Love Heart

Happy Monday Friends!

Here is a card to brighten your day!

I only used two colors on today's card - and is white even considered a "color"?

I used Whisper White for my card base and additional top panel and Real Red.

The heart image is Love Heart - which was available, as a single stamp, last month.  

I absolutely love this stamp!  What's not to love?!

I stamped my Love Heart in Real Red on Whisper White 

and punched it out with it's coordinating Full Heart Punch.  

I added this to a Whisper White square with Dimensionals.

This square was then mounted to a square 1/4" larger - again using Dimensionals.

This square was then mounted to a Real Red square - cut 1/4" larger - using snail adhesive.

I wrapped one end of a length of Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (retired) 

around the top whisper white panel prior to attaching the panel to my card base.  

The other end I snipped.  I used snail adhesive to lay the ribbon flat.  

I attached the image panel layers to the front - over the ribbon - with Dimensionals.

In the upper right hand corner, I used glue dots to adhere 3 little blossoms, in real red, 

punched with the  bitty flower in the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  

I attached a self-adhesive Rhinestone jewel to the center of each one.

Quick and easy and bright and beautiful!

Ready to send some Love to a special Valentine!

I hope you have enjoyed today's card!

Supplies:

Cardstock:

Real Red

Whisper White

Ink:

Real Red

Stamp:

Love Heart (sorry, no longer avail.)

substitute the heart image of your choice or an embossed punched heart 

Tools and Misc:

Full Heart Punch IBC #119883 $16.95

Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack IBC # 118309 $16.05

Rhinestone Basic Jewels IBC #119246 $4.95

Stampin' Dimensionals IBC #104430 $3.95

Snail Adhesive IBC # 104332/104331 refills

Current products can be ordered in my online store, using the code numbers I've provided, 

* 24/7 * and will be delivered direct to your door!

Just click the link to your right ;)

If you prefer for me to place your order for you, simply give me a call and I will do that for you!

******************************************************************

And, don't forget...

If you are local and would like to attend my upcoming Technique Tuesday sessions 

or my Be My Valentine Card Class, 

my class schedule is posted on my website.  You can sign up there as well. 

Also...

I am taking reservations for the next wave of Stamp Club - starting February 9th(new date)!  

You do not have to be local to join - long distance members are more than welcome!  

Contact me for full details on my Stamp Clubs!  

Stamp Club is a lot of fun and a great way to earn FREE products from your wish-list!!!

Happy Stamping!

Mary

Mission Organization Update: Designer Paper Swatch Book

Good Afternoon Friends!

I'm a wee bit late with today's blog post.  Sorry about that!

I spent the morning working on my stamp room closet!  I haven't been able to close the door in months!

It is still not as "organized"/"cleaned out" as I would like but, I am excited to announce that:

 I CAN CLOSE THE DOOR!!!!  WhoooHooo!

Hey, this is very exciting stuff here!!!!

Anyway, I had to go out shopping with Hubby this afternoon and we just got back so I'm late.

Today's post is a continuation of my "mission organization" posts.

My latest giant accomplishment, prior to the closet cleaning, was the completion of what we will call my Designer Paper Swatch Book.

I attended a meeting at my Upline's house over the summer and she had a page of swatches, from a Christmas DP pack, that she had gotten in a swap (?) at a convention.  I had taken a picture of it to file away - "just in case".  Well, I could never get this idea out of my head.  It was awesome!  It was just what I needed!  See, I am a "visual learner" and I need to "see" something to figure it out and be able to  replicate it or learn it.  I had tons of Designer Paper packs, that I had been "collecting" for YEARS!  

I knew what I had but I didn't "really" know what I had - do you know what I mean?

Creating this system allowed me to literally touch and feel every single piece of DP in my collection!

I came to fully realize the extent of what I had AND I got to fall in love with it all - all over again!

Now, at a glance, I can flip through 48 packs of Designer Papers - all in one book!

I admit that I have a few packs that I did not/have not put in the book.  

For example, I own the Subtles DP pack but I did not put them in the book.  

