Halloween House Silhouettes

I have been totally enjoying and making good use of the Holiday Home stamp set and Homemade Holiday framelits.  I am not big into decorating the house for Halloween and today's card kind of reflects the Halloween embellishments I have in my house~~few! I simply diecut the houses using black cardstock and adhered them to  retired DSP layered on black cardstock.  The glitter strip is actually glitter tape from CTMH~~easy embellishment! The sentiment is from the Good Greetings stamp set, which you can earn by placing a $300 workshop or personal order.  But, the Holiday Home stamp set does include a Happy Halloween stamp which will also fit on the Modern Label punch.  I am looking at the card right now and it needs a little something~~a couple little bats!  They will fly onto the card before I send it!  Can you believe that this weekend marks the end of summer?  I can't! Summer went by way too fast.  Keep safe while you enjoy this Labor Day weekend. 

Blackberry Summer Silhouette

As much as I don't want summer to go, I can feel a little Fall in the air.  Today's card was made using the Summer Silhouettes stamp set and the pretty Blackberry Bliss cardstock and ink, which to me is a perfect Fall color.  I thought about adding Blackberry Bliss ribbon, but sometimes, less is more.  The sentiment is from A Dozen Thoughts.  These are two sets which could go a long way in making gift sets of greeting cards for family and friends.  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time!

All Is Calm DSP

Today's card was creating using a Lost Lagoon card base and a pattern from the All Is Calm DSP collection in the Holiday Mini which goes live on August 28th!  The paper is very pretty with the colors being Lost Lagoon, Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky and Whisper White.  The collection even includes 2 foil-embossed patterns.  The stars were punched and/or die-cut, the sentiment is from the Endless Birthday Wishes set and then there is the bow!  Once again I used my new Amuse mini bow die with my Stampin' Up Soft Sky DSP.  How cute it looks on this card.  Have a great day!

White Embossed

I was flipping through photos of cards on the internet and there were a few that were simply embossed using white embossing powder.  So, out came my embossing powder and heat gun.  I used a section of the Pleasant Poppies stamp and a sentiment from Blooming With Kindness for the Real Red card. After stamping the images using Versamark and heat setting the white embossing powder, I added a piece of the white cotton ribbon to finish off the card.  For the Halloween card I used a number of stamp sets~~Holiday Home,  Good Greetings and the retired Googly Ghouls.  This card was finished off with our Black Baker's Twine.  Both cards have white liners for future writing or stamping of sentiments.  Have a great day!

Happy Monday

So we went to the Scrapbook Expo on Friday and had a very nice time.  We got sucked into this

glitter and glue demonstration.  It is the finest glitter made and is applied after you stamp an image using glue.  You let the glue set for a minute or so and then apply it with your fingertip rubbing it into the glue.  Syd and I came home after the expo and went downstairs to play with our glitter~~nothing like at the demonstration we saw.  Saturday, I had a few ladies over and playing with the glitter was a biggie.  Everyone got the hang of it and I am sure many cards will be created using glitter.  I love glitter, but not the mess associated with it.  I will stick to Dazzling Details, Wink of Stella and my other glitter pens.  I did get some pretty paper and these cute bow dies from Amuse Studios. The larger bow measures 3-1/4" from tip to tip; small measures 2".  And then here the bows are layered together.  Unfortunately, I creased the little bow before I adhered it to the larger bow. But you get the idea of how cute a card or little package would be when embellished with the bows. Have a great day and keep cool!  

For All Things

Today's card was created using the new For All Things stamp set in the Holiday Mini.  I used the  new In Color, Mossy Meadow for the card base and teamed that up with Elegant Eggplant.  The bouquet of leaves were inked using a Mossy Meadow marker and the bows carefully inked using the Elegant Eggplant marker.  This is a very pretty stamp set that includes a total of eight stamps, the images having a more watercolor/canvas texture look to them.  You will be seeing many Fall/Thanksgiving cards showcasing this stamp set, both on my blog and on Pinterest, too.  This morning I am off to the Scrapbook Expo.  If I find anything exciting, I will be sure to let you know on Monday!  Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Sand, Surf & Stampin' Up, too!

I have heard that some of you did receive the Holiday Mini I had mailed to your homes and I am happy to hear that.  But Regina's way of letting me know she received her copy at her new home in Florida has to be shared!!  The mail arrived, the kids came home from school and off they went to the beach!   Regina, you are living the life you imagined!  As for the rest of my current customers, you might not be at the beach, but you will still enjoy your copy of the Holiday Mini! 

