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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Weekly Deals

Have you seen them yet?? Embossing folders abound in this week's deals! They're the perfect way to add an extra touch to all your cards without adding too many layers. The Decorative Dots is my FAVOURITE!



Just click on the image above to be taken right to my store and you can start shopping! In fact...if you purchased the Texture Boutique Machine and five embossing folders, you could choose a FREE Sale-A-Bration item! Be sure you use hostess code: T9BJFE3E

Today is the FIRST day of Leadership, so be sure to check back later as I'm sure I'll have some FUN things to share with you!

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

For the birds!

As you read this, I'm either at the airport waiting for my flight, on a plane winging my way to Orlando or at the hotel already having an AWESOME time with my Stampin' UP! peeps! (all depends what time you're reading - giggle)

Have you seen this set? It's so cute and versatile - stamps for almost every occasion paired with cute little birds. What could be better?



For today's card, I started off with a Coastal Cabana base and added a layer of Whisper White. A little pop of Designer Series Paper from the In Colour paper stack breaks of the starkness of the white background, adding just the right amount of colour.

The image was stamped in Memento Ink and the cute little birds were coloured in with Blendabilities (which you can get FREE during Sale-A-Bration) and punched out using the 2" circle punch. It was then matted on a circle of Bermuda Bay cut out with the Circle Framelits.

A little flag with the sentiments and a couple of little banners and flowers finish off this card perfectly!

Check out the rest of the crew here.

What do you think?

STAMPS: For the Birds
INK: Memento Ink
PAPERS: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay and Pumpkin Pie Cardstock; Coastal Cabana DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Dies, Punches, Basic Rhinestones, Blendabilities, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Hello you!

I couldn't believe my luck when I saw this stamp set in the Occasions Catalogue! It's perfect for...well...EVERYTHING!!


The stamp is called "Crazy About You" and it's available in a bundle (which includes 4 framelits) for as little as $52.50 (photopolymer). Add a pack of cardstock for $8.50 or even a pack of Notecards for $7.50 and you've just spent enough to earn a free Sale-A-Bration item! YAY!

I started off with a base of Basic Grey Cardstock and added some Designer Series Paper from the Flowerpot and Confetti Celebrations collections. Some Pear Pizzazz Cotton Ribbon was added to separate the two pieces.

I stamped the "YOU" in Basic Grey and cut out the "hello" and butterfly in Pear Pizzazz. The butterfly seemed to get "lost" on the Tangerine Tango flowers, so I cut out a second one in Shimmery White Cardstock to make it pop!

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the divas have been up to here.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Crazy About You
INK: Basic Grey
PAPERS: Basic Grey, Pear Pizzazz and Shimmery White Cardstock; Flowerpot and Confetti Celebrations DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Dies, Ribbon

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Birthday Tree

What's your "go-to" stamp set? You know, the one you choose time and again and you just KNOW that whatever you stamp, it'll be AWESOME. Do you have just one? Or do you have several that are your favourites?

I have several favourites (Gorgeous Grunge comes to mind), but I know that if I want to make a "man card", Lovely as a Tree is the set I'm going to choose.




For this card, I started off with a base of Early Espresso Cardstock and added a layer of Very Vanilla cardstock, partially covered with the Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper. All the layers were sponged with Soft Suede Ink.

The image was stamped using markers for the direct to rubber technique and was spritzed with water to give it a water colour effect.

I had to add some ribbon! I know most men don't like that "girly frou-frou stuff" but I figured a knot (not a bow!) wouldn't be TOO offensive - LOL!

Today is my little man's birthday - he's turning TWELVE!! I think I'll make him a more age appropriate card though...this one seems too grown up.

Check out the rest of the crew here.


What do you think?

STAMPS: Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
INK: Early Espresso
PAPERS: Very Vanilla and Early Espresso Cardstock; Typeset DSP
ACCESSORIES: Markers, Ribbon, Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

I wasn't too sure about the colour challenge today, but it worked out great! So good in fact, that I made THREE cards because I couldn't decide which one I liked best. :)



I started off with a base of Pink Pirouette for all the cards and layers of Rose Red cardstock and Hello Honey DSP from the Lullaby Designer Series Paper.

I stamped the images from Label Love twice, once in Smokey Slate and a second time in Rose Red. These were punched out and layered. Then, I used the Artisan Label punch again and punched out layers in Rose Red, Hello Honey and Pink Pirouette for the back of the images.

I'll be swapping the card on the far left at Leadership in Orlando, Florida.

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the divas have been up to here.


