New year! New Stamp Clubs!

Can you believe it's 2008? How many of you are still writing 2007 on your checks? I've been good so far this year.....haven't needed to rip up a check yet!!! LOL!!!!

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to start my Stamp Clubs. Basically, my clubs meet every other month (starting in February). Each club has 6 members who agree to spend a minimum of $25 at each club meeting. The hostess of the month will be rotated among all club members. The hostess of the month is encouraged to gather outside orders from friends and family to increase her total sales (which in turn increases the FREE goodies for the hostess). The club will meet in my Stamping Studio where we will make awesome projects and learn new stamping techniques.

If you live near the Twin Cities (MN) and want more information about my Stamp Clubs, please send me an email. I would love to talk to you!!!!

If you are night owl (which I am not...LOL!!!!!)......enjoy the rest of your evening!!! As for me, I am off to bed and hopefully some nice dreams!!!! Good night everyone!!!

Sketch Challenges

I think one of the best ways to expand your stamping horizons is to take part in stamping challenges. The card I made today was from Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge.

I also decided to use one of my beloved retired stamp sets, Like It a Latte. This stamp set was in last year's Winter Mini catalog, and it was love at first site. Many a demonstrator were SHOCKED when this stamp set did not make it into the Fall & Winter 2007 Catalog. What was Stampin' Up! thinking? There wasn't one coffee-themed stamp set in the catty. Now, they have redeemed themselves in the new one. There is an adorable coffee cup image in a brand new set called Pun Fun. Yup, you guessed it. Pun Fun is on my first order because it is cute and it's meant to be watercolored. A DOUBLE TREAT FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!

The basecard is a standard A2 Close to Cocoa card. I stamped with my Sanded background and then the coffee bean stamp from Like it a Latte (both in Close to Cocoa ink).

The Soft Sky layer is stamped with a flourish from Season of Joy (was in the Holiday Mini). If you do not own this flourish, the one from Priceless will work just as well. I sponged the edges with some Close to Cocoa ink before adhering to my base card.

Now, I did promise not to hoard my stamping goodies. So, I delved into my stash of retired pattern paper. This cute rose and pink dotted paper was part of a patterned paper pack also from last year's Winter Mini (can't think of the name right not.....yeah, I know, I am getting old).

I sponged the edges with some Close to Cocoa ink to "grunge" it up a bit. I added some 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain and stamped the sentiment on some scrap Whisper White cardstock. I then punched out the sentiment, sponged with more Close to Cocoa ink and adhered on top of the ribbon.

The focal image is stamped on Whisper White cardstock using....you guessed it....Close to Cocoa ink. The candy stick is stamped in Regal Rose. I used my aquapainter and my Soft Sky reinker to lightly color in the coffee cup. I also used my aquapainter to add some color to this whipped cream/foam. My white Signo gel pen provided the final accent on the dollop. I cut out this image with my Coluzzle. I made a Scallop border for my circle using Pretty in Pink cardstock, my Scallop Circle punch and this awesome tutorial by Mary Jo Albright. You have to try this....it's cool!!!!

This post in much longer than I intended. I like to give you step-by-step so you can recreate if you wish. Hoping you're not bored to death!!!!!

Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

A New Way to "Wrap it Up"

Do any of you like to watch the Food Network or Top Chef? If yes, the phrase "it's all in the presentation" says it all. Even a simple gift of candy becomes FABULOUS when it is given in a homemade gift box.

First of all, I want to thank Lauren Meader for her design of this gift box. The directions can be found HERE. I also want to thank my in-laws for their Christmas gift which allowed me to purchase my Scor-Pal. Using the Scor-Pal made making this box easy-peasy.

My box starts with a 12x12 sheet of Pretty in Pink cardstock. After scoring and cutting as per Lauren's directions, I started stamping the large medallion from True Friend using Whisper White craft ink. I stamped "Celebrate" (using Pretty in Pink craft ink) and "You" (in Certainly Celery classic ink) from the Celebrate Everything stamp set. Before matting on a layer of Certainly Celery, I pierced both edges using my Crafter's Tool Kit and sponged with some Pretty in Pink ink.

I wanted to make a dangling embellishment on this box. So, I used my Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery markers to ink the flower portion only of the large flower from True Friend. I punched this out with my 1 3/8" circle punch. I edged this circle with my Pretty in Pink marker and added a celery rhinestone brad. I then punched a Scallop Circle in Certainly Celery, pierced each of the scallops and adhered the circle.

The project is finished off with some varying types of grosgrain ribbon: 5/8" celery, 1/4" celery and 1/4" white.

I am really liking playing with all these springy colors. I am SO seriously missing my pool right now......too bad it's covered under feet of cold MN snow!!!!!

I have a great project planned for today.........Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Celebrating You!!!

This card came together so fast. I was waiting for my friend Kim to arrive for an overnight stay(she had an early morning flight and we live close to the airport), and I knew that I needed to stamp a card for today's post. I ran downstairs to my stamping studio and was instantly ready to stamp. I knew I wanted pink and chocolate. I was pretty much inspired by the brand new Berry Bliss paper I had just ordered from Stampin' Up! Anyway, I also wanted to use a stamp set that was carried over into the new catalog. So, I decided on "True Friend". What an awesome stamp set!!!! I am so glad the powers that be decided to carry it over from the Holiday Mini catalog.

