A Halloween Sketch Challenge!

My Halloween Sketch Challenge comes from my weekly Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge and one of those, “How will I ever use THAT stamp” challenge.  By THAT stamp, I mean the giant image from the Toil and Trouble stamp set in the Holiday Catalog from Stampin’ Up! My Halloween Sketch Challenge design popped into my head as soon… Read More »

Chalk Talk Birthday Basics With Stampin’ Up!

Stampin’ Up! has this Chalk Talk Bundle that makes creating birthday cards and tags very quick and easy. I created a bag tag, a gift tag and a birthday card in less than 15 minutes with the Chalk Talk Stamp Set and the Chalk Talk Framelits for the Big Shot! I decided that I wanted a card and… Read More »

Happy Birthday, Mikey!

Happy Birthday, Mikey!  You’d think that by the time a guy turns 20, his family would stop calling him “Mikey”, but somehow the nickname just fits.  He’ll always be Mikey to me just because he’s my youngest “child”.  I can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s 20 now.  When did that happen?! If you have a… Read More »

How My New Blog Layout Will Make Your Life Easier!

I’ve chosen a new blog layout to make your life easier!  I really want my blog to be a useful reference tool and a source of inspiration.  I get a considerable amount of feedback from my sister (good and, well…the brutally honest  kind)!  After careful consideration and many conversations with other blog readers, I’ve decided that this layout… Read More »

Stampin’ Celebration Design Challenge!

I found a new design challenge to participate in called Stampin’ Celebration!  They gave three photos to use as our design  inspiration and the photos inspired a very purple party!  My two favorite colors are purple and green, plus my son’s birthday is Sunday.  His favorite colors are also purple and green.  Of course, I had to participate… Read More »

Papillon Potpourri CASED Card!

Papillon Potpourri has to be one of Stampin’ Up!s most popular stamp sets.  I’ve seen so many different card ideas using this stamp set and I decided that I would CASE (copy and share everything) one of them.  I love taking a card or a sketch that someone else has made and then put my own touches on… Read More »

Poppy Parade Answers The Challenge!

I’ve had the Poppy Parade stamp sitting on my shelf for a while now, just waiting for the perfect sketch to use it with.  This is a very large stamp that works as a background stamp or a focal point.  I love the outline look of the flowers.  It’s a perfect stamped image to watercolor as well.  These… Read More »

3 Of My Favorite Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog Goodies!

There are a few things that make my crafting life happier, but the one key characteristic that they all share  is coordination!  Stampin’ Up! offers this one thing that I can’t find in any craft store anywhere.  I can get ribbons that match the papers, inks, card stock and embellishments.  I don’t have to run across the store… Read More »

Announcing The New Flip Card Thinlets And The Holiday Catalog!

The beginning of August brings lots of new Stampin’ Up! news!  This is a very BIG day for Stampin’ Up! The Holiday Catalog is here!!!  You can order from the new Holiday Catalog starting today!Check out the Catalog PDF here: Holiday2013_en-US The new catalog has page and pages of ideas before you even get to the products!  It’s… Read More »

A Sketch, A Technique And A Lovely Romance!!

Stampin’ Up!s Lovely Romance stamp set went on my wish list as soon as I saw it in the new catalog!!  In the catalog, they actually show it decorating a candy jar!  I used this week’s Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge to inspire my card today.  I used a technique that I haven’t done in a while as… Read More »

Quick And Easy Chalk Talk Card Gift Set!

I find it useful to have quick gifts ready to go for whenever I may need them.  It’s easy to make a set of 5 or 6 cards, tuck some envelopes in with them and package them in a pretty way.  Everyone needs cards to give for all occasions!  Stampin’ Up!s Chalk Talk stamp set and framelit bundle… Read More »

Stampin’ Up! Quick, Clean and Easy Masculine Card!

My goal today was to make a very quick and easy masculine card.  I also wanted to practice paper-piercing!  Every time I see it on a card, I think it adds that little extra touch that takes a card to the next level.  I also think that it takes practice to get the lines straight, even using the… Read More »

Organizing Ideas For Your Stamping Supplies!!!

I am constantly looking for new and pretty ways to keep my stamping supplies organized.  My goal is convenience and function. I don’t often worry about what something looks like!  I recently discovered Thirty-One products when I was invited to a party and my cousin, Jessica, started selling them.  I had two goals:  organize papers, tools and embellishments… Read More »

My Digital Studio Scrapbook Layout

We spent our weekend visiting our daughter who is doing a research fellowship in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  I like to create my scrapbooks as soon as I can after a family vacation, or what usually is just a long weekend some place within driving distance.  It was a quick two days and we crammed a lot in! I… Read More »

Two Cards, One Sketch!

I started my day with a list of things to do and that included some stamping!  I decided that I wanted to send cards to my Upline (the demonstrator I signed up with when I joined Stampin’ Up!) and for my Downline (the demonstrators who have signed up with me when they joined Stampin’ Up!).  It’s also time… Read More »