Three for You Punch Box - Woohoo!!

The latest punch box - Three for You Punch Box (pg. 183 or find it here: http://www.stampinup.com/) The stamps are DIE CUT for you already! It comes with THREE Stampin' Spots two of which are NEW In Colors - Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi, the other is Basic Black.

During the month of August 2007, when you order this little punch box gem, you receive FREE Love Notes in TEXTURED Cardstock!! Ten each of 3 colors - Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi and So Saffron, plus Very Vanilla Envelopes (that's a $12.95 value!)

And then there's my Three for You Hostess Threesomes Special too! (Contact me for more info - valid through 8/30/07)

THESE lovely 3 x 3 Love Notes were made using the Punch Pals stamp set on pg. 43 - which I will be spotlighting in September - if you love SU! Punches - this Chirstmas Stamp set is a MUST HAVE! These little lovelies are your first temptations... You'll need the Three for You Punch Box to re-create the Wreath Design (CASE'd from Amy Taylor, then I put my "twist" on it) - so get it NOW and get those FREE Love Notes AND take advantage of my Host Threesomes Special...

Three for You Continued...

Pomegranate Just for You: I CASE'd this from the SU! Preview Brochure, only I changed to the Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon. Use the Three for You Punch Box with Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, & Basic Black CS and Inks, and Dimensionals.

Chocolate Chip Just for You: My "twist" on the first design, only instead of a 3 x 3 Love Note, I used a Pocket Note I had left over from the Winter Mini last January. I used the colors Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky and Groovy Guava.

Chipboard Flower: This lovely little 3 x 3 is Old Olive and Blue Bayou CS and So Saffron Prints DS Paper. I used the On Board Chipboard Blossom and Basics and covered the flower with teh Prints paper using the fab SU! rectangular shaped glue stick! Then I sanded the edges of the Prints paper with the Sanding Blocks to rub off the overhang and create a distressed look. The Chipboard is attached with a Pop-Up Glue Dot. All dots (stamped images) are from the Three for You Punch Box. Other accessories were the 1/2" Circle Punch and NEW Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.

More Three for You!

A Gift for You: I designed this 3 x 3 Love Note using the set Punch Pals (pg. 43), the DEsigner Label Punch, the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, some Rich Regals Eyelets and Silver Cord (did you notice the NEW Silver Cord in the Holiday Mini is elasticized?! woohoo! Check out your copy or view it online at http://www.stampinup.com/) Cardstock is So Saffron, Night of Navy and Real Red. Ink is Night of Navy and So Saffron.

Thinking of You: I CASE'd this design from Patsy Waggoner. Uses the Three for You Punch Box, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Sqaure Punches, Rich Regal Brads, Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon & Dimensionals. CS: So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla. Too cute and super fast!

Friend: Also CASE'd from Patsy Waggoner I added the twist of the tone on tone flowers along the left side to "make it my own" which is usually the way I CASE. Uses Purely Pomegranate CS and Ink, Wild Wasabi CS and Ink, Whipser White CS and Basic Black Ink. Also Vintage Brads and Dimensionals.

Back to School!

My first ever Back to School teacher gifts! I have seen so many of these altered clipboards but never took the jump into trying to make one. The Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' Kits made it SUPER EASY! Add in a bottle of ModPodge and I'm on my way. Both these clipboards were made from the same Primary Colors Simply Scrappin' Kits.

ALL the Simply Scrappin' Kits were revamped for this latest catalog and idea book - the Fall/Winter Collection 2007. Aside from the usual 12 x 12 size and the 6 sheets (2 each of 3 designs) of Self-Adhesive Cardstock Cut-outs - they now have TEXTURED CARDSTOCK and DOUBLE SIDED Designer Papers! Woohoo! The possibilities are endless with these fab Kits - and the value can't be beat at $19.95. Check them out in your catalog (don't have one?! Contact me today to get yours!) or online at http://www.stampinup.com/

Noah's Birthday Complete!

