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Do You Need Fresh Ideas? Don't have the time to attend classes? Want to Stamp In Your Pajamas?  Discover new and exciting ways to use the Stamps and Accessories in Stampin' Up!'s new Spring Mini Catalog AND the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog! The SPRING 2013 EDITION OF PROJECT PARADE is going on now!  Save Time, Save Money with StampAcademy.com's Online Paper Crafting Classes for Crafters at every level!  You're gonna LOVE the projects - Guaranteed!  Don't miss it! Lots of FREE Videos too! Check it out!

Artistic Etching Stamps

I hope you all had a GREAT Mother's Day!  I was thrilled to have BOTH of my kids home with me for Mother's Day this year!!!!!  We did a "Make Your Own Panini" theme and it was delish! :-D

For today's card, I used the Artistic Etchings Stamp Set.  Artistic Etchings has been one of my favorite stamp sets EVER!  I don't know what it is about this look that gets me every time, but it does!  I am SO sorry to see it retire! :(  Elegant Eggplant and Crumb Cake card stocks are the background for this card and the Ribbon Crochet serves as both the banners and the Medallion. All Supplies are available in my ONLINE STORE.

I love making Ribbon Medallions!  Once I start, I can't seem to stop and then I put them on everything!   If you would like to see how to make a Medallion, you can find that HERE.

Birthday Card from Daryl

Daryl is another of my dear friends that I met through Paper Crafting.  She initially called Stampin' Up! to locate a Demonstrator in her area.  They sent her to me!  Our first telephone call was probably about an hour or more!  We just totall clicked!  There's a line in Richard Bach's book that says: "You will know your friends better in the moment you meet than you will know your acquaintances in a lifetime."  I have been blessed in so many ways by having her in my life!  We have traveled to many different states together to attend Stampin' Up! Events and I value her friendship.  She is one of the kindest, most giving people I know!  She is also a Mom who is totally crazy for her kids and I LOVE that!  She's also an AMAZING stamper! Her cards a works of art!!!  Daryl is another friend who never forgets my birthay! Thanks, Daryl! xoxo

Birthday Card from Michelle

I told you I would share some of my Birthday cards with you.  This beauty is from my dear friend, Michelle Smith. I met Michelle waaaaayy back - more than 10 years ago - when we were both honored with an appointment to the Stampin' Up! Advisory Board!  She was from Tehxxxxxus and not used to my New Yorkness!  Seinfeld was HUGE here and Elaine's exclamatory "Get OUT!" was the phrase of the moment. That would have been okay with Michelle except that we would always "push" the other person when we said it! (Like Elaine!) LOL!  After a week with me and the Jersey Girl (Tina Rosenkrans), she had had enough.  We were out to dinner with the Executive Team and she refused to sit next to Tina and me!!!  We were terribly amused and a little bit horrified!  We went on to become great friends and, like many of my Stampin' Up! friendships, it has endured the test of time.  My friends are such a source of joy in my life!

Michelle is a lovely and thoughtful person who NEVER forgets my birthday!  I am so appreciative - especially because I tend to forget EVERYTHING - including other people's birthdays!  This card arrived first - as it always does - and I was thrilled - as I always am - to receive it!  I especially love the texture on the cupcake "frosting."  Thanks, Michelle!

Happy Birthday to ME and a Gift for YOU!

I know I've been a little MIA lately.  I took a couple of weeks off for "Extreme Self Care" (as Cheryl Richardson would say) and it was great but I'm back!  And...Yes!  Today is my birthday!  I am one of the rare older people who still loves my birthday! LOL!  I always do something nice for myself!  Usually, that is a massage and a facial followed by lunch with someone I love!  The funny thing is that it is almost always a beautiful day on May 7th so I get to enjoy the weather too!  Going to my mailbox has been a treat all week!  I love, love, love hand-stamped cards - especially when they're for me!  I will be sharing some of the beauties I received for my birthday later this week!

Blogging has been a big part of my life this past year so today, I wanted to celebrate my birthday by giving YOU a gift!  Two in fact!  The first is a Sneak Peek from the Gold Level Exclusives 2013 at StampAcademy.com.  This gem is from the beautiful and talented Sandra Rosario.  I absolutely LOVE it!  I hope you will too!!!!!  You can download the PDF instructions in the FREE Video Section at StampAcademy.com.  I hope you enjoy it!

Your second gift is FREE SHIPPING with any order placed for the rest of the week.  (You will need to email your order to me because the gift is from me and will not work if you try to place your order online yourself.)

Please know that you hold a special place in my heart!  I cherish your notes and emails with your kind words and compliments about the projects on my blog.  They really mean so much!

Enjoy the Video and have the BEST day ever today! :-D

 

Stamping-It's Personal!

I have been Paper Crafting for over 15 years!  First, as a Scrapbooker and then branching out into Rubber Stamping.  I've been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for 15 years.  I can tell you all of the many benefits of each of those things individually like the joy of having your hobby be your JOB, but, by far, the most rewarding has been the friendships I have made with people, literally, around the world!

This weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time with "My Girls" from the East Coast!  We all piled in our cars and met in Baltimore, MD, for the Stampin' Up! Regional Event.  It was an excellent reminder of why I love what I do!  This is a photo of a couple of us with Shelli Gardner, the Owner of Stampin' Up!  Enjoy!

This photo is with two of my Uplines and two of my Team Members.

