Love My Customers!

I had a Retiring Stamps Open House on Saturday (hi guys! thanks for coming!) and had some of my favorite stampers join me.

A sort of a last chance to look at those stamp sets that are retiring and decide what you need/want/desire/can' t live without.

And a reason to get together with others who enjoy the art of stamping!

That's always the BEST reason - sharing what we love...

Anyway, the card above (yes, I'll wait while you scroll back up there and look at it again! LOL) is the Make & Take I designed for my guests to make while they were here.

And below is the card Kathleen & Del designed using the materials provided for them to duplicate it...


What a difference cutting some corners makes, huh?

And adding a bird...

I LOVE the card - I made this one from memory after they'd left - I forgot to take a photo. I hope I got fairly close!

We also had some munchies, and I gave them each new catalogs. Guess where their attention was most of the time they were here! Yep! On the new catalog...

Oh well - now they'll have time to decide what they want to order at my New Catalog Open House on Saturday July 23rd and pick one up!! Party starts @ 1 PM...

Would YOU like to get one of the new catalogs? Come to my Open House!

I'll have Make & Takes and door prizes and munchies - oh, and samples of the new "In" colors for you to take home.

Or, you can join my Stamp Club - monthly meetings, I teach new techniques and have projects for you to make. Meetings are held at my house on the 2nd Saturday each month. Minimum order each month is $25. More than that is greatly appreciated by each month's Hostess !

Or, if you're long distance, I'd be happy to mail one out to you - contact me to make arrangements to cover the postage. Priority mail runs around $5 now - will confirm cost when you contact me. Send me an email here and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for stopping by - come back soon!

6-4-10 - and I'm Sad

I held a 6-4-10 on Saturday afternoon and I think the ladies had a great time.

What's a 6-4-10, you ask?

Well, each person who attended made 6 cards for $10. (6-4-10)

And why am I sad, you ask?

Because all these stamp sets are being retired, and I won't be able to play with them and show you my ideas with them after June 30th!

That doesn't mean YOU can't play with them, though, so if you see something you'd like to order, contact me immediately, please!


My goal was to get their grubby little paws on some of the stamp sets and accessories that are being retired come June 30th.

If they already had the set, they were getting a new idea for its use. If they didn't, maybe they'd think about ordering it.

Wanna see the cards they made?

Alrighty, then, here ya go...



This one was made using the retiring Level II Hostess set "Fast and Fabulous", as well as some words from the "Hope Happens" set.

I'm going to miss that set - the words in that one are so positive and can be used for just about any occasion.





This card uses Cardinal Christmas, another one of my favorite sets that's retiring. I used the Holly Jolly DSP (also retiring) for this one.

I love cardinals, and I'm going to miss this set, come Christmas.

I grew up in PA where there ARE cardinals and we used to have a bird feeder right outside the big kitchen windows so we could watch for them.





ANOTHER one of my favorite sets being retired is "A Sense of Time". That clock face is so versatile. And the gear and cog stamp that's in the set is so masculine you can add it to almost anything else masculine and it works!





This card used the branch from the "Eastern Blooms" set. It's another excellent generic set that can be used for just about any occasion.

Here I used some of the Elegant Soiree DSP - I liked the color combination of Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Ivory cardstocks.

The Spiral Border punch I used on this card is also being discontinued. Sigh... It, too, was a great generic tool.





Loved this card - it's so bright and cheery!

I used the "Pun Fun" stamp set and the Love Letters DSP to create it. I also used another stamp in the inside of the card (Grateful for you), but I didn't remember to take a photo of it.

And finally, an Easel Card.



Here's the outside of the card. I used the "Dreams du Jour" set, and some of the current "In" colors in the Sunny Garden DSP (Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizazz).

And here's the "easel" part



I stamped, sponged and cut out two of the butterfly stamp from this set. They're what is propping the card open.

Did you see anything that inspires you? Do you have the stamp set? If not, and you'd like it, send me an email along with your address and phone number, and I'd be happy to order it for you! Remember, all the sets used in these cards (and most of the accessories and punches I used) will be GONE, GONE, GONE come June 30th!

Thanks for stopping by - come back soon!

A Few Cards to Share

Today was our monthly demonstrator get-together here in my Stampin' Garage. These are other Stampin' Up! demonstrators who are not necessarily in my downline - we call them sidelines. And we try to get together once a month to keep each other inspired and motivated.

It's a great group of ladies - always so creative.

This card was Teresa's creation to share with us today.


Teresa usually makes very Clean and Simple cards - which I love.

I'm a simple gal...

She used Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi and Basic Black, along with the Best Dad Ever stamp set and the Corners punch.

This was Veronica's submittal for our pleasure today. (We missed your smiling face today, Veronica, but thanks for sharing an awesome card with us.)




She used the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, along with Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, and Not Quite Navy CS.

Did you notice she punched some DSP with this punch and added it, too?


This is Susan's card for today.




I love how she used various embossing folders, then punched squares out with the Postage Stamp punch (122344), then layered them on to Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Garden Green, which she THEN layered on to Melon Mambo CS.

