Outlined Occasions valentine treat

There's nothing like a nice bite of chocolate (Ghiradelli, in this case) to say, "Love." The stamp is one you can get FREE when you order $50. It's a Sale-a-Bration offering called Outlined Occasions. Then there's a label framelit behind, with a Twitterpated button. I CASE'd this Scallop Envelope treat idea from Jill Hilliard.

Stamps: Outlined Occasions;

Ink: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink;

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink;

Accessories: Twitterpated buttons, Labels framelits, 1-1/4" Pretty in Pink striped grosgrain, 1/8" Very Vanilla taffeta, dimensionals, Scallop Envelope die.

Last couple of Secret Stampin' Sister cards

I can't begin to tell you how fun it is to get "good" mail each week. Though I'm moderating my American Ink group's Secret Stampin' Sister (SSS) program, someone in my downline has chosen to brighten my weeks by sending me hand-stamped cards. How sweet is she?

This Saturday, at our next downline meeting, we'll have the final gift (valued at no more than $10 - it may be handmade or bought) and SSS reveal. It's exciting!

This card uses the Peace Within stamp set and Labels framelits.

This card uses Fabulous Florets and Adorning Accents.

Starting in January, I'm making an effort to send everyone in my downline a birthday card. I know they enjoy the thought, and it makes good use of my cards. I hope you share your stamping, too.

Mouthwatering ice cream cone embossed with scented powder? Yum!

I wasn't quite sure what to think of the scented embossing powders in the Occasions Mini Catalog until I tried them. Wow! They smell great. For my clubs last month, I used Sweet Shop dsp, lots of rhinestones, and markers to ink the Mouthwatering ice cream stamp. I covered the entire image with VersaMark ink, then sprinkled on the Cherry-scented embossing powder. Mmmmm. It smells delicious! I cut out the image and adhered it to the card with dimensionals. Oh, and did you notice the tiny scallops on the scalloped bottom of the card front? That's what the new edgelit does. Fun stuff!

A simple valentine

There are no excuses for not making valentines when they're as easy as this one! I used the Postage Stamp Punch with the coordinating stamp set, Pretty Postage, a sentiment from P.S. I Love You, and the small heart punch. That's it! This is based on a card I saw SU! co-founder and CEO Shelli Gardner make.

Need for Speed for Monkey Challenge #94

This card got my (almost) 13-year-old son's thumbs up. Every year for his birthday invitations, he requests military-type stamps and colors. His favorite thing to do with his friends is to play with Nerf guns. Using the A La Card Monkey Challenge #94: Birthday + Sketch, I came up with this card. I used a pattern from the Pocketful of Posies dsp pack, along with Baja Breeze and Night of Navy colors. Here's the sketch:

 

Stamps: Need for Speed, On Your Birthday, Send Me Soaring;

Ink: Baja Breeze, Night of Navy;

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Pocketful of Posies dsp;

Accessories: Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, dimensionals, Subtles buttons, 1/8" Baja Breeze taffeta ribbon.

Home Sweet Home decor element plaque

I chose this Home Sweet Home decor element for FREE when I bought $50 worth of high-quality Stampin' Up! product, because it's Sale-a-Bration time! The door to my house doesn't have a big enough flat area for the decor element, so I picked up a wood plaque and one of my downline painted and glazed it for me. Now it hangs at my studio. I had to cut about an inch from the ends of the curly lines under the words, but I think it still looks good. What do you think?

You're My Type Valentine card

I love how quick and easy this card is, and that it works for any gender and any age recipient! I stamped the You're My Type typewriter in Basic Black and cut it out after adding the sentiment. I used the Fashionable Hearts embosslit with Real Red card stock for the three hearts - and stuck them on with dimensionals. The Real Red patterned paper is from the big Brights dsp pad.

Greeting Card Kids valentine with Doily stamp

The detail on the Hello Doily stamp is amazing! For this quick and easy Valentine, the Greeting Card Kids little girl was stamped in Basic Black and watercolored with an aqua painter and ink pads (Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight and Real Red), along with a Blush Blossom marker. The "L is for Love" is from the Grateful Greetings set. I CASE'd a card designed by Kim Score at http://craftprojectcentral.com.

I'm adding this to the color challenge at Pals Paper Arts here. It's all about RED!

Stamps: Hello Doily, Greeting Card Kids, Grateful Greetings;

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, Blush Blossom;

Paper: Whisper White;

Accessories: 5/8" Real Red satin ribbon, 1" circle punch, 2" circle punch, dimensionals, sponge dauber.