Project Life Cards

Earlier in the week I mentioned my frustration using Project Life. 
Yesterday I decided to use some of the Halloween-themed cards from the Seasonal Snapshot PL Card Collection in the new Holiday Mini for greeting cards!    Now talk about easy!  The Eat, Drink and be Scary PL card measures 4"x 4".  So I created a 5"x 5"Tangerine Tango card base, added a layer of retired Halloween DSP and matted and layered the PL card.   I took out my envelope maker and made a coordinating 5-1/4" square envelope using the same retired DSP collection.  The Happy Halloween card uses a 3" x 4" PL card which was layered on Tangerine Tango cardstock and a layer of retired DSP on the black A2 card base.  As you can see from the third photo,  I still have a number of PL cards I can use for cards or for Project Life Scrapbooking.  And these are just the Halloween cards in the set.  There are also Back-to-School, Thanksgiving and Christmas PL cards, too.  Have a great day!

Scared Silly

Now aren't these cute little favors?  I made the haunted house favor over the weekend using a retired Stampin' Up set and retired Designer Series Paper.  After receiving my CTMH order I needed to make one using one of their stamps.  Well, two stamps--the image and the sentiment are from the stamp set Frightfully Fun.  A Ghirardelli chocolate square fits inside perfectly.  We will be making these in the September card classes for sure.  Considering I am not that into Halloween, I certainly enjoying making Halloween cards and things!  On another note, people are receiving the SU Holiday Mini in their mail boxes.  So, if you are a current customer of mine, your copy of the mini should be arriving soon.  Have a great day!

CTMH Lighthouse

When I get a new stamp set, I need to use it right away.  Yesterday I picked up the Close To My Heart order that I placed a couple of weeks ago.  One of the sets I ordered is Seaside Greetings.  I used the light house image on both cards and also the beach fence, but that was mostly cut off when I used my framelits.  The greetings are included in the set and also includes a "congratulations" stamp, too.  Aside from the stamps, everything else is Stampin' Up~~the cardstock, ink, framelits, embossing folders~~and they all work well together!!  I purchased a couple other cute sets, too.  You will be seeing those in future posts.  Have a great day!

Halloween Hershey Bars

Yesterday was Cricut Sunday, another fun day at my house.  My plan was to work on scrapping my back-logged photos using a "project life" type system.  I had to start by gathering all my photos.  That gathering also included getting 300 of them processed at Walgreens.  So I pretty much have everything by date, have lots of the "project life" page protectors and immediately, I realize that most of my photos go in one direction and there aren't enough slots in the page protectors for those.  Then I start cropping photos to fit them into the little slots on the pages; sometimes cutting them in half.  With the way the pockets are, the halved photos look quite nice when they are in the page pocket.  Well, I probably need a "project life" class or need to watch videos for this to be a quick way to organize your photos. Dawn was sitting across from me and found humor in my sighing while scrapping this afternoon.  I think that while I catch up, I will be doing some quick and easy traditional scrapping!!  Today I do want to share the cute little candy favors I made for the Cricut ladies using my Explore. Once the tags were assembled I tied them on the little Hershey bars.  These were done in no time at all.   My Explore is a very favorite toy of mine.  Have a great day!

Happy New Home

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, today I am posting two "new home" cards I made using the Holiday Home stamp set.  My friend, Michelle, purchased her first home with her husband, Shawn.  They stayed right here in the Chicago area. I used gray and Michelle's favorite Melon Mambo and it does look just like a Midwest house!  My friend, Regina, on the other hand just moved to Florida so I wanted her card to look like the houses were right out of the Florida Keys!!  I lightly sponged the background, added a sun and a little palm tree and stamped the sentiment in the sand.  I am blessed with awesome friends and I always enjoy making cards especially for each and every one of them when the opportunity arises.  So Michelle & Shawn and Regina & Family the cards are filled with happiness, good wishes for your future and love, too!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Halloween Home

This is the first of many cards that you will be seeing that are created using the Holiday Home stamp set and coordinating framelits.  The set includes 3 houses (perfect for coloring) and a variety of stamps to be used in creating different Fall/Winter and new home cards. I used the Halloween stamps (ghost, bats, jack-o-latern) plus the street lamp and tree on today's card  The set also inclues little leaves, snowflakes, a snowman, sentiments and more~~a total of 24 stamps.  The background was sponged to create a scary sky.  The sentiment stamp used on this card is from another new set in the Holiday Mini, Mingle All The Way, colored in using my Markers.  Tomorrow's post will be of a couple of  cute new home cards using this set.  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Framed Choose Happiness

The little bird in the Choose Happiness stamp set keeps calling my name.  So yesterday I wanted to see if it was possible to  stamp him and then have my Scan N Cut cut him out and it worked!  There is a small area between his little feet that didn't cut out, but it blends in with the white background.  I also had the SNC cut out the leaf branch, but the SNC left quite a bit of white between the leaves.  Nonetheless, it did a decent job.  The Basic Gray frame was made by using two sizes of the Labels framelits, something you can do with any of the framelit sets you own.  This card looks much brighter in person.  For some reason I cannot get the contrast between the white, Island Indigo and Basic Gray to show when I take photos of this card.  I tried with the flash, without the flash, in the kitchen, in my office.  Oh well, maybe I need to start taking photos outside in the bright sunlight.  Have a great day!

