A Season for Everything - A Time to Rejoice

Hi all!

Last week I was privileged to be invited to a wedding of 2 good friends, Julie and Bob.  The wedding was held at our church and was very traditional.  I wanted to make them a special card, so to Pinterest I went.  I had just recently purchased the bundle, Beautiful Bouquet.  On several blogs, people have just raved about this stamp set and thinlits package, so I thought I would give it a try.   Let me tell you, I LOVED it.  Not only does the stamp set have many sentiments in a really nice looking font, but the thinlits cut like butter and so much fun to put together.  Here is the card;  everything is from the Beautiful Bouquet bundle:

To cut the blosoms out, I used the Painted with Love Specialty Designer Series paper.  I though it gave good color depth and a touch of gold as well.  I also used the Painted Love Gold Vinyl stickers on the inside of the card and also on the envelope.  Quick and easy and a definite wow!  The sentiments both inside and out were stamped with Early Espresso ink.  This card was very quick to put together and a lot of fun!

Hope you enjoyed today's card.  Click on the products listed below if you want to order and recreate this card!

Have a blessed day!

Sheryl

Stray Duckling Waddle - Love is in the Air

Hey everyone!

I am now in the season of my life for seconds; grandchildren instead of children, and 2nd marriages!  In the last 3 months, I have been to weddings of the 2nd kind.  My son got married in December, a couple I knew from church tied the knot in January, and I have another wedding coming up in February.  What a blessing to share this life event with people I love.

Today's card is one that I gave to the couple in January.  It's very simple, yet so elegant:

Making this card was easy peasy.

• I used Thick Whisper White and Pool Party Card Stock.  
• I cut out the heart and flowers using the Bloomin' Heart thinlits.  You will need to use the Precision Base Plate when cutting out this detailed heart with the Big Shot.   
• The sentiments are from the 2018 Spring Occasions catalog, Petal Palate and the Bloomin'Love stamp set in the Annual Catalog.  
• The ink I used was Basic Black archival and Soft Sky.  
• I finished off the card using Wink of Stella clear on the little flowers and scattering small pearls.  

All the items I used are listed below.  

Kim Baker

Lori Helvick

Nancy Legate

Debbie Kramer

Bonnie Alexander

Mary Heinzman

Sue Boerner    

Have a wonderful day and go make someone's day a bit brighter by making and sending a hand made card!

Blessings,

Sheryl

February 2018 Card Class - My 10 Pound Baby

Hey all!

As I was struggling (and that is an understatement) to design the cards for the February class, all I kept thinking was that it would be easier for me to give birth to a 10 lb. baby then to design these cards!  Yikes, I had problems.  My biggest challenge was using the Brusho Crystal Colour.  This is a fine powder of intense colors - new in the Occasions Catalog.  I had seen some beautiful cards made with this and wanted to introduce this in my class.  Ok.  Rule #1 - I need to be able to use the stuff before I can make a card, let alone show others how to use it.  Many, many failed attempts and I finally, came up with a card.  Some things I learned about Brusho - 1) use SPARINGLY!  just a few powders - just some specs on the paper 2)  don't mess with it too much - 3) - it's a bit messy so steer clear of ink pads, rubber stamps and clothing - 4)  tape the paper down!  5) me and water color paper don't get along.

The results can be spectacular, but they are also very unpredictable.  Something I have had to learn to live with.  I think Brusho and I will have a wonderful relationship in the long run - it's that short term learning curve that got to me.

Anyhow, here is my 10 lb. baby and after 3 days of intense labor I present to you:

February 2018 Card Class! - Theme is Birthdays!

Dates for class are:

Sunday, February 18th, - 1:30 - 4:30 - my home
Tuesday, February 20th - 10am - 2:00pm -
Friday, February 23rd - 10am - 2:00pm

Please let me know by Monday, February 12th if you will be attending.  I got a feeling I've got a lot of paper to cut.

