Good morning Stamping friends! It feels like a Monday to me.  It was great to have that long weekend.  Now I'm sitting at an airport waiting on my NEW flight.  Yes, had a little flight change because I missed my original flight this morning due to the GREAT traffic on 95 this morning.  I just love the traffic here.  

Now I'm sitting in the USO at the airport and must say this is a GREAT place for military members.  I have a comfy seat, free wifi, all kinds of great food and drinks as well as a nice big TV!  No wonder Russ always likes to visit these when he fly's.  

I'm trying to head to San Antonio for the week for the big Leadership Conference.  I am really excited to see all my friends.  I hope to keep you informed of some of the fun things we are doing.  I even brought cards to work on in my hotel room.  I haven't done that in YEARS.   

Let me share this Valentine I made.  

I'm still enjoying the P.S. I Love You stamp set.  I love all the sentiments so much that I decided to use more than one on this card.  I decided to make a mini banner by stamping each of the sentiments onto a 1/2 strip of Naturals Ivory CS.  I used the cute mini clothes pins and connected the mini banners onto the Linen Thread so they would hang across.  I used the Heart Framelits to cut the large heart and placed the First Edition DSP onto the inside piece of the card base.  I feel like I cannot make a card without using that DSP.  It's so fun to use.  I also stamped the Netting Background stamp onto the Real Red cardstock.  You can barely see it but I like that it's lightly seen.  I think he will enjoy this card.  I'm getting them all stacked up and  ready to swarm him with love. 

You can find all these fun products on my website HERE.  Go browse awhile and look at the pretties in there.  Lots and Lots of fun stuff.  

Have a GREAT week.  

XOXOXO

Who said Valentines had to be red and pink? Why not PURPLE? Seriously this is WAY WAY outside of my comfort zone.  I'm not super into the color purple. I hardly use it on any of my cards.  However, I thought that these two colors looked pretty good together.  I used Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party  and away I went.  I used the same set as yesterday, P.S. I love you.  The sentiments that you see on the little banners is actually ONE stamp.  I just used my Black Marker and pieced the sentiment onto three pieces of cardstock.  The Heart was die cut using the Sweet Shop DSP and Heart Framelits.  So easy and fun to use.  

I'm off to work on a few swaps for Leadership.  I'm getting excited to see so many of my friends.  I love Stampin' Up! events.  

Have a GREAT Friday the 13th.  

P.S. I love Ya! 

XOXOXO

Over the next few days I'm going to share the start of my blitz.  I'm going to try and start working on a few kid Valentine projects this weekend, too.  It's always best to come up with these things early.  Not that I am one to talk about being on time.  I am just now getting my Christmas cards out.  I like to spread the Christmas cheer a little longer than others.  

This card uses a fun stamp set called P.S. I love You.  Love the name, Love the set.  This set has 15 stamps in it.  You can get the clear set for just  $27.95! Heck of a deal if you ask me.  Besides, who can put a price tag on something when you are making it for your lover? Check it out:

Anyways, I started this card with a Very Vanilla card base.  I then adhered the First Edition DSP to the front of the card and used my snazzy Edgelits Die and cut the bottom.  Then I added a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock to the backside of the front panel and embossed with the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder.  WOW! Just a little snazzy texture embossing packs a HARD punch on this card.  I love it.  

I cut my cool hearts using the Hearts Collection Framelits Die.  LOVE it.  I did a little sewing down the middle on two of the hearts.  I liked how that turned out.  Lastly I added my Cherry Cobbler buttons and a little Blushing Bride Smooch Spray. WOW, love that spray.  It's beautiful.  

Even though it had a little sewing machine action on the card it was still pretty simple.  Wanna know my FAVORITE thing about this stamp set? The fonts! You will love the fonts of the sentiments.  No worries, I pushed the limits on this set last night.  More ideas coming your way with this set.  

If you want this set for yourself, click HERE!  I think it's a must have this Love Season! If you want to check out more of the Occasions Mini, Click HERE!

Today is the first day I've felt HUMAN! Today I fee FANTASTIC! Over the weekend I thought I was dying from a sinus infection.  The bottom line is I figured out I cannot cure myself.  Grr! I had to drag myself into the Doctor's office over the weekend because I just felt terrible.  It's amazing what a good antibiotic can do. 