What do you think?

STAMPS: Label Love
INK: Smokey Slate and Rose Red
PAPERS: Whisper White, Rose Red, Hello Honey and Pink Pirouette Cardstock; Lullaby DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Ribbon, Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Better than email!

Have you seen it yet? It's one of the CUTEST. SETS. EVER!!!

Fortunately, the day it was released, I was placing an order, so you can be SURE I added it! Check this out:


Can you believe it? I can't wait to start stamping the backs of my cards with these!

Let me know if you want your own set! I have an order going in next Monday.

Happy Stampin'!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

The cutest little box - EVER!

Have you seen the little 2 x 2 boxes that are available in the Occasions Catalogue? They were in the Holiday Catalogue too and I'm SO pleased they carried over. I just love them!


This one was another one of the TWELVE projects we completed in my Birthday Bash Class this past Saturday. We did TEN cards and then two boxes - one of the boxes was big enough to hold almost all of the cards. :)

This box is SUPER tiny, so you'd have to have a tiny present to add to it - a pair of earrings perhaps? Or some really cute EOS lip balm?

We started off with the teeny box (of course) and added some Moonlight DSP on all four sides and to the top as well.

To make the box even CUTER (is that even POSSIBLE?) we added a bow to the top that we made with the bow builder punch, which is brand new in the Occasions Catalogue. If it's not yet on your wish list, you should probably remedy that situation pretty soon. :)

What do you think?

STAMPS: A Round Array
INK: Blackberry Bliss
PAPERS: Whisper White, Hello Honey and Blackberry Bliss Cardstock; Moonlight DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Marker, Bakers Twine

Happy Stampin'!


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Seize the CAKE!!!

Not quite Carpe Diem, but close! LOL!

I just love this little stamp set!

It's what I call and "inside/outside" stamp set - it has a sentiment for the front of the card and a coordinating one for the inside too.

In this case, however, I used both on the outside and it worked out GREAT!!


I started off with a base of Island Indigo cardstock and added a layer of Soft Sky. I left the Soft Sky plain, but you could use a background stamp of your choice and go to town! This particular card was part of a TWELVE project class, so keeping things simple was of the essence!

I cut one of our adorable paper doilies in half and added an Island Indigo Ribbon over the top to hide the cut. The I punched out some shapes, used the stamp-a-majig and created the image panel. The placement of the sentiments left just the right amount of space for a star (you could use a heart or a flower too) - PERFECT!

A little bit of doodling and DONE!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Something to Say
INK: Island Indigo
PAPERS: Whisper White, Soft Sky and Island Indigo Cardstock
ACCESSORIES: Paper Doily, Ribbon, Punches, Marker, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Birthday Bash Preview

Oops! Just like the card I posted last week, this one was also supposed to be for the Paper Crafts Crew...there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get it all done!!


I started off with a base of Bermuda Bay Cardstock and added a layer of Lullaby Designner Series Paper and a half layer of Coastal Cabana DSP from the 2013-2015 In Colour stack. A ribbon was tied around the layers.

The image and sentiment, both from Endless Wishes Birthday were stamped in Bermuda Bay Ink onto Whisper White Cardstock. The image was matted with more Bermuda Bay and the sentiment was attached with a Stampin' Dimensional. The finishin touch is a bedazzled mini flower.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Endless Wishes Birthday
INK: Bermuda Bay
PAPERS: Bermuda Bay and Whisper White Cardstock; Lullaby and In Colour DSP
ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Punch, Basic Rhinestone, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Happy Stampin'!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

An Attitude of Gratitude

Many years ago, the very talented Ali Edwards decided that she wasn't going to "do" the traditional New Year's Resolution. Instead, she chose a word. One single word, by which to live for the coming year. This year, Ali's word is GIVE.

I haven't done it every year, but this year, as I was getting ready to go out with my family on New Year's Day, somehow...something was different.

The house was still asleep (I like my quiet time in the morning) and one word just wouldn't get the heck out of my head. The word? THANKFUL.

I figured it was there for a reason and so I made it *my* word for 2015. If you like it, you can share it too and I would be THANKFUL that I helped you in your journey.

So, this year...it's going to be a little different here on the blog. You'll see cards of course, because I love making them...but you'll see other stuff too. Sometimes it'll just be my musings for the day or some knitting that I'm working on. Sometimes it might be a video that I found or something that touched me in some way.

I hope you'll join me on my year long THANKFUL journey.

Happy New Year!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Happy New Year!

