Hello from not so sunny Florida!  We arrived late Friday night and it's been raining since!  While the rain really stinks it hasn't stopped our family from having a good time.  The kids spent 3 hours in the pool yesterday and enjoyed every minute of it.  It was pouring and they were splashing. 

Yesterday we had our entire family at my mom's house and it was CRAZY!  There were dogs, kids and then the CRAZY adults.  Throughout the day I just kept thinking how happy I was to be around all these CRAZY people.  It's rare to have the entire family around these days. 

Already we've had a few adventures.  Adventures in my family always=chaos.  We went to breakfast this morning after church and my mom decided to make a scene by falling out of my dads truck with a dress on.  She landed gracefully and nothing is broke.  She did receive lots of help and her grandkids thought she did an amazing job of getting back up and in the truck.  Luckly, the dress stayed intact and only got wet.  We are taking pity on her today and thanking our lucky stars she didn't break something.  Phew! Chaos—->SERIOULSY!

I'll leave you with a cute card I made before I left.  I love the new Designer Papers in the Mini and this one is my favorite.

You'll notice it's just patterns of paper cut and then a white gel pen made squiggles around each piece.  I added a few buttons and that completed the card.

I hope you are drier than we are.  We are off to the movies today.  I'll share more of our adventures as they happen!!

Oh Boy! This card could potentially weigh 5lbs with all the goodies I laid on top of it.  Whoever receives this card, it may cost you SERIOUSLY.

Sometimes I just get crazy urges and cannot stop the insanity of adding products.  JEESH!! My goal tonight was to be in bed before midnight.  Umm… that didn't really work! It's now WAY after midnight and I just finished this card.  I just got involved and that is my final answer! This card is all about the Holiday Mini as we count down to one of the BEST Mini Catalogs that's about to debut.  The paper, the stamps and the accessories are just fantastic!  The project ideas that I keep thinking about are non stop.  My only problem is TIME.  UGH!

Anyways, let me share this crazy card and explain some of the fun stuff.

Are you as excited about Baja Breeze coming back as I am?  What a fun color.  I think it has a vintage feel to it and this snowman is my favorite image in this stamp set called Jolly Old Saint Nick. 

I started the card with Baja Breeze and stamped a snowflake image from a new set called Jolly Bingo Bits-another Holiday Mini fav of mine.  I added the Candy Cane Christmas DSP.  This DSP just makes me happy.  Maybe it's all about those cute birds or the vintage feel of the ornaments!  I dunno, but I do know I LoVe it!  Now, this is where the card building went haywire.  You see the Crumb Cake Scallop thing that is underneath the snowman?  That is actually a Mini Lunch Sack that I cut to fit my 3 x 3 card.  These will be available in the Holiday Mini.  I love them because they are already scalloped.  Basically this is a card with a card.  Almost a little surprise for the recipient. On top of the trimmed lunch sack I stamped my snowman in Basic Black ink and colored the image in using my Stampin' Pastels.  Again, a product that I see NOT used enough.  Love having Whisper White chalk and Very Vanilla chalk.  If you haven't tried Stampin' Up!'s pastels, you really should.  Every color at your fingertips for only 24.95 (#120962).  Or you can just get the New Color Kit with all the new colors we've added this year for only 14.95! STEAL! (#120963).  I added some button brads on the snowman's belly using the Vintage Trinkets.  I also added a banner and used a Safety Pin from the Trinkets to hold it in place.  There are a few layers of ribbon added…. I got a little carried away.  My
 3×3 card is pretty simple.  I only added more of the DSP and a beautiful BIG button. 

I think I can officially go to bed feeling satisfied.  Could be a different story when those sweet gems of mine wake me up bright and early.  Whoopsie! I can only blame myself for this crazy stamp addiction!

Have a GREAT Day!

Last night I was doing the video and right in the middle I see out of the corner of my eyes a HUGE bug!  Now imagine that it's after midnight and I know Russ is fast asleep and the bug is HUGE!  So, I wish I could say I cut that part out of the video… but I didn't.  You will see first hand how I do NOT like bugs.  You will also find out what happened to the bug! I am trying to figure out how to do that video editing stuff but really I would rather spend my time creating.  Something that I am lacking as I'm trying to get the house in order.  Maybe one day I will learn or better yet Russ will.  Also, I know that You Tube can support a video up to 15 minutes, but I talked longer on this one.  I am going to try REALLY hard not to go over the next time so the video's are not split.  Hang in there with me guys.  I'm creative with stamps just not these videos.  They really give me fits! Sooooooo I hope I don't BORE you to pieces!

