Happy Sadie Hawkins Day!

Good Morning Stampers!

Just a quick post today, this last day of February, the 29th.  Do they still call it Sadie Hawkins Day?  This used to be a big deal when I was in high school, back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.  Girls would never think of being so bold as to call a boy or ask him out.  Sadie Hawkins Day was our day to turn the tables.  Wow, back in the day.

Today is a quick post.  I'm getting my March Class together, which I will post tomorrow.

This is a throwback picture, taken in Fort Collins, CO, when we were visiting my son, his wife and their newborn baby boy.  They took us to the annual Labor Day event called the Fat Parade.  Fort Collins is privileged to be the home of New Belgium Brewery, which make Fat Tire Beer.  The company was inspired by this name because  a lot of people in Fort Collins ride bikes - it's a very environmentally conscious town.  New Belgium sponsors a parade, where people ride their bikes through the town. Both young and old participate. Thousands participate.  It's unbelievable how many bikes are ridden in the parade.   Of course there is a party at the end of the parade route, featuring beer, but I digress.  People dress in crazy clothes and ride crazy bikes.  It's spectacular! And so much fun.  Here are a couple of pictures:

Have a great day!

Sheryl

Pedal Pusher - Sale-A-Bration

Good Morning Stampers!

Today I am going to share another Stampin'Up! Video highlighting the new Sale-a-Bration stamp set, Pedal Pusher.  This is an adorable and versatile stamp set - I just love the sentiments in it, especially the one that says - "I'm here for you", "Let me peddle for a while".  Isn't that just perfect?  How many of you sometimes felt that you needed someone to peddle for you, for just a while?  I know I have!

So here's the video.  I hope you enjoy it!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and go stamp something and brighten someone's day, even if it's your own!

Sheryl

Metalic Glitter Tape - New Sale-a-Bration Item!

Dear Stampers,

Today I thought I would share with you some of the new products offered for Sale-A-Bration which is good until 3/31/16!  Something brand new - Metalic Glitter Tape!  Love glitter, but hate the mess?  This is for you then  I'm going to share a Stampin'Up! video that details what this is and some project ideas.  

I hope you enjoyed today's video.  Remember, you can earn this for free with every $50 order from Stampin' Up!

Sheryl

Thank You Notes Courtesy Paper Pumpkin

Good Morning fellow stampers!

Yesterday I received my February 2016 Paper Pumpkin in the mail.  As it so happens, I needed two thank you cards and I didn't feel like dragging out all my paraphernalia to come up with some cards.  You know how it goes... you start out simple and before you know it, you have all your stuff out and you are working in about a 6" square of space.

I decided to make the paper pumpkin cards - they had a thank you sentiment.  What is so great is that everything is in the box.  Stamps, ink, glue dots, and die cut self sticking flowers.   I did this while I was watching TV.  They went together super fast and super easy.   I will admit I used rhinestones and dimensionals, so I did add to the project.  I thought the cards were stunning.

Here's all 5 that I made last night (there are 9 cards in the box)

Aren't they pretty?  And so springy and happy!  Here are the envelopes that come with the kit.  Not only are they pretty on the outside, but they have a pattern on the inside, like an envelope liner.  There are 3 different inside patterns:

 Now for a close look at 3 of the cards;  each is has different designs.  The kit comes with a gold foil scribble flower, a calypso coral flower and then a pre-printed background.  The stamp set includes flowers as well as sentiments, which I stamped on the cards.    It also has sequins - gold and a transparent one, that reminds me of rainbows.

I really bedazzled these cards, but I think they look terrific!  I'm really digging Paper Pumpkin.  You can subscribe during Sale-a-Bration for a pre-paid 3 months for only $55!  Plus you would qualify for a free Sale-a-Bration item.  If enough of you sign up, we can start a Paper Pumpkin Stamping Night.  We can all meet at my home or at the library in Morton and put our cards together.  Who knows, we may inspire each other to do something different.

3-Month Prepaid Subscription (137859) $59.85 $55   
Save on a 3-month prepaid subscription and instantly qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item!