OOPS! This card was supposed to be for the Paper Crafts Crew sketch this past Wednesday, but I got so caught up in the festivities of the New Year that I completely forgot to get it out there!


I started off with a Soft Sky base and added a layer of Whisper White Cardstock between it and the Designer Series Paper. What the heck is that??

This *particular* paper comes to you courtesy of the Occasions Catalogue which you may have already received in the mail! Awesome, right? It's double sided, just like much of our regular DSP and it's FREE! Just carefully remove the outer wrap of your Occasions Catalogue and VOILA! Free DSP!

If you don't have an Occasions Catalogue yet, be sure to leave me a message so that I can pop one in the mail for you (Canadian addresses only).

For the image and sentiment, I hand cut the champagne flutes and added them to a piece of Whisper White Cardstock onto which I added a piece of Island Indigo which was cut with the On Film Framelits. I thought the addition of the little star in Crushed Curry was just the perfect touch behind the sentiment.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Happy Hour, Good Greetings (retired)
INK: Crushed Curry, Island Indigo
PAPERS: Soft Sky, Whisper White and Island Indigo Cardstock; Occasions Catalogue DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, On Film Framelits, Stars Framelits, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!


Thursday, January 1, 2015

It's a brand new year! Come get your stamp on!!

MONTH-LONG OBSERVANCES
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Apple and Apricots Month
Artichoke and Asparagus Month
Bath Safety Month
Be Kind to Food Servers Month
Book Blitz Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
Carnival Season
Celebration of Life Month
Eye Care Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get a Balanced Life Month
International Brain Teaser Month
International Change your Stars Month
International Child-Centered Divorce Awareness Month
International Creativity Month
International New Year’s Resolution Month for Businesses
International Quality of Life Month
International Wayfinding Month
International Wealth Mentality Month
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month
National Be on Purpose Month
National Bird Feeding Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Blood Donor Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Cervical Cancer Screening Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Codependency Month
National Get Organized Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Hobby Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
National Mentoring Month
National Oatmeal Month
National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month
National Personal Trainer Awareness Month
National Polka Music Month
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
National Skating Month
National Soup Month
National Stalking Awareness Month
National Staying Healthy Month
National Thank You Month
National Thyroid Awareness Month
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
Rising Star Month
Self-Health Group Awareness Month
Self Love Month
Shape Up US Month
Teen Driving Awareness Month
Tubers and Dried Fruit Month
Unchain a Dog Month
Walk Your Dog Month
Worldwide Rising Star Month

WEEK-LONG OBSERVANCES
First Week
Celebration of Life Week
Diet Resolution Week
New Year’s Resolution Week
Silent Record Week
Someday We’ll Laugh About This Week
Women’s Self-Empowerment Week

Second Week
Elvis Presley Week
Home Office Safety and Security Week
International 3D Week
Kid Film Week
Law Enforcement Training Week
National Folic Acid Awareness Week
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
National Thank Your Customers Week
School Crossing Guard Week
Universal Letter Writing Week

Third Week
Bald Eagle Appreciation Days
Cuckoo Dancing Week
International Printing Week
National Book Week
National No Tillage Week
National Soccer Coaches of America Week
National Vocation Awareness Week
Slam Dance Week
Special Education Week
Sundance Film Festival

Fourth Week
Christian Unity Week
Health Awareness Week
Healthy Weight Week
Hunt for Happiness Week
International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Week
Junior Achievement Week
Kid Film Festival
National Activity Professionals Week
National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
National Handwriting Analysis Week
National Medical Practice Week
National Nuclear Science Week
National Take Back Your Time Week
No Name Calling Week
Sugar Awareness Week
Women in Blue Jeans Week
World Leprosy Week

Fifth Week
Catholic Schools Week
Clean Out Your Inbox Week
International Hoof Care Week
Intimate Apparel Week
Meat Week
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week
National Medical Group Practice Week
National Nurse Anesthetists Week
U S National Snow Sculpting Week

January 1st
Betsy Ross’s Birthday (1752)
Bonza Bottler Day (1/1)
Commitment Day
Copyright Law Day
Ellis Island Aniversary (opened in 1892)
Emancipation Proclamation Anniversary (1863)
Euro Day
First Foot Day
Global Family Day
J.D. Salinger’s Birthday (1919)
J. Edgar Hoover’s Birthday (1895)
Kid Inventors Day
Le Jour de l’An – French New Year
Mummer’s Parade
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Dishonor List Day
Paul Revere’s Birthday (1735)
Polar Bear Plunge
Saint Basil’s Day
Tournament of Roses Parade
Z Day

