Don't miss out ...

Today is the last chance to order from the Summer Mini as well as your the last chance to take advantage of our Buy 3 earn 1 free on our amazing high quality Designer Series Paper promotion for August! 

And last but certainly not least it is last chance to purchase the Strength and Hope stamp set to help raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation ... order this today and receive a free gift from me in appreciation!

Tomorrow kicks off our Holiday Mini catalogue which is chalk full of some AMAZING stamps, tools and accessories for the crafter in anyone - take a peek I know you are going to love it!

Here is a sneak peek of some Holiday mini items in use ... the Gift Givers stamp set and the Snow Burst textured embossing folder were paired with some lovely new Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin ribbon and the fancy fold technique!

 Closed card ....

Opened card ...

Happy Stampin'

Trick or Treat Fun

We made these last night at my Upline Liz's Holiday Mini Kick off Team meeting .... she designed this cute little Trick or Treat bag  featuring the Out on a Limb stamp set, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper and the new Cellophane bags and showcasing the use of our new Simply Scored Scoring Tool to make the little Lolly! 

Also could use these to design a 'gift topper' for any special occasion! 

Up close of the Out on a Limb set on the back side of the closure ...

Upclose of the Spice Cake Lolly .... this was so quick to make with the Simply Scoring tool and a cool 'threading' trick that Liz shared with us that held it together nice and tight! 

Happy Stampin'

Last Chance Strength and Hope

 The last chance to pick up the Strength and Hope Stamp set or the Strength and Hope Digital Set which comes with the stamp images and some gorgeous DSP for My Digital Studio is fast approaching!

Here are some cards I made showcasing just how pretty and versatile that this stamp set is ... one of my all time favorites and for such an awesome cause!

Place an order for this Stamp Set before the end of the month and receive a special additional small gift of thanks from me for your support!

Happy Stampin'

Rest in Peace Jack

Going to take a break from posting crafting related post today to share what is for me a profound reminder from Jack Layton which was shared in his last official written speech to Canadians before he left this world to carry on his journey in another plain of existence ...

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

and well the quote below also speaks to me with what is being shown in Goderich Ontario this week after the community was devastated by a Tornando on Sunday afternoon ...  people come together in these times of sorrow and loss to truly remind each other that it is not our level of possessions that define us but the level of which one is possessed of love and compassion for one another that truly shows our potential in humanity!

"The goal is to cultivate in our hearts the concern a dedicated mother feels for her child, and then focus it on more and more people and living beings. This is a heartfelt, powerful love. Such feelings give us a true understanding of human rights, that is not grounded just in legal terms, but rooted deeply in the heart. -Dalai Lama"

Happy Stampin'

Time is ticking ...

 on our awesome Buy 3 get 1 Free deal on our Designer Series Paper ... which is the equivalent of saving 25% off the 4 packages!  

Designer Series paper makes great accents to your Summer Vacation scrapbook pages and upcoming Back to School pages and before we know it there will be Christmas cards to make as well ... stock up by placing an order before August 30th to get the awesome deal!

 

Also a reminder that as part of my ongoing Run for the Cure fundraising I am also doing a Stampin' Up Raffle Prize.

Prize has a Retail Value $ 275 plus and includes:

• Crafter’s Tote (not Stampin; Up)
• Pretties Kit
• Stampin’ Pastel Set
• Color Box Ink Palette (not Stampin’ Up)
• Crochet Flower set
• Bliss Stamp Set
• Because I Care Stamp Set
• Raspberry Tart DSP
• Kiwi Kiss Buttons
• Chocolate Chip Buttons
• Star Brads (extra large metal)
• Circle Brads (extra large metal)
• Bright Color Sample Cardstock
• 4x Stamp Write Markers
• 2 x Designer Cards
• 20% off coupon for Stampin’ Up product (only good with purchases through me)

Tickets are $2/each or 3 for $5.

Draw to be held after the Run on October 2, 2011

If you are interested in purchasing tickets - please drop me an email or give me a call!

Happy Stampin'

Technique Tuesday - Selective Embossing

Thought I would share the Technique Card we made at our last class ... each participant gets a 6x6 sample with instructions for their Inspiration book to recollect on later....this card showcased the Cottage Garden stamp set with the Square Lattice, Designer Frames and Elegant Bouquet emboss folders.

