned into one of the most versatile sets there are! Seriously! Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, Christmas, My Dear Kind and Wonderful Friend, and many more! The Happy Father's Day stamp is embossed in silver on this card and gold on the next card.
This next card uses Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Blue Bayou card stock. The background is stamped with Chocolate Chip Classic ink pad and accented with Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon. This card is so verstatile, if you change up the sentiment on the front it can be for almost any occassion. In fact some of the stampers at the Bradford Club used the Birthdays are the Best stamp on the front of the card. I should have took a picture because it turned out really good! Why is it that hind sight is 20/20 and foresight not so much? lol!