Cheery Treat lollipop holder

I borrowed the idea for this lollipop holder from Angie Juda. I used Concord Crush card stock with a piece of Cheery Treat dsp (hostess), Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon and a scallop circle, and Melon Mambo and Concord Crush inks. The two stamped images are from the P.S. I Love You stamp set. This was one of the favors at my Valentine's Class Monday.

A fabric ring for any occasion!

Heather brought this fabric ring as a make & take to our last American Ink gathering. She's not part of my American Ink group, but she and her downline are always welcome to our gatherings! We love visiting demos who share their ideas. Heather had a ring kit with small pieces of Twitterpated fabric, and it literally took a minute to make this ring. You could create a ring for many outfits, as well as for a party!

Valentine's Day projects using P.S. I Love You

When it rains, it pours! First we found out from the guy who reads the water meter that our meter was spinning out of control last week. Turns out there was a big leak between the house and the meter. Fortunately, the leak was quickly located (by luck) at the front corner of our house. My hubby picked up the necessary pipe and asked our plumber neighbor to hook it up. All good there. It didn't even wreck our yard!

Then last night, I was in the bathroom getting ready to brush my teeth, I noticed water on the tile floor. I figured the kids must've been really messy while brushing their teeth and mopped up the mess. While doing that, something wet hit my head. Our skylight was leaking. I laid a towel on the tile floor, let my hubby know about it and he got up on the roof and fixed it today before I had to leave for class. Thank goodness it's not raining today!

We originally built our house 20 years ago, so I can't complain things are breaking down now. My hubby might tell you differently though. lol I just feel blessed I'm married to someone who can fix the problems! So onto my projects...

I'm posting this between classes (2) and clubs (2) today. So far, so good. I prepped seven Valentine's Day projects, including this twist container with Sweet Shop dsp (above), and a P.S. I Love You card that uses Everyday Enchantment dsp (an SAB free item you may select when you order $50). Four Hershey kisses fit well inside this 4" x 6" piece of specialty dsp. Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon holds the container closed at the top, while a little Sticky Strip and paper crimper keep the bottom securely closed.

This card is CASE'd from Connie Babbert here. I love the Pool Party and Lucky Limeade colors together. I used the Full Heart punch, corner punch, and Early Espresso ink too.

Take It to Heart with Monkey Challenge 93: Love!

Love is in the air! I love this image from the Take It to Heart stamp set in the Occasions Mini. I stamped it in Calypso Coral ink, sponged it with Pool Party ink, and punched it out with the 1-1/4" circle punch, layering it on a 1-3/8" circle of Early Espresso, which is then layered on two Blossom punched flowers.

I'm crazy about the Everyday Enchantment dsp in the Sale-a-Bration Mini Catalog. This is just one of the fabulous patterned pieces, and best of all, you may choose it for FREE with a $50 order! Free is always the right price!!! I love those little Calypso Coral Baker's Twine bows too.

This close-up shows the embossed little hearts on the pennants, which were punched. Aren't they cute?

Here's the sketch I used. I love that little kitty's face! It's the best.

Stamps: Take It to Heart, Fabulous Phrases;

Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Early Espresso;

Paper: Everyday Enchantment dsp, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Whisper White card stocks;

Accessories: Blossom punch, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle punches, Pennant punch, Adorning Edges, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Oval Scallop punch, dimensionals, Big Shot.

Available: General Contractor for your Home Improvements

Here's the deal: My hubby, a general contractor of 17+ years, is out of work. He can build a house from the ground up, and has primarily worked on high-end homes. The guy has skills. You can view some of his work at http://blaisconstructioninc.com.
I'm looking to keep him busy. So if you have a question about how to do something around the house (or your hubby does), make a request and I'll have my hubby provide answers, or even make a video showing how to do it. He loves making videos! The cost: Free. Can't beat that.

Thanks!

New digital downloads from Oh Baby Photobook Template to Candy Conversations

The easiest way to see what Stampin' Up! offers for digital downloads is by visiting our customer site at http://stampinup.com and clicking on Digital Designing. You'll see the digital downloads available are arranged by date (there are a only a handful each week). Don't forget that you get the Preferred Pricing when you shop through my Online Store here. Thanks!
Here's a direct link to this week's new digital downloads:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/MDS_Downloads_-_Jan_24.pdf

Sale-a-Bration is here!