Today I jumped into my stamp room and stamped away.  YIPPIE! I couldn't stop with this card above.  I just kept adding new fun things.  Holy COW the products are fantastic to work with from the new Occasions Mini.  I did add a little sneak peek of a Sale-a-Bration set. 

I used the Attic Boutique Designer Paper with the Attic Boutique Side Notes (MUST HAVE!) and the new Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon.  It's all so pretty.  Very feminine.  The crown comes from an oldie but a goodie stamp set called Artistic Etchings.  This is a stamp set I have always adored.  I stamped the crown with VersaMark and then embossed the image using the Cherry Cobbler embossing powder.  What a rich looking powder.  I used it again on the sentiment.  The sentiment comes from the set Loving Thoughts.  Beautiful sentiments in this set.  I added a few pearls, ribbon and buttons just because we can! Overall, this card made me happy.   You can find all these beautiful products in my online store.  I hope you'll visit soon. 

Tomorrow is my little girls 9th Birthday.  I can't wait to share her Birthday Card with you! We have a big day planned for her.

XOXOXO

Our Christmas was extra special with Russ home and being in Florida with all my family.  The kids had a blast and seemed pretty happy with everything Santa and family had given them.  They played non stop with their cousins and I'm always grateful for how well they get along. Here are a few photos of the kids and my mom while we were in Florida. 

We are unpacked and all the Christmas decorations are put away until next year.  Sometimes I think Christmas is just a blur.  I hate that.  I want the spirit and season of Christmas to last forever.  The only thing I could do without is the sweets that come with it.

With all the craziness that has been going on in our little world the one thing that has been lacking is the stamping.  Today is the first day in three weeks that I came down into my stamp room and was ready to put a few stamps and ink together.  I felt the creative block coming on pretty strong but I finally pushed forward and just started grabbing new products from the Occasions Mini to play with.  This new mini is one of the best in my book.  Lots of great products.  The excitement of playing with the new stuff brought back all my warm fuzzies I have for Stampin' Up! products and the company.  I'm working on a plan to get back to my normal business schedule and start putting classes/workshops together again.  It's been a long time but I wouldn't change a thing. It's just time to get busy again!

I'm excited to show you what happened in my stamp room today.  Let me share!

As I was playing with all the new products in my room the one thing I kept saying over and over was WOW, I love this paper.  Stampin' Up! really tickled me pink with all the new DSP they have in the Occasions Mini.  It's just girlie and pretty. The base of the card is where the FUN begins.  I folded a piece of pool party cardstock in half and used my new Edgelits Die called Adorning Accents and the new Adorning Accents Embossing Folders. WOW WEE what a difference these little things can make to a card.  This card became elegant in a matter of seconds!  I think you have to have one!!  I used the new stamp set Apothecary Art.  Lucky for you I don't have to pronounce this set.  My tongue does not like to say Apothecary!  The beauty of this stamp set is how it coordinates with the Framelits Labels Collection on page 6 of your mini.  WOW. Love this label and love these dies.  I stamped the image with VersaMark onto Naturals White cardstock and then embossed the image with Pewter powder.  I colored in the small flowers with a blender pen and made this very simple. I used the Attic Boutique DSP which is stunning and pared it with the Pleated Satin Ribbon that makes me smile every time I touch it.  Gone are the days of pleating my own ribbon while I have this beautiful ribbon on hand.  I used the Pear Pizzazz ribbon. If you look closely enough you will notice that I used the scallop edge from Adorning Accents Edgelits  under my pretty Designer Series Paper too.  I dazzled the card with a few tiny pearls and a few of the new biggie ones too.  Last thing I added was a little shimmer and my Spritzer tool with Early Espresso and Pool Party markers.  Viola! Kimberly STAMPED!!

Hopefully by seeing all of these exciting new products you are ready for a few yourself.  You can find them all HERE! I like to call this my little Vintage Shop.  Boy is it filled with lots of things I love.  

I'm getting ready to turn the lights out for a few hours and then I'm coming back tonight to play a little more.  That's HOW excited I am!! 

XOXOXO

As I said the other day I would have a tutorial ready for you on how to make the Halloween Tree Decorations. I am so excited that day is TODAY! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to stamp and every year I add a few new decorations to my tree and my Halloween display.  Let me share my Halloween display as well as the tree.

