BABY CARD

My colleague had 2 grandsons in the past few months. How wonderful is that? One is named Micah and one is named Zachary. I think I got the spelling correct on those names, but I'll have to check. I wanted to give the baby's a gift, so I went to Kohls and bought them each an adorable 5 piece pajama set. One is a puppy dog with a cute hat and the other is a lion cub also with the hat. They both come with booties and mittens and are just adorable. I should have made them scrapbooks - I know, I know....I'm a stamper and a scrapbooker, but with so much going on, I barely have time to scrap and stamp for myself and for my classes. I did however, make each one of them a congratulations card to their parents.

This card uses Baja Breeze card stock as the card base. I also used Baja Breeze classic ink. The stamp sets I used were Nursery Necessities (one of my favorites, especially for the statements welcome little one and rockabye baby and also the it's a boy. They also have an it's a girl stamp. This set also has adorable features - the alphabet star, the sailboat, stars, a bird, an elephant. It is one of the cutest sets and really a must have baby set. I also used one of my FREE sale-a-bration stamp sets - congratulations. Boy that set is really going to come in handy for all of these congratulatory upcoming events. The ribbon is white satin ribbon from the new Occasions Mini catalog, and sorry to say I used some "contraband" - the edging was done with one of the Martha Stewart edge punches. However, the same company that makes our SU! punches makes Martha's - EK SUCCESS. So I think I'm safe. Besides...my sister gave me this punch for my birthday. She is a very successful producer and good friend of Martha Stewart.

MILLIE'S BIRTHDAY - pop up cake card

Hsiao-hui Lin came to visit today and of course she always brings some delightful something that she made. She has started working on the pop-up cake! Really cool. It happened to be one of her best friend's birthday - Millie! So she wanted to make a special card for her. She used the Pop up Cake die that SU! is carrying for the Big Shot and a Simply Scrappin Kit from last year's idea book. The papers are gorgeous! But then you all know that, because SU! puts out the most gorgeous things. By the way...next month there is a big BLOW OUT on dsp. I'll announce the special next week!

This is the inside of the card when it pops up. Hsiao-hui added some cool embellishments - including die cuts from other SU! BIG SHOT dies. In order for this to be mailed it flattens a bit, but that is ok. When you open this card, it is such a surprise to have a pop up. We are going to be making the pop up cake at our class on May 14th. Katie Ford is working on that project right now. The cakes you will make in class will be more 3 dimensional. I'll see if I can find a good sample to show. You will be wowed! Just as Millie is going to be "wowed" with her card. There is really a lot you can do with this die and next month I'm going to offer a special on this die at the class! You will not want to miss! So if you haven't gotten this die yet! Get ready! Makes good centerpieces for weddings and parties and of course as Sue E. would say "oh the possibilities"!

This is a card that Hsiao-hui's daughter made. I really believe that it is important to get your children involved in crafting. They truly love it! She used a cuttlebug folder and SU! pink pirouette card stock

Here is the inside of the card. Isn't it darling?Happy Birthday Millie!

A SENSE OF TIME

I love this new set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. It is called a Sense of Time. Time is something most people don't seem to have a hold onto. It keeps on going and if you are not careful, you can miss something - sometimes important. I felt, however, that time stopped for a moment when I was making these cards. The clock is familiar - reminds me of my grandfather who had a pocket watch. So, of course, these cards also took me back in time, to when I was a little girl and grandpa would be sitting in his favorite chair and every once in awhile take out his pocket watch and study it. Grandpa is no longer here on earth, but memories of those days linger long in my mind. I'm sure this set will bring back some memory for you, too. It is a lovely set, and I love the sentiments. The top card which uses sunshine garden dsp states "an unhurried sense of time is itself a form of wealth." The second one uses gratitude background stamp (I love this and will have to get it; I borrowed it from my friend Janet Wakeland to make this card), and states "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." 2 of the cards use our chunky glitter. Wow, what a sparkle it adds!"

