Let me show you the Supah Spooky Card!

As you can see, LOTS of products. Some new, some old.  All together… they make a fun Halloween card.  Below is a list of supplies!

Stamps: From the Crypt (115460), Style Beautiful (120483), Seasonal Sentiments (121130)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Basic Black Striped Grosgrain ribbon (ribbon cut in half), Nite Owl DSP (123012), Cutter Kit (SERIOUSLY, favorite tool!), Distressing Essentials (118762), Rhinestones, Vintage Trinkets

Now, I have to just add one thing.  You NEED the Distressing Essentials.  Super great tool for your stamping needs.  It's like Sugar in your kitchen.  It's a staple product, right? Well, this Distressing Essentials is just that too.  Staple in your stamp room.  Gotta have it!  Add it to your order this month using my Online Shopping button and I will send you a card made using this GREAT tool!

Our vacations continues but only for a few short days.  <sigh>  I think we've packed in more fun this last week than ever.  I know my kids are starting to get wrinkles at a young age from too much smiling. Or, could it be prolonged time in a pool? Either way it's been great watching two very happy chicks play! Today was supah amazing.  We went on my parents boat and fished.  I personally did not touch a pole.  I was there for shooting the pics.  Little did I know Brandon wasn't keen on fishing either.  Let me set the story straight.  This child has a heart for animals.  We caught little minnows early this morning to have bait for fishing.  Once Brandon caught those minnows it was all downhill. They were now his FRIENDS and there was no way we were using them for bait.  Everyone had to be very strategic when baiting their hook.  Anyways, the kids both caught fish.  We threw them back in the ocean and Brandon said a prayer tonight that the fish were okay.  <sigh>  It was an awesome day with AWESOME memories!

Here are TWO happy Kids!

And you know how much I love chubby birds? This one below is one of my favorite photos!

I hope you have great plans for the weekend.  We have one more great day to spend here and then we are back to reality.  I'm hoping our new friend "Hurricane Earl" doesn't decide to stay too close to the coast.  It could make getting home a little nuts. 

Tonight I want to share a simple Halloween card with you. It's made with just a few layers. 

I really wanted to make the bat layers with Basic Black cardstock but you couldn't see it.  SO I decided to keep with the Basic Gray bat.  I love that Bat Punch! 

Here is a list of supplies I used on this card:

Stamps: Wicked Cool (118738)

  Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Basic Gray

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Wicked Fun DSP, Bat punch, Neutrals Buttons, Linen Thread, Rhinestone Gems,Corner Rounder

Hope your Thursday is FABULOUS! I'm going fishing.  This could be another GREAT adventure.  I'm not keen on putting a worm on a fishing pole.  Wish me luck!!

I decided to put together a simple layout using My Digital Studio showing a few pics of our day.  I don't use My Digital Studio as often as I should.  The program is quite easy.  Honestly, if I can use it… anyone can.  Stampin' Up! has added lots of new digital downloads recently!  If you are interested in these, please email me.  I can send you a document of the recent downloads. 

Here is my simple layout:

The layout makes me happy because it sums up the entire day.  I think Brandon will wear the face mask home with him.  He hasn't had it off his face for longer than a couple of hours since he got off the plane.  It's so funny! I have lots more pics to share but my Mother threatened she would not feed me the rest of my vacation if I posted a shot of her in her bikini.  <sigh>  A girl does have to eat!

Moving onto crafty things…

September 1st is a BIG day!  The Holiday Mini is going LIVE and it's one of the best in my book with so many beautiful products.  My card tonight has a few products I think you will enjoy!!!

The Designer Series paper is called Candy Cane Christmas.  It's such a fun designer paper with such a great color combination.  You have Garden Green, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride and Real Red.  Awesome.  I used the stamp set called Merry Crittermas.  It's loaded with all kinds of cute animals.  I used my Blender Pen and ink pads to color the little guy in on Whisper White paper.  He was punched out using the Extra Large 2 1/2" Circle Punch.  Now that is ONE big CIRCLE punch! Woot! I also used the new Glitter Brads on it.  These are so fun.  Lastly, I used the Glass Glitter in Silver on his hat.  So fun. 

