How time flies!!!

Working, working, working! SO much to do, so little time to do it!! :)

Two quick shares today, from the Scrapbooking class last week.

This is a new set for me, CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES. It's still ON SALE for two more days - CLICK HERE to check out the specials going on! The background is Very Vanilla, and the photo mats are Regal Rose. I embossed the balloons AND the outline of the cupcakes, and then colored in the cupcake, cut it out, and put it on dimensionals. Super easy!

Here's another easy one, but I love the colors! The leaves are vellum that we sponged Earth Elements colors onto, crinkled, and cut with my Big Shot. They're mounted onto Very Vanilla, which was matted onto Chocolate Chip. The background is Garden Green that we rolled with the FALL HARVEST Stampin' Around wheel. Again, super easy!!

OK, off to work on class planning. :D Have a WONDERFUL day - and for goodness' sake, take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon!

I'm soooooooooooo tired. :) I can't wait for Tuesday to get here; I get to sleep in! :D

ANYWAY! Ann, I checked with my hostesses, to get their permission to share the Blessings Mix with you. I try to keep EVERYTHING that I do and serve for my hostesses ONLY for them, because it's their special thank-you from me. But each one said I could share with you - I have THE best group of stampers in the world, I tell you! :D

Here is the actual text from the insert. Enjoy!!

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Each item in this mix symbolizes a blessing we enjoy:
Bugles - cornucopia. We are blessed with so much!
Pretzels - prayer. We are blessed with the freedom to worship!
Candy Corn - food. It was scarce the first year of settlement, but God provided!
Dried Fruit - bountiful harvest. We harvest now, and save for the future!
Peanuts - future harvest. We know God will provide tomorrow’s needs, too.

Another new item from the inspiration station!

Psalm 100 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, and these two verses are two of my favorites in the chapter.

It might have been more "professional" if I'd typed it out in a fancy font, but I really like the fact that it's in my own handwriting. I used a Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red Stampin' Write Marker to write it out.

I used the negative from die cutting the maple leaves on my Big Shot to dry emboss the leaves along the side of a piece of Creamy Caramel. I used my finger with a little bit of Close to Cocoa ink to edge the leaves.

Isn't it pretty? :D I'd love to see what you're creating! You ARE taking the time to STAMP, aren't you???

The Inspiration Station!

Hi, everyone! Here's the fresh, new look of the Inspiration Station!

For the rest of the week, I'll be sharing at least one of the new projects here! :)

First, there was a question on one of the comments from last week that I want to answer. :)

Hi Lori,This is my first time visiting your blog. What did you use to clean off the ornaments before you adhered the rub-ons?Stampin' Smiles from Ear to Ear, Ann :)

Ann, I used rubbing alcohol or an alcohol pad. It's the simplest, easiest way to do it. The alcohol pads are really convenient; you can find them with the diabetic supplies at most superstores. :)

OK. On to a new project!

Both of these ideas came from fellow demonstrators; I can't wait to show you some winter/Christmas takes on these! :D

The pumpkin is made with the large circle punch and the five-petal flower punch. It's SUPER-cute!!!

The Frankenstein face you've seen here before; this one is smaller, and it contains a standard-sized Hershey's chocolate bar.

The thing that makes him really incredible is the sponging on his nose and eyelids, and the white reflections in his eyes. He's FUN, isn't he???

Stay tuned for more show-n-tell! :) Have a wonderful day - and PLEASE, take the time to stamp something!!

What a party!

If you weren't invited to this year's Hostess Appreciation Luncheon, I sure hope you'll host a party this coming year so you can come!!!! :) Here are some photos of what you missed!

These are the table favors, drying and getting ready to be filled. :D

And to the right is what they looked like in-place. You can see that each person's name was on them, so everyone knew where to sit. The criss-cross boxes are filled with Thanksgiving Blessing Mix. All the attendees received the templates for all the boxes we made, as well as a punch guide template - and it was all in a folder I rolled and signed with my thanks!

Here's what each place setting looked like....

And what the whole table looked like!

I make everything for lunch from scratch, ladies! You get treated like royalty! :) This year's menu:
Oven-fried chicken breasts
Carrots
Green bean casserole
Cranberry Jello salad
Corn spoon bread
Spinach salad
Chocolate caramel tart
Mint iced tea, water, two types of coffee







And now, the projects we did!