Fall Wreath

Sneak Peek time!  Today's cards were created  using the Wondrous Wreath stamp set and
coordinating framelits.  This is a two-step stamping set and since it is photopolymer it doesn't require the stamp-a-ma-jig.  On the "give thanks" card, I used Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum, popped up the bow using a dimensional and added a few sequins to add a little shimmer.  The sentiment is from the Good Greetings stamp set, a hostess reward set of which we still do not know the details of earning.  The "hello fall" card was created using the colors of Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow and Cajun Craze.  In addition to using Wondrous Wreath, I used the little banner and a saying from the stamp set, For All Things, also in the Holiday Mini.  Although the Wondrous Wreath stamp set is all about Christmas and the Wonderful Wreath Framelits also include the words "joy" and "Noel",  I was not quite ready to make a Christmas card. Have a great day!

On The Farm!

Today's post is not about cards or scrapbooking or Stampin' Up.  It is about the fun learning experience we had with our granddaughter at her favorite summer day camp:  The Volkening Heritage Farm in Schaumburg, IL.  Syd has been attending various camps there for the past 5 summers.  Her goal is to work on the farm when she is 14.  Anyway, this is a photo of her earlier this summer, doing one of the daily chores--milking the cow.  The kids who attend camp here, muck the
stalls, drop the hay, feed the animals~~the chores the farm children did in the 1880's.  They cook, bake, do crafts~~again things that kids really did on the farm.  On Saturday, we went to the farm with Jenny and Sydney so that we could participate in and enjoy this little bit of history in the middle of Schaumburg, IL.  These are the eggs that were gathered by the kids and the next photo is the cow who is expecting a little baby any day.    We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed our time on the farm.  I know Syd has loved the farm since day one.  Watching her  at work was a proud grandma moment~~her love of and her ability to work at and enjoy the simple things in life was very heartwarming.  And, I got to pet a cow for the first time in my life!  (I was very happy there was running water and soap to wash my hands afterwards!!)  So next time you are wondering what to do on a Saturday afternoon, head to Schaumburg and walk around the farm, visit the animals and take some photos, too.  You could make a full day of it and visit the Spring Valley Nature center right next door, too!   Here is the link to the website:            http://www.parkfun.com/spring-valley/programs/farm

Choose Happiness

So today is going to be a sad day for me.  My dear  friend, Regina, together with her family, will be moving to Florida.  Years ago, I wanted to get some scrapbooking supplies and found her name on
the Close To My Heart website.  We emailed back and forth and set up a date to meet.   She welcomed me into her home, took me to her scraproom and together we ooohed and ahhhed over her Close To My Heart scrapbook paper.  And here we are, 7 years later still oohing and ahhhing over CTMH paper!   Today's card was created with Regina in mind.  The Choose Happiness stamp set (annual catalog) has the perfect sentiment and that little bird is just adorable.  Of course, I had to make the little bird blue as Regina is the one who introduced me to bluebirds and their existence here in the Midwest!  I wonder if there are bluebirds in St. Augustine, Florida?   I will miss you, Regina and I look forward to exploring St. Augustine with you and your family.  No goodbyes here!!!

Gift Card Framelit

These are quick gift card envelopes I created using the new Gift Card Envelope Framelit from the Holiday Mini.  I don't know about you, but I give quite a few gift cards each year.  As much as I loved the retired Scallop Envelope Die, it was a tad tiny for gift cards.  I put my Discover credit card in the envelope created with the Sweet Taffy DSP so that you can get an idea as to the size.  Actually, the finished size is 4" x 2-3/4".  The framelit set also includes a tag, a banner, a little circle and a heart.  The sentiment is from And Many More and the little hearts are a sneak peak from another stamp set. The Daffodil Delight Seam Binding is very pretty but I am in love with the Real Red 3/8" satin woven ribbon!!! It, too, is in the Holiday Mini and I will be purchasing more of it!  Have a great day!

Making Spirits Bright

Sounds like Christmas, right?  Well, it is the name of this new set of six "drink" images and seven sentiments.  The  "Making Spirits Bright" drink stamp is the cutest, but I just couldn't bring myself to make a Christmas card just yet. So, I stuck with Halloween using the "Bring On The Boos" drink stamp.  Of course, I had the card all put together when I wanted to add just a wink of sparkle and I went out of the line~~darn it.  Thus the entire eyeball is now green!!  Oh well, adds to the Halloween spirit--lol!  The Lost Lagoon card shows another of the images in this stamp set.  I also wanted to show the prettiness of the Lost Lagoon 3/8" silky taffeta ribbon.  The stamps and ribbon on today's cards are in the Holiday Mini which goes live on August 28th.  Between now and then, you will be getting more sneak peeks.  Have a great day!