I created my Swap in both Black and Crumb Cake - Which do you like better?????  All supplies are listed below and are available in my ONLINE STORE. Enjoy! :-D

Supplies:

• Very Vanilla card stock & Basic Black or Crumb Cake card stocks
• Black Stazon Ink
• Big Shot
• Framed Tulips, Vintage Wallpaper & Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folders
• Hearts Framelits
• Vanilla or Crumb Cake Seam Binding
• 5/8" Flower Trim
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Word Play Stamp Set
• Basic Black or Crumb Cake Markers (to color Flower)
• Blue Dots
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank You, Thank Me!

I love receiving cards!  That's one of the reasons I love making and sending cards!  I know how exciting it is to receive something hand made and I think of that every time I create something for someone else. Thank You notes are another favorite because I always feel that people are so under-appreciated. People often "Speak to the Manager" of a store to complain but rarely do they feel as compelled to "Speak to the Manager" to praise an employee for going "above and beyond."  For that reason especially, I love Thank You cards.  This beauty was created by Denise Felitti.  She is quite a talented Stamper and I was honored to receive this card in the mail. (Thank YOU, Denise!)  Enjoy! :-D

Oh Hello Card!

This is one of those stamp sets in the Spring Mini Catalog that I looked at and thought - "Nice - but I don't NEED it!"  Well, as usual, I am so glad I finally bought it!  "Oh, Hello" is a perfect greeting when you want to send a card "just because" - which is the main reason I send mine!  The background for this card was left over from an Emboss Resist piece of card stock I had on my desk.  Layering the Labels Collection Framelits on top of the background created the card and the 5/8" Flower Trim completes the whole card.  Whaddya think?  All supplies are listed below and can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

SUPPLIES:

• Midnight Muse, Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla card stock
• Oh Hello Stamp Set
• Postage Stap Set
• Big Shot
• Labels Collection Framelits
• Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Folder
• Midnight Muse, More Mustard, Pink Pirouette and Versamark Ink
• White Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• 5/8" Flower Trim
• Pearl Basic Jewels
• Stampin' Sponge
• SNAIL Adhesive and REFILL
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Faux Denim Tote Bag With Matching Card

I have an extra special treat for you today!  This is a Sneak Preview designed by Sharon Abrams - A Design Team Diva from the Gold Level Exclusives 2013 Class at StampAcademy.com!  If you like projects like this, you'll love STAMP ACADEMY!  Three new projects per week are uploaded with Full Video and PDF Instructions, including a supply list so you know exactly what you need to recreate them!  There are other classes available too!  Check it out!

You can see the Video Tutorial below.  For the PDF Intsructions, visit the StampAcademy.com Website and view it in the FREE VIDEO Section.

FREE SHIPPING THIS WEEKEND!!!!!

Yes!  Stampin' Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING for the first time I can remember - and I've been a Demonstrator for 15 years!  Hurry and place your order between Saturday, April 6th and Monday, April 8th and you'll receive FREE SHIPPING automatically!  You can shop in my ONLINE STORE!  Email me with any questions.

This Too Shall Pass

This Too Shall Pass - yes.  How often have we heard that?  Usually it's in response to something bad that's happening and it's a call to be optimistic!  Today, it's a reference to some of our Stampin' Up! Colors!  I am always sorry to see anything from the catalog go!  I get very attached to all of our products!  This card uses Pretty-in-Pink which is going to retire when the current stock runs out.  We do have some great replacements but I've always liked Pretty-In-Pink as my "go to" pink!  If you think you can't do without it, hurry up and place your order because once it's gone, it is GONE!

Stay tuned for updates and samples of the new colors - most of them favorites from In-Colors past!

Pretty-in-Pink and Chocolate Chip are a FAVORITE of mine - which is no surprise if you visit this blog! Most of my "vintage" cards are created with those two colors!  This one has the Pretty-In-Pink layer distressed and sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink.  The Image on the card base is from the "Postage Due" Stamp Set and is embossed using White Embossing Powder and then the Pretty-In-Pink Ink is sponged over it.  Crumb Cake Ink is sponged over it as well.  

The splatter background was created using Alcohol (70% is best) and Crumb cake Reinker in one of our Stampin' Spritz Bottles to create a Shimmer Spray.  It was then spritzed onto Very Vanilla Card Stock.

The Greeting is from the "From My Heart" Stamp Set and is Stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink, outlined in Pretty-in-Pink Stampin' Write Marker and then cut out using the Labels Collection Framelits and the Big Shot.  The ribbon is Crochet Trim and the 5/8" Flower Trim is used as the rose accents on the bottom.  Three pearls offset the design so it doesn't look "bottom heavy."  The Inside is decorated using the Labels Collection Framelits to create a writing space.  All supplies can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE - with FREE SHIPPING Saturday, Sunday and Monday 4/6-4/8.

Supplies:  

• Chocolate Chip, Pretty-In-Pink and Very Vanilla Card Stocks
• Pretty-In-Pink, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip Inks
• Pretty-In-Pink Stampin' Write Marker
• Versamark Ink
• White Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Postage Due Stamp Set
• From My Heart Stamp Set
• Labels Collection Framelits
• Big Shot
• Crochet Trim   
• 5/8" Flower Trim
• Basic Pearl Jewels
• Bone Folder
• Stampin' Sponge
• SNAIL Adhesive and REFILL
• Glue Dots
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Stampin' Spritz Container
• Crumb Cake Ink Refill