(Mini pizza box, Votive tealight holder, Birthday in a Box)

The Inspiration Station was totally refreshed, with LOTS of new samples that I'm going to try to show you in the next few days. :) Music, stamping, friends, prizes - did I tell you that the prize value averaged $20 each this year, and EVERYONE ATTENDING RECEIVED ONE????

I had a wonderful time; I have the BEST stampers in the world, I guarantee it!!!! :) This year's is over, so planning begins for next year. Will YOU be here???? I sure hope so!!! Contact me to find out how to get invited!!!

Good morning! I decided to pop in quickly and show you this cute card even closer. :)

It was sent to me by the closest person in Stampin' Up! I have to a support group; she's my up-up-upline, Karen Titus. I just thought this card was cute, simple to do, and HYSTERICAL!!!

Inside, it has the face of the racoon punched out and matted just like the front. Too funny! Thank you, Karen, if you ever stumble across this blog. :D I enjoy getting cards from her when I have good sales. She's way up north, so I've never even met the woman - but it's nice to know someone's noticing!! :)

OK, I'm off to work some more. Saturday is the Hostess Appreciation Luncheon; it's too late to get in on THIS year's, but it's not too late to get your party scheduled so you can come NEXT year!!! :) I can't wait to hear from you!

Have a GREAT day - and take the time to stamp something!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew, I've been BUSY!!!!!

See the new slideshow over on the right??? I'm going to do these once a month, to show you the cards and 3D items people gift me. :) If you want to be seen, send me something! :D

IF you aren't there, it means the something you gave me didn't make it to my basket. I promise to do better on being organized! :D

This guy is a gift certificate holder! :D I made him, super-simple, to hold a donation Kenn and I are giving from our HPP business for Encore Theatre Company's fundraiser. It's always a Halloween-themed "ball", so I went with the flow. :)

OK, I'm gonna run - still doing bunches and bunches of stuff!!! Have a WONDERFUL week - and make the time to stamp something. You're gonna fall over when you see all I've been doing!! :D

Happy Monday!!!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend!!! I spent it with a head cold. :) But I'm also working on big things for the Hostess Appreciation Luncheon this coming Saturday - you'll see things from that NEXT week. :D I'm not spilling the beans!!!

What I WILL do is share. :D

I made this matching card and box/bag for a dear friend for her birthday - Hi, Jan! :)

The paper is wonderful - it's the Holiday Treasures designer series paper from the Idea Book & Catalog. Jan LOVES flowers, but doesn't care much for Christmas. :D This paper has a subtle snowflake on it, but the flowers are gorgeous. So, I decided to use the paper. :D

Here's the tutorial for the treat box, from Di's blog. I've made a couple of them, actually - here's one I did for my Tennessee Stamper's Retreat Secret Sister.

Aren't they fun??? They're a great size, hold lots of chocolate ;D, and are super-simple.

Think CHRISTMAS GIFTS, everyone - they're made from card stock, so they're sturdy, and would be a great way to package a hostess gift, etc. Thanks, Di, for the great tutorial! :)

OK, I'm off - LOTS to do today!!! - but I really want to hear from you! What are you stamping???? You ARE stamping, aren't you???? ;)

Be watching for BLOG CANDY on November 1!!!! I can't wait! :D

Rub-On Revelation Class!

Hi, everyone! Quick projects for a beautiful Friday afternoon! :D Today's share is from Tuesday's Rub-On Revelation. It was SO much fun!!!!

We did CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS - some of the smaller letters/words didn't want to go on to some of them too well. Be SURE you clean the glass - we learned by experience. :) But they're SO fun - a new dimension for those re-inker-dyed ornaments!

We also made BOXES for them, with Stampin' Up!'s exclusive scallop envelope die. That's the holiday designer series paper from the Idea Book. The medallions are punches, but the images are all rub-ons!!! SO fast and fun!!!

To order YOUR rub-ons, go to my official site and press the SHOP NOW button at the top. Go to EMBELLISHMENTS; at the bottom of that page is the RUB-ONS!!! :D Don't forget to check out all the FABULOUS specials going on now, too!

Have a wonderful weekend! Take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

It's MONDAY - have you stamped today? :D

Hi, everyone! Quick card for you from last month's Christmas Card Class!