With the sample we practice a couple of things from negative selective embossing to create the stampable rectangle space on the pink square lattice embossed cardstock for our sentiment to 'double embossing' as seen here with the Designer Frames with the Elegant Bouquet embossed inside it!

Happy Stampin'

Beautiful Bold Blossom Bouquet

Here is one of the cards we made this month during our Selective Embossing Technique class ...

This card we used portions of the Framed Tulips emboss folder to create a different framed look ... than filled our frame with images from the Bold Blossom stamp set in the Summer mini. Accented with a two tones Night of Navy and Daffodil Delight flower using the Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch!

To add a little bling we used the versamarker on the butterfly wings and the yellow portion of the flower and applied iridescent ice emboss powder - very pretty in person!

Happy Stampin'

Button Buddies encore

Here is another card inspired by the OWH challenge this week ... featuring once again the Pocketful of Posies DSP with the Poppy Parade cardbase and a Naturals White Top Note frame which was stamped in Poppy Parade with the coordinating My Friend stamp set that goes with this DSP. 

I used the Big Shot and Ovals Die to cut two ovals one in our Red Glimmer paper and the smaller in Naturals White and using the Button Buddies set I hand colored the floral focal point and than versamark embossed the vase in clear to give it depth - and finished it off with some small buttons and some Victorian lace!

Happy Stampin'

Button Buddies meet Berry Blossom

Finally had a chance to play along with one of the Utah Diva's International sketches this week - I love their blog lots of great inspirations and challenges - just wish I had the time to play along more often!

I used the inspired sketch to showcase the Berry Blossoms DSP along with our new In Colors ... Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade!

The focal image was made using the 2 1/2 inch circle punch in Limeasde and the 1 3/4 circle punch in Whisper White after I had hand colored and stamped the Cherries from the Button Buddies set.

I added the sentiment using the Tiny Tags stamp and jewellery punch to look as if the cherries were tied in a bunch as an offering to someone!

It is hard to see in the photo but I versamarked the cherries and clear embossed them to give a 'shine'.

I also used the versamarker, some heat stick powder and the fine green glitter to add some 'bling' to the DSP here and there!

 

Happy Stampin!

Playing withButton Buddies

 Having fun with my new Button Buddies stamp set and showcasing our wonderful DSP that is on sale this month buy 3 get 1 free!

This card color combo is Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze with Naturals White and features DSP from the Pocketful of Posies package.

I created my own designer paper to tie in the Pocketful of Posies DSP with the stamp set I was using by stamping the floral image in Baja Breeze around the Top Note frame...I popped the frame up on dimensionals and love the effect it gives!

I also used the Perfect Pennants Die for the floral accent piece and hand cut the Button Buddies floral image and finished it off with a Very Vanilla button accent tied with some linen thread! 

This card design was also inspired by the OWH sketch which was lots of fun to play along and I am looking forward to making my first attempt at donating some of my cards to this Fall if I can just figure out the rules for the shipping! You can also find out more about Operation Write Home on their Facebook page.

Happy Stampin'

A La Card Monkey Challenge 68

Playing along with the A La Card Monkey this week and having some fun showcasing our awesome 'Pocketful of Posies' Designer Series Paper!

So here is my inspired  card using the above sketch ... this DSP is designed to coordinate awesome with the My Friend Stamp set which I used in the middle strip on Baja Breeze cardstock run through the Square Lattice to create an additional piece of my own designer paper!

The sentiment accent features the Perfect Pennants Die in Not Quite Navy cardstock and the Happy Greetings stamp set from the Summer mini on a piece of Whisper White punched with the 1 3/4" circle punch which was than distressed with our Cutter Kit distressing tool and sponges with Not Quite Navy ink and than I choose a lovely piece of Baja Breeze seam binding to tie it all together!

Happy Stampin'

Colour Q #96

This card color combo was inspired by this weeks Colour Q challenge .... unfortunately I did not get my act together in time to submit it ... I got distracted by some rather yummy naughty smoothies this weekend ... but love the colour combination! 

So inspired by the colour combination I went in search of a stamp set that matched the inspiration and came up with the new Up Up and Away stamp set ... I used my brayer on Whisper White paper to make a Bashful Blue sky and Lucky Limeade green space which was versamarked with Pocket Silhouette stamp for texture.

