Harvest Fun!

Well, today we spent the afternoon at a local farm enjoying their Corn Maze and Hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins! Also to be enjoyed was their Apple Cider Slushy.....mmmmmm.

Rachel was given a list to take with her through the Corn Maze, as she was required to find 5 mailboxes with stickers inside in order to claim a prize at the end of the maze. It was 8 acres of walking through hilly corn stalks and it was very enjoyable! She had a blast....as did all the other children and adults there! :-)

I love the colors and activities this time of year! We will get our pumpkin carving done later this week and I will roast the pumpkin seeds. :-)

Hope you enjoy the pictures and the quick digital scrapbook page I did using Stampin' Up's "My Digital Studio". It's so nice to have this program and be able to get pages done fairly quickly!!

Stampin' Up! Conference

It's always such an exciting time to go to a Stampin' Up! conference....of any kind! The excitement is palpable to everyone who enters the building it is being held in. Meeting with other Demonstrators, seeing friends you haven't seen in awhile, working on Stampin' Up! inspired projects, learning new techniques to share with your friends and customers.....it's TONS of fun! If you ever get the opportunity to go....it's a must! :-)

I thought I'd share some of the projects we made (courtesy of Stampin' Up!) and then show you what I was inspired to create using the Stamp set they provided us with. It's a gorgeous set, and as you will see, has so many uses with it's designs.

Hope these inspire you as they did me!

This set is called "Day of Gratitude" and it's available in either clear mount or wood mount. You'll love it!

The following card is what I was inspired to make with the above set!

Are you ready to get to work on your Thanksgiving cards now?

Well, here's a list of the items I used to create this card. You can purchase them all through my website. Just select on "Shop Now" to the right, and you can begin your shopping experience! :-)

Stampin' Up Items used:

"Day of Gratitude" stamp set. Old Olive, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Riding Hood Red cardstock. Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, and Early Espresso Classic ink. Signo White gel pen. Square Lattice embossing folder. 1 3/4 and 1 3/8 Circle punches. Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool to create faux stitching. Scallop Trim Border punch. Sponge Daubers to create aged look around the edges. 

Reindeer Post

Thinking about Christmas yet?

It's in the not-to-distant future....oh no!! I'm certainly not ready, but thought I'd post a card to maybe get you and I inspired to get busy making our cards!! I'm thinking I might use "My Digital Studio" to create mine this year....like you, I'm short on time these days. :-)

I really like this stamp set, "Winter Post." I think you will too! I used acetate on the front for some layering effect and stamped the snowflakes with white Staz-On...then added some Dazzling Diamonds for a bit of sparkle.

Hope you are inspired to get to work on those Christmas cards!! :-)

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:

Handsome Hunter (retired), Basic Black, Real Red, Crumb Cake and Whisper White cardstock, Window Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Black embossing powder, Silver brads, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Designer Label punch, 1" Circle punch and Whisper White Craft ink.

"hb" Happy Birthday!

Lots of Birthdays this month on my calendar! How about yours? :-)

This card was made for a special friend of mine. Thought I'd make it a little fun and funky! :-) Had fun with the color combo of Pacific Point, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Real Red and Basic Black. The "hb" was made with chipboard that I colored with the Pacific Point ink. Hope you all enjoy!

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:

Newsprint Designer Series paper, Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Pacific Point cardstock, Square Lattice embossing folder, Heart to Heart punch, Spiral Border punch, Modern Label punch, Black brads, Mini Library Clips

Amour

Have you just had a card evolve and you didn't know where it was going to take you? Well, this is one of those cards.....colors just happened. Love it when I can use my punches and I don't have to do a lot of cutting by hand. The bird in the  'Two-Step Bird' punch is so versatile. I find myself reaching for it often in my creating....

I know I've been using the 'Newsprint' DSP in many of my cards...but I just LOVE it!!

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:

Newsprint DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Basic Black cardstock, Basic Black striped grosgrain ribbon, Antique Brads, 1/4" Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, Two-Step Bird punch, Basic Pearls, Victoria Crochet Trim, "I Heart Hearts" stamp set, "Artistic Etchings" stamp set, Top Note Bigz Die cut and the Square Lattice embossing folder.

Hope Happens!

I LOVE this saying!

We all need 'Hope' to cling to in our lives....without it we'd probably wallow in despair forever. 'Hope' gives us a light at the end of the tunnel during those times in our lives when we feel like life is caving in on us. Look up....and you will see the sun! The darkness doesn't last.....

'Hope Happens' is a stamp set of 5 sayings. Great little set!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Gala Greenhouse DSP, Early Espresso, Baha Breeze, Pear Pizzaz and Whisper White cardstock, Extra Large Oval punch, Eyelet Border punch, Elegant Lines embossing folder, Baha Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, Baha Breeze 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls, Antique Brads and White Signo gel pen.