I hope you are enjoying your week.  We're not sure what our plan for tomorrow is but I know it will be fun.  Just being with my family is so worth it. 

XOXOXO

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!!

Last night I made something special for my mom.  Check it out…

The big question on my mind- "How will I get this on the plane without a wrinkle.  I'm flying with two kids, a dog, the prince and now the box.  Oh jeez.  This sounds like a blog post all by itself. 

Back to the box- The box was made from the Box #2 Die Cut.  This has always been one of my favorite box Sizzix Die Cuts because I can cut the top off and make the box all my own.  Very versatile box.  There are a few Holiday Mini products on the box too.  You can see the supplies I used below.  All products of course Stampin' Up! They are so fantabulous!

Stamps: Messages from Mom, Artistic Etchings, Style Beautiful

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: Rhinestone Gems, Box #2 SIzzix Die Cut, Big Shot, Large Label punch, Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon, Neutral Buttons, Cutter Tool Kit, Linen Thread. 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Spritzer Tool, Self adhesive Pearls, Vintage Trinkets

*The Big Scallop around the edge of the box is a new die cut coming out in the Holiday Mini. WOW!!!

I'll keep you posted on the family affairs and hopefully show you my favorite White Sandy Beaches. It's never a dull moment when we travel either.   Stay tuned. 

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!

Instead of doing the same ole treat I switched it up and created a little treat for Halloween.  My poor kids are so confused with the holidays right now.  Alexis does NOT understand why I am creating for Halloween so soon.  Brandon thinks Christmas is next month!  So funny!

Okay, here it is…

Ready to create? Watch my video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CjCQsmY1PI

Materials List:

Stamps: Wicked Fun

Ink: Basic Black

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory, DSP Wicked Fun Specialty #117400

Accessories: Decorative Label punch (Holiday Mini), Glimmer Brads (SO fun, coming in the Holiday Mini), Markers: Tangerine Tango, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Vintage Trinkets, 1 1/4 Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Border Scallop punch, Chocolates at Costco…

In other news, I am trying to get my kids ready for school.  You know the drill- haircuts, school clothes and school supplies.  Tonight as I put my boy to bed we had a deep chat.  More like another life lesson.  I have to admit that I love bedtime because it seems to be the time my kids really open up and chat.  Probably because they don't want to go to bed! Tonight's conversation was so sweet.  It was all about making new friends.  He's nervous and misses his friends in Colorado.  I wiped away little tears tonight and shed my big tears later.  Again, this will all be water under the bridge soon.  Friends will be made and we will laugh about all this soon. With our other moves the kids were smaller and meeting new friends was all relative.  Now that they're a little older this is a HUGE issue.  I'm excited for the school year to start so they can meet new buddies.  I think the first day of school will be memories like their first day of Kindergarten.  Bittersweet.  I'll be nervous for them myself. 

Enjoy the video and we'll meet up again in a few days-possibly tomorrow if I can get myself together. 

Tonight will be a quick post and something new.  My goal was to keep showing Summer Mini Products.  I can't lie…. I just needed to touch that new stuff.  It's so pretty and was calling for me to play with it. 

Can you scream for FABRIC???  I'm beyond excited that Stampin' Up! is offering a few pieces of fabric and I think you will too when you see just what you can do with it.  Don't think of of the traditional sewing machine.  If you are like me and have a sewing machine but only know a few stitches, well the fabric is still for you. It will be available on Sept 1st and it's going to be an adventure as I show you non traditional ways to use it.  Yippie.  Now, notice that cute little bag? It's also available on Sept 1st.  Wanna know the coolest thing?  It's already scalloped.  If you are a busy mom looking for FAST, FUN and SUPER cute goodie bags… Look no further.  Stampin' Up! is here to take care of you.  For me, time is precious and this saved me time just making this fast little bag. 