I posted the soccer birthday invitation earlier in August. Now I've got the favor notebook and thank you to share with you. Again - I've used the retired set Sporting Goods, but the "Thank You" and the alphabet set are from current sets - Much Appreciated & Short Order Alphabet. The favors are 70 page spiral notebooks - 10 cents each!!! Add less than a dollar in card stock - and stamp and personalize with each guests name - voila! Fun birthday favors. The thank you design I CASE'd from SCS just like the invitation - only they were designed by two different people. And the crowning glory of the party - THE CAKE!! I made this cake using the Wilton Sports Ball Cake Pan Set, then hand decorated the soccer ball design. Noah's favorite part, besides the colors, double frosting! (The cake was frosted first in white, then filled in with the second layer of colored "stars" to make the design.) It was YUMMY! Homemade parties, cakes, invites, thank yous and favors - will always have the "edge" no matter how nice the store-bought looks.

Stampin' Chats Fall Schedule

If you are like me, and save so many emails in a "logical" place, then can't find them - lol - then this schedule is for you!

Stampin' Chats are FREE get togethers. We each bring our own stamping and scrapbooking projects to work on, have fun sharing ideas, snacks (and sometimes some yummy wine!) and just plain chatting! It's at a local pizza place - so you can order your dinner right there. You are always welcoem to pre-order supplies, or place an order that night - but ordering is not necessary. Interested? Contact me for more information.

All Stampin' Chats are on Friday evenings, beginning around 5:oopm

August 24th
September 7th
September 28th
October 12th
October 26th

It is a wonderful night out - Hope to see you there!

Thanks...I Needed That!

The newest fast, easy and fun stamp set for whipping out simple and cute cards - Fun & Fast Notes! It's perfect for watercoloring using whatever technique you prefer. (Want to learn the different watercoloring techniques? Book and event with me and we'll get started watercoloring!!)

Stamped by: Mary Rowlette. Stamp Set: Fun & Fast Notes. CS: Bashful Blue regular and textured, Certainly Celery & Watercolor Paper. Ink: Black StazOn. Access: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Aquapainter.

In Colors - In the Spotlight

The Newest In colors are so lovely - especially Soft Sky which doesn't want to scan for me! you can see it in the cardstock color, but the ink appears invisible on my scan. If you haven't worked with this color yet - you must try it! It really is lovely! LOVE the Stampin' up! Circle Punchs and Word Window Punch for making the Spinner Card! (What's a spinner card? Book an event with me and we'll make one!)

Stamped by: Jennifer McDonald. Stamp Sets: In the Spotlight, All Holidays. CS: Soft Sky, Purely Pomegrante & Whisper White. Ink: Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate & Summer Sun. Access: !/14" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals.

Baroque Motif

I met my friend MaryAnn Pippen online through a demonstrator-only website named SUDSOL. No matter where I have been during my time with SU! (four years already!) - online or in person, it is not easy to find an unfriendly Stampin' Up! demonstrator! MaryAnn is awesome! We devised a swap when the Inspiration Sheets were available - Inspiration Sheets for Cards, and ended up with a bit of friendship too! I have looked so forward to her designs each time I have sent her copies of the IS. These next 5 designs are the last of swap, as the Inspiration Sheets are no longer available. (If you never got any of these sweet little sheets - contact me! I've got some left. They are FAB ideas for designs.)

The focal piece is heat embossed in Clear EP, and centered on a medallion made from the now retired Square Steps Punch and mounted on a Dimensional for POP!

Stamp Set: Baroque Motif. CS: Night of Navy, Rose Red & Glossy White. Ink: Night of Navy, Rose Red & Versamark. Access: Night of Navy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals, Sqaure Steps Punch (retired) and non-SU! jewels.