ANOTHER CARD FROM SPRING INTO ACTION

This is perhaps the loveliest card I ever made. I am really happy with the results and it's going to be one of my mother's day cards I send out. First off, I got the idea from my good friend and upline Janet Wakeland. Last weekend she invited Katie Ford and I out to her home for a day of stamping. Oh, did we have fun. I think we also knocked Katie's socks off when she saw Jan's crafting room. In any case, I CASED her card (CASED politely means copied and selectively edited, tee hee!) My card has a pink pirouette base - love this color! Next I stamped just the daisy from the Eight Great Greetings Brand New Stamp set from SU! Mini Occasions catalog. I stamped the daisies going up and down. They are all stamped with the mothers day sentiment in classic black ink on ultra smooth white card stock. I then inked up one of my fresh blender pens with pink pirouette reinker and colored in the flowers. Next I punched some pink pirouette with our new SU! eyelet border punch and on top of that layered some paper from A WALK IN THE GARDEN - brand new dsp also in our occasions mini. Underneath this is another piece of dsp of the same color. Then I also stamped the daisies on ultra smooth white and punched it with the oval punch. I used our three flower punch to make mini pink pirouette flowers that I adhered to the daisies on the oval. Then I punched them with a 1/16th punch and added the brads. I adhered this to a punched out scallop oval in dsp and dimensionalized this over the design. I am so happy with my card and just had to share it that night. oops, almost forgot...I took a 2 way glue pen and dotted the centers of the daisies and then put dazzling diamonds glitter on for just the right touch!

This card here is the original version that I made at Jan's with Katie. The card is very similar. Instead of using the eyelet border punch I used the scallop edge punch for a slightly different effect. The card base is so saffron, and instead of designer paper going across the border, I used gray taffeta. This card is really beautiful and although I like the one done in the pink pirouette, I think once a sentiment goes on top of this card, it will be perfect. Which card colors do you like better?

I still have the 3D projects and Katie's embossed card to show you. I had a busy day today so I didn't get to upload them. Tomorrow I'm in York all day for a team meeting but once I get home, I'll be sure to do it.

SPRING INTO ACTION CLASS PHOTOS

This was one of the most fun classes to date. We had 19 people including myself, over at Sue Ehrhardt's home in her showcase garage! The class was entitled Spring Into Action, and we had lots of spring projects that kept us going! Enjoy some of these photos I took with my cell phone. Some might be just a little less sharp than others, because of the night effect.


Here are two of the greatest stampers in the whole wide world - Rita Gorrick and Carol Hartline. They worked on Hsiao-hui's 3D top note purse first, getting one of the most complicated projects done first. If you want to meet some nice people, start here and work your way on down the photos.


Here is Tara Bouldin, one of my new downline from sale-a-bration smiling after making her top note purse card. We used the SUNSHINE GARDEN DSP, pacific point card stock from the IN COLOR group, apricot grosgrain and pacific point corduroy buttons. The corduroy buttons are gorgeous! Everyone loved them! Carla is working intently on the top note 3D purse that Hsiao-hui designed. It was awesome! This project is just top of the line. She used the BIG SHOT by SU! and some of our exclusive dies. Everyone loved!!!!! this project!!!! This is actually the finished project that Linda Kincaid - the upcoming BIRTHDAY GIRL - proudly demonstrated for us!

Jodie Bell is new to our group (p.s. love her new highlights and haircut; this is addictive!) She is working on Sue Ehrhardt's top note birdhouse box that was one of the best 3D projects from the BIG SHOT that I have ever seen! Wait until I post later, the gorgeous samples.

Miss Sharon Liberto looks wonderful!!!! This must be the week to have your hair done or redone. Sharon pulled her hair back off of her face and look at her beautiful face. (She has peaches and cream skin I just envy! ) Sharon is holding one of the mother's day cards we made with the 8 great greetings stamp set from the Occasions Mini. I got this idea from my upline and good friend Janet Wakeland. I totally loved hers but had to modify it for my group since my newest downline Katie Ford had also made the original card, and I wanted her to see how you can change something up so that it is different and new. I'll post Janet's original card and mine so that you can see exactly how I changed it.

One of my most favorite people in the whole wide world is Donna Shadoan Smith. Look at how great she looks. She is getting direction on the top note 3D purse from Hsiao-hui Lin. Donna just recently bought the BIG SHOT from SU! and is loving all of the cool things you can make with that machine!

Diana Hnat and Lori Butler worked side by side. They are so fun together. Here they are working on some of the BIG SHOT cards that I designed. I think one of the greatest things about the BIG SHOT is that it makes everything so easy. You can literally make a card in 5 minutes with this! Thanks so much SU! for bringing this to us!