I know I have it and I know what is in it so I didn't bother.

Someday it will bother me and I will create pages for it ;)

I also have not done samples of the Core'dinations papers... I probably should... 

and maybe embossed samples and not embossed samples... another day maybe ;)

So, what this book contains is 8-pocket baseball sleeve protectors, one page per Designer Paper Pack.

One pocket contains the "name" of the Designer Paper collection, 

the item #, and the retail price (for current product), and if it is a Spring Catalog item or not.  

Then the second pocket contains a list of every coordinating color found within the designs 

in the Designer Paper - along with a punched out circle of each one of those colors!  

The remaining 6 pockets contain swatches from each of the 6 papers contained in the pack!  

Since each designer paper is two sided, and the baseball sleeves are clear, 

you can see both sides of the papers!  

I am so excited about this!!!!

I now can see, at a glance, all of my papers 

and know what colors coordinate with each one and vice-versa!!!!

I have already used it when I needed a Designer Paper for a card - quickly!

I just flipped through my book and looked for a collection that coordinated 

with the colors I was using at the time and worked with the "feel" I wanted for my card.

It was super easy, super fast, stress-free and I found the perfect paper for my project!

Now, don't get me wrong.  This book did not go together without a lot of work!

It took time to format my document on the computer so that my typing would fit in the space required.  It took a lot of time to look up the coordinating colors in all of the packs of Designer Papers that I had - which meant flipping through a few years of old Idea Book and Catalogs 

(boy was I happy that I save everything!!!). 

 I even had to research a few online because 

I had bought some off of the clearance racks and did not have a back-up reference!  

I am grateful for people selling DP packs on Ebay 

who listed the coordinating colors of DP's they were selling :) 

It also took a lot of time to punch out all of those card stock circles!

However, I will tell you that I LOVE my book!!!!!  

It was worth every hour of work that I put in to it!

I am grateful that I was able to work on a lot of it when I was sick

 and felt too lousy to do anything else.

I am also grateful to my blessed Mother, who was visiting me that week,

 and did not get upset with the amount of time I spent working on this book instead of sitting with her while she sipped her morning coffee and ate her oatmeal :)  

She never said a word when I took my coffee upstairs and puttered 

or brought my paper and cutter downstairs and cut swatches 

while she read her book at the kitchen table in the evenings!  Mom's ROCK!

So, there you have it!  I wish I knew who the original creator of the idea is!

I owe them a high-five!

I hope this inspires you to re-visit all of your own Designer Papers and, 

if you don't have a system in place already, create your own "at a glance" system 

of knowing what you have and what it coordinates with! 

 I know that my paper crafting will be a lot easier now that I have a reference 

to all of my beautiful papers that went abandoned.

Happy Crafting!

Mary

Feeling Sentimental Collection: Ferris Wheel

Here is the final card I made when I sat down to play with my Feeling Sentimental stamp set.

I found this card on Splitcoaststampers and this is my version.  

Her version used Naturals Ivory and Early Espresso.  

My version is in Naturals White and Soft Suede.  

The First Edition Designer Paper she used is a Very Vanilla based paper so I went to my brand new Designer Paper Sample Book ( read more about this in tomorrow's post!!!) 

for some ideas for a substitute.  

I chose the hot air balloon images  sheet from World Spectacular.   

The outside edges of this sheet are already "aged" for us but I sponged some soft suede ink 

on all of the edges of my piece - just to bring in the color to coordinate with my card.    

As with all of my other cards, I sponged Soft Suede ink 

on the edges of my card base, Naturals White layer and image panel.  

My Ticket Cluster is made up of images from the That's the Ticket stamp set (Spring Catalog), 

a snippet of 5/8" Crochet Trim, and the tiny red ticket - that is actually punched out 

from another sheet of designer paper from World Spectacular!  

There is a whole sheet of designer paper in that pack that is just covered in these tiny tickets!  

They fit nicely in the small ticket in the Ticket Duo Builder Punch!  