The basecard is a standard A2 Pretty in Pink card. I grunged the edges up a little bit by sponging with Close to Cocoa ink. The next layer is Close to Cocoa stamped with the triple floral from True Friends and then overstamped with my Sanded background stamp. I stamped the large flower medallion with Close to Cocoa craft ink and then embossed with Clear embossing powder. I cut out the image, sponged with Close to Cocoa ink and a clear rhinestone brad (from the Pretties kit) was added to the center.

I used my brand spanking new "Celebrate Everything" stamp set for my sentiment (also stamped in Close to Cocoa ink). I lightly spritzed with my Color Spritzer tool and a Close to Cocoa marker and then matted on a layer of Certainly Celery (all layers are sponged with Close to Cocoa ink).

At this point the card still needed something. I decided that it needed a ribbon accent. But where? I looked down on my stamping desk and found a small piece of 5/8" celery grosgrain. Cool!!! I can simulate leaves with my ribbon. I made a "V" with my ribbon and dirtied it up with some Close to Cocoa ink. After attaching it to my card, it was the perfect accent.

I REALLY love this card.....so much in fact that I am making it one of the cards for this month's Stamp Camp. Yippee......only 3 more projects to design!!!!

It's chilly (although not as cold as yesterday.....-5 when we woke up) and windy here in MN. Sounds like a perfect day to stamp to me!!!!

Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!!

Yippee! A New Catalog!!!

I am SO excited!!!! We can order from the brand spanking new Spring and Summer 2008 Collection catalog. In fact, I just placed my first order for some brand new rubbah!!!! I can't wait to get my new goodies and play.

Have you seen the new catty yet? If not, it is available online. Just click HERE. There are so many options when looking at the catalog online. You can circle your favorite sets too!!!!

In fact, the online catalog is a perfect way to get some brand new stamping stuff for FREE. How, you ask? By having a "Virtual Catalog Party", of course. If you are interested in hosting your very own "Virtual Catalog Party", please email me. I would love to set one up for you!!!!

If you like the idea of the traditional workshop, I can take care of that for you too (provided you live in the Twin Cities area, of course....LOL)!!!

I hope you have fun drooling over your new catalog!!!! You'll find something new to look at every time you open it.

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Welcome Back Old Friend!!!

It is SO wonderful to have this adorable stamp set back in the big catty again. He has so much versatility with all those accessory stamps he comes with. I chose to make a birthday card with him today. I drew some motion lines so it looks like he is tossing the gift between his two big claws.



I kinda messed up on the SCS Color Challenge today. I read on a blog that I frequent that the colors of the week are Real Red, Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise. Well, it was supposed to be Taken with Teal....not Tempting Turquoise. Oh well, what are ya gonna do? I still think he looks pretty darn adorable.



Remember my new year's resolution? No, not the diet one (I did high fiber cereal and cantaloupe for breakfast this morning even though there was lemon danish sitting on the counter).....I am talking about my "play...do not hoard" resolution. Well, I can happily say that that resolution is on track as well. I used my large pewter eyelets, a new tag die for my Big Kick and my Prismacolors/Gamsol. Holy cow!!!!! I did not even break into a panic sweat using all that stuff either. Can you believe it?????



Here's the recipe for Mr. Crabby:



Stamp Sets: Crab and Company, Polka Dots

Paper: Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Creamy Caramel (for sponging tag)

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, hemp twine, large pewter eyelets, googlie eyes, Prismacolors and Gamsol, 5/8" Certainly Celery grosgrain, sponges



Oh well, it's back to normal here again. The kids are back in school.......talk about being crabby this morning.....they did not like getting up early!!!!

Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

My First Design Team

Happy New Year everyone! I was waiting for the official announcement before I posted this latest news on my blog. I am now a design team member for JessicaLynnOriginal stamps. I've made a few projects for Jessica Lynn in the past, and I was honored when she asked me to join her team. Here are two of the projects I designed for her company. Aren't they cute????

JessicaLynnOriginal is having a major stamp set release on February 1st. I will start posting sneak peeks here on my blog starting January 30th. I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for me and the other ladies on the design team. Do you wanna know who I am working with?

2008 JLO Design Team: Cathy Indelicato, Alex Eaton, Melissa Martin, Barb Pritschau, Jennifer Greco, Nancy Beauchamp, Tammy Hershberger, Kelly Sampson, Barb Kaszuba and Patti Chesky.


I did stamp today, but I was too lazy to photograph my project. I'm beat!!!! New Year's Eve always tires me out, and I didn't even drink a drop of alcohol last night. I just wasn't meant to stay up til midnight!!!!

The kids go back to school tomorrow.....UGH.....that alarm clock is going to go off WAY too early tomorrow for me!!!

Oh well, time to get the kids motivated for bed time. Tomorrow morning is going to be very grouchy around this house!!!!!

At least I can place my first order from the Spring and Summer 2008 Catalog tomorrow at 1pm central time. Yippee!!!! I guess I should figure out what's gonna be on that order, huh?

Until tomorrow......Happy Stamping everyone!!!