sneak peek?

Well, one of my clubs has already done these this month, but I had a request to get a sneak peek up BEFORE our class for a change, and I am happy to comply.

We're playing with ink this month - re-inkers and water, brayer and acetate, and bleach *(I hope it works this time! Note to self: do NOT rinse out the container just before adding the bleach to the paper towel inside!).

Later today (um, after our class!) I'll post the rest of the picture. ;)

Sigh. Ani's birthday is over - again - it seems like the last one just finished. sigh again. Anyway, as is customary, I bit off more than I could chew with the cake - but isn't that a cute look on her face when she gets it! She wanted ROSES made of icing, and NOT from a store. Where on earth would she get that sort of attitude from, heavens I can't imagine!


I sure wish I could post a few pictures of the littles at the salon - what a day that was! They all got their nails, hair and makeup done with a few temp tatoos and body sparkles on the ears to boot. They all lined up for their glamour shots at the end and they are DARLING - I do not use that word lightly at all!

Now, on to the Thank you cards!

Deal of the Week: Heart to Heart PunchYou're going to LOVE our Heart to Heart punch, especially July 27-31 when it's just $15.99—that's more than 30% off the regular price of $22.95!

Throughout July, be sure to check my web site every Monday at 10 AM (MT) for the week's new deal.

New Deal of the week is this Hodgepodge Hardware set, in Styled Vanilla, for only $26.99. Regular price is $41.95 - that's over 30% off - only from July 20-26th. If you want to save on shipping, order by giving me a call and I can add it on to my order this week.

Some art

I did this wall hanging for a lady recently, and although I found it challenging (mostly on the nerves) I found it SO rewarding as well.

I have a passion for preserving memories - though it doesn't show lately - and I love art, especially paper art, and most especially on walls... I know I talk about it alot, but still I was surprised when I got a call from a 'friend of a friend' asking me to help her get some pictures into a frame.

After having a chat about the people and places involved, I put together this piece. It's about 20x30" inside the frame and made from lots of different materials - from Stampin' Up! and Creative Memories papers to CM clear title stickers, Primas, lots of brads and even some Maya Road chipboard. The frame is from Ikea, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that even with all the dimensional materials the whole thing fit under the glass beautifully. I did add some Stampin' dimensionals around the edges, under the glass, to reduce the pressure a little, but I don't know if I needed them really. I do think it's a little busy, and had I it to do over, I would have done the 'quilt' a little more monochromatic - but it was nice to fit in all the little 'secret' details that speak to the personality of the family in the photos. I think of it like a crazy quilt (and if you saw the little frog charm and wee nuts and bolts...).

Here are some closer-ups of the 'quilt' I did under the photos. I machine-stitched the egdes with a subtle zig zag onto the background, which is a very nice bit of linen paper in ivory.

I hope you like it - and I hope the family who received it likes it!!!

Birthday purses

Just a shot of the little birthday party invitations I made for Ani's upcoming 6th birthday party. The girls are going to a salon to get their nails and hair done - what an adventure THAT is sure to be!!
I used Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red cardstock, Rose Red designer paper, Rose Red ink, Rhinestone brads, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, the Scalloped circle die and Texturz plates with the Big Shot for the little dots and Please Come and Upsy Daisy stamp sets.

I really need some work on using this camera!! I took this outside on a white cloth, with good indirect light. But it's so underexposed it's silly. I tried with automatic and manual settings but never got rid of the greyness. Eventually I just had to hand the durn things out so I couldn't just sit here trying... Ah, the new camera + bad photographer blues.... or, greys, as the case may be!

New Catty Survival Kits

So I wanted to post a picture of the little 'New Catty survival kits' that I made for my club girls. I thought they deserved a little something to get them through those first rough days (nights?) with that lovely book! I got the idea from some brilliant person out in the bloggosphere, and I really need to start keeping better track of where I get my inspiration. I'll work on that. Anyhoo, I made a little notebook for sketching ideas, a tiny pad of post it notes (with a teeny paper buckle!), and included some tea, some chocolate and a little highlighter. It was fun to make them! I used an assortment of the new In Colours, which are growing on me, Tall Tales designer paper and the Animal Stories stamp set. Hope you like them, ladies!

Here's big news - Stampin' Up! has offered a new, even more economical way to start your Stampin' business. From today until August 31st, 2009 you have two kits to choose from; the standard kit for $269.00 (with a limited time bonus add on!) and a Mini Starter Kit featuring all of the In-Color Ink Pads and Cardstock. All this and your Business Supplies for only $105.00

This offer is good until August 31, 2009.

The In Color-Kit includes:

For All You Do stamp set $38.95 Value

Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad $7.95

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad $7.95

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad $7.95

Dusty Durango Classic Stampin' Pad $7.95

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad $7.95

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad $7.95

Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") $9.95

In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11") $10.50

Recruits who join Stampin' Up! by purchasing the Mini Starter Kit are still eligible for any programs available to a new recruit. This includes but is not limited to the Extra 10 Percent Instant Income offer, Stampin' Start, and the opportunity to purchase a Business Booster Kit.

