Early Espresso makes me happy!

I don't know if I have ever told you one of my favorite things about Stampin' Up!  I love how the colors all go together.  The inks and the papers and the ribbons and the buttons all match each other!  You can create so many amazing things with color because the colors are in color collections!! I made these two cards last week with my new favorite combination, Early Espresso and Daffodil Delight.

Ok...if this post wasn't about color I would be talking about this adorable stamp set!
See it here and yes there is a matching die cut

EEEEEEeeeeek!  I think this is the sweetest baby stamp!

The colors from the Stampin' UP Annual Catalog (click on the right side column and peruse!) can make a plain project into a perfect project!  On the top card the Early Espresso ink, baker's twine and paper from the Neutrals Collection (page 183) work with the Daffodil Delight from the Brights collection (page 180).  In the bottom card the Daffodil Delight shows through not only with paper but with the candy dots and the Designer Series Paper.  I love the way it all pulls together.  It is so helpful, especially for the little girl I was, who still can't match my clothes!!   

An embossers dream!

This week has some amazing weekly deals if you want to emboss!  Three different embossing folders are on sale.  If you have a Big Shot or a Texture Boutique you can create wonderful textures on your projects!  Having the correct tools for your project is important and does not have to break the bank! The Texture Boutique is only 29.95 and there are so many embossing folders to use with it.  Please remember that if you spend more than $50.00 during the month of March you get a FREE gift from the Stampin' Up Sale-a-bration catalog!  If you need to see all the fun please click on the catalogs on my sidebar!

What a ride!

Stampin' Up has been a part of my life for at least 12 years!!  I have been stamping with friends at people's houses and creating cards and scrapbooks for a long time.  In the last couple of months, I have had a real desire to step up my game and do more with my business!  I have had some parties and made some sales and I am thrilled!  I have learned a couple of things I would like to share.  First, I can do this.  Second, it is fun!  

If you have wanted to create cards, keepsakes, recipe books, family heirlooms, gifts to wow or gift wrapping to impress, please consider getting together with me for a workshop.  I would love to help you create something special with your friends.  I am going to step up my game blogging as well!  

Treatsies!!

Is that a word?  These are the treatsies we are giving out for Valentines' day this Saturday.

 While you may be thinking that is great but I can't get all the stuff and make those cute things by Saturday but I would like for you to think BIG!  You can do this for Thank you's, Birthday's, team way to go's or thinking of you treats.  If you work in an office these would be great for secretaries day or for your child's teacher.  The possibilities are endless*!  I am going to show you how quick and easy they are to make.  I made 40 of them in under 2 hours.  First, from my stampin' up website you will need these cellophane bags, then this punch and finally this punch.  It is always my goal to make a video but until then here are the directions in pictures.  First, fill your bags with M&M's.

pray that the bag you buy has not been smashed a lot so your m&m's aren't broken

then you seal the bag at the top with the built in adhesive strip.  Then punch all the hearts you need out of Cherry Cobbler cardstock from Stampin' Up.  I used this stamp set called A Round Array

I really love how it has a whole lot of sentiments and pretties.  One of the most wonderful parts of Stampin' Up is how the products work together.  The 7/8 scallop punch fits right over these stamp impressions and cuts them out easily!!

Cherry Cobbler ink 

Finally, quick as a wink, staple your heart over the bag and use one of these to put your stamped image over the staple to cover it up and make it real cute!!

These are really cute and easy to make up and hand out to friends* all about your day!  Who doesn't like a treatsie?!

* coworkers, party guests, baby shower favors, graduation, 4th of July picnic buddies, teammates...

Like Taco Tuesday...

on a Friday!  When you procrastinate updating your blog for a few days you can always post about  Weekly Specials!!  They change every Tuesday morning until the following Monday evening!  Each week they include some digital downloads for all of the computer guru's.  There is usually a stamp set and punch or die for your big shot!  I always see something on my wishlist that is ON Sale for one week only.  Just to give you food for thought...(taco's get it?  was that a stretch?)  I get an additional discount on my weekly deals because I am a Stampin' Up demonstrator!  There are so many perks and I would love to grab a cup of coffee and chit/chat with you!! During the Sale-A-bration you can get another Free Item when you sign up! It just keeps getting better and better and I am always looking for some good friends to stamp a lot with!

