Baby Hanger

Friends of my husband and mine had a baby the other day and we are anxiously waiting to go meet her and take over some dinner. Hopefully we'll be able to go over as planned on Monday and meet little Steevi Lee! I made this for the mom and she can hang it somewhere around the house or work when she has to go back. :) Sorry for the grainy photo, it was taken with my blackberry.

Three little monkeys.....

.....jumpin' on the bed. Well, actually over the crib. These are from the newest Definitely Decorative catalog that SU just released on Jan. 4. I could not wait to get my hands on them! Aren't they cute?!!! and it only took me about 20 minutes to put it all up! I don't know if Sam likes monkeys, but we sure do. If you don't have a Definitely Decorative catalog and want to get your hands on one, please let me know.

Baby Shower Card

Today's card was made for a friend's baby shower. She's having twins sometime in March! Lucky her. :) This uses some retired stuff, including the stamp set "She's all that" and some designer paper. The silver hodgepodge hardware is current, as is the ribbon and buttons. I think it's pretty darn cute, how 'bout you? :)

Sam The Man!

So, if you've noticed, I haven't done a whole lot on the blog for quite some time, so as of now, I am going to be better at posting cards and projects that I am working on. I haven't had a whole lot of time to craft as I've been sharing my craft room with somebody and it hasn't been too much fun. Well, the someone I was was sharing with is fun, but the sharing wasn't. And it's not to say I haven't made anything, but I haven't made much and it has been last minute and no time for photos, much less actually posting on my blog! So, with the new year comes those wonderful resolutions! Mine is to actually post on my blog! That's easier than losing weight, right? :) So, for today's post I am going to introduce you to my excuse for not crafting and blogging! Meet Sam! He's 8 months old now and just a ton of fun! He's starting to crawl (sort of) and is just a happy happy baby! I'm sure I'll be posting a bit about him here and there, but this is my stamping blog, so I'll try to stick to that. :) And please disregard the basket of clothes in the back, although that does prove I'm doing the laundry! hahaha :) Thanks for looking and I'll see you soon!

Starting the New Year Right

So, how many blogs are going to start off with that today?! Not only am I posted to my blog after many, many months, I am posting my Christmas thank you cards! So, 2 birds with one stone, right? :) This is what I came up with for my thank you cards. If you pull the tag out, it says "Thank You" on the little card in the envelope. Cute huh?

Birthday Hugs and Wishes

This card uses the Stem Silhouettes stamp set and I just LOVE it! It's so versatile and you can do so many things with it. I also used the top note die from the Big Shot, which is another of my favorites of course! I used my markers to ink up the stamps and get the different colors.

Stamp-A-Stack

Here is one of the cards we made at my Stamp-A-Stack. We made 12 birthday cards and had a GREAT time! The next SAS is going to be Feb. 18, in Fair Oaks if you can make it. contact me to reserve your spot today.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Bella Blossoms

I really liked this set when it first came out last catalog and finally got a chance to play around with it. I have made alot of cards like this with different colors and paper. I'll post them later, my camera battery is charging. :) But, for some reason this set is not listed in the new catalog, however it is still available on the dormant list. So, yes, you can still get this set even if you don't see it! :)

Sneak Peak

Here are some cards made with some products (paper, stamps, Big Shot Embosslit) coming out in our new catalog on Jan. 19. They are some of my favorites cards to date! :) I hope you enjoy them too.

Blog Fun!

I saw this little game on several blogs this past weekend and thought I would see how I do. If you would like to play along, just copy the list and highlight or underline those things you have done! The ones I have done are PURPLE! :)

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Fostered a rescue animal (adopted)

Baby Shower Gift

Yep, another one! :) I have another friend having a baby and made her this blanket. I unfortunately was not able to attend the shower, but I hope she had a lovely time and enjoys the blanket. :) Congratulations Lauren!!!

The Big Shot!

The Sizzix Big Shot is finally here! Stampin' Up! has put some great packages together for you to get started using your very own Sizzix Big Shot! Contact me for the brochure, I have an emailable version I can send you to view everything, including a great storage/carrier bag and some Stampin' Up! exclusive dies. Plus, I am running a couple of my own specials to help you get started!

Buy the Starter Kit and receive a FREE $15.95 die from me, PLUS since your order is over the $150 minimum to qualify for a party, you will receive hostess benefits of a free exclusive hostess stamp set AND $20 in free product!

-OR-
Buy the Starter Kit with Bag (that is super cute if I must say) and receive a FREE $21.95 die. You would receive hostess benefits of 1 exclusive Level 1 stamp set and $25 in merchandise.

This special only applies on non-workshop parties. During a workshop, I will still buy you an extra die, but you would not qualify for hostess benefits.

Stamp-A-Stack

I am having my first Stamp-A-Stack on Sept. 20 at my sister's house and here is one of the cards we will be making. I CASED the idea from page 194 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book and Catalog. We will be making 12 cards (3 each of 4 designs) and the cost is $20 if you pre-pay or $23 the day of the event. Please contact me if you would like to attend or if you would like to host your own. Class prices vary, but if you have 5 paying guests, yours (as the hostess) is free!



