Just wanted to pop in and share this card we are making at my Stamp and Stack on Monday.  I cased this gorgeous idea from Mary Fish over at Stampin Pretty....you can see her beautiful card here.  I used the blossom petals punch for the petals and the 1 3/4" circle punch for the daisy and the Live in the Sunshine sentiment from the Pursuit of Happiness stamp set.  Once the flower was put together and the greeting stamped I then ran it through my Big Shot with the Squared Lattice embossing folder.  I'm so happy with this embossing folder....it is one of my all time favorites.  I love the added WOW that texture gives but this folder is even more amazing as it gives the finished product an almost quilted look!   This card was a cute handmade card before the embossing but after it took on a very professional look and the recepients are going to wonder how in the world you did that!

Scallop Dot Ribbon Share

Isn't that gorgeous!  I am opening up a ribbon share for this beautiful 1/2" scallop dots ribbon from Stampin Up.  I will be ordering Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard and Elegant Eggplant.  You can see the gorgeous array of colors here.  The cost is only $8 per share and that gives you 8 yards (one yard of each of these colors), or course, you can purchase more than one share if you like.  Shipping will be $2 for one share and $3 for two.  I will be closing this share on June 15th so please email me and let me know how many shares you would like prior to that date.  You can use the email me button on the sidebar.  Also if you LOVE polka dots like I do check out the new designer series paper here.  I already have some of this goodness coming to me!  Can't wait!



Just wanted to share a card I made for my sweetie for our anniversary recently.  The sentiment is from a retired set and the heart punches just recently retired, however, I think they are still available on the clearance rack here.  Just checked this morning and they were still available, however, those items on the clearance rack often sell out quickly as they are super good prices!  I used the lattice embossing folder which you can find here on my background layer.  LOVE that look!  This folder gives an almost quilted look!  GORGEOUS!  I'm using it alot!  Embossing folders are a great way to add some WOW to your projects and they are very inexpensive. 

Best Dad Ever

Isn't that the cutest idea?  I wish I could take credit for it but, of course, I copied it from pinterest....love that site....so much inspiration there!  Anywho....not sure if this person came up with the idea but pinterest took me here.  I apologize but I used some retired papers and cardstock for this one as I was just playing around to see what I could come up with.  I have to say I do really LOVE this idea and talk about quick and easy.   The "bowties" are made from the pennant punch and I used my 3/4" circle punch for the centers.  The sentiment is from a current set called Best Dad Ever (betcha wouldn't have guessed that...lol).  You can purchase that set here. 



This is a fun card using the Bright Blossoms set from the new catalog!  The paper is from the Bright Blossoms DSP!!!  So fun and well...bright!  The sentiment is from Heard from the Heart.  I found this beautiful idea on this blog here.  There are so many wonderfully talented ladies blogging their gorgeous ideas out there that I have a whole list of things I want to make just based on their ideas!  I haven't even begun to sit down and just create yet!  I'm having too much fun making what I see!  The new 2012-2013 catalog goes live today!!!!!  So many beautiful things coming out in this new catalog!  As always beautiful stamp sets with coordinating punches but also more framelits...love those!!!  The new in colors are GORGEOUS!  The new catalog is full of beautiful project ideas also!  You won't want to put it down!  If you need a catalog, I am sending out a free catalog to anyone who places an order on my website for $50 or more or if you just want a catalog I'm just asking for $5 to cover postage.  You can also view it online later today!

Kindness Matters

This is another card I did at my first stamp and stack....please forgive me that this one has a layer that is a little cockeyed.....this is the one I was making as I was showing the attendees how to make this card and I was trying to hurry and I didn't realize until now that I didn't line it up straight....oops!  I was standing...I usually craft sitting!  Anywho....I cased this from here and she cased it from someone else but it is a really fun technique.  To get this effect you brayer your ink on your embossing folder and then when you emboss your paper the raised areas stay white and the color hits all the other areas.  Really cool look!  I've got to get better with my photography skills so you can see closer what I'm talking about!  The embossing folder I used can be purchased here and the sentiment is from the Kindness Matters stamp set which you can find here or here.  Such a beautiful stamp set....love this sentiment but I can't wait to play with those butterflies, too!  The butterflies I used on this card are from the embosslits which cut and emboss....gorgeous!!!  You can purchase this butterfly embosslit here ....these are SOOO easy to use!  With just this one die/embossing folder combo you get 5 beautiful embossed butterfly die cuts with every pass!   Hope you enjoy!