12-Month Prepaid Subscription (137861) $215.40 
Take it to the next level with a 12-month prepaid subscription. Save $24 a year with the everyday awesome price, earn Stampin' Rewards, and instantly qualify for 4 FREE Sale-A-Bration items! 

This is good only until 3/31/16!

 And don't forget to check out Pinterest for some alternative ideas using this months Paper Pumpkin.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Sheryl

February Paper Pumpkin

 Check out the February Paper Pumpkin!

Look at all the stuff you get with this.  Plus, during Sale-a-Bration, Paper Pumpkin is on sale for 3 month pre-paid subscription.  

You need Paper Pumpkin if:  

• You are overwhelmed with all the choices in the catalog. The easiest way to earn a Sale-A-Bration item is with a 3-month prepaid subscription. 

• You want to earn just one more Sale-A-Bration item.  Your dollar will stretch three more months with a prepaid subscription purchase. 

• You already subscribes to Paper Pumpkin.  You can purchase a subscription as a gift for their friend, spouse, child, or parent so you have a crafting buddy every month. 

• You have never tried Paper Pumpkin. Now is the perfect time-you can get a discount, grab a free Sale-A-Bration item, and get three months of papercrafting bliss! Win! Win! Win!

Plus Stampin'Up puts out a video every month to show you how it goes together.  And don't forget Pinterest for lots of ideas of alternative uses for Paper Pumpkin.  


Here's the February Video:  

I plan on making my Paper Pumpkin tonight (or tomorrow night) and then I will share with you.

Have a wonderful day Stamping!

Sheryl

3 New Sale-A-Bration Items

Woo-Hoo!  Stampin' Up knows how to throw a party!  To add some excitement to Sale-a-Bration, they have added 3 new items that you can earn for free with every $50 purchase!  Check it out:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'm really digging the Metallic Glitter tape - you get all 3 colors for free!  I also think that tandem bike is really cute.  Click on the top picture in the right column to see the full brochure.  And the party continues with the Party Pants stamp set!

So let's put our Party Pants On!!  Check out this video:

You can earn this set for free with a $50 order.  I"m putting in my order today!  How about you?  Contact me to order or shop on my Stampin' Up website here.

Have a wonderful day my friends and go make a card for someone who needs lifting up!

Sheryl

A Decision to be Made

Good Morning fellow stampers!

Today I have been invited to a shoebox swap at a dear friends house.  I made up two cards (note cards, wouldn't you know!) and I can't decide which one to take.  Here is Card #1.  By the way, both cards are CASED from Angie Kennedy Juda, who is better known as Chickn'Scratch.

Isn't this beautiful and simple?  I used thick Whisper White and water colored the flower and stem using soft sky and pear pizzaz.  After it dried, I painted it with Wink of Stella Clear and put a rhinestone on it.  I think it's gorgeous.  And very easy to do.

Ok.  Card #2:

Isn't this just really cute?  I love the attitude of the chick.  This one is super simple too, although it involves more stamping and some punching!  The bird is water colored in Daffodil Delight.  The Happy Birthday is Melon Mambo.  The ballon is Bermuda Bay and punched out with our little 3 pack party punches.  I think anyone would be delighted to receive this as a birthday card.

Ok,  any options?  Card #1 or Card #2 or both?  I'm kind of leaning toward both since the first one is a quicky.  Leave a comment to vote.  Supposedly I have made it easier for people to comment.  We shall see!

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'm at it again!

I'm still making note cards!  Here is one that I made this weekend using the free Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Sky is the Limit.

I cased this from Tami White.  I used the 2 3/8' scallop punch as a mask and sponged Soft Sky ink to create the pretty clouds.  Silver brads, a 3/4" circle of Vellum and some Archival black ink finish this card.

The Bad News:  Today is the last day that you can earn this stamp set, along with Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper and Hello.  I'm really going to miss the Perfectly Artistic DSP.  Here is a card that I made using that paper.  I added some more bling to it by coloring the rose and leaf with clear Wink of Stella:

The Good News:  Stampin' Up is coming out with 3 new Sale-a-Bration products that you can earn for free with every $50 purchase (before Shipping and tax).  Take a look at the new flyer:

Some pretty cool stuff, huh?  I will be sharing more note cards later this week, so stay tuned!