January 2nd
Boo Boo Bear’s Birthday (Yogi’s little buddy)
Drinking Straw Patented in 1888
55 MPH Speed Limit Day
Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
National Buffet Day
National Motivation and Inspiration Day
National Personal Trainer Awareness Day
National Science Fiction Day
Pet Travel and Safety Day
Run Up The Flagpole, See if Anyone Salutes Day

January 3rd
Drinking Straw Day
Festival of Sleep Day
Fruitcake Toss Day
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday (1892)
National Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day
Victor Borge’s Birthday (1909)

January 4th
Dimpled Chad Day
Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Birthday (1774)
Isaac Newton’s Birthday
Jakob Grimm’s Birthday (1785)
Louis Braille’s Birthday (1809)
Michael Stipe’s Birthday (1960)
Phyllis Naylor’s Birthday (1933)
Pop Music Chart Day
Spaghetti Day
Sterling Holloway’s Birthday (1905)
Tom Thumb Day
Trivia Day
World Braille Day
World Hypnosis Day

January 5th
Bean Day
Blue Monday
Divorce Monday
Jill Stuart’s Birthday (1965)
National Bird Day
National Weigh-In Day
Robert Duvall’s Birthday (1931)
Thank God It’s Monday Day

January 6th
Armenian Christmas
Carl Sandburg’s Birthday (1878)
Cuddle Up Day
Epiphany or 12th Night
Joan of Arc’s Birthday (1412)
Rowan Atkinson’s Birthday (1955)
Sherlock Holmes’ Birthday (1854)
Three Kings Day

January 7th
Harlem Globetrotter’s Day
I’m Not Going to Take it Anymore Day
International Programmers Day
Kenny Loggins’ Birthday (1948)
National Tempura Day
Old Rock Day
Orthodox Christmas

January 8th
Argyle Day
Bubble Bath Day
Carolina Herrera’s Birthday (1939)
David Bowie’s Birthday (1947)
Earth Rotation Day
Elvis Presley’s Birthday (1935)
Learn to Ski Day
Male Watcher’s Day
Midwife’s Day
National English Toffee Day
National Joy Germ Day
Rock N Roll Day
Show and Tell at Work Day
War on Poverty Day

January 9th
Balloon Ascension Day
Dave Matthews’ Birthday (1967)
Kate Middleton’s Birthday (1982)
National Apricot Day
National Cassoulet Day
National Clean Off Your Desk Day
National Static Electricity Day
Play God Day
Positively Penguins Day
Stepfather’s Day

January 10th
First Meeting of United Nations (London-1946)
Jim Croce’s Birthday (1943)
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
Peculiar People Day
United Nations Day
Where’s the Beef Day

January 11th
Alexander Hamilton’s Birthday (1755)
Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day
Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
No Pants Subway Ride Day
Stephen Foster Day
Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day

January 12th
Charles Perrault’s Birthday (1628)
Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day
Jack London’s Birthday (1876)
John Singer Sargent’s Birthday (1856)
John Winthrop’s Birthday (1588)
National Clean Off Your Desk Day
National Pharmacist Day
Rush Limbaugh’s Birthday (1951)
Secret Pal Day
Work Harder Day

January 13th
Bean Day
Blame Someone Else Day
International Skeptics Day
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’ Birthday (1961)
Make Your Dreams Come True Day
Michael Bond’s Birthday (1926)
National Poetry at Work Day
Public Radio Broadcasting Day
Rubber Duckie Day
Stephen Foster Day

January 14th
Albert Schweitzer’s Birthday (1875)
Caesarean Section Day
Coming-of-Age Day (Japan)
International Kite Day
National Dress Up Your Pet Day
Nina Ricci’s Birthday (1883)
Organize Your Home Day
Poetry Break Day
Ratification Day

January 15th
Bald Eagle Appreciation Day
First Super Bowl 1967-won by Green Bay Packers
Get to Know Your Customers Day
Humanitarian Day
Margaret O’ Brien’s Birthday (1937)
National Hat Day

January 16th
Appreciate a Dragon Day
Hot and Spicy Food Day
International Fetish Day
National Nothing Day
Religious Freedom Day
Sade’s Birthday (1959)
Women in Blue Jeans Day

January 17th
Anne Bronte’s Birthday (1820)
Anton Chekov’s Birthday (1860)
Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday (1706)
Betty White’s Birthday (1922)
Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day
Cable Car Day
Customer Service Day
Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day
Hot Heads Chili Days
Judgment Day
Popeye Day
Shari Lewis’ Birthday (1934)
Vidal Sassoon’s Birthday (1928)