What's fun about this display is the many memories that go along with the items made.  So many of these fun decorations were made sitting with friends or even a class that I have taught. Every year it's a joy to pull out each decoration and put it on the display. What's better is adding more decorations.  My display consists of a Bakers Rack that I change out every season. There is another project on my display I cannot wait to show you. It's a banner that I made with my friend Denise.  We had so much fun creating it.  I'll share much closer pics soon.

Here a closer look at my tree.

You can see many of the decorations I've made over the years. On the video you will see another Holiday Decoration with the same concept only it's a Christmas Ornament.  Here are a few closer pictures for you:

I used the Christmas Lodge stamp set for this decoration. You can find all the products I've used here in my Online Store.  Make sure you check the Clearance Rack.  There are some great holiday items you can get at a GREAT discount. Don't miss it. 

Here is the video and I hope it helps you as you make a few handmade decorations fro yourself. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6O_cYgXfqY

The weekend is almost here!

XOXOXO

We had to take our doggie to the Vet tonight too.  I have a little 4lb Chihuahua and she has been itching herself to death.  We took her in and we have medicine to help her.  We were there for 2.5 hours.  Good Grief!!

Now it's 11pm and I'm just starting to work a bit in my office.  Oh no.  LOL! It's not like this hasn't happened before, but I'm pretty pooped from the excitement of the day. I'm excited to share a new Halloween treat with you. 

If you have been following my blog for a bit you know I have a Halloween tree and I love to decorate it each year. Last year we made the pretty cones with ribbon.  This year we took a little different approach and I really like them.  Let me share.

All of these projects were made using Stampin' Up!'s great Halloween products.  I used a ton of products on all of these.  I will list for you below and I will be showing a video later this week on assembly.  The great thing about making projects like these is that you can pull them out year after year.  It's fun to look back at the other ornaments I've made through the years. 

Here is a list of products that was used and you can find all these projects in my spooky Online Store. 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370), Piece of Poison (123754), Dark & Dreary (121151), Out on a Limb (123824), Creative Elements (122647), Wicked Cool (120600). 

Accessories: Pick Your Poison Quick Accents (124263), 3/8" Velvet Stitched Ribbon (125637), Brights Buttons (119747), Vintage Trinkets (118764), First Edition Specialty (121878, Simply Score Tool (122334), White Bakers Twine (124262), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Fine Galaxy Glitter-Champagne (114286), Scallop Squares Duo Sizzix Die Cut (120903), Spritzer Tool (107066), Black Marker (100082) & a Glue Gun!

While there are lots of products used for this project they are easy and fun to make. 

Check back in a few days for a tutorial and make sure you have a Simply Scored Tool on hand.  You can find this great product in the Holiday Mini and in my Online Store. 

Make sure to check the right side bar of my blog. There are THREE NEW specials to check out! WOW!

Until tomorrow…

XOXOXO

First a new Promotion from Stampin' Up!-

Sign up to be a demonstrator between now and October 31st and you will receive a Big Shot included with your KIT! Already have a Big Shot? No worries, you can choose $100 in FREE products! WOW.  Now is a GREAT time to become a demonstrator.  Earn a little cash for the holidays or become a hobby demonstrator and enjoy some of the best crafting supplies around.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain with Stampin' Up!  You can read more about becoming a demonstrator on my Join My Team page.  If you have questions, please never hesitate to ask. 

Normally this time of year I am floating around a room filled with women raising money for Breast Cancer research. This year marks the Sixth Year of Stampin' for a Cure in Colorado Springs, Co.  My team of demonstrators as well as a few not on my team gather together and work hard to come up with projects, silent auctions, and much much more to make this day the best that it can be.  This is the first one I am missing.  It feels very strange not being there but I am confident they are doing an outstanding job.  I've skyped in once today to see all the fun they are having.  Tried not to cry as I miss them all so much.  I could hear the excitement in the background and could see blurry smiles on the faces of both customers and demonstrators.  That makes my heart pound.  Due to our circumstances with the Prince away, I thought it would be best not to travel. There will be many more.  I also plan to start a Stampin' for a Cure event here in my local area.  The only reason I didn't do it this year was because I spent 6 months feeling sorry for myself.  Once I found Kimberly again it was a little late to get it going.  No worries, next year will be great.