I wanted to show you a close up of the card using Brusho - it actually turned out quite pretty and isn't difficult to make at all - honest!

I used shimmer paper and heat embossed the butterfly on using white embossing powder.  I then sprinkled on some Brusho (sparingly) - the Prussion Blue and the Yellow - then I spritzed it with a water mister.  Then LEAVE IT ALONE TO DRY - as is dries, the colors continue to move and blend.  I love the way the colors explode once you spray on the water. Below are the supplies that I used.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the cards for the February Class - Hope to see you there!

Blessings,

Sheryl

Time for another Blog Waddle!

Hello!

Time for another Stray Duckling Blog Waddle!  At our meeting last Saturday, we decided to challenge ourselves and do a monthly blog hop (waddle).  We also did a card swap with the theme "all that is new in the Occasions or Sale-a-Bration catalogs".  So that is the  subject of this blog waddle!

Today I will show you my card that I created for the swap.  It's a free stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration catalog and it's called "Lots Of Lavendar".  It's a wonderful two step photopolymer set.  Easy to stamp with and very versatile!  I made mine into a thank you note, but it would work as sympathy, thinking of you or even get well card!  Take a look at my creation!

Here is the card recipe:

           Stamp Set:  Lot of Lavender (SAB); Petal Palette (OC- sentiment)               

           Paper:         Crumb Cake - 4-1/2 x 11, scored @ 5-1/2

                              Basic Black - 4 x 5-1/4; 2-1/4 x 4-3/8

                              Whisper White - 3-7/8 x 5-1/8: 2-1/8 x 4-1/4; 4x 5-1/4 (inside)

           Ink:             Memento Tuxedo Black

                              Wisteria Wonder

                               Stampin' Blends:  Old Olive, Daffodile Delight (both dark and light)

          Accesories:    5/8" Burlap Ribbon

                                 Wink of Stella Clear

                                 Glitter & Clear Epoxy Shapes

                                 Pinewood Planks Dynamic Embossing Folder

I belong to a group of wonderful and creative women.  We shared many amazing cards on Saturday, shared business tips, encouraged one another  and have had some fun adventures in the past.  If you have been sitting on the fence about joining Stampin' Up as either a hobby demonstrator or business demonstrator, now is the time.  During Sale-a-Bration (now until March 31st),  if you join, not only do you get $125 of product for just $99, but you get to choose 2 additional stamp sets (up to a $101 value) - absolutely free - in addition to your starter kit.  Plus, you get to join in the fun with the Stray Ducklings for super ideas and super support.  Click here to the beginning of a wonderful adventure and joining the Ducklings!

               

Now, lets go see some other amazing cards created by my fellow Stray Ducklings:

Kim B

Nancy L

Lori H

Mary H

    

Have a blessed day!

Sheryl

Sale-A-Bration is Here!

The Sale a Bration and Occasions Catalog have gone live!

• Click here to view the Occasions Catalog.
• Click here to view the Sale a Bration Catalog.

Sale a Bration 2018

• Dates: Jan 3rd - March 31st
• You earn FREE Products on every $50 purchase, no limits!  
• Join my team and become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and choose TWO FREE Stamp Sets of your choice (hobby and business minded demos are welcome!!)!  
• Place an order of $250 and receive $50 instead of $25 in Stampin' Rewards + Sale a bration items!!

Occasions Catalog 2018

• Dates:  Jan 3rd - May 31st
• The Picture Perfect Ribbon on page 5 will not be available due to production problems.

Check this out!

One of the cards we will be making in January uses the Sale-a-Bration stamp set "Heartfelt Blooms"
Here is a video made by the home office team at Stampin'Up highlighting this amazing stamp set:

I hope you enjoyed the video - remember to sign up for my January class and get hands on with this amazing stamp!

Blessings,

Sheryl

Happy New Year/ Happy January Class!

