I have to laugh at myself!  I guess I was pretty tired because last night I was sitting in my bed cropping all my pictures AND having a conversation with my husband and fell FLAT asleep!  I guess I hit the three week mark where I run like the wind and my body said, "YOU ARE DONE!" 

I did make two projects to share with you that I really love.  I do feel like I've been robbed from my Summer Mini.  Not that it's ALL mine but I have many of the stamp sets that I just haven't had the time to play with and I am determined to use them this week to get my fill.  Then of course the NEW catalog stuff that I just can't stop using because it's so beautiful.  I tell ya, Stampin' Up! really does a number on me.  I love it ALL! 

The first card uses the Pedaling Past stamp set.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Pedaling Past (Summer Mini) 120069, Wonderfully Worn Background 118533

Ink; Basic Black 101179, Crumb Cake 121030

Cardstock: Crumb Cake 119686, Basic Black 121045, Very Vanilla 101650, Cherry Cobbler 119685

Designer Paper: Love Letter 117162

Accessories: Curly Label Punch 119851, 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Basic Black 115615 (SERIOUSLY MY FAV!), Corner Rounder 119871, Dimensionals 104430, Vintage Trinkets 118764

Here is basically the same layout but a different image and a different technique with the Ribbon. 

This set is called Timeless Treasures 120615.  Great set for the Antique lovers.  Both images are stamped with Basic Black ink and then I used the Wonderfully Worn Background stamp over it using Crumb Cake.  Here are the products used for this card:

Stamp Sets: Timeless Treasures 120615, Wonderfully Worn Background stamp 118533

Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler

Designer Series Paper: Love Letter

Accessories: Modern Label Punch 119849, 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Basic Black 115615, Antique Brads 117273, Dimensionals

I hope you're having a GREAT weekend.  My day will be spent putting some organization into our Living Room!  Oh Boy!

Well, once again I am here to entertain.  You won't believe what has happened now.  Just as I was getting in the groove of working in my room once again we had a little crisis yesterday.  To me this is a DISASTER and for Russ it's just a small bump in the road.  Let me explain!

We are doing a few upgrades to the new house.  Very exciting but remember I have NO patience.  NONE!  Yesterday we had a sprinkler system put in.  Our yard is huge and too much for me to be twirling sprinklers all over the place.  He was supposed to be here on Friday but the equipment broke so he said he would see me Saturday.  No problem until he started digging and hit my Phone/Internet line.  This was after everything was clearly marked by the utilities peeps.  Grrr…. Once again I am back at Starbucks using the internet.  I think someone in Cyberland does not want me using the internet.  While I love Starbucks (REALLY obsessed with it) it's such a HUGE pain to leave the house. I'm finding this to be my NEW home office.  The good thing about being at Starbucks is I have cards all over the table and a catalog open.  Surely someone will notice this pretty stuff and ask about it.  Now with no internet at the house this means I'm actually stamping and being strategic in how I am going to approach this town with my over abundance of stamping supplies.  It also called for another quick melt down on my part followed by another shopping trip.  Man does shopping cure lots of things as does Russ. 

So, last night I pulled out my new stamps and started creating.  I'm in love with these new stamps and accessories.  Stampin' Up! just knows how to make me happy.  Every time I start playing with the new stuff I just want to scream with delight.  One of my favorite stamp sets is Aviary (120462) *Note: The numbers I typically give for the stamp sets are clear!  I love birds in all sizes but these bird cages are just so beautiful and the birdies are little chubby things.  Squeal!

This card has all kinds of fun stuff on it. 

First, the bird cage and birdie was stamped using Craft ink.  I LOVE craft ink.  It gives your image a very different look than Classic Ink.  I love the new Craft Spots.  Now we have the beautiful new colors in the Craft ink.  So fun. I used the Elegant Soiree DSP (117163) for the bottom half of my card.  The base is Marina Mist.  WOW is that a pretty blue.  I used the Sanded background stamp (109294) and then used an image from Friends Never Fade on the right side of the card.  All this was stamped using Marina Mist craft ink.  The "Friends" sentiment came from the Just Believe stamp set (120453).  This is another GREAT set.  Other additions or addictions… Basic Pearls that are self adhesive and a Soft Subtles Designer Buttons.  WOWSER!  I love *LOVE* these buttons. 