I wonder if I am the only one to have figured this out... somehow, I doubt it :)  

My cluster is held together with a safety pin from the Vintage Trinkets collection.

I hope you have enjoyed today's card!  I had a fun afternoon creating this collection of cards!

Supplies:

Card stock:

Naturals White IBC #102316 $7.50

Soft Suede IBC #115318 $6.95

World Spectacular Designer Paper IBC #126897 $10.95/12 sheets

Ink:

Soft Suede IBC #126978/Neutrals Collection #126990

Accessories:

Ticket Duo Builder Punch IBC #126883 $15.95

5/8" Crochet Trim IBC #118481 $6.95

Vintage Trinkets IBC #118764 $5.95

Stamp Sets:

That's the Ticket Spring Catalog Clear Mount #128075/Wood Mount #128072

Feeling Sentimental SAB #129630 (C)/129627(W) FREE with $50 order 

All of these products can be ordered in my online store, using the code numbers I've provided, 

* 24/7 * and will be delivered direct to your door!

Just click the link to your right ;)

If you prefer for me to place your order for you, simply give me a call and I will do that for you!

******************************************************************

And, don't forget...

If you are local and would like to attend my upcoming Technique Tuesday sessions 

or my Be My Valentine Card Class, 

my class schedule is posted on my website.  You can sign up there as well. 

Also...

I am taking reservations for the next wave of Stamp Club - starting February 9th(new date)!  

You do not have to be local to join - long distance members are more than welcome!  

Contact me for full details on my Stamp Clubs!  

Stamp Club is a lot of fun and a great way to earn FREE products from your wish-list!!!

Happy Stamping!

Mary

More Feeling Sentimental

Today I am back with two more cards created with the Sale-a-bration stamp sets

 Feeling Sentimental and Vintage Verses.

When I sat down to ink up this set the other day, I made 6 cards.  

There are 3 main images in the Feeling Sentimental stamp set so I made 2 cards with each image.  

These cards feature the Phone Booth image.

I used a card base of Naturals White, a layer of Soft Suede, 

and topped that with another layer of Naturals White.

Each layer was sponged with Soft Suede ink.  

I cut a length of Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon and flagged the end.

I sponged it with Soft Suede ink to distress and age it a little.

On that I stamped the "Celebrate" sentiment from Feeling Sentimental, in Soft Suede ink, twice.

I draped the length of ribbon over the top of the Naturals White top layer 

and used snail to lay it flat on the front of my card.

I stamped the Phone Booth image on a piece of Naturals White card stock, using the Soft Suede ink,

and layered it on a piece of Soft Suede card stock cut 1/4" larger.  

I sponged Soft Suede ink around the edges of this as well.

I attached my image panel to my card front with Dimensionals.

This is where I mixed things up a bit between the two cards.

On my first card, I stamped "there's only one you" from the Vintage Verses stamp set

(again using Soft Suede ink), along the bottom  

and added a Crumb Cake button from the Neutrals Designer Buttons pack 

to the bottom right corner of my image panel.

On my second card, I chose the "just because" sentiment from Vintage Verses for the bottom of my card and added a cluster of 3 pearls to the bottom right corner of my image panel.

And there you have it!  2 Cards so similar yet so different!

Hope you have enjoyed today's projects.

Supplies:

Card stock:

Naturals White IBC #102316 $7.50

Soft Suede IBC #115318 $6.95

Ink:

Soft Suede IBC #126978/Neutrals Collection #126990

Accessories:

Pearl Basic Jewels IBC #119247 $4.95

Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon Spring Catalog #127819 $7.95

Stamp Sets:

Feeling Sentimental SAB #129630 (C)/129627(W) FREE with $50 order 

Vintage Verses SAB #129636(C)/129633(W) FREE with $50 order

(place an order of $100+ (before s/h & tax) and be eligible to receive 

BOTH of these stamp sets for FREE.  Contact me to find out how!)

All of these products can be ordered in my online store, using the code numbers I've provided, 

* 24/7 * and will be delivered direct to your door!

Just click the link to your right ;)

If you prefer for me to place your order for you, simply give me a call and I will do that for you!