Tonight's video is all about balance.  Remember that all of us have different lives so this little schedule of mine may not work for you at all.  Maybe some of the tips given can help you adapt a few things into your day.  I know there are many of you that work full time and do Stampin' Up! and I am unsure what to tell you except be an expert at time management.  I know there are great books out there that can help.  I believe all things are possible if you want something bad enough.

I also realize there are still questions on how to approach strangers.   Give me about a week and I will come up with a plan on that. I can share many conversations that I have had in the past.  We will approach the subject again very soon.  Those of you out there building, don't stop! Keep passing out those cards.  We are on a MISSION!

Here is the video!  Go to the bathroom before you watch it. 

Lastly, a little creative time….

You may notice a few "new" things on this card as in… Sneak Peaks.  Whoo Hoo! I'll explain more on those later…

Supplies used:

Ink: Pacific Point, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point

DSP: Blueberry Crisp

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases, Have a Seat, Wonderfully Worn Background

Accessories: Jewelry Tag Punch, Linen Thread, Vintage Trinkets, Spritzer Tool, Shimmer Mist,

Two mystery products…. How about that button?  Or that beautiful glitter at the bottom?  Can you say Holiday Mini?  Whoo Hoo!!!

Enjoy your weekend and stamp, stamp stamp!!

Hello GREAT stampers!  Tonight I am super excited to share another video of more burning questions.  Again, please keep in mind that these are just my personal opinions and experience.  I don't claim to be any type of coach.  I do however LOVE to share with you and my customers! So here are the videos for today.  I hope they can help you with your business.

I am also excited because my stamp room is ALMOST complete.  I just have a few last details and it's READY! It seems like it's taken forever but it wasn't the only room that needed help in this house.  In fact, over the weekend I finished Alexis room and we are both so excited about it.  She is only 7 and really wanted a big girl room.  The theme we went with is Rock n Roll.  SO up my Alley.  It really looks fun and we put up lots of Decor' Elements Guitars which are now retired.  They look fantastic on the wall and I really love how awesome our Decor' Elements go on so easy.  Alexis thinks it looks cool and that is all that matters.   I'll get some pictures for you. 

Tonight's creative piece is something I received in the mail and I have to share it.  I call this VERY happy mail!!!  This beautiful card was made from my downline Mary.  I just love her and LOVE this creation.  Thank you Mary!

I hope your week is going WELL and your stamping away! See you tomorrow!

WOW!  There are so many burning questions that it will take a series of videos to complete and I am EXCITED!  Tonight I have the first one for you (Actually two because I rambled!-Part 1 & 2).  Hopefully I will not bore you to tears.  LOL!  Just keep in mind I am not an expert at anything just sharing my experience and tips that I think you can put to good use.  Your success is completely dependent upon YOU! Success has a different meaning for EVERYONE.  Determine what it means for you.  I just think YOU can do it.  Beware that during my video I cannot help but cough.  SO annoying but I'm still not 100% better.  It's driving me crazy. Also in the video I talk about simple 3 x 3 cards to put in your packets and show you one that is over the top (SO not what you should put in your packet!)  Tonight I stamped a simple dimple 3 x 3 card that took me less than 5 minutes to make and would be super fun to make at a workshop or at an event where you need a simple make n take. Lastly, the video went long (IMAGINE THAT!) so I broke it into TWO videos.  Sorry about that.  I'm much better at stamping than video editing.  <sigh>

Here is the video: Part 1:

Here is a simple 3 x 3 Card!

This card uses the Just Believe stamp set, Fine Flourish stamp and the Soft Subtles buttons.  The punch is Modern Label.  You can't really see it but I sprayed it with a little shimmer mist. That stuff just makes anything look pretty.  Take your Shimmer White Paint and mix with 70% alcohol.  As for the ration… I just pour the pain in a spray bottle and then add lots more of the Alcohol until I get the desired look.  Just play around with it. I'm going to make about 10 of these and then I'm going to make some "Sneak Peeks" from the Holiday Mini. 

For my customers… The Mini is going to KNOCK your socks off just like the Summer Mini.  Every time we turn around there is something GREAT that Stampin' Up! is doing.  SO FUN!