This is just fabulous! Sue Ehrhardt, one of our hostesses is demonstrating the top note box. She did an awesome job with this and worked really hard on her project. On the left hand side we have some new friends that joined us - Paulette Hall and her friends Tia and Tawanda. Paulette used to be a SU! demonstrator and is thinking about rejoining! Yeah! Her friends are scrapbookers and first time stampers. I enjoyed having them in class and am very proud at their efforts. On the right hand side we have Jodie Bell and Sue Mattingly getting some directions. Sue is also relatively new to our group. She has attended once before to make a card project. I think these ladies are really sweet! I will upload all of the projects a little later today, but I wanted you to see a sampling of who was there and what we did and all of the fun we had.

Thanks again SUE EHRHARDT and CARLA SUPIK for hosting!

another BIRTHDAY CARD - made by Hsiao-hui

This card was made by Hsiao-hui. What a great card. She used the new stamp set FIFTH AVENUE FLORAL. The card base is kiwi kiss and she even embossed it with the BIG SHOT. This is the BLEACH technique. I'm going to have to ask her to teach this technique to our group. This definitely belongs in our technique flip file. Hsiao-hui also used the top note BIG SHOT die and Shelli 's Exclusive ribbons. Great job Hsiao-hui. Watch for more birthday cards coming soon. Later today I'll post the projects we did at Spring Into Action Class, as well as photos of the group crafting. We had one wonderful evening. I have to download some of those photos so watch for them after I get just a bit of rest.

A NEW US!

My friend Janice from work has been telling me that I would love my hair if I had it colored with highlights. For years I've been not only a little shy to have my hair colored, I also didn't think I should spend big bucks on my hair when I could do it myself. After almost 10 years of coloring my hair one color, I took the plunge. Janice and I went to the Salon by her house, where she has been having her hair done. I was really excited when I got there. The Stylist - Mia - was wonderful. I told her that I wasn't ready to go bright with highlights, but something subtle would be good. Janice told me that Mia trained at one of the top salons in New York City and was excellent. So I left it up to her to figure out the color. While I was having my hair done, Janice was in the opposite chair getting hers done. Here we are with the foil in our hair.

Ok, the above was the before photo (well, I really should have showed you the me before the foil, but that is not necessary since my hair before didn't look great since it was starting to get overgrown).

Now, in this next photo is the NEW US! How do you like it? I am beyond thrilled. Janice was so right. I do look good in highlights and I love my new "do"! My husband really liked it also, but JP told me he wants the old me back. I think he just needs a few days to get used to it. I really am so in love with this new style and the new color. I just may be a little more daring next time and get slightly brighter highlights. It is really amazing what a good coloring can do for your hair. It is so worth having this done, even if you only do it once. The shine and the color is spectacular.

Photos taken Wednesday April 15th, 2009.

Spring into Action Class Featuring the BIG SHOT

I can't wait for class tonight. It is going to be fabulous. I have 4 people - including myself- demonstrating. We all have some great projects. Katie Ford will be demonstrating the Manhattan Texturz Embossing Folder, Hsiao-hui Lin will be using Big Shot box number 2 and the Top Note as well as one of the flower embosslets to make an adorable little purse - she is also doing a surprise Big Shot jewelry piece (sneak peak to her upcoming June SU! jewelry class - to put inside the purse; Sue Erhardt is using the top note to make a really remarkable box with lid, and I have 3 cards. I'm going to give you a sneak peak of 2 of the cards I'm doing.