Our Sale-a-Bration Event is underway as of TODAY!!! If you don't have an SAB Mini, you can see all of the wonderful products you can earn for free by clicking on the graphic in the right column of this blog.

Just so you know, you'll get a pretty, reusable bag for any order/party of at least $150! (Does not apply to Online Orders, so email me with your order.) That's in addition to your free item at every $50 you order. Contact me today at ericandterry@comcast.net if you'd like to pick a date for your friends to get together for a couple hours of FUN!



A look at the Leadership bag and folio, as well as a Secret Stampin' Sister card

This fabric looks so bright and refreshing - perfect for a Leadership 2012 bag! And it's a Sneak Peek at what you can expect from the new big catalog on June 1. Everyone at Leadership found the matching folio when we showed up to stamp the make & takes. Check out the tag - Shelli signed ALL of ours herself, and there's a bauble there that is so cute. Here's a photo of the folio open:

It's hard to tell with the pattern, but there are pockets on each panel, either from the side or a bottom pocket. I love it!

My American Ink group's Secret Stampin' Sister program is still underway. One of my downline has taken it upon herself to brighten my weeks with SSS cards. I don't have a SSS because I'm coordinating the whole thing, so this is really sweet. The SSS program ends on February 11 at our downline meeting with a gift valued at no more than $10. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!





A handful of Leadership swaps; ice cold roads

It's a new week and we're only a day away from when Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-Bration Event begins! I started today by postponing my clubs from meeting today to next week because there are a few inches of snow and ice at the studio, and no running water. It's just not safe to drive there!

I was at Leadership Conference in San Antonio, TX, last Wednesday through Saturday, and it was great! I always get pumped to try so many new ideas. But I needed some rest first. I took a nap when I got home, then slept for 10 hours that night. On Sunday, I took to my computer, churning out emails to downline and customers for Opportuni-Tea events and so much more!

Half of my suitcase on the way home was filled with free stamps and paper, ribbon and buttons and more from Leadership. It's exciting just looking at all that stuff! As I was going through it today, I came across a handful of swaps. I didn't have time to make swaps for the conference, but one woman shared while we were waiting in line together, and another gave me three of hers when I sat next to her at lunch! Everyone was so sweet. So here are they:

This beautiful card was given to me by Mary Ellen Scheiber. It uses the Messages for Mom and Fresh Vintage (SAB set) stamps, along with embossing folders, rhinestones, and White Organza ribbon.

The card above and the two below were given to me by MaryAnn Hougendobler of Coppell, TX. The glimmer birds are amazing in real life.

MaryAnn said this card was inspired by the sample on page 183 of the big catalog. I love Mocha Morning Specialty dsp with the natural hemp. It's so pretty!

This card uses Raining Flowers, Best Friends Forever, and Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess set). I love the Concord Crush color with Pear Pizzazz. I don't own the first two stamp sets (one of the reasons swapping is so wonderful), but love the combination above.

One of the neatest changes coming up: Stampin' Up! is reducing the big catalog size to 208 lighter-weight pages (from approx. 240), and reducing the COST to about half of what it is currently. Also, the 2012-2013 Catalog will go live on June 1, not July 1, as has been the case in the past. What does this mean for you? Well, it'll be alot easier to get a FREE catalog out of me, that's for sure! For now, though, if you'd like a free catalog, all you have to do is host a party with your friends. With a free item from the Sale-a-Bration Mini Catalog for every $50 you order (thru March 31), it's a great way to get anything from buttons and brads to ribbon and fabric for FREE. You can even have your party at my studio, once it thaws out.

It's Anything Goes for A La Card Monkey Challenge #92

I love this week's sketch for my A La Card Monkey blog! Grab some scraps from a couple of patterned papers (Everyday Enchantment dsp from Sale-a-Bration Mini) and add an image and you've got a birthday card, or whatever kind of card you need since the theme is "Anything Goes." I need lots of those, and so I'll be using this sketch again and again.

 

For this card, I stamped the polar bear from Zoo Review in Jet Black StazOn, and used an aqua painter and ink pads to watercolor the image with Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Sahara Sand inks. Here's the sketch:

Final day: American Ink swaps and make & take

Michelle's make & take

American Ink swaps: From giftcard holder to valentines

Brandy's Everyday Enchantment giftcard holder

Inside: 1/2 of a sealed Whisper White envelope to hold the giftcard.

Mary Ann's swap with Sweet Shop dsp, and red glimmer hearts

Kathy M's swap