October 1st is also World Card Making day.  It's a day to create until your fingers cramp.  Here are a few pieces of inspiration for you. 

This card uses the cute stamp set called Out on a Limb (#123824).  I also used the Pick Your Poison DSP #(124001).  Fun card for Halloween.  My favorite image besides the witch are the clouds. Super cute.

This card is a beauty. Plus it has a Faux Metal Technique that was used with the witches boots.  The added toole just makes it sassy vintage. Lots of stamp sets on this card: Teeny Tiny Wishes(#115370), Wicked Cool (#120600), Piece of Poison (#123754). Also used on this card is the First Edition Specialty (#121878). 

You can find all these fantastic products in my spooky Online Store.  Enjoy World Card Making day and I hope to update you later with how the Stampin' for a Cure event is going. 

XOXOXO

Today I hope to make a few folks happy campers.  Actually, I strive for this every day but it doesn't always work out. Just ask my kids.  BTW, I loved hearing the stories of your kids "When I grow up…" They made me laugh hysterically and I also don't feel so alone. 

A few weeks back I showed you a Card Box I had made using the Stampin' Card Box Keeper HERE.  On the top I used the Die Cut Fun Flowers and went to town.  Many have asked how to do this. I put a video together but I'm actually making another project.  It's a double dog Friday type of day! This means you you get to see two projects made using the same thing!

First, here is another box with the flower on it and a picture of the Die Cut I used.  Fun Flowers is a must have to your die cut collection.

I love our fabric! It's beautiful and I love that it coordinates with other products.  The Stampin' Card Keepers make a great gift project to put cards or recipe's in.  How about decorating the box and putting the gift INSIDE the box.  Wouldn't this be a crowd pleaser? Don't forget to add your Simply Adorned bauble to make this project turn into a WOWSER!

Okay, now for the double dog Friday project.  I've made these Paper Flower Bookmarks for my customers who have ordered from me this month.  It's nice to get a little somethin' somethin', sometimes. Isn't it? Here it is:

I received one of these beauties from my SAM early this year and I just loved it.  To keep the flowers in place they used dimensionals.  I changed it up and used my Hot Glue Gun aka Liquid Glue Dots to me. <smile> Putting this flower together is the same concept as the flower on top of the box, I just used more of the flowers. 

Check out the video for some Flower Fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF58zHbtQ-g

These are just as addicting as the pin cushions! Have you checked out my Online Store? It's super cute with Super CUTE things in it.  Check out the clearance items too. 

Have a super fantastic weekend.  Tomorrow is World Card Making Day. I'll have a few cards for you tomorrow.

Meanwhile on the ranch I've been busy getting back to what I love the most.  Stamping! Since the kids are getting ready to go back to school it's time for me to go back to business. Believe it or not my Alexis is the driving force of me going back to work. She wants to know when her stamping friends are coming back? WOW! This could be her gentle way of telling me to get our of her face. *smile* I've put classes on the books and excited to see my customers again.  It seems like forever that I held a class.  

During the hurricane (or leaf blowing event) I was able to get a little stamping in.  The new Holiday Mini goes live in just a few days.  I can't wait.  This mini catalog is super fun with lots of great stamping toys to entertain you for months.  One of the projects I finished was actually a Make n Take project from convention this Summer.  Yes, I'm a slacker.  Not only that I screwed the whole thing up. This is what I get for not READING the directions.  This project was supposed to be made using the beautiful Timeless Portrait Fabric.  Not so much for me.  Since I cut my fabric completely wrong I had to do a switch a roo and use the Spice Cake Fabric that is coming out in the Holiday Mini. Oh how you will love this fabric!!!  Take a peek of my finished project.  I really like these boxes which are also available on September 1st. 

Then I made this card using the Spice Cake Designer Series paper and the Gently Falling stamp set.  Love this two step stamp! This was made for a swap I did with my team.  They are fantastic stampers. 

Time to get back to work.  I have a busy day ahead. 

Make sure you check out my new Stamps in the Mail that will be starting! We are using the Christmas Lodge stamp set from the Holiday Mini.  Details can be found HERE! You can also go to the top of my website and click on Classes to Go.  Just an FYI: The projects you make in this program are not simple projects.  They are projects that make you go WOWSER! Hope you can join me.  It's going to be another GREAT round!!