This first card uses a top note die cut to make a purse. I modified this from a card my friend and co-demonstrator Blaney Spinelli made for a Leadership swap this past January. Isn't this just too cute? I used the SU! designer series paper Good Morning Sunshine to die cut the top note with my BIG SHOT. This die is exclusive to Stampin Up! and probably their most versatile die. It is certainly their most popular. The top note is folded over and since it has two great sides, this is the perfect type of paper for this project. The card base is pacific point blue from our IN COLOR series. I also used a pacific point corduroy button to close the purse and give it some more dimension. The ribbon is apricot appeal grosgrain also from SU! and the sentiment and flowers were stamped in white craft ink.This next card is a direct case from Barb Mann on SCS. I modified it only a little. What I love is that it uses the new scallop oval die cut. I love this die. It has so many possibilities. The card base is kiwi kiss and that is the same card stock that I die cut the scallop oval. The ribbon is striped grosgrain - also in kiwi kiss and a SU! exclusive. The stamp set is Forest Friends and is a new stamp set in the Occasions Mini that is very reasonably priced. In fact it is one of the most inexpensive sets I own. I colored the tree stamp with kiwi kiss ink and chocolate chip and stamped it on an ultra smooth white sheet of card stock that I had die cut with the Big Shot ovals die. It was perfect for this card because it still leaves the designer paper showing. This paper is also from the Good Morning Sunshine pack. The deer is stamped in chocolate chip on close to cocoa card stock. The owl is also stamped in chocolate chip on ultra smooth white cs and then cut out with a 1 1/4 inch circle punch, mounted on a 1 3/8 circle in chocolate chip card stock and popped up with dimensionals onto the card. I did not stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card, but this card is good for thinking of you, get well, birthday, etc. I'm going to let the class attendees decide what sentiments, if any -they want on their cards. I did stamp on the envelope just so I can show an example.
That is it for sneak peaks. I have one more card to show and then all of the projects the other demos will do. We have 19 attendees including myself and we will be at the home of Sue Ehrhardt. She and her husband had their garage finished and it is amazing. It looks like a showroom - I'll have to take photos of it to show you. I also understand that Sue made her famous butter cream chocolate covered eggs for Easter and that she is possibly sticking an egg in each of our surprise take home gifts. She is amazing and I am going to go ahead and publicly thank her now for all of her efforts, not only on this class but all of the classes. She is very inspirational to the group.

another DECOR ELEMENT STENCIL CARD

Here is another stencil sample I did for Saturday's Team Meeting in York. I used a different stencil (I love these so much) called Flowing Flowers. The card base is rose red with natural SU! card stock. I first placed the stencil on the cardstock and then used a dauber by SU! to color the flower. I used cameo coral ink first and then added rose red on top. Next I ran the card stock through the Big Shot to get the polka dot texture. I also die cut one of Shelli's exclusive butterflies from the BIG SHOT also. You can only get this die from SU! The ribbon was ivory taffeta from SU! that I sponged with rose red so it would match the card perfectly. That is a great thing about SU! ribbons. Just take your sponge and ink it up with the color you like and rub it onto the ribbon. Nice results. The stamp set is absolutely fabulous. I love the handwritten script font for this set. The butterfly was also texturized with the Big Shot.
More stencil samples coming soon!

DECOR ELEMENTS STENCILS

We have our REMARKABLES TEAM MEETING in York, Pa. this Saturday and I volunteered to do a display board of our BRAND NEW DECOR ELEMENTS STENCILS. I ordered a few different kinds, but by far my favorite is the one I used on this card called Kind Thoughts Flourish. I always thought stencils were for painting and decorating the walls. Then I stumbled on some samples by Patti Bennett and saw how she adapted them to cards. In fact, I have to admit, I somewhat cased this design from her. She used different stamps but had a very similar design to this. For this card, I used chocolate chip card stock as the base. Next I placed Parisian breeze specialty designer paper on top of that. I love that paper. It has the weight of card stock and it has texture to it. I stamped Sense of Time stamp set with chocolate chip classic ink on that paper and also on the BIG SHOT creamy caramel scallop circle die cut. I added crystal effects to the hands on the clock and dotted the center of the inner wheel. The stencil was actually done before the clock. I stenciled using a SU! sponge dauber and baja breeze classic ink. I really began to go to town with this stencil and I also tried the flowing flowers stencil. Tomorrow I'm going to do something with cheap talk stencil. I promise to photograph the other samples I'll be showing at the meeting and put them on my blog soon.

STENCILS - the ones I got
Kind Thoughts Flourish Small 7" by 5 3/4" (116572) $9.95 small (also comes as large for $13.95 11-1/8" by 9" - I used the small on the card)
Flowing Flowers 6 by 10-7/8" (7 stencils) $27.95 - not used in above sample, but will show
you a sample soon
Cheep Talk Branch 14-3/4" by 11-3/8" (10 stencils) $27.95 - not used in above sample, but will show you a sample soon.

I am really liking these stencils, so most likely I will be getting all of them. We will also be using the flourish at an upcoming class.