It's a very contemporary color combination; the designer series paper is from the HOLIDAY TREASURES pack. The chocolate chip strip is cardstock; the "snow" is a Jumbo Stampin'

Around wheel done in chocolate chip. The snowflake is the new IN COLOR, Baja Breeze, cut with the Big Shot and a Sizzlets die. There's a gold brad in the middle of the snowflake, for a little sparkle and texture. SUPER simple!

OK, since that was a really quick share, here's another from that class!

The stamped image is from BIG ON CHRISTMAS; we colored it in with Satmpin' Write markers. I need to get a new Real Red; someone colored too hard with it, and split the brush.

Anyway. We sponged or stippled white ink through the negative space left when we cut out snowflakes with the Big Shot. It's so soft, it looks like fleece in real life!

OK, I need to get busy. :D I have miles to go, and time is FLYING by today!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be SURE and take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!! :)

HAPPY WORLD CARDMAKING DAY!

I hope you're taking the time today to make some cards to send to your friends and family - be a blessing!!!!! :) I wanted to show you what Barbara and I did this morning - she's the only one who showed up for the celebration. :)

This first one is done with INSPIRED BY NATURE.

Colors are Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Garden Green. We colored the image with Stampin' Write markers, using the darker ones along the edges of the stamp. We stamped it onto glossy white cardstock, and stamped the saying with Chocolate Chip ink. We let it dry for a few moments - VERY important with glossy!!! - and then used my favorite ticket corner punch on the corners of the glossy and the Pink Passion. Simple, elegant card!

I'm kind of proud of this one. :D It's a PAY IT FORWARD card. The color of the base cardstock is Basic Gray; we used some of the Designer Series Paper from the Level 1 hostess print pack - this is Real Red - to cut out the scallop envelope - an exclusive die from Stampin' Up! & Sizzix. Actually, we did TWO. More on that in a moment. :)

The "heartfelt" is from HEARTFELT THANKS, and is embossed with white craft ink and white embossing powder. The enclosure card has the stamp that says "wonderful you" from WONDERFUL YOU. :D

On the inside, there's a white piece of computer paper that reads:

Pay it forward!

I wanted to let you know I appreciate you, and I hope you'll take this opportunity to tell someone else!

Just take the card that I wrote to you out of the front envelope, then take a blank one out of this envelope and write your own message on it, put it in the front envelope, and send it on. If the envelope is empty, feel free to fill it up again!

Thank you! I'm so glad you're in my life!

Then there's a SECOND scalloped envelope attached to the bottom of the paper; inside of it, there are three or four more of the white enclosure cards that are stamped with "wonderful you". I'm hoping that it will be a real blessing to LOTS of people - feel free to use the idea!!! :)

OK, I need to run - we have a wedding to shoot this afternoon. A woman's work is never done. :D Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Wednesday! :)

Quick share today - I'm going to a birthday party! :D

Have you started to think about your Christmas cards yet??? We've had one Christmas Card Class so far - two more to go! - and this is probably my favorite from that class. The colors are So Saffron and Night of Navy. The window and "Very Merry Christmas" are from WINDOW DRESSING, a Level 3 Hostess Set. The tree is from LOVELY AS A TREE, and the inside verse - "Warmest greetings of the season and every good wish for the coming year" - is from MANY MERRY MESSAGES.

We embossed the window and outside saying with white embossing powder, then cut out the window pieces. There's a piece of acetate there, to act as window glass. The "snow" is embossed with Irridescent Ice. The tree is stamped on the So Saffrong, and we used the end of a paintbrush to make the ornaments/lights, and embossed them with Irridescent Ice, too. The card front is attached directly to the So Saffron.

I think it's a beautiful card. :D What do you think???

Good Monday afternoon!

I know, it's been almost a week. I do apologize - but real life has been super-busy - so I've got that, plus not feeling well on the days I'm not so busy! ANYWAY. :) Back to stamping!

Today, I'm going to show you the two cards and one 3D project we did in September at my parties. October's going to be an AWESOME time to hostess; if you're interested, PLEASE let me know! You can even have your party at my house, so you don't have to clean! LOL!

The above card is done with NATURE'S SILHOUETTES, which I purchased by accident. :D It's stamped in Basic Brown on Very Vanilla; we used the backing from the negative space left from the rubber diecutting process to mask the saying and sponge with Really Rust. We sponged the edges with the Basic Brown, and then layered onto Really Rust and Very Vanilla. Super easy!