Sheryl

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentines Day!  It's snowing here and COLD!  But nice and warm inside.  I wanted to share my husbands gift to me... He bought me roses mixed with other flowers and it's just so pretty I just had to show you!

Aren't they pretty?  Now I want to show you another card that I received from my good friend and fellow stamper Pam.  She always creates such beautiful cards...

I feel very blessed this Valentines day.  A very loving and thoughtful husband and good friends.   Hope you have a blessed Valentines Day!

Sheryl

Love is in the air

Happy Valentines day, a couple of days early.  Today I'm going to show you some Valentines that I made for my 3 year old grand daughter to take to pre-school (or pretty school, as she says it).   It's been a tradition of mine to make Halloween and Valentine treats for my grandson Cody to take to school.  He is now in 6th grade and taking these kind of treats is no longer desired.  However, I do have three more grandchildren - ages 3 (2 of them the same age) and a 1 year old, so my opportunities for treats will last a long time.

Here is a picture of Maelyn - cute as a bug's ear:

And here are the treats I made.  They are really simple, but it involves candy and that is good to a 3 year old.

My husband pointed out that there was no place for Maelyn to sign her name.  Well, she can't write her name yet, and even if she could, the other 3 years couldn't read it!  They will be lazer focused on the sucker anyway.  

I used the red glimmer paper, the heart framelits (retired), and the stamp set Blooming Love.  I stamped the heart in Blushing Bride then stamped the sentiment in Rose Red.   Quick and easy and sure to please a 3 year old.  

May you have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Sheryl

Picture Perfect

Today I'm sharing with you a video from Stampin' Up! about one of the stamp sets in the Occasions Catalog, called Picture Perfect and it's found on page 37.  This is a multi step stamp that gives you spectacular images!  I'm really thinking this is going to be used on one of the cards I'm doing in March or April.  Take a look and see if you don't agree with me....

Hope you have a wonderful day and think about taking one of my card classes - you will love it!


Sheryl

Another Note Card

I told you I was obsessed with note cards!   For this note card, I used the Sale-a-Bration Stamp set Botanicals Just for You.  I love the bold letters!.  It's also got some sweet sentiments that go along with it.  So what do you think?  I love it!  I used Calypso Coral, Mint Macaron (love, love this color), Hello Honey and Old Olive.  I put this together in a flash too. 

Wouldn't this be a sweet card to include with a little gift or just mail it to someone who needs a lift to their day?  That's the beauty of Stampin' Up!  Beautiful stamps, color coordination and people like me to help you in your stamping journey. 

Have a wonderful day my friends!


Sheryl

My Note Cards Continue....

Today I'm showing you a masculine note card...one that could be used for valentines day.  My guy loves anything aernautical  so this is right up his alley.  Nothing foofey about this card!  I used The Sky is the Limit stamp set from the Sale-a-Bration catalog. (FYI this stamp will be going away on 2/15/16, replaced with some new exciting Sale-a-Bration products!)

My inspiration for this card came from two places;  Angie Juda and Tami White - both highly imaginative and successful Stampin'Up demonstrators.  So here it is;

The biggest challenge of this card, as in life, is not to fly the airplane upside down!   I used the lovely crumb cake colored note cards and cut a piece of crumb cake 4 3/4 x 3 1/4.  First I stamped the sentiment and the airplane on the 43/4 x 3 /14 piece of card stock, in archival black.   I then used my brayer to ink up the World Traveler Textured Impressions folder (Page 39 of the Occasions Catalog), in Crumb Cake Ink on the back side of the folder.  Carefully place the card, face down (and make sure it's right side up to the map) and closed the folder and gently rubbed it all over to transfer the ink.  Easy!  Using the 3/4" circle punch, I punched out a circle in vellum and attached it with a mini silver brad.  Using 5 dimensionals,  I mounted this to the front of the note card.  I stamped the inside and the envelope and it was done!

The world is a bit tilted on my card.  I was going for realism :)

I hope you enjoyed todays card.  Please leave me a comment, if you can figure out how to.  I love hearing from you!


Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

So Cool!

Good morning fellow stampers!

How's that for a shout out!  Wake you up? 