Want to see those little squares up close and personal?



Cute idea, isn't it?

And finally, here's my submittal for today's event.



This is totally a sneak peek.

New Hostess set, new "In" color CS, new ribbon... I just ran the front of the card through the Polka dot embossing folder, corner rounded only two of the four corners of the attached pieces, and, viola, my card was done.

LOVE the look of something stamped over newsprint like paper, so this set grabbed my eye right away!

Want to see more of the new catalog? Well, come to either one of my 6-4-10 Card events and I'll share mine with you!

The events are scheduled for Friday, 6/17 @ 7 PM or Saturday 6/18 @ 1 PM.

We'll make 6 cards using stamp sets that are being Discontinued. You'll pay $10. (get it? 6 cards 4 $10)

RSVPs are necessary, so that I know how many people to plan for!

And, if you can't make that event, plan to attend my annual Stamp Retirement Party on Saturday, 6/25 starting at 1 PM. There's no charge for this event, and I'll have a Make & Take that day, as well as munchies.

RSVPs appreciated for this event, as well...

You can sit around and chat with other stampers! It'll be fun!

Thanks for stopping by - come back again!

Father's Day Event Books

My Stamp Club ladies were here today.

And they made event books like the one I showed you here.

Everyone's was different - that's the fun part!

I'll show you a couple of pages of each one - pages that show their creativity and cleverness!

The one above is the cover of Anne's - she's Dr. Destructo's wife, so she's planning to use hers for Father's Day.

Here's an inside page from hers...




She also had pages in there for Dr. Destructo's creative endeavors (read remodeling), and his puppy dogs. And she would have loved it if I'd had a stamp set with a fishing theme, but I don't know anyone that fishes - besides them, that is!

Here's Irene's book. She didn't say who she was making hers for, but she's an avid scrapbooker, so I'm sure she had someone in mind.



She's a big paper tearing, scrunch up the paper fan, as is evidenced by this page.


Almost every page of her book was similar to this - but she was quick to point out when I was taking photos that she still needs to add hardware and other accessories. So, hers, at least, is a Work In Progress...

Del likes to scrunch and mist and tear for her scrapbooking too.


Del's the one who turned me on to SteamPunk, so she worked hard to lend that look to her book.

The cogs punch (which, by the way, is retiring at the end of the month!) is a great tool for the SteamPunk look...

And here's one of the inside pages for her book.




Kathleen decided she wanted hers to open like a calendar, instead of a book.



The tall ship is a perfect cover for her book!




And I love how she used corner pieces all thru her book! Not something I'd have ever thought to do!

I tell ya, I learn more from my creative stamping guests than I teach them most times! And I love it!

Here's the last photo for tonight. It's another one of Kathleen's pages, and I love her little flags!




A clever little added touch, don't you think?

That's all I have to share with you tonight! Hope you enjoyed seeing other's creativity!

Thanks for stopping by - come back soon!

Playful Polka Dots - Part Trey

Well, I hope three in French is trey - if not, that's what I mean!

Hi again...

More cards I made using these products:













It's really kind of fun to work with this process. It gives me a change to try ANY tools I can think of, and no matter what I throw together, at least I know the color combo is going to work ! LOL...


Here's the next one


I used the new postal punch (Item 122344, in the Summer mini), as well as the Scallop Square Extra Large punch (Item 119884), and just layered them. The greetings are from Pretty Postage (Item 123095 - wood mount).

Here's a close up of some of the detail:

I ran a piece of Old Olive thru the Elegant Bouquet Embossing folder (Item 115964), and then I took the white Smooch Pearlized Accent ink and ran the brush lightly over the embossed parts.

Doesn't it look cool?








This one is entirely made from die cut adhesives from the Simply Scrappin' kit. Really quite lovely, isn't it?

This is one of those cards that could be used as is, or stepped up, using some additional accessories from the catalog.

I stamped a flower from Fabulous Florets set ( Item 123025 - wood mount) with VersaMark ink on the Pumpkin Pie CS.



Here's another card made largely from the pieces in the SS kit. The red scallop on the left side is one of those pieces, as are the flowers and the stem.

I scalloped the edge of the white CS on the right side to echo the patterned DSP on the left.

I think the only stamping on the card is the little greeting!



This card is bright, isn't it? hee hee

The flowers and the stem are pieces from the SS kit. The background paper is from the kit, as well. Then I attached some of the Ivory seam binding, made into a bow.

And finally, for tonight...


Another 3x3 punched square (they sure do come in handy to have hanging around!), another strip of DSP from the SS kit... The piece of Pumpkin Pie CS was run through an embossing folder to add dimension. The Fabulous Floret stamps were stamped using the Daffodil Delight ink, then cut out.

In all, I think I made about 15 cards using HALF of the Simply Scrappin' kit - and I still have pieces left over for more cards.

If you want to make a bunch of cards that aren't necessarily all the same, but which you want to be color coordinated, a Simply Scrappin' kit is what you want!

Add a stamp set or two (words and images), and you're all set.