This pillow box was made completely with the Big Shot. It is SO fun to play with - er, ummmm, WORK with. Yeah, that's it. :D

We used the pillow box die, the pumpkin die, and the leaves #2 die. Cut it all out, stamped the "Happy Thanksgiving" on the pumpkin from HOLIDAYS & WISHES, and assembled it. It's filled with candy corn! :D

Here's the third project:

Everything inked is stamped. We used a Versamark pad, and stamped the angel, the background, the saying on the front, and the saying on the inside - then used gold embossing powder on it. The angel is from the set HOLY TRIPTYCH; the background is one of the ITTY BITTY BACKGROUNDS. The sayings on the front and on the inside are from MANY MERRY MESSAGES. We colored in the angel with Stampin' Pastels, clipped the corners with my favorite, ticket corner punch, and that's it!!! :) It really was a simple card!

Email me for more information about being a hostess - you can earn a LOT of free stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the meantime, go STAMP something! :D And leave me a comment; I'm lonely.....

Happy Tuesday! :D

Today I want to show you a WOW card that I kind of copied from a card I saw in a gallery, but I changed a lot on it - so it's MINE now. :D We did this card for the New Idea Book & Catalog Open House, and I did it with some homeschooling girls. It's a beautiful card, if I do say so myself.... :D

The only stamp set used is FRESH CUTS - you may remember that there was a "sneak peek" in June, when everyone could purchase this set, and the laser-cut note cards that coordinate with it.

The colors are Sahara Sand and Bravo Burgundy. We stamped the collaged image, then sponged around the edges. It's layered onto another Sahara Sand piece - because of the sponging, it looks like another color.

We put that onto the card, and stamped the vine with flowers; the white dots are doen with our gel pen. (I LOVE THAT PEN!!!!!!!!!) The "for you" is stamped and punched with a small oval punch, then sponged and layered onto a medium oval that's also been sponged.

The last touch is the five petal flower punch; we did the faux stitching with the gel pen again, and punched one of the tiny flowers on the Boho Blossom flower punch out. It got sponged, and dotted with that wonderful gel pen, and we kind of bent the petals up a little bit to give it a little more dimension.

That's ALL there is to this card! It's got a few steps, but only using one color ink makes things super simple.

Here's one more card done with the same set; I did this to show the set's versatility. Colors are Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, and Apricot Appeal.

That's it for today! What are YOU stamping??? ARE you stamping??? :D Let me hear from you!!!!!!!!

Quick Card for a Quick Post!

Good morning - barely!!! Working away here, starting to get going on the Hostess Appreciation Luncheon for next month - it's not too late to get your invitation, ladies!!!! All you have to do is have SOME type of order for $150 or more between now and the middle of October!!!!! Whether you place it all yourself, or get some friends to go in with you doesn't matter. :) I want you to get to come!

ANYWAY. I'll talk more about that later, or you can email me for more details. :) Because I'm so busy today, this is a QUICK post - but even better, a SUPER-QUICK card! :)

This is my new set - FINALLY :D (cute story related, but not today!!!). I LOVE THIS SET!!!! I also love black-eyed Susans, so these colors are SO me for fall! :D

The set is called INSPIRED BY NATURE. Colors are Chocolate Chip and Summer Sun. Stamped the big stamp, stamped the saying, masked and sponged the saying, sponged the edges, and BAM! :D It's done!

OK, gonna run now. One more blog to update, and then I need to REALLY get going! :D

Have a wonderful day! PLEASE, take the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Trick or Treat!!!

Hi, everyone! I'm back from my weekend - weary and unpacked. :D It was a lot of fun, but I'm back and hard at work already.

I wanted to show you one of the things I gave my Secret Sister at our retreat!

Isn't he adorable?? I've been inspired by several different bloggers for him, but the final design is all my own. :) He was about 8 inches tall, and held a large Lindt candy bar. It's all punches, sponging, free-handing, and free-cutting!

Colors are Old Olive, Bordering Blue, Basic Black, and Whisper White. I used my white gel pen to put the reflection into his eyes; isn't he a docile-looking Frankenstein?!?!? :D

I'm going to run again - I have to keep stamping, to have new things to show you! What are YOU stampin'?!?!??!?! Goodness! I certainly hope you're taking the time to STAMP something!!!!!!!!!