This next card has a little vintage but a lot of BRIGHT colors.  Now until recently I would never admit to you that I wasn't a Bold Bright fan.  But since Shelli recently did I feel I can too.  I didn't like them AT ALL.  Now with the color change I LOVE them.  They just seem RIGHT.  This card uses all Bold Brights except for my all time favorite Crumb Cake. 

I wanted a little vintage added to this card so I used the stamp set Notably Ornate (120561).  Beautiful set.  I stamped that directly onto the Crumb Cake base in Melon Mambo Classic ink.  I stamped the bird cage using Melon Mambo Craft ink.  Can you see the difference? I punched a Melon Mambo 2 3/8" Scallop Circle and then cut a Daffodil Delight circle using my Circles #2 Die Cut (114526) for the Big Shot. I use this die cut a lot and even more now with the new Extra Large Scallop Circle.  Fits snug as a bug.  I added a Daffodil Delight button from the Bold Brights Designer Buttons.  You will see I tied the button a little crazy to be different.  <smile>

So these are my late night Saturday creations.  Once I go home today I need to put Lexi's frames and Decor' Elements on her wall while Russ paints our Master Bathroom.  Things are coming together.  Still a lot to do and I'm trying REALLY hard to be as patient as I can.  

You still have today to post your burning questions.  I have LOVED reading them and promise to answer all of them.  It may be a series of Videos but we will get all of them answered.   You have until Midnight MT tonight to get them posted. Just leave a post under any of the last three posts.  Let's PRAY that Mr. Internet man comes on time tomorrow and fixes the BIG problem.  <sigh>

Hope your Sunday is going GREAT!  It's a cloudy day here in Virginia.  Looks like it may rain. 

Big Stampin' Hugs!

We took a break this weekend and decided to go to the Renaissance Festival on Saturday after a long week of packers in our house.  It was a great time for the kids to get away from the mundane moving process that I so dislike.  The Ren Fest is one of my FAV places to go because there is so much creativity that surrounds you.  People are free and use their imaginations!  I truly love this place.  We have gone every year since we've lived here.  I really wanted to dress the part this year but it just wasn't in the cards.  Next year for sure. 

First, the packers…. they were great but took forever.  Imagine that.  Those of you that have been in my home know that we have a ton of stuff.  Friday the packers were here until 9pm.  I was a little miffed to say the least.  We were all WIPED!  My house obviously looks like a chaotic mess.  The stamp room…

Just not a pretty site.  In just a few short weeks it will look back to normal.  I feel pretty confident. 

Now, back to the fun at the fair and then I promise a pretty card that will give you warm fuzzies. 

Besides the Pirates I love the fairy's.  They always look amazing. 

Loved seeing this family of fairy's.  That little one was just PRECIOUS.  My kids received beautiful dragon tears from them.

OF course a little face painting.  I thought this was the best painting Alexis has ever had.  The lady was amazing.

What's a Ren Fair without a little Bad Girl action?  Cathy and I had to get a Henna Tat! I get one every year.  I love them.  I love the artists.  The lady that did mine actually stamps on Domino's.  We had a great conversation and she was a lovely gypsy! 

Time for my own artwork.  It's time to start showing you what I have been working on the last two weeks.  It really was non stop stamping.  I have many things to share over the next two weeks during the move.  All NEW stuff to get you excited with the upcoming catalog.  I think you will likey!

This card uses both Old and New.  I used the new Newsprint Designer Series Paper with the Perfect Punches stamp set.  I love how this card is elegant and fluffy.  The ribbon will carry over into the new catalog.  SO thankful. I did a little sewing with this card.  Then I got really crazy.  I actually took the Itty Bitty Buttons and sewn those onto the ribbon.  They are the little heart buttons.  I love how these are clear and can go with just about any card.  The center Fleurette will also be in the new catalog.  I love these little flowers because you can dye them any color you need.  Great embellishment. 

Well, Monday is loading day.  I am sure they will be here ALL day but it will all be GREAT. 

XOXOXO

Still stampin' away here in my little room.  Doing a little packing and cleaning and then more stamping. 

I pulled out a new stamp set A Little Bit of Magic (118613) from the new Summer Mini and I love it.  There is something about Fairy's that I love.  Every year we go to the Renaissance Festival with the kids.  I think I am more excited than anyone, but I love to see all the Fairy's and how they interact with the kids. They are just awesome.  Here is one of my favorite fairy's—->

Alexis gets all dressed up every year when we go.  I cannot find the picture of course, but here is a picture of our favorite fairy at the festival. 