My Messy Island Picture!

On Sunday night I had the great idea that I need to catch up on scrapping.  So, out came the photos I

had printed I don't know how long ago,  together with cardstock, paper trimmer, etc. My island and counters were so full of everything scrapbooking, that I didn't have a small a spot to make a card.  So instead of a creation to share, I am sharing creativity in progress with my messy island picture!  I plan on making progress today and if the UPS man visits me later this afternoon, I will definitely make a little room on the island so that I can create and share a Holiday Mini sneak peek on Wednesday.  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' or scrappin' time!

Halloween Already?

I cannot believe that I already made Halloween cards!  Well, there is a reason I did so.  All demonstrators had an opportunity to earn a free stamp set, Good Greetings.  I did earn it and I am sure I will use it often. It is a set of sentiments all written in the font shown on today's cards.  I don't know many of the details but at some point in time it will be a hostess gift.  When I learn more details, they will be posted right here.  Anyway, if demonstrators post cards created using this Good Greetings set on the SU demo site, one demonstrator will win a stamp set of their choice.  Now these two cards certainly don't qualify based on amount of work that went into them, but how cute are they?  The "happy halloween" card was created from a card my friend, Nikki, gave me for my birthday.  Thank for the idea, Nikki!!  The "boo to you" card was really, really easy!!  I stamped in Versamark, embossed with white embossing powder and  added googlie eyes.  The black and white baker's twine finishes it off nicely.  Have a great day!

Big Shot

I am trying something new, adding photos of SU items which will take you directly to my Stampin' Up Website. So not only is this a test post, it is an announcement of the August special.  During the month of August, purchase a Big Shot and receive one of five stamp set/framelit bundles of your choice free!  Already own a Big Shot?  Take advantage of a 15% discount on select stamp/framelit bundles:

Bundle	Item Number	Stamp Set	Framelits	Discounted Price
Sumthin' with Bubbly Words Bundle WM	138923	Sumthin' Sumthin'	Word Bubbles	$33.75
Sumthin' with Bubbly Words Bundle CM	138920	Sumthin' Sumthin'	Word Bubbles	$31.25
Decorative Goodies Bundle WM	138924	Oh My Goodies	Deco Labels Collection	$42.25
Decorative Goodies Bundle CM	138921	Oh My Goodies	Deco Labels Collection	$35.95
Celebrating Chalk Talk Bundle WM	138925	Day of Celebration	Chalk Talk	$43.25
Celebrating Chalk Talk Bundle CM	138922	Day of Celebration	Chalk Talk	$37.25
Flowery Daydream Bundle WM	138911	Daydream Medallions	Floral Collection	$54.25
Flowery Daydream Bundle CM	138910	Daydream Medallions	Floral Collection	$45.75
Bright & Beautiful Stars Bundle WM	138644	Bright & Beautiful	Star	$50.75
Bright & Beautiful Stars Bundle CM	138200	Bright & Beautiful	Star	$43.95

Bright & Beautiful Stars Wood-Mount Bundle

$50.75

Bright & Beautiful Stars Clear-Mount Bundle

$43.95

Sumthin' With Bubbly Words Wood-Mount Bundle

$33.75

Sumthin' With Bubbly Words Clear-Mount Bundle

$31.25

Decorative Goodies Wood-Mount Bundle

$42.25

Decorative Goodies Clear-Mount Bundle

$35.95

Celebrating Chalk Talk Clear-Mount Bundle

$37.25

Celebrating Chalk Talk Wood-Mount Bundle

$43.25

Flowery Daydream Wood-Mount Bundle

$54.25

Flowery Daydream Clear-Mount Bundle

$45.75

FYI:  The Bright & Beautiful Stars/Framelits bundles are exclusive sneak peaks from the Holiday Mini and available now!  (I hope this works like it is supposed to--lol!)  If you have any questions, just give me a call or send an email.   Have a great weekend and find yourself a little stampin' time!

Yellow & Black

I was not having a very successful afternoon in my scrap room yesterday, so today's card is the best of the few attempted!!  I had this idea to stamp in Versamark, heat emboss using black embossing powder and then color the flowers in using my Blendabilities.  Well DUH, alcohol ink and black embossing powder do not go well together.  So this pretty pink flower (Bloom With Hope) I had in mind was turning into a really gray sad looking one.  So I then embossed again, colored in the flowers using My Marvelous Markers got the card all put together, and laid it face down on some loose black powder.  No way to save it!!  So, I am posting my third and final attempt for the day, not even pink and not even using a Stampin' Up sentiment.   Have a great day!