Recruits who purchase the Mini Starter Kit will receive the same business supplies as those who order the standard Starter Kit. (The catalogs are worth $80 Retail)

• The standard Starter Kit ($269) will continue to be available during this promotional period.
• During the promotional period there will also be a standard Starter Kit incentive for new recruits who choose the standard Starter Kit instead of the Mini Starter Kit; new recruits who choose the standard Starter Kit will receive the following, along with the standard Starter Kit supplies:
• • All six of the new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads
  • One pack of In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")

  Incentive items have a $58.20 value and are not substitutable.

  Mini Starter Kit and standard Starter Kit incentive deadlines:

• So if you’ve ever thought you’d like to start you own business or simply sign up just for the discount now is the time. Contact me for details about how you can get started.

June club and workshop projects

Finally posting last month's embossing techniques workshop projects. The first one is a 3x3" card made using the God's Beauty level 1 Hostess set from the last catty, Old Olive and Whisper White cardstock, Vellum, glue dots, fine paper snips, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Classic ink and Staz On black ink, black embossing powder and Stampin' Write markers (Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango - HOORAY for in-colour markers!!!).

The next one is made using dry embossing with a stylus and Classy Brass template, plus heat embossing with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. I used the Sprinkles, Warm Words and Priceless stamp sets, Rose Red cardstock, Designer paper (from the Sweet Always paper pack) and Classic ink, Whisper White cardstock, Versa Mark ink, the eyelet border punch, vellum, and Whisper White 1/4" gros grain ribbon. It's soooooo sweet I can hardly stand it, but it's a very fun little girl's birthday or shower card. I showed the tiny Fork Bow technique, which I just love, found HERE...

And last, the 30 second card! Well, not really, but almost!! I used the Manhattan Flower embossing folder (a Stampin' Up! exclusive) and ran through a bit of Whisper White cardstock. Wrapped some Certainly Celery ribbon around it (a freebie from Sale-a-bration - yay for free ribbon!!!), stamped a sentiment using the Oval All stamp set and, you guessed it, Certainly Celery classic ink, which I punched out and popped up on a scalloped oval of what kind of cardstock?? Stick the whole thing to a (shock!) Certainly Celery card base and Voila, you're late for the wedding but at least you have a card and can hit the bank machine on the way there!!

Deal of the Week: Big Shot Doctor's Bag

You'll feel like a big shot carrying around the Big Shot Doctor's bag! July 6-12, get the Big Shot Doctor's Bag for $77.99.
That's 25% off the regular price of $103.9.
I LOVE my doctor's bag! Boy it would have
been nice to get it at this price though!

Here are a couple of pictures of the last Hostess gift I gave. It's a bunch of different cards made with the Manhattan Flower embossing folder for the Big shot. I wanted to keep them pretty simple, just show off some of the (endless!) combinations one could come up with. I used three of the sentiments from the Oval All set (the fourth was used on a card we made in class!). I also used the now retired (sniff sniff) Baja Blue cardstock, Urban Oasis designer paper, Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey and Bashful blue cardstock as well as the coordinating ribbons.

I know it's a bad picture, I'm having a real hard time getting used to my new 'snapshot' camera. I sure hope Nikon comes through for me with my beloved D40.

By the way, I was inspired by the many mini magazine holder card holders I've seen on blogs and at Splitcoast. In fact I made one before I realized they were so small. So, I set out to make one that holds regular sized cards. I must be getting better at this, because it wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. I used a 12x12 sheet of cardstock, and if I ever acquire the technical skills I will post the pattern.

Have a great weekend!

My little four-leaf clover; July 3rd

Here's a very cute picture of Ani - in her sparkly gold dress and crown (which she never leaves the house without anymore - in fact when admired, she will often volunteer the statement "No, it's not my birthday, I just like to look good!" ... but I digress...)

and her FOUR LEAF CLOVER collection.

Now, since I took this picture she's found a couple more - we're up to 15 'good ones' (you can see 12 in this picture) and 25 over all since May. Seriously, 25 four leaf clovers! How many have YOU found in your lifetime? Me? One. She has found them all over the city - on boulevards, in school yards, municipal parks and medians... she can just glance down at the ground and TA DA! It's really an amazing talent.

What I did today

I thought I'd try making a couple of little purses, in preparation for my goodies (arriving Monday) that I'll use to make Ani's bday party invitations. So, I made these little purse cards. They're flat (not boxes like I thought I'd do) and make with almost entirely retired product - oh MAN am I going to miss that Rockabilly paper. If you have any extra kicking around... Anyway, I used Rockabilly designer paper, Riding Hood Red cardstock and black gros grain ribbon plus some velcro and a Rhinestone brad. They really need some embellishment on the front - especially the plain one, but I'm leaving it in anticipation of 'Just Jawin' Inside I used the 'Humor in High Heels' stamp set.

I think this will be my all-time most used birthday set, if only because of the sentiment - "I didn't forget your birthday, I'm just fashionably late." I've come to the conclusion that I should just stop making regular birthday cards and stick with belated birthdays only. Sigh.

Happy stampin'!

July is a pretty exciting month at Stampin' Up! There will be a deal of the week EACH week in July - starting with the Scallop Edge Punch at 30% off. Just $15.99 until July 5th.

Click the picture for more details and more July specials.

I got a new camera, and now that I *think* I've figured out how to use it, I shall be posting projects again. Whew!

cheers!