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a good and blessed Holiday Season.  As I write this, it is soooo... cold out - -4 degrees!  Yikes!  Good time to get together and make some cards.  The January class is a sampler of products from the Occasion and Sale-a-Bration catalogs, which start January 3rd!  So here's what we will be making:

You have to see these in person to really see how beautiful  Especially great is the Painted With Love Specialty Designer Series paper, which I've used on two of the cards.  All I can say is "Wow"!  And this is just one of the many Designer Series papers available in the catalogs.  Stampin'Up has really outdone themselves with these papers. 

Dates and Times of the classes:

Sunday, January 14th - 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Tuesday, January 16th - 10am - 2pm

Friday, January 19th - 10am - 2pm

Please let me know by Tuesday, January 9th if you will be taking the class.  That will give me time to make up the card kits!

Future Classes:  

February Class - Birthday Celebration

Sunday, February 18th
Tuesday, February 20th
Friday, February 23rd

March Class - One Sheet Wonder Note Cards

Sunday, March 18th
Tuesday, March 20th
Friday, March 23rd

More information regarding the February and March classes will be in future posts. 

Hope to see you in January!

Blessings,

Sheryl

Stamparatus - Things you need to know

Good Morning!

Today we get to order the Stamparatus and here are some things you need to know...

BE READY TO RESERVE YOUR STAMPARATUS ON DEC. 5 AT 3 P.M Central Time

Why do YOU need a Stamparatus?

• Make multiples with ease
• Consistently stamp crisp, clean images
• If you want a darker impression (or to fill in a “missed spot”), apply more ink and re-stamp—no need to start over
• Make fewer mistakes, saving time and money
• Easily create 2-step, 3-step, and 4-step stamped images using reversible plates
• Develop new and specialized stamping techniques with adjustable stamping plates and precision placement

Product details:

• Compatible with Stampin’ Up!’s red rubber and photopolymer stamp
• Foam mat to use with photopolymer stamps
• Rulers and gridlines for quick measuring
• 2 open sides so you can stamp on larger paper
• 2 reversible plates: a total of 4 surfaces to work with
• 2 magnets to hold the paper in place
• Magnet storage underneath the Stamparatus.

Download the Stamparatus flyer

Why reservations?

The best stamp positioning tool on the market!  With the launch of this tool, Stampin’ Up! is trying something different – a new reservation system. This system will allow Stampin’ Up! to get this high demand product in demonstrator and customer hands as soon as possible.

• UPDATE!  Whether the total number of reservations is 100 or 100,000, the window will stay open from Dec. 5 – Dec. 30, 2017!  This will be the ONLY window to reserve a Stamparatus.
• 1 tool per customer.
• In order to reserve your Stamparatus, you are required to provide your credit card information.
• Credit cards will not be charged until the Stamparatus ships from our facility. When you close your order, be sure to verify that your credit card and shipping information is correct.
• UPDATE!  Beginning March 19, Stampin’ Up! will ship the Stamparatus in the order the reservations were received (first in, first out) and continue through the next few months and beyond as product arrives in the warehouse. Because shipment dates are based on manufacturing lead times, not all of the reservations made during the December 5–30 window will ship on March 19 (as was previously announced).
• The Stamparatus will be a regular product in the Stampin’ Up! 2018 Annual Catalog, starting June 1.

HERE ARE HELPFUL TIPS to reserve your Stamparatus. 

1. Please go to my online store HERE.
2. Create an account and/or be logged in before 3 pm CT on Dec. 5 for the fastest reservation experience.
3. After clicking thru and reaching my on-line store above, you will see a large Stamparatus Reserve Now Banner Ad.
4. When you click on the Stamparatus Banner Ad, you will be taken to the reservation page.  
5. If you click the link early you will be notified the reservation window isn’t open yet.

Have more questions?   Please feel free to email me.

StampinUp has a very helpful video - 5 things to know about the Stamparatus:

Have a wonderful day !

Sheryl