It's a big testing week for Brandon at school.  I am sure those of you in others states know what I am talking about.  Colorado has a state testing they do for third graders called CSAP.  It's a very important test, so Brandon tells me.  He's been a little nervous about it, but at the same time excited.  I give his teacher big kudos for this.  She really has the kids excited about the testing and constantly gives them the positive feedback they need to hear.  His teacher asked that we send a little "love" to our child by writing a little note that they could read prior to the test.  Of course I couldn't do just a NOTE!  How about a card with a note!   Okay, I got really carried away.  I have a card for tomorrow and another card for the following testing day.  I couldn't help it.  I kept thinking how it would make me feel and I wanted him to smile.  

Here is one card Brandon will receive:

I love these "Extreme" stamp sets in the catalog.  You can find them on page 80.  The Guitar was perfect for Brandon.  He loves Guitar Hero!  It's a pretty simple card, but honestly I didn't need to impress my sweet 8 year old.  The inside of the card is what will mean a ton.  I put a picture of Russ inside so that Brandon can keep it with him.  <smile>  So what else did I use on this card?  Below you will find a list of supplies:

Supplies: Scallop Square Sizzix Die Cut, Modern Label Punch, Extreme Elements stamp set, Extreme Guitar, Chocolate Chip and Real Red ink, Chocolate Chip, Kraft and Real Red cardstock, Gold Brads

I'm still learning the new computer.  Now that I have my photoshop for this computer I am really cooking with GAS!  The next two weeks are pretty busy here.  Classes and workshops for the next two weeks.  I have lots of class stuff to post soon.  I am a little giddy about my stamp camp coming up.  Fun projects.  Yippie!

Hope your week is fantastic! 

Good evening!  Now that things have settled down a bit, I finally got a chance today to make the video for the Valentine Box I shared with you a few weeks ago.   Thanks to my friend Christy (now AKA Snookie), she helped me out today.  Whoo Hoo!  Let's take a look back at the box:

This box was shown at the Phoenix Regional however just a bit smaller.  This box can hold 4 x 4 cards.  Love it.

Watch this video to learn how to make it.  Remember, if you subscribe to my blog in a reader you will have to go to my website to view the video!

I hope the video helps you make some cute Valentine Boxes.

Now, just a little update.  My little girl is doing great.  Thank you for all of the get well wishes.  It made her smile.  It's still healing but you wouldn't know she had a boo boo unless you asked her.  She is up and running (without scissors) again!

I have a new card to share.  I made this card at my Diva Night.  I will call this card the all-nighter.  It seriously took me all night to make it.  Has that ever happened to you? 

I used a couple of stamp sets for this card.  The main image comes from the stamp set Chic Boutique.  It's such a cute stamp set.  Very CHIC!  I added a few silver beads, gems and glitter.  This made it even more a CHIC card.  The background image comes from Friends 24-7.  GREAT set.  The stripes on the bottom of the card is called Solid Stripes.  You can find that stamp in the back of the New Mini Catalog.  I love it. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a  GREAT Thursday!

I’ve had some time to play with a few of my new toys lately.  I wanted to share a card that has many beautiful elements that I have fallen in love with.  The Holiday Mini has so many favorites in it for me. 

Let’s start with the paper.  I asked for ONE thing to be in the mini catalog this year and I *kinda* got my wish.  I love FLOCK and they brought out this beautiful flocked designer paper.  I could sit and touch it all day.  I love how it feels and best yet, how it looks on creative projects.  The paper is called Christmas Cocoa Specialty (116770).

I stamped the Snowflakes using the Serene Snowflakes (115438) stamp set using Soft Suede ink and then applied the Icicle Rub Ons (116804) over the stamped snowflake.  The rub ons include 2 sheets: 1 sheet ea in silver and Whisper White.  I loved how the Whisper White looked over the Soft Suede.  For the focal point on the card I reversed what I had done on the card front and applied a Whisper White rub on to the Soft Suede cardstock then stamped a snowflake in Soft Suede ink onto Whisper White cardstock and cut it out.  Using a dimensional, I popped it up onto the applied rub on.  It’s so three dimensional.  The Christmas Cocoa Specialty paper is on the base of the card.  It feels so pretty.  Here in Colorado, I am sure snowflakes are in our near future.  I am not ready for it, but I can stamp them.   

Now to figure out what our Holiday weekend plans will be.  Russ and I have a few plans up our sleeves with the kids.  Time together is on tap.  He spent this week in Israel and was lucky enough to see Madonna in concert.  WOW!  He was super excited, I was super jealous.  I tried singing "Like a Virgin" on the phone and he promptly told me he had to go.  Not sure if it was my singing or…..  oh anyways… I was jealous. 

Have a safe and fabulous weekend!

Good morning friends,

Time is ticking today!  It’s the last day of the AMAZING Stampin’ Up! $85 Starter Kit special!  Take advantage of the GREAT things Stampin’ Up! can offer you.  I could write a book on all the great reasons you should do it, but I will say it just a few words… BEST COMPANY EVER!  That is how I really feel. 