So, my love of fairy's went into this card.   They are pretty magical!

Of course lots of glitter and shimmer mist is on this card.  I loved watercoloring her. 

Now, here are a few of the workshop cards we did at my Demonstrator Event last weekend.  I have more… don't worry. 

I'm off to do more work.  Lots to do around here lately.  Have a Skippin' good Friday!

I cannot believe it's been almost a month since I posted.  It's been a crazy mess around here.  All crazy in a good way.  I'm alive, busy and happy!  I have LOTS to share with you and this could end up to be a novel.  Sit back and read or go straight to the photos.

In the last 4 weeks I was able to spend extreme quality time with Russ on a beautiful Cruise that will go down as the VERY best ever in my book.  Not just the actual cruise line, ports and excursions but the quality time that I was able to spend with him which has been greatly lacking since December.  The entire 9 days was AWESOME!  

I also had lots of family come and visit us during the cruise, and after.  It's been the Van Diepen Hotel and we enjoyed it.  We had my Mom who watched my kiddo's during the cruise and then we had Russ' family come for my son's 9th birthday which was actually Mother's Day.  Isn't that a sweet Mother's Day gift!  I was tickled to celebrate both together. 

My Mother in Law stayed a week longer so that I could prep for a large demonstrator event here in Colorado Springs called Passport for Success.  This was my last event with my demonstrators and we had such a good time.  It was all weekend long and lots of laughs, tears and stamping occured.  My great friend and Advisory Board member Tara Bazata came down from Denver and spoke about Workshops and she was FABULOUS!!!  We all learned so much from her.  I babbled my stuff and then we stamped for four hours.  We made a fun project using the new Suitcase Chipboard.  Here is a picture of it:

I love these little Briefcases.  You can find them in the Summer Mini Catalog (118766)  and they are just fun to play with and so inexpensive.  Just 4.95!  

We used the new Mostly Vintage stencil (118877) on top of the Briefcase Chipboard and made it into a compass using the Rough Type Alphabet  (120072) for the letters.  Oh my word.  I loved this.    The book was trips around the world going to Hawaii, Asia, Paris, The Caribbean and lastly Washington, D.C.  Each page has lots of stamping and success quotes to keep them inspired and motivated.  I will post pics of the inside later.  All in all the event was amazing.  I know it's never easy to get away from family on a weekend and I respect all those that were able to come.  It meant so much to me. 

I made my friend Tara a card to thank her for coming.  Seriously, she was GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!!!  This card doesn't do the Thank You's enough… but she get's it.  LOL!

Again, I used that awesome stencil.  On the bow you will notice a fun button from the Bitty Button collection (118761).  I used the new Punch Pack as well (118309). 

So, now that the demo event is over and all the family has left me I have been down in my stamp room contemplating how in the WORLD am I going to move all this stuff.  Yes, the Navy moves us.  However, as you know stampers… we collect A LOT of stuff.  I have started packing up a few things and then I have found some gems in my stamp room that I completely forgot about.  This prompted me to stamp away.  I have created 25 cards, 2 scrapbook pages and 2 projects in the last two days.  HOLY COW!  Guess What?  It's felt GREAT!  Yes, I will share all of them with you.  I think I could completely bore you to tears with all of them today, so here is a few sneak peeks of what I have worked on. 

Yes, I know the bird has a slight lift from the seat… but who cares.  He is chubby and cute.  The bike comes from Pedaling Past (120069) and the Birdie comes from Bouquet Bunch (120039).  The Sentiment is from the Rub On's Chit Chat.  You can find them in the Idea Book and Catalog.  Love, Love, Love these.  They are a must have!!!! The button is a Grandma button… It's an old vintage button that just screamed to be put on this card.

Since it's National Scrapbooking month I had to scrapbook.  I used the Just Write Designer Series Paper (115674).  Oh my WORD! This paper pack is the bomb.  Not only paper, but Die Cuts too.  So fun!  Of course a few buttons were added and I used Go Go Boots Sizzlits (113450) at the top of the layout for the title. The XOXOXOX was also the Chit Chat Rub On's. 

I have more to share tonight.  Yes, this may be a double post Wednesday.  I guess I do need to make up for my absence. 

I hope you have had a GREAT few weeks.  Thank you for always stopping by.