This sweet card was one of the cards we made at my first (and only so far) stamp and stack last month.  It was so easy and fun to make.  I cased it from this talented lady here.  The beautiful flower is made with the Stampin Up Mixed Bunch stamp set (here or here) and it coordinates beautifully with the blossom punch (here).  That gorgeous sentiment comes from the Friendly Phrases set which you can find here for clear and here for wood.  I love the fonts on these sentiments!  That patterned paper is from the a celebration set....hope we get to see that again someday...gorgeous papers!

Sorry this isn't the best photo but I was having camera issues....I've got to figure out what was going wrong.  I've been so bad about posting though that I wanted to get this posted as it is a super cute idea for a Father's Day card or any "manly" occassion.  I found this super easy tutorial on how to make this mini shirt here.  I couldn't wait to try it!  I just got this super cute Stampin Up stamp set called Best Dad Ever in the mail and wanted to use one of the super cute ties included in it!  This is a great set as it has several sentiments included such as:  thinking of you, Best Dad Ever, happy birthday and happy Father's Day, too which makes it a very versatile set!  You can purchase the clear mount version here or the wood mounted version here.  It really is a great buy, too at only $14.95 (clear) or $18.95 (wood).  I used Dusty Durango cardstock which is retired but Cajun Craze is close to the same color if you like this color scheme.  The patterned paper is from the Well Worn DSP which is retiring as of May 31st or whenever it runs out whichever comes first.   You can find it here .  If you have any questions or would like to place an order and you don't have already have a demonstrator, please feel free to email me.  If you place an order of $50 by June 28th I'll send you a new catalog!  If you have ever thought about becoming a Stampin Up Demonstrator....this is a wonderful time to begin as the new kit is only $99 and you get to pick out whatever supplies you want in your kit....even if you want to spend it on a big shot!  For $99 you can choose $125 worth of Stampin Up goodies AND you get free shipping along with all the business supplies you need to get started including catalogs!!!

First let me apologize for ignoring my blog so long!  I've been busy with home schooling two teenagers and trying to potty train a toddler!!  I was also blessed to have my Mom and my Aunt come for a visit so we were busy doing the touristy things for a while!  I can't believe I did it but I did!  I've thought about becoming a stampin up demonstrator for years but just never bite the bullet so to speak.  Recently I decided to do just that.  I've already held one stamp and stack and I promise to post photos of the cards we made that night....wish I could take credit for them but they were all ideas I found on some of the wonderful blogs out there!  The photo I do have posted above is of a ribbon share I'm doing right now.  This GORGEOUS ribbon is retiring as of May 31st and I'm so sad to see it go....I've always admired this ribbon and decided even though it is retiring and I should be spending my money on the new stuff I had to have some of this beautiful ribbon.  So....I am ordered some and posted over on the cricut message board and my cricut friends have been so excited to get in on this ribbon share that I wanted to post here to make sure that everyone could see.  I ordered 8 different colors:  Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Wild Wasabi and Cajun Craze.  It works out to be $8 for a yard of each of these colors.  I can mail to you for about $2 for one share or $3 for two shares.  I do have a few shares left of what I have on hand but if there is enough interest I'd be glad to start another round....I just need to order ASAP as it is retiring!   The bakers twine is just my little thank you to those who are ordering.  There are also some really good deals on the clearance rack worth checking out!  You can check it all out on my website here.  If you don't have a demonstrator already, I'd love to be yours!  I'm really excited about this new adventure look forward to getting my blog back up and hopping.  Please stay tuned for some really fun projects coming up!

Cookies Cookies Cookies!!!!

Aren't these yummy?  My friend found these on pinterest and made some and I just had to try it, too.  Here are the ones we saw on pinterest.  I am LOVING pinterest!  So many cool ideas all in one place and then if you find someone's style that you really like you can explore their blog further!  Watch out though you can get lost on there for hours!  Anywho.....I was sewing the seed beads on my daughter's cookeis and I started wondering if I could emboss the felt and LOL it worked!  I tried a couple of different folders and one definitely worked better than the other....the swirl pattern seemed to be deeper and so far has stayed....I'm watching to see if the pattern wears down after being handled so far so good.  Here are a couple of closer photos so you can see a little of the embossing...they are way cuter in real life!