January 18th
Cary Grant’s Birthday (1904)
Daniel Webster’s Birthday (1782)
Do Dah Parade Day
Jane Horrocks’ Birthday (1964)
National Sanctity of Human Life Day
Peter Roget’s Birthday (1779)
Thesaurus Day
Winnie the Pooh Day – A.A. Milne’s Birthday (1882)
World Religion Day

January 19th
Edgar Allan Poe’s Birthday (1809)
Martin Luther King Day
National Day of Service
National Popcorn Day
Paul Cezanne’s Birthday (1839)
Paula Deen’s Birthday (1947)
Robert Palmer’s Birthday (1949)
Thomas Kinkade’s Birthday (1958)
Tin Can Day

January 20th
Camcorder Day
Cheese Day
National Buttercrunch Day
National Disc Jockey Day
Penguin Awareness Day
Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day

January 21st
Christian Dior (1905)
Ethan Allen’s Birthday (1738)
Inaugeration Day
National Hugging Day
Squirrel Appreciation Day
Steven Hignite’s Birthday (My Son)

January 22nd
Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
Bill Bixby’s Birthday (1934)
Celebration of Life Day
Data Innovation Day
Diane Lane’s Birthday (1965)
Graham Kerr’s Birthday (1934)
National Blonde Brownie Day
Sir Francis Bacon’s Birthday (1561)
Women’s Healthy Weight Day

January 23rd
Edouard Manet’s Birthday (1832)
John Hancock’s Birthday (1737)
Measure Your Feet Day
National Handwriting Day
National Pie Day
Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day

January 24th
Beer Can Appreciation Day
Belly Laugh Day
Edith Wharton’s Birthday (1862)
Ice Cream Bar/Eskimo Pie Day
Mary Lou Retton’s Birthday (1968)
National Compliment Day
National Peanut Butter Day
Square Dance Day
Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day
TV Game Show Day
Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day
Warren Zevon’s Birthday (1942)

January 25th
A Room of One’s Own Day
Better Business Communication Day
Dean Jones’ Birthday (1931)
Etta James’ Birthday (1938)
Macintosh Computer Day
National Irish Coffee Day
National Speak Up and Succeed Day
Soup Swap Day
Opposite Day
Robert Burns’ Birthday (1759)
Virginia Woolf’s Birthday (1882)
World Leprosy Day

January 26th
Anita Baker’s Birthday (1958)
Australia Day
Bob Uecker’s Birthday (1935) Voice of the Brewers
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
Cockroach Race Day
Grammy Awards
Lotus 1-2-3 Day
Michael Chiarello’s Birthday (1962)
National Peanut Brittle Day
Paul Newman’s Birthday (1925)
Spouse’s Day
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement

January 27th
Auschwitz Liberation Day
Chocolate Cake Day
Donna Reed’s Birthday (1921)
Holocaust Memorial Day
Jerome Kern’s Birthday (1885)
Lewis Carroll’s Birthday (1832)
Mikhail Barysknikov’s Birthday (1948)
Punch the Clock Day
Thomas Crapper Day
Viet Nam Peace Day
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Birthday (1756)

January 28th
Arthur Rubenstein’s Birthday (1860)
Bill Peet’s Birthday (1915)
Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion Anniversary (1986)
Clash Day
Colette’s Birthday (1873)
Data Privacy Day
Jackson Pollack’s Birthday (1912)
National Kazoo Day
Rattlesnake Roundup Day
Rosemary Wells’ Birthday (1943)
Thank a Plug-In Developer Day

January 29th
Carnation Day
Curmudgeon’s Day
Freethinker’s Day
Katharine Ross’ Birthday (1942)
National Corn Chip Day
National Puzzle Day
Seeing Eye Dog Day
Thomas Paine’s Birthday (1937)

January 30th
Child Labor Day
Dick Cheney’s Birthday (1941)
Escape Day
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Birthday (1882)
Fun at Work Day
National Inane Answering Machine Message Day
National Write to Congress Day

January 31st
Appreciate Your Social Security Check Day
Backwards Day
Fun at Work Day
Inspire Your Heart With The Arts Day
Jean Simmons’ Birthday (1929)
Man Up Day
Minnie Driver’s Birthday (1971)
National Preschool Fitness Day
National Seed Swap Day
Suzanne Pleshette’s Birthday (1937)
Zane Grey’s Birthday (1872)

With thanks, as always, to Jane Hignite