The Up Up and Away balloons were done in two ways - the middle balloon is versamarked and heat embossed with the Tempting Turquoise and that two balloons on the side are done with the Stamp Write Markers to allow for two tone balloons in Bashful Blue and Tempting Turquoise. 

 

The clouds, birds and baskets are in Basic Gray with a little Tangerine Tango thrown in for the sun. 

 

Happy Stampin' 

Designer Framed Elegant Bouquet

Yup - yet another Selective Embossing offering - having so much fun playing with this technique - the color combo is Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink  with a hint of Wild Wasabi!

The back layer of card is stamped with flowers from Cottage Garden stamp set in Melon Mambo on the Pretty in Pink cardstock which is then run through the Square Lattice emboss folder and a strip of Whisper White attached after it was punched with the Scallop Trim punch.

Then the magic happens ... the Whisper White square was run through the Designer Frame to get our frame and than I reran it through the Elegant Bouquet using selective embossing to place the flowers inside the frame and hand cut around the frame to create the floral accent point on the card but before it was popped up on a couple dimensionals I had some fun with the floral frame...

... by playing with the Versamarker ... I heat embossed the various parts of the frame with different embossing powders ... Silver on the frame, Wild Wasabi on the stems and Melon Mambo flowers and than added a little more bling with some Rhinestones!

Happy Stampin'

Just Believe in Recycling ...

This was another quick and easy card I made the other day as I was going through my scraps and realized that I had lots of these 'Top Note Frames' in my scraps from when I cut out the Top Note for other uses but did not want to waste the paper.

So here we have a Not Quite Navy card base with a Naturals White Top Note Frame which I paper pierced on the corners to give it some character and than used it to frame a White Embossed Just Believe stamped image and than using my Versamarker I added some Melon Mambo embossing powder to just the flowers and the Thank you sentiment....and that is how a scrap of paper gets recycled into a beautiful Thank You card!

Happy Stampin'!

Just Believe in Paisley

Another quick and simple card featuring our Designer Series Paper - Paisley Petals ... DSP makes a very nice accent to card making ... this card was a quick less than 5 minute card. 

Main card color is Certainly Celery, versamarked with the Just Believe floral stamp and sentiment with some Calyspo Coral Butterflies from the Butterfly Wings embosslit that were sponged with some Frost White shimmer paint and adhered with glue dots so that the wings can remain 3D.

The front of the page is torn to reveal a piece of 2 inch by 5.5 inch DSP on the inside of the card.

Happy Stampin'

Forgive me!

I was playing with the embossing folder and gold glitter trying to get an idea for something else '50th Gold Themed Birthday' and this card just evolved ... I know it is summer and this is a Christmas card again but isn't it just divine?

I ran the gold cardstock through the folder to raise the embossed image and than brayered that image with versamark and clear embossed to make the gold 'two toned' and mounted it on black cardstock ... the Delightful Decoration ornament was versamarked on black cardstock and heat embossed with gold glitter emboss powder and punched out and adhered with dimensionals!

Quick, simple and yet elegant!

Happy Stampin'

Vintage Selective Embossing

Here is another sample of the Selective Embossing technique using the Vintage Wallpaper emboss folder and an 'oval' chipboard piece to mark out just a small section of the folder for a focal point on the card - a nice quick and simple card to make .... love the black, red with white accents color combo - always so classic!

I also embossed the envelope to match cause I do not like a 'naked' envelope!

Also wanted to share about an awesome upcoming promotion - Buy 3 get 1 free with our Designer Series Paper! Click here for the DSP that is available through this promotion!

Happy Stampin'

Selective Embossing Tricks

This is one of the samples I was going to use AT the Selective Embossing technique class this Tuesday ... however decided that making Christmas cards in August felt like I was rushing the summer - so it will just be a sample to showcase how they can use this technique in a couple months to make awesome homemade Christmas cards for family and friends!

This card features a Black, Gold and Vanilla color combo ... it showcases our gorgeous Chantilly Lace ribbon and the Waffle paper as well as the Tiny Tags stamp set and Jewellery Punch and the Basic Pearls and Rhinestones on the Petals a Plenty embossing folder which was selectively embossed here to just have a tree shape come through!

Happy Stampin'