Pick a Petal Birthday

My scan doesn't do this lovely card justice! The petals are Goovy Guava like the middle layer, and the dots on the petals have glitter on them. The white image lines on the petals are striking in person, and the double stitched grosgrain ribbon's white stitches really make the white POP. I also love the paper pierceing and the connecting the piercing dots for a stem and outline of the petals. The Ticket Corner Punch really puts the finishing touches on this delightful design. Stamped by MaryAnn Pippen. Stamp Sets: Pick a Petal and Birthday Hugs & Wishes. CS: Basic Black, Groovy Guave & Creamy Caramel. Ink: Groovy Guava & Basic Black. Access: Stampin Write in Basic Black, Groovy Guava Dbl Stitiched Grosgrain Ribbon & 3/4" Circle Punch.

Faux Metal Paisley

The focal piece is a square of chipboard covered using the faux metal technique, then pierced around the image. The dual background stamps lend the perfect styles of texture, along with bling tie-in of the silver brad on the tag. Stamped by MaryAnn Pippen. Stamp Sets: Polka Dots & Paisley, Flannel Background & Canvas Background. CS: Blue Bayou, Bravo Burgundy & Very Vanilla. Ink: Blue Bayou, Bravo Burgundy & Versamark. Access: Silver EP, Heat Tool, Crafters Tool Kit, Silver Brads, Natural Hemp, Dimensionals and Blue Bayou Dbl Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

Doodle This

I love the softness & simplicity here in using only the Whisper White Craft Ink. The interest comes form the line images of the stamp set - and the POP of color the Brocade Blue gives. Stamped by MaryAnn Pippen. Stamp Set: Doodle This. CS: Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue and Sahara Sand. Ink: Whisper White CRAFT Ink. Access: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Heartfelt Special Fold

This special fold design was stamped by MaryAnn Pippen. Stamp set used is Heartfelt Thanks. CS: Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Prints DS Paper in Certainly Celery. Ink: Lovely Lilac, Basic Black & Certainly Celery. Access: Mini Glue Dot with Microbeads, Celery, narrow organdy ribbon (retired).

Easter Family Picture

Though Steve & I don't change much, our kids seem to - especially the littlest one. So I like to keep an updated family picture here if possible. Of course, the ME Camp Out one was the most recent - but the Easter one here is more of a close up.

Color Me Bold Swap

This is a swap I participated in with fellow SU! demonstrators. It was called Color Me Bold - and challenged participants to use only ONE SU! Color Family, plus a neutral. All but one stuck to that - but the results are beautiful and varied - don't you think? I LOVE swaps for the variety of styles, stamps & color combinations they bring to me. It really helps me stretch out of my comfort zone and style box - and hopefully also helps meet my customers inspiration needs.
Birthdays are the Best Card: Stamped by Peggy Cook. Stamp Set: Pick a Petal & It's Your Birthday. CS: Bold Brights Family - Lovely Lilac, Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Pixie Pink & Glossy White. Ink: Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Lovely Lilac & Basic Black. Access: Godl Brads, 1/16" Hand Punch, 1/4" White Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Write Basic Black.
Flower Garden Card: Stamped by Diane Harman. Stamp Set: Just Like You. CS: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White. Ink: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie. Access: 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Circle Fire Rhinestones Brads, Mini-Glue Dots, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Dimensionals & Crafters Tool Kit for paper piercing.
Garden Whimsy Card: Stamped byJuli Smith (Me!). Inspired by Fall/Winter Collection pg. 32. Stamp Set: Garden Whimsy. CS: Night of Navy, Rose Red, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy & Whisper White. Ink: Rose Red & So Saffron. Access: Stampin' Write in Rose Red, Scallop Punch, 1/16" Hand Punch, Crafters Tool Kit for paper piercing, 1/4" Bravo Burgundy Grosgrain Ribbon, Double Circle Punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals.