Or, if you insist - you could scrap some pages with it! Hee Hee

How's about some pix of the Kidz? Here ya go...

He looks pretty smug up there doesn't he?

Between the two younger ones, they've about torn the sun shade cover apart.

They climb the legs, then jump over to the patio roof...

Then, when it's time to come back, they reverse the process, and the sun shade is taking the hits! Those two probably weigh about 14 pounds each!

Here's Smudge lovin' on the agave... That girl - she has to rub against EVERYTHING, marking it all HERS, HERS, HERS!








And finally, here's Velvet. She seldom *lets* me take a good photo of her, so we'll take it!


She looks a little angry, but she's not. She's got just enough Persian in her to have the underbit.







I like this one better - she was playing with something...






Well, time for me to sign off.

Thanks for stopping by - come back again soon!

PS - DON'T FORGET - the Retiring Lists are out! Go to my website to see them, and then let me know what you can't live without!

Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' - Part Deux

OK, so I teased you at the end of my last post. I was falling asleep, sitting here at the computer, and just had to sign off! Sorry...

But I'll make it up to you today.

I have LOTS of cards to share with you from my "group" stamping.

(Wish I could think of a catchier title for this process - something with ZING! would be good. Got any suggestions? Leave me a Comment!)

Anyhoo...

I started with the piece parts from the Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' kit.

Remember?












The colors I used were Rose Red, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive. They work really well together!

I folded CS and just started looking at the elements on the die adhesive sheets from the kit and created!

Here are some of the cards I made...

For this card, I used one of the 3x3 pieces I mentioned in my post here.

I also ran the card front through the polka dots embossing folder, and cut a strip of the DSP from the kit for the color.





For this one I used another 3x3 piece, and then layered on some of those awesome Floating Re-inker flowers, and added a verse from On Your Birthday (Item 111664).







I had an already cut 4 inch square scallop piece in my UFO tub, and it was the right color! So I started with that and moved on from there. Again, I used a piece of the SS kit's DSP for the color on the card, then added a couple of items punched with the Designer label punches.





This one uses the other piece of DSP from the kit as well as one of the adhesive ribbon strips. The flowers (there are two, layered) also from the kit.

I used the Designer label punch again - once in white, where I stamped my image, and another time in Old Olive, which provides the background color.

I punched the Old Olive twice, then cut each one in half (one vertically, the other horizontally) and layered them behind the white piece.

And, finally, for tonight (I'm falling asleep again!)...


This card also contains mostly die cut adhesives from the elements of the Kit.

Background DSP, another scalloped square (think this one is a 3x3), which I ran through the polka dot embossing folder, the adhered a die cut flower and some pearls on top.

The little pennant is also a piece from the kit - I just stamped the Happy Birthday and used the window punch on it, then glued it on to the pennant piece.

Like what you see? Like the ideas?

Well, then, come back again soon!

Thanks for stopping by...

Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin'

There's a Simply Scrappin' kit in the Summer mini-catalog.

I don't generally purchase these, mainly because I'm not much of a scrapbooker.

But this one was so bright and cheery, I decided to go for it.

And I'm glad I did.

First of all, I have NO plans to use this set for scrapbooking - just so you know...

I've elected to make cards using the elements in the kit.

The one you see up above (go ahead, scroll back up there and check it out!) was the first card I made.

I like it's simplicity. I think the occasion (I'm here for you...) calls for simple. If you truly mean that statement to someone, you don't need elaborate to make your point.

So, here's how I do a "group" of cards.

Select a Simply Scrappin (SS)kit.

Add 3 sheets each of all the colors the kit contains. Cut all three in half (8 -1/2 x 5-1/2), then take two of the pieces you just cut and cut them in half (4-1/4 x 5-1/2).

This gives you four pieces for card bases and 4 pieces you can use for layering, stamping on - whatever you want!

Drag out a bunch of punches and stamp sets that match or coordinate with the SS kit. There's always at least one stamp set.

There are also at least two different Designer Papers (DSP) included in a SS kit, as well as at least two different sheets of adhesive die cuts to adhere to your CS.

I found this time those two sheets of die cuts were set up so it was very easy for me to cut each of them in half. And included in this kit were some strips of designer papers cut in scallops or zig-zags - emulating several of our punches. Drag out the punches that match what's included in your kit.

So, you end up with a mess of "stuff" on your workbench working this way, but it sure challenges your creative juices!

Here's the pile of "stuff" I generated for use in creating the cards I'll show you below.



And I added a couple of sheets of flowers I decorated using the Floating Re-inker technique. Always fun to do, but when you do them, do extras - you'll be amazed at how quickly you start usig them. Heck they're all ready to cut out - might as well! LOL



I was able to EASILY come up with 12 different cards, using the items mentioned above.

But I've rattled on for a LONG TIME tonight, so I'll show these to you in my next post!

I know - big tease, huh?

Well, come back so you can see the cards I created using the supplies spelled out above.

In the meantime, give this techinique a try - and post a link to your ideas in the Comments section!