As I was playing with the Fabric, Alexis asked me to teach her to sew.  I had a feeling of, "oh no!" Where is my mom when I need her?  I really do not know how to sew.  Maybe a basic stitch or two but that is it.  In fact I have to get the instruction book out every time I need to thread the machine.  Seriously pathetic!  I couldn't let my little girl down and I couldn't embarrass myself so I sat with Alexis and taught her pretty much what I know about sewing.  She had a blast and it was GREAT bonding time for the two of us.  Tomorrow we are learning the ZIG ZAG stitch.  Don't laugh… this is HUGE for both of us. 

Here is my girl:

Isn't that sweet? Okay, so much for short…. the video is still not ready. I'm off to bed.  A video will be posted soon.  Hope your week is everything and FABULOUS!

Here we are playing with stamps…

It felt GREAT to teach again.  Ahhhh…. This is what I LOVE!

Let me show you what we made last night. 

I first demonstrated how great the Big Shot is.  Who doesn't love the BIG SHOT? Seriously, it's the BEST. I wanted to show how the Two Tags Die Cut is fabulous and versatile.  Remember the last card I showed to you?  Remember I said I created that card with something in mind? I wanted to show many ways to use this die cut.  I showed the card, Birthday/Christmas Tags and then this little cutie:

I will share how to make the project above tomorrow.  It's fast and easy and great for party favors. 

Then my workshop guests made these two projects:

I love the bright colors of this scrapbook page.  The inspiration for the colors came from my Color Coach that Stampin' Up! has.  This is such a GREAT tool that everyone should purchase. If you struggle with color combinations, Get the "COACH!" -120148

Lastly, we made a Christmas Card.  It's that time to get busy on your Christmas cards.  There are tons of great stamp sets to choose from and this one is a fun, simple set to use.  It's called Welcome Christmas- 120597

It was a fantastic night and I can't wait until the next workshop…. Yes, we will be meeting again.  WHOO HOO!!!!

The rest of my weekend has been filled with enjoying my family and more organizing.  Today I took Russ to IKEA.  He was in a state of confusion because he didn't "get" the store set up.  He probably couldn't concentrate either because I was singing the entire time we were in the store.  What can I say?  The store just makes me happy! I did get a few goodies for my stamp room.  I'll share soon.  LOL!

Enjoy your week. 

I loved using this die cut as a piece to stamp my sentiment.  Here is the card a bit closer…

I used my Scallop Border Punch and added a double scalloped piece to this card.  Kinda fun and different.  Here is a side view.  I mean really, can we have too many views on a card?  My camera was being nice to me so I might as well blog about it. I do love this Favorite Thoughts stamp set from the Summer Mini.  Love the sentiments. 

Here are the supplies used for this card:

Stamps: Favorite Thoughts (120048), Cute by the Inch (Level 1 Hostess Set), Belle Wheel (121430)

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy and Vanilla

Accessories: Blueberry Crisp DSP (117392), Neutral Buttons (119743), Spritzer Tool (107066), Linen Thread (104199), Vanilla Taffeta (109071), Two Tags Sizzix Die Cut (115954), Scallop Border Punch

Okay, before I leave I want to clarify a few things from my video yesterday.  I've received a few questions about a couple things and I can't seem to keep up with all my email. <VERY SAD FACE!>  Well, I could answer you but my kids would be running around naked because of a back log of laundry.  YIKES! 

Here goes… The Scrapbooking Canvas on my wall, you can find a tutorial on Splitcoast.  You can also search on my blog for other close up views of different canvas that I've done. 

For those of you that are new to either Stampin' Up! or rubber stamping, please realize this stamp room is about 7 years in the making.  <smile>  7 years ago when I started my business and started stamping I worked in a very small room with ONE 6 ft table and made some U-G-L-Y cards in the beginning.  I can almost bet the recipients of my FIRST swap laughed and felt sorry for me. My point is that regardless of your space, if you keep it organized it can be your own little paradise.  I've collected a lot of great stampin' tools over the years and when they are out in the open and not in a drawer I use them.  The same with my embellishments… they are out to see and USE. 

Thank you so much for taking the tour and I will keep you posted on new changes that I make to it.  Believe it or not, I've already rearranged a shelf.  <sigh> 

I hope your weekend is spectacular.  I've got TONS of stamping to do.  I plan to turn my tunes up loudly, dance in my stamp room and STAMP, STAMP, STAMP!