Sale-a-Bration Stamps

I have been missing in action because I am hunkered down playing with my Stampin' Up goodies.  With each $50.00 I spend during Sale-a-bration I get something free!!  I have been playing with this stamp set called A Happy Thing.  I love how happy and bright the lemon looks, so fresh and pretty!  You can color these in with your Blendabilities to complete the look!  Finally, polish off your project with some Stampin' Up Bling!

Everything is Awesome!

There is so much excitement going on at Stampin' Up right now!  I just got my January Paper pumpkin kit and it is SO CUTE!  I will be crafting all night!  whoo hoo!  It is still Sale-a-bration and you can get a free goodie from the Sale-a-bration catalog when you spend over $50.00.  Also, like my friend who is having a party with me if you reach over $250.00 you can get an extra $25.00 in Hostess dollars to spend.  Or if you want to sign up with me to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator you can get another FREE item!  I am going to have to stop using so many exclamation points.  I am just going to leave you with today's weekly deals.  They will be good until next Monday at midnight.

Gratitude!

I was busy this morning writing thank you cards!  I had a bunch to write because last week I was in the hospital and lots of people helped my family in my absence.  There was a lot to be thankful for and I wanted to make sure that I adequately thanked those who were so helpful!  I made this card!

I started out with a card base of sahara sand.  I really like the Early Espresso color in the Neutrals collection is such a rich, deep brown! I really like to use it.  I bought the baker's twine in the same color!  Also, the embossing folder Large Polka Dots really brings the circle theme full circle! (Haha!  See what I did there...full circle.) I think the stamp set is wonderful!  It has so many sentiments in it!  You can make a lot of different cards with it! Something to say includes stamps for thank you cards, new babies, wedding, birthday and love cards!  Whew!

Finally, if you really like the look of punches and stamps this stamp set works well with the punch set called Itty Bitty Accents punch pack. Notice the flower on the card I made last week.

 I love making cards for all reasons and would love to help you make some yourself!  Who do you need to thank today?

Contain the valentines!

I am a horrible planner!  It is something I am really trying to work on this year.  (No, I did not say resolution)  So I have been looking ahead to Valentines day to make sure that I have the proper products to make my holiday the Cutest Eva!

Perhaps, you want to give a gift card!  Coffee, iTunes, a nice restaurant are all great cards to give for the holiday!  The envelope punch board is a very easy way to package your gift card super cute and looking sharp.   The pirate design on the left I made the envelope just the right size for a gift card.  On the right, I made the super cute fry box from my big shot and the fry box Bigz L die.  This is a good idea to fill with candy or small toys.  If you really plan ahead you can use it for Easter with Easter grass!  I would love to demonstrate these two products to you and a group of friends!  Let's get together to have a class!   Of course, let's not forget the stamp set!  It is the super cute, Hey, Valentine in the Occasions Catalog on page 8!  

Questions!  Ask me in the comments!  I hope you have a great day and I am going to go work on some super videos for my blog!  You guys should take advantage of the Sale-A-Bration catalog and get a FREE item for every $50.00 (pre-tax) you spend!

Let's Color!

Oh my goodness!  I really enjoy coloring!  I find it very relaxing.  When was the last time you got out some paper and markers and really spent some slow time coloring?  I highly recommend it!  Stampin' Up has these great alcohol based markers called blendabilities.  There are many reasons they are superior!  First of all, they come in sets of three so you can blend your work and show shadows or depth.  Second of all, they are a great price.  Another reason they are the best is they come in the colors of Stampin' Ups color groups.  Finally, the best reason is you can get them for FREE from the Sale-a-Bration catalog!    Please let me know you want to get together to try some! 

Daffodil Delight on Whisper White cardstock!

Happy Epiphany!

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany!  That is the day we celebrate that the wise men came to see the Baby Jesus!  If you think about it today is the day we should be opening our Christmas presents.  Do you think you could have waited?  Stampin' Up is giving us a present starting today!  Sell-A-Bration is ON!  For the next three months, you can get a free stamp set or product for every $50.00 in product that you purchase.  (pre-tax, of course!)  If you need paper, adhesive, tools, ink or stamp sets you will get an item for free when you spend $50.00!  Please take a moment to look through the catalogs on the side bar of my blog!  I would love to help you plan some projects for St. Valentine's day and other spring holidays!  Enjoy your day and I'll have a project to share tomorrow!