If you are interested in Joining my TEAM or need more information, click on the Join My Team and see what it’s all about.  Have questions?  Email me directly!  I would love to answer them for you. 

So, I have been MIA for the past couple of days because I have doing a lot of stamping.  I had a few friends over on Friday night and we stamped like there was no tomorrow.  Literally until the wee wee hours of the morning. You always know this is good stamping because we all had glitter everywhere and laughed like crazy.  How my kids sleep through my BIG mouth is always a question. 

I want to share a few projects today.  These are my late night stamping projects where I just keep adding and having so much fun.  I hope you like them. 

I love the stamp set Pendant Park!  So, let me tell you something really quick…. I went to the mall yesterday.  Bad bad girl!  But as I was walking through the mall all I noticed was how everything around me was vintage and shabby. I feel like I am in HEAVEN.  I love this style.  I love the delicate look of the style and really EVERYTHING about it.  So, bare with me.  <smile>

So what in the world did I use on this card?  Here ya go!

Stamp Set: Pendant Park (115456) , Friends 24-7 (113218) -HAVE TO HAVE STAMP SET!

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Kraft, Crushed Curry

Ink: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Kraft Taffetta Ribbon, Corduroy buttons, Linen Thread, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper- Holiday Mini Sneak Peek!!!, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Spritzer Tool, Cutter Kit

Now this card is another new favorite of mine!

Now that beautiful designer paper is from the Holiday Mini.  It’s called Christmas Cocoa Specialty (116770).  You can start ordering this beautiful paper tomorrow.  So exciting.  Once you touch it, you will fall in love with it.  It’s flocked and beautiful and so fun to just touch it.  I also used the Pretties Kit (109114) which I adore.  This kit is so fun to play with.  The hat pins are beautiful on any project.  I seem to use these all the time. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamp Sets: Medallion 115223, Friends 24-7 113218 , Teeny Tiny Wishes 115370

Cardstock: Real Red 102482, Whisper White 100730

Ink: VersaMark 102283, Real Red 103133 

Accessories: Playground Buttons 116313, Whisper White Taffeta ribbon109070, Pretties Kit 109114, Aqua Painter 103954( to tear the edges), Linen Thread 104199, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP (116770), Crop a Dile 108362

It’s a Magical Monday!  Hope your day is FABULOUS!  I have many projects started, now I need to finish them.  Oh boy!

Wish you were in my stamp room so you get a real feel of the fantastic texture going on with this card.  Check this out!

The texture really pops on this card.  Tonight I had my Big Shot School.  We do four projects and really use every type of die known to Sizzix.  I try to give my customers as much info in a couple hours as I can of all the great uses they can do with this fab machine.  One of the best dies I think is just a MUST have is the Top Note die cut.  You can make every animal face, body as well as boxes!  Another thing my friends learned tonight was a how to turn this great Top Note Die into a Medallion or Circle with cool Design!  Not really sure what to call this, but I like it.  All I did was cut the original Top Note and then continue to die cut the same top note by lining up the points and turning the Top Note each time.  I think I ran the same Top Note through 4-5 times until I got the desired look.  Really fun. 

Now, about that texture!  This new embossing folder is just the bomb!  It’s called Final Press.  This is a Stampin’ Up! exclusive and it’s so pretty.  Here is a quick run down on how I made this card:

1. Stamp Medallion stamp in the corner onto Kraft cardstock using Bashful Blue ink.  (WOW that looked so nice to me!!!) 

2. Using Final Press Embossing Folder, emboss Bashful Blue cardstock (2 x 5 1/2).  Wrap Bashful Blue Taffetta Ribbon around card and tie in a pretty bow. 

3. Using Circle #2 Die Cut, die cut large circle.  Run through Final Press Embossing Folder. 

4. Using Kraft cardstock, die cut using the Top Note die to get the Medallion looking thingy I did.  See dircetions above. 

5. Using Bashful Blue cardstock and Stampin’ Up! Thanks embosslit, die cut the Thanks embosslit and attach a silver brad on each side of Thanks.  Using Bashful Blue ink, lightly sponge over the embosslit and the Large Circle.  Attach all elements using dimensionals. 

Those were pretty brief instructions, but I hope you get to make one yourself.  You just have to touch that wonderful texture.  I love it. 

Continuing on the Medallion mission I’m on, here is another card I have for you!

This card I used the Medallion stamp with Old Olive ink on the Cottage Wall DSP.  You can see it but I did add a little sparkle of dazzling diamonds on the little circles.  So fun and bling blingie!  This card uses the Stampin’ Up! HI Embosslit and the New Stampin’ Up! Perfect Details Textruz Plate.  Another new fav of mine. 

You may not believe this but I seriously have about 4 more projects with this stamp coming your way.  I just finished a scrapbook page with it.  SAY it isn’t SO!

It’s off to bed for me now.  It’s been a crazy creative day.  This brain needs a little rest a roo!