Incentives and A Sample :)

Good afternoon!!! I'm offering two separate incentives in this email, plus showing you the card I made for Kenn for our anniversary last weekend.

FIRST INCENTIVE!!!! For the first FIVE people who order from my online site: I will send you five handmade cards and envelopes for your own use! It's safe, easy, and convenient!

Now, for that sample.... :)

I used a brayer inked with different colors and masked the background off with torn copy paper. The couple is from SUMMER BY THE SEA, done on watercolor paper with marker watercoloring. I then cut it out with my paper snips and gave it a little separation from the background with dimensionals. The saying is also from SUMMER BY THE SEA. I LOVE my Sketches sets!!!

And my SECOND INCENTIVE: For anyone who joins my team between NOW and OCTOBER 11, I will give a gift certificate for $25 worth of product from me! Just EMAIL ME for the online application password! I would LOVE to have you join my team, and there are GREAT benefits! :) Contact me today!

OK, I'm off - lots to do still; I'm going to be gone this weekend, and have a Christmas card class and a workshop back-to-back when I get home, so I've got to get organized. :D Take the time to STAMP something today!!!!

Notice anything NEW on the blog?!?!?!?

That's RIGHT! :D Our ONLINE ORDERING is in place!!!!! I would link you directly to the ordering page, but I need you to enter through my website in order for you to get the best pricing, and for me to get the credit. :) All you have to do is CLICK HERE, and when the site opens, click on the SHOP NOW button at the top of the page! :)

You can get gifts for others and great products for you, ANY time you want - or have someone get YOU a gift, easy as can be!!!! I think you'll be thrilled with how easy the website is to use.

HAVE FUN SHOPPING!!!! :D

A couple more scrapbook layouts from last month!

Good Friday afternoon! :) I wanted to post SOMETHING, so here you go. :D I'm working on Kenn's anniversary card for Sunday, but obviously I don't want to post it where he might stumble across it. :D SO, lucky YOU, get to see the final two 6x6 scrapbook layouts from August's class! :D

The first one is done on Going Gray card stock, which is ONLY available in assorted packs anymore. For THIS layout, I liked it better than our Basic Gray, but overall, I do like Basic better. :D

Anyway. Obviously, there's NO stamping on this layout! It's all Coluzzle and punch work. :D Oh, and some cutting. :D That's designer series paper from Summer Picnic, the only color on the page. :D The tiny circles are all punched, and the larger picture mats are cut with the Coluzzle. SUPER simple!

Here's the second one!

I'll admit, this was my favorite for the class. :) It's just SUMMERY!

That's Green Galore, YoYo Yellow, and Only Orange as colors - with a punch of Whisper White added in. :) The lime is from TART & TANGY. This one used square punches and the ticket corner punch. :) We embossed the Whisper White to make "tiles" out of the squares; once stamped, we squished the whole thing into a Versamark pad, and then into Glassy Glaze embossing powder. Heat it up, and Voila! it's beautiful and smooth! :D

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!! Take a bit of time to stamp something, but enjoy your loved ones - or your peace and quiet, whichever one you get this weekend! :D

A couple more Big Shot projects!

These are PILLOW BOXES, made with the Big Shot and the pillow box die. Imagine that! :D The one on the left is cut from the Level One Hostess Gift Paper Pack, kraft color. It's got a belly band made of kraft card stock, and Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon. The tag is a large circle punch, punched from kraft card stock, layered with the scallop square punch turned on an angle to fit the SINCERE SALUTATIONS greeting on it - I am SO stoked this works with this set!!! - in Pretty in Pink. I stamped and sponged it with Chocolate Chip. SUPER easy, and so cute!

The pillow box on the right is cut from Taken With Teal card stock, and embellished with snowflakes that are diecuts, too. The punched tag is the large oval punch, stamped with a sentiment from HUGS & WISHES and edged with Taken With Teal ink, as well.

These projects are SO EASY with the Big Shot! You could crank out a LOT of party favors, wedding favors, Christmas gifts - literally! :) Contact me today to get your Big Shot!

And for goodness' sake, take time to STAMP something - then bless someone else with your stamped project! :)