Today I'm going to show you a really cool note card.  I used a three of items from the Sale-a-Bration catalog (one item free with a every $50 purchase before tax and S&H).  The stamp set is called Flowering Fields found on page 12 of the catalog.  I also used the coordinating paper called Wildflower Fields Designer Series paper.  I used Black Stazon ink and stamped the flower images on the Botanical Garden Designer Vellum Stack (page 4).  I then turned it over and used my Stampin'Write markers and colored the flowers on the back of the velum.  It gives a nice soft color when flipped over.  You can also do some shading with the markers:  I colored in the large flowers with So Safron marker and then I ourlined the flower in a darker yellow - Crushed Curry.  The color markers I used coordinated with the colors in the Designer Series Paper. 

The note card size is 3-1/2 x 5.  To save the vellum paper( which is 6x6), I cut the panel 3" x 3 -1/2.  Since the card is 5" tall, I cut the DSP in 1x 3 1/2" strips.  I adhered the vellum with 4 glue dots.  Usually you can see the glue dots on plain vellum, and you have to cover them up, but because this has some white printing on it, you can't see the glue dots!  Yeah!

 Don't you just love the textured background and the clean sharp images?  I will warn you however, that vellum is a bit slippery and it doesn't absorb the ink like cardstock would.  So my suggestion to you is to make sure your stamp is fully inked before placing it on the vellum - stamp on your messy mat first - then reink.  Use firm pressure, but not too hard.  And leave it on the vellum for several seconds so that the ink is transfered.  You might want to practice on a scrap piece of vellum before trying this.  Just a suggestion. 

Hope you enjoyed todays card!



Here's another video from Stampin' Up! showing the Botanical Gardens Vellum stack.

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Note Card Obsession!

I've already told you I'm obsessed with making notecards.  They are little, not much surface to cover, and they go through the mail without additional postage!  What's not to love.  Here is a notecard that I made just for fun!

I used the Perfectly Artistic Paper from the Sale-a-Bration catalog.  I then used the rose die from the Rose Garen Thinlits Dies  to make an outline on the paper and sniped it out, cutting on the inside of the line.  Same with the leaf.  I used basic black cardstock to cut out the rose and leaf die to make the flower and leaf outline.  I then adhered to the paper, then trimed.  Isn't it pretty?  Much prettier in person  The Thanks sentiment is stamped with cottage greetings, a great all around sentiment set.  The inside of the card is here: 

I just love the versitility of this stamp set.  More samples with this stamp set and die to follow.  I'm on a roll.  The other thing I like it the sentiments.  Great for a sympathy card, birthday or thank you with a religious tone.  And another great bonus... you can buy the stamp set and dies as a bundle and save 15%!  Win Win!

Hope you enjoyed todays card!

Here is a video from Stampin' Up about this wonderful bundle!

Sheryl

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

It's February - Time for Class to be in Session!

One of my favorite things to do is to create and stamp note cards.  It started a long time ago when I would create note cards using some of my images from vacation that I had taken with my digital camera.  Of course, I just couldn't leave them plain with just a picture on the front.  I had to do something to the inside of the card.  That's when I bought my first Stampin'Up! stamp set, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

This month, in my class, we will be stamping 20 notecards and envelopes; The note cards are sold by Stampin' Up! and are the best bargain in the whole annual cataloge.  20-  3 1/2 x 5 " cards on heavy card stock, with envelopes for $6.  We will be making 5 different designs, 4 cards each, using 4 different stamp sets.  Plus, we will be making a cute box to put some notecards in to give as a gift.   So not only will you have notecards for many occassions, but you have a potential gift to give as well.  Today, I will show you all 5 cards plus the box.  In the days to follow (and I sure hope I keep my word on this), I will show you some additional note cards that I made, plus the details of these 5. 

If you have never signed up for one of my classes, please consider doing so.  It's a fun and relaxing 4 hours of chatting and creating!  And you will be astounded at how easy it is to make beautiful cards that people will treasure.  I have just a couple of extra note card sets so if you haven't signed up yet, do so ASAP. Check out the February 2016 newsletter on the right column for dates and times.   Just shoot me an email or give me a call.