Color Me Bold Swap Cont'd

Musical Card: Stamped by Michelle Merksamer. Stamp Set: Elegant Notes. CS: Night of Navy, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White & Glossy White. Ink: Night of Navy. Access: Classic Reinkers in Night of Navy, Brocade Blue & Bordering Blue. Technique: Polished Stone - Shown under the staff image. Contact me to schedule a workshop to demonstrate this technique!
Colorful Birthday: Stamped by Sue Selfridge. Stamp Set: Outlined for Fun & In My Thoughts (inside). CS: Whisper White, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper, Real Red, Only Orange, YoYo Yellow, Green Galore, Taken with Teal & Elegant Eggplant. Ink: Versamark. Access: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Black Embossing Powder.
Wild About You Card: Stamped by Diane White. Stamp Set: Wild About You. CS: Rose Red, Regal Red, So Saffron, Prints DS Designer Paper in Rose Red. Ink: Garden Green & Taken with Teal Classic Ink.

Color Me Bold Swap Cont'd

Rose on Rose Doodle This Card: Stamped by ?? (she didn't include her name). Stamp Set: Doodle This. Card Stock/Paper: Prints DS Designer Paper in Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Rose Red. Ink:Rose Red Classic Ink. Access: Crafters Tool Kit for paper piercing, Coluzzle, Dimensionals, Rich Regal Buttons.
Happiness Card: Stamped by Teri Klawitter. Stamp Set: Word on Word (Host Set), Petals Jumbo Wheel. Card Stock: Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant. Ink: Rose Red and Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink. Access: Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Rich Regal Brads, 1/4" Square Punch & 1/16" Hand Punch.
Baroque Motifs Card: Stamped by Tammy Fite. Stamps: Baroque Motif. CS: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White & Brushed Silver. Ink: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst & Versamark. Access: Scallop Punch, Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brads, Sterling Silver Embossing Powder.

Marriage Encounter Family Camping

Finally an updated family picture since Christmas! This is from a Marriage Encounter Family Camp Out in June 2007. We were blessed to borrow Steve's parents' pop-up camper this trip. For the first time - NO TENT! It was wonderful!! Of course, anything is better than the last two years of rain on this camping weekend! heehee

We have been involved with Worldwide Marriage Encounter for 8+ years, making our first Weekend in February 1999. The Weekend gifted us as a couple in so many ways - and still continues to do so today. One of the many blessings has been our local M.E. Community - being surrounded with so many couples who value God, marriage and family has been invaluable for us. We made a second Weekend this past February, and were asked to become presenting team for future Weekends. We said - YES! And have been on a new adventure ever since!! We highly recommend the Marriage Encounter Weekend to everyone - it is the best gift you can give yourselves, your marriage and your family. You will find the information you need at http://www.wwme.org/ or feel free to contact us and we'll help find the info you need. ENJOY!

In Color Combo Swap

I hosted this swap with fellow demonstrators to utilize the In Color Combination chart that Stampin' Up! put together for us. It is a great addition to the Color Coach because it gives color combos with the newest In Colors (there was one for last catalog's In Colors too!) I find I am so much more likely to try color combos out of my comfort and style range - if someone else has put the colors together for me! The Color Coach and this In Color Combo Chart, together with the Idea Books & Catalogs for layouts, make it super easy for me to focus on my stamps and embellishments - which is the part I find the most FUN! I figure you all are probably similar to me in this respect - so all of us who participated in this swap hope you enjoy these samples! Contact your demonstrator for a copy of the In Color Combo chart. If you don't have a demo - Please feel free to contact ME!

Butterfly Card: Stamped By Juli Smith. In Color Combo: Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky & River Rock. Stamps: Garden Whimsy. I got this layout directly from the Stampin' Up! Fall/Winter Collection p. 108. Absolutely LOVE the In Color Double-Stitched Ribbon. I used the 1 3/8" Square Punch to punch out the butterflies. Tip: stamp first, punch second - makes it so much easier to line up the punch with the image. Second tip - hold most punches upside down so you can see where you are punching. This design is fast, easy and quite lovely - IMHO. Thanks SU! designers! :) The Soft Sky butterfly doesn't show up well on my scan - but it is very nice in person.