Ingredients:

Stamps: Bella Blossoms
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Versa Mark
Paper: Kiwi Kiss CS and Bella Rose DSP
Accessories: Scalloped Edge Punch and Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

September Card Set

Here is September's Card Set for purchase. It is $10 for the four cards, envelopes and delivery. Is that a GREAT deal! Or, just use my layouts and make your own cards. :) Contact me to purchase.








Ingredients:

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Fresh Cuts, Much Appreciated, Stitched Exotics, Cute & Curly
Paper: CS: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Whisper White
DSP: Pink Pirouette
Ink: Rose Red, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip,
Ribbon: Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain, Hemp Twine
Accessories: Punches: Scalloped Edge, Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle, Curly Label, Three for You
Brads, Stampin' Write Markers

Mount Shasta Camping

Since I am not in the mood to try and figure out how to upload photos to our mac, I have decided to use some photos that are already on it and post something to my blog.  hahaha  My husband and I went camping a few weeks ago in Mount Shasta and had the BEST time!  We were there for 5 nights and enjoyed each and every moment!  We have some friends and family in the area and were able to see them as well as get some nice hikes and swimming in.  The photos are of us on the top of Black Butte with Mt. Shasta in the background.  There was a large forest fire nearby, but depending on which way the wind blew, we could sometimes see Mt. Shasta and sometimes not.  It was pretty crazy!  And of course, we had to take a photo of Chili swimming in a lake (not Lake Shasta), boy does he have a GREAT time in the water.  If I'm not throwing a stick for him, he just swims in circles checking things out. It's pretty funny to watch.  

Wedding Gift

My husband performed the ceremony last weekend for a friend's wedding. This is his 4th one and probably not his last. Normally he puts the ceremony in a photo album and gives it to the couple for a keepsake. Now that I am stampin' he asked me to make a nice album for the ceremony that we could give them. The bride LOVES the nickname her new hubby has, so I had to use that on the cover. I used silver rings to bind it and then made little tabs on each of the pages so it would be easier to turn the pages. I also made them some matching notecards as a gift. The wedding was beautiful! Greg did a fabulous job and everything turned out perfectly. :) Congratulations Lippys. :)

Card Set for Sale

I have many customers not knowing where to start and just want some home made cards. I have decided that I am going to sell small sets of cards together as a set. For those that can make their own, you can use my layouts for your own cards and for those that either don't want to make them, but would rather buy them, here's your chance. :) This is this month's set, you get 3 cards that are 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 and one card that is 3x3 all with envelopes for $10. This includes shipping or personal delivery, whichever is easiest. Please contact me if you are interested.







Ingredients:



Stamps: Dreams Du Jour

Paper: Bella Rose DSP, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Three For You Punch, Silver Brad, Circle Punch

Catalog Sampler Promotions

So, I finally received my new catalog and have had my nose in it since I received it! Email me to receive your copy, they are $10, $5 w/a $50 order or FREE if you host a party. We also have a Spanish catalog, with many of our current stamps in Spanish, along with a couple of sets only available in the Spanish catalog! The catalog sampler is also in the mail to many of my customers, but in case you don't receive it, there are some great promotions on the back cover I would like you all to be aware of. For those wanting a discount on products, sneak peaks at new items and a chance to pre-order new stamps, there is another promotion for a $99 starter kit, see the link to the left. But, if you are interested in signing up as a demo, hosting a party, or just want to place an order, there is something for everybody! Please contact me for more information.



New Recruit Incentive:

August 11-October 11, 2008Join as a demonstrator with the standard $199 Starter Kit and choose one stamp set out of the Fall-Winter Sampler or Idea Book & Catalog for free.


Hostess Incentive:

October 1-November 30, 2008Host a $350 workshop and choose one stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler for free.



Product Offer:

December 1, 2008-January18, 2009Spend $20 and get 20 percent off any stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler.

I WANT MY CATTYS!

So, it's a bit after 1 pm on Wednesday afternoon and I am just hoping that UPS guy comes today. I had a bit of a teaser yesterday when he came with 3 Stampin' Up! boxes, the same number of cases of catalogs I ordered, but I was so bummed when they were an order I placed. But also with that delivery were some roses my sweet friend sent me from Red Envelope, so that put a huge smile on my face! Now, I just sit and wait for UPS, please come soon.....:)

I'm lucky enough to be working from home this afternoon, so I'll be here in hopes of my delivery. So, wish me luck and send me your happy thoughts, better yet, send the UPS guy over with my catalogs!!! hahahaha

Baby Shower Invitation

My good friend Genevieve is throwing her sister-in-law a baby shower and wanted to make the invitations. She knew the colors and the stamp sets she wanted to use, but it took us a while to come up with the design. It was a fun putting these together and I really hope that Genevieve was happy with them and that Lauren likes them as well. :)