I used my spellbinders to cut the felt.  The regular circle didn't cut very well but it did leave an indentation for me to use to cut with scissors.  The scalloped circle cut just fine though.  

CTMH Layout

Have you seen the demonstrator special Close to my Heart is offering?  If you sign up to be a demo this month you not only get the awesome demonstrator's kit but also a free Art Philosphy cartridge kit (includes 3 stamp sets, chipboard extras and the cartridge) or if you have the cartridge you can spend $100 in other great CTMH goodies.  I'm seriously thinking about signing up even though I purchased this cartridge already....wish I had waited!  Anywho....I wanted to get some of my CTMH goodies out and play so this is what I came up with.  The whole idea started when I saw this layout on pinterest.  If you haven't joined pinterest, you really need to check this site out....great motivation for all sorts of crafty things, awesome recipes, home decor, fashion, etc. all in one place!  Anyway I had this photo of my oldest son that I really wanted to scrap as I love how sweet and innocent he looks in this picture.  It was left over from the photos I just recently scrapped of the grandparents coming to visit but I wanted to do a page for this one alone.  I pulled out my Key To My Heart papers from CTMH...not sure if it is still around as I think it is an older one but I loved the bright fun colors.  I also used my art philosphy cartridge for the calendar circle from Little Reminder which was a recent stamp of the month and the star from the Love Life set.  Love how these stamps and cartridge cuts work together!  I also used Vintage Type stamp set for the typewriter style font ont his layout.  That cute "boy" stamp is from Little Yellow Bicycle.  I could have saved myself a lot of time by using my cricut to cut the banners along the bottom, however, I didn't realize that cut was on there until I started looking for the star....I should know my cartridges better...LOL!  The larger background star (overlapping the photo) is also from the art philosphy cartridge.  I'm hoping to read up on some photo taking hints this weekend so I can get better photos of my layouts.  I have a nice camera....just don't know how to use it to its potential.  You can see better if you click on the photo.  Hope you like it!

Santa Layout

I created this layout with the Making Memories Tinsel collection.  I cut my Santa and the ho ho ho from my cricut cartridge Christmas Cheer.  These photos are from 2000.....can you see I'm a little behind in my scrapbooking?  I couldn't get a good photo....well not that I ever get a REALLY good photo because a photographer I am not but....it was especially hard this time with all that glitter on Santa's beard!  I do love SU's dazzlin diamonds though!

Echo Park Little Boy

Can you believe I'm actually posting?  I know I've been MIA for a very long time!  I've been here but just not doing much crafting.  My father passed away last March and then I came home and got the boys finished with school and we waited to hear where our new assignment was going to be.  Lo and behold it turned out that my hubby got another assignment here in Hawaii so we actually decided to go ahead and move anyway just so we could get a house with a yard.  We've been busy getting settled in and with school.  My oldest had surgery that requires lots of physical therapy afterwards so I've just been on the go and spending my "free" time looking at everyone's beautiful creations on their blogs and pinterest!!!  I finally got in my craft room and made a couple of layouts the other day.  For this one I used Echo Park's Little Boy collection that I got from Crop Chocolate.   I think it is still available.  Such a fun bright kit.  I also used my Art Philosphy cartridge and some stamps on this one!  Loving how they coordinate!  Hope you like it!





Aloha! Awesome Giveaway Notice!

So sorry I've been absent for so long!  We moved this past Fall and then my oldest son had hamstring lengthening surgery which went really well but it has involved alot of stretching exercises and physical therapy plus the normal stuff that we have going on to keep us busy!  I'm sure all of you sweet readers can relate.  Anywho....I can't wait to get my new craft/homeschool space cleaned up so I can take some photos and post them.  I've been in the mood to craft for quite sometime but just haven't had much time.  I've got a layout I need to photograph and post but I wanted to post today to let you know about a really great giveaway over at Enfy's blog for a set of really cool markers!

Check it out here.