Masculine Birthday #1: Stamped by Juli Smith. In Color Combo: River rock, Mellow Moss, Basic Gray & Ruby Red. Stamps: Close as a Memory, Sincere Salutations, Rough Edges Jumbo Wheel. Access: Crafters Tool Kit for paper piercing on the Basic Gray along the Ruby Red edge, Ticket Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, Slot Punch and Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon (NEW!), Clear Embossing Powder (the flowers).

Masculine Birthday #2: Stamped by Juli Smith. In Color Combo: Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Blue Bayou & Chocolate Chip. Recipe same as above - only I used the River Rock Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon instead. I had what I thought was an extra flower focal piece laying around, counted my swaps, had enough, so picked another combo to try. I found the other swap all done except for it's focal piece later! Poor card - all done up with no focal piece to complete it!! Heehee

In Color Combo Swap Continued

Flowers of Gratitude Card: Stamped by Becky Campbell. In Color Combo: Purely Pomegranate, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue & Old Olive. Stamps: All Occasion-Gratitude (Host Set & Wheel). She substitued So Saffron for the Old Olive - but who can blame her? Flower centers aren't ususally green!? This combo says Summer while hinting at Fall. The tone on tone on Bashful Blue gives a lovely and subtle background.
Hippo Card: Stamped by Carrie Srail. In Color Combo: Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip & Soft Sky. Stamps: Zoofari and See You Around Jumbo Wheel. Access: Wide Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Jumbo Antique Brass Eyelets, Cropadile, Aquapainter. Dont' think you can see the TEXTURED Card Stock she used (Certainly Celery) in this scan. The New Textured Card Stock is very FUN! almost everything she use din the design of this card is NEW this Fall/Winter Collection Idea Book & Catalog - from card stock to accessories! And how about the Long Note size for another fresh change up? The Long Note size isn't new this year, but if you haven't tried it yet - it really freshens up your style. Envelopes are available for this size, and a larger long note too. Too cute!
Flower/Vase Card: Stamped by: Jean Warren. She didn't use an In Color Combo as specified in the swap guidelines - but it is a quick and lovely design. So I am sharing it anyway! Stamps: Vases in Vogue (Host Set).

In Color Combo Swap Continued

Happy Birthday Card: Stamped by Peggy Cook. In Color Combo: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Real Red & Chocolate Chip. Stamps: It's Your Birthday & Garden Silhouettes (Host Only set). Basic Brown Classic Ink substituted for the Chocolate Chip;

Friends Latch Card: Stamped by Mari Leininger. In Color Combo:Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky & Kraft. Stamps: Year After Year, Taggers Dozen & Curvy Verses. Access: Word Window Punch, Bashful Blue Brads, On Board Chipboard Tags, Crimper & Dimensionals. She brouhgt in the Soft Sky by using the Prints Double-Sided Designer Paper to cover the Chipboard Tag.

Cherish Card: Stamped by Melisa Olsen. In Color Combo: She saw Combos pairing the Soft Sky with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip (in separate combos) and went with that, slightly deviating from swap guidelines. The results are beautiful though! Stamps: Baroque Motifs. Love that swirl image from the Baroque Motifs stamp set. Here, Melisa used a tone on tone effect by using the Versamark Ink Pad. A slightly darker tone on tone can be achieved by using the matching Classic Ink pad.

Warm Wishes Tent Topper Card: Stamped by Laura Pertot. In Color Combo: Soft Sky, Taken with Teal, Lavendar Lace & Old Olive. Stamps: Year After Year and Hugs & Wishes. She brought the lavendar lace color in by using Flowers For You Double-sided Designer Paper. The In Color Double-Stitched Grosgrain is quickly becoming my favorite ribbon! Although - did you notice that sexy basic gray taffeta ribbon in the above samples? Elegant is all I can say about our new taffeta ribbons!