Wild Rose

Finally, I dug out a Stampin' Up! Sissix Die that I had not used yet (and now it appears not to be available anymore) to see what I could do with it. You may have it....it's called "Flower Layers." If you like the concept, you can do the same thing with the current Die Cut called "Blossom Party"...so don't fret! :-) Once assembled, it reminded me of a Wild Rose.

I needed to make a Birthday Card for another friend, and thought this card would be very fitting for her.

I've always loved the monochromatic look....and all white is so beautiful....so tried that out with different layers and textures with just a splash of the Pretty in Pink color. Hope you like the design and use of the Die Cut.

Have fun creating!!

Stampin' Up! items used:

Whisper White and Pretty in Pink cardstock, Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die,  Oval Large and Oval Extra-Large punches, Scallop Oval punch, Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon, Basic Pearls and "On Your Birthday" stamp set. 

Herb Expressions

"Herb Expressions" is a great stamp set with numerous sentiments as a part of it...it's very versatile!

This is a quick card....and don't look, for you SU purists out there :-), but I used Nestibilities to cut the frame for the images. Try just framing it with a square cut or Circles for your own designs if you don't have the other product. And when you don't have the right color ribbon you need.....just use cardstock!! :-) This is done by crumpling up your piece, opening back up and then folding it the way you like to create the 'ribbon' effect. Fun and effective! Have fun with it!

Stampin' Up! items used:

Concord Crush, Whisper White, Basic Black and Old Olive cardstock. Scallop Trim border punch, Elegant Lines embossing folder, and Antique Brads.

My Daughter and I

Playing with 'My Digital Studio'....gosh it's fun!!

Decided to try something bright and cheerful for our photo of my daughter and I. This is done in the size of a card.....great to do with a family photo to mail out to family and friends!

You'll really enjoy this easy program!!

Then I decided to try an 8 1/2 x 11 page done with a 'vintagy feel'.....too fun!!

Fifth Ave Birthday!

How many of you Stampers out there think your friends would appreciate a store-bought card from you....knowing that you make your own?! Yep....not many! :-) So, with one of my dear friends having a Birthday last week, I had to create a card for her. I decided to use the "Fifth Avenue Floral" set for it's simplicity and elegance. Don't forget to throw in a piece of lace or crochet ribbon where it's fitting....it really can transform the look of your cards.

Stampin' Up! items used:

Very Vanilla cardstock, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, Daffodil Delight striped grosgrain ribbon, Antique Brads, Small Corner Round punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Tiny Tags stamp set, and Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.

Back To School!

Today is my daughter's first day back to school! She was very excited this morning to be seeing her friends and starting 4th grade! The sad part is.....no parting hugs and kisses if other children are close by. I received a sheepish smile when I asked for one. :-) Then she quietly said "I love you, Mom" with that "will you forgive me" grin on her face as she left to walk up the steps to the front door of her school. Funny how they grow up, huh? She loves to hug on me when she's at home, so I will be extremely thankful for that! :-)

Thought I'd share a picture of her this morning....she refused to blow dry her hair, so off to school with wet hair she went! :-)

I also wanted to share some pictures she took yesterday of the butterflies in our yard! She managed to catch a Hummingbird too and did a great job photographing. Hope you enjoy!

Have a great day, all!

Simple Scrapbook Pages!

Can I just tell you how much I like "My Digital Studio"!! What an awesome program! It's so easy to create scrapbook pages quickly and easily.....as well as cards, invitations, announcements, calendars, etc. If you don't have it.....it's a Must Have!! :-)

Here's three pages I just did of my friend's granddaughter, Klaire. She's such a delight to photograph...but as toddlers do, they can't sit still very long so you take LOTS of pictures before you get a few good ones! Hope you enjoy the simplicity of these designs....

All done using Stampin' Up!'s "My Digital Studio."

Dreams Grow Us

I finally used cork in a card design! It certainly adds a different dimension to the card, doesn't it? The cork sheets are not hard to work with and work very well with the Sissix Die Cutting systems. I've even used my standard cutter on it. So, don't be afraid to work with different materials in your own designs! The cork is now available with Stampin' Up!....as well as wood sheets for use with your Die Cuts. Have fun experimenting! I used the "Dreams du Jour" stamp set for this design.

Stampin' Up! items used:

Night of Navy, Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive, and Poppy Parade cardstock. Used the "Two Tags" Bigz Die for cork piece, Square Lattice embossing folder (available in the Summer Mini which ends August 31st), 1" Circle Punch, Designer Button, and White Signo gel pens.