It's A Boy! Birth Announcement

I've been waiting to post this - cuz some of you would be on my snail mail list, and I didn't want you to see it before it arrived in your mail; box! :) This is the birth announcement I did for our newest, sweet family addition - Baby Joshua. He is totally sweet, warm, soft, cuddly and just plain YUMMY! :)

I have a little secret too - I came up with the idea for this design using Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio (MDS)! I had just loaded it onto my computer, and decided to play around a bit even though I have never used a program like this before. This general sketch was what I came up with - THE FIRST TIME I USED MY DIGITAL STUDIO! Not kidding - and that is how EASY this digital paper-crafting program is to use! I'm currently going through the training/certification process that SU offers it's demonstrators - so I can be equipped to answer YOUR questions about this awesome product.

I am totally impressed with MDS already - and I have only just begun the training. There is so much you can do with this program - scrapbooks, cards, calendars, flyers, blog headers/banners, signature lines, etc.

This design is all SU except for the Nestabilities I used for the sentiment and wording. My favorite part is the Texturz Plate used to create the 'background' paper in Almost Amethyst. ENJOY!

Baptism/First Holy Communion Invitation

This is the invitation I made for our daughter's First Holy Communion and our newest son's Baptism. We were blessed to have both Sacraments celebrated together at Mass a couple Sundays ago. I used a 5" x 7" Very Vanilla bottom layer, then a 4 1/4' x 5 1/2" Whisper White layer printed on our computer. Then topped it with an overlay of Vellum card stock that was heat embossed with Ranger Embossing Pearl in Pale Gold using PaperTrey images. The final embellishment was done with the SU Double Circle Punch and Gold Narrow Organdy Ribbon (retired SU). All cardstocks are SU. ENJOY!

Cinema Saturday Challenge #74 - "UP!"

I am so excited to *finally* be playing along with the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge again! We're still waiting on Baby to arrive - and I took a break from birth announcement preparation to play along with the movie "UP!" - with the required challenge element of using balloons in your design. (Who knows when I'll be able to play along again - so I am grateful for the opportunity this time!)

Our whole family loved this movie - "SQUIRREL!"

"Who wants the BALL!" heehee

One of the themes I was most impressed with was the positive light marriage was shown in. The belief in each others dreams, the creation of new dreams together and the sacrifice of one's personal dreams for the better dream of the marriage. I know this wasn't meant as a major theme in this movie - but it jumped out at me right away. So refreshing for a movie to support the value of marriage rather than tear it down.

So I have had this Elzybells image called "Up and away" colored for a couple of months now - just waiting to be created into a card. It is colored with Copic Markers. The sentiment comes from the retired SU! set "Happy Harmony". Also used were my SU! Big Shot, Texturz Folder for the dry embossed polka dot background and Oval regular and petite scallop Nestabilites. A little Glue Pen and SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter to highlight the border between the SU! Elegant Eggplant & Yo Yo Yellow layers as well as the petite scallop oval - and some Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon to finish it off. ENJOY!

He is Risen! - Happy Easter!

Welcome to the fifty days of the Easter Season! Here's a card I made for a neighbor - that went along with a plate of Easter cross shaped butter cookies.

TIP: Stamping on DSP creates a lovely effect - so remember this possibility as you are creating new projects.

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly; Glorious Gift (retired)
Card Stock: Lavender Lace & Very Vanilla; Apricot Appeal DSP (retired)
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace
Accessories: Butterfly Punch; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter & Two Way Glue Pen; Scallop Trim Border Punch (SAB item, will be in new catty!); Certainly Celery Twill Ribbon (retired).

ENJOY!

Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack

Did you know this was available through online shopping with Stampin' Up! Click SHOP NOW to see what's on sale - there's some great DSP, gingham ribbons, buttons, etc. - but these are only available by ordering online. ENJOY!

Two Step into Spring Promotion

Do you realize that in three months we will be welcoming the Stampin’ Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog? Do you need a sneak peek today?

Check out the Two-Step into Spring promotion.

Here’s how it works:

* Be the first to own Awash with Flowers, a set from the new catalog! It’s available as a sneak peek during April only — after that, you’ll have to wait until July 1.
* Purchase spring-themed Two-Step Stampin’ sets at 20 percent off the retail price — no additional purchase necessary! Qualifying stamp sets are listed on the flyer.
* Host a workshop of $350 in April and receive Awash with Flowers FREE! ENJOY!

Priceless Flight of the Butterfly

This is design two of two for Carole E.'s workshop this weekend. A beautiful Easter/Spring card - again, with simplicity on it's side.

It uses a Lavendar Lace base with a Very Vanilla layer embellished with the Sale-abration (SAB) FREEBIE Scallop Trim Border Punch, and stamped on with Certainly Celery using the swirl images from the "Priceless" stamp set. Lovely Lilac ink stamped onto more Lavendar Lace creates the punched butterfly embellishments (popped up on Dimensionals) from the "Flight of the Butterfly" stamp set. (Punches used: Butterfly and 1" Circle.)

The design is finished off with a little Two Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, and a strip & a bow of Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon (Occasions Mini). The strip of ribbon goes across the front of the card only. I tied the bow separately and adhered with a Mini Glue Dot - which result sin a much nicer looking bow (and less ribbon used!) than if I had wrapped a long piece of ribbon around the inside of the card and then tied a bow. ENJOY!