******************************************************************

And, don't forget...

If you are local and would like to attend my upcoming Technique Tuesday sessions 

or my Be My Valentine Card Class, 

my class schedule is posted on my website.  You can sign up there as well. 

Also...

I am taking reservations for the next wave of Stamp Club - starting February 6th!  

You do not have to be local to join - long distance members are more than welcome!  

Contact me for full details on my Stamp Clubs!  

Stamp Club is a lot of fun and a great way to earn FREE products from your wish-list!!!

Happy Stamping!

Mary

Best of 25 Years Stamps

Introducing the Best of Birthday's Clear Mount Stamp Set

This super cute new set can be ordered in my Online Store 

or by placing an order with me in person or by phone.  

Click on the flyer below to get the complete details on the Best of 25 Years Collectors Card!  

Earn a FREE stamp set just for purchasing exclusive Best of 25 Years sets!
Simply download and print your personal Collector's Card
then start ordering your Best of 25 Years exclusive stamp sets, from me of course,
so you can start collecting your stickers!

What a fabulous offer!!!!

Best Of Birthdays Clear-Mount Stamp Set #132929 Price: $14.95 Happy 25th anniversary to us! Each month during 2013, we’ll smash up some of our all-time-faves with a new never-before-seen stamp to create twelve “Best of” stamp sets. We’re kicking things off with the Best of Birthdays Stamp Set. Party on!

Just Because We're Feeling Sentimental

Earlier today, in this post, 

I gave you a preview of this card during my Sale-a-bration announcement.

I'm back now to show you there are actually two versions of this card.  

I used the Sale-a-bration Exclusive stamp sets 

Feeling Sentimental and Vintage Verses

 on both of these cards.

I love the old-fashion look of the images in both of these stamp sets!

They compliment each other so well - they are quickly becoming my top picks 

from the Sale-a-bration brochure! 

This top version was the one I made first.  After the card was "complete", or so I thought,

I felt the top left side looked bare.  I pulled out my pearls and added three to left edge 

of my image panel.  I think it filled the empty space nicely.  What do you think?

As I was making two copies of the card, I decided to switch things up a bit on the second one.

I tied my knot and decided to stamp my sentiment in the upper left side instead of the bottom left.

I like them both but, now the second one seems bare without those additional pearls.

And there you have it, two versions of the same card.  

The only difference between them is 3 simple pearls.

Which one do you prefer???

I hope you have enjoyed my glimpse into these two fantastic stamp sets 

from our Sale-a-bration brochure!

These stamp sets can be yours - FREE - when you shop with me!

Shop my online store - 24/7 - with delivery direct to your door or,

give me a call and I will place your order for you!

With every $50 you spend (before s/h & tax) you will be able to choose

 one Sale-a-bration item - absolutely FREE!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stamping!

Mary

Supplies:

Card stock:

Naturals White IBC #102316 $7.50

Soft Suede IBC #115318 $6.95

Ink:

Soft Suede IBC #126978/Neutrals Collection #126990

Accessories:

Pearl Basic Jewels IBC #119247 $4.95

Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon Spring Catalog #127819 $7.95

Stamp Sets:

Feeling Sentimental SAB #129630 (C)/129627(W) FREE with $50 order 

Vintage Verses SAB #129636(C)/129633(W) FREE with $50 order

(place an order of $100+ (before s/h & tax) and be eligible to receive 

BOTH of these stamp sets for FREE.  Contact me to find out how!)

Sale-a-bration is finally here!!!

Welcome to Sale-a-bration!!!

It's the most wonderful time to be a Stampin' Up Customer 

or

To Join my Stampin' In the Sand Team!

How will YOU Sale-a-brate????

Love to shop? How about shopping and getting rewarded? 
Welcome to Sale-A-Bration!

You may choose any one product from the Sale-A-Bration brochure, 
for FREE,
for every $50* you spend!  In addition, you will earn one Sand Dollar, my personal rewards program, for every $50 you spend*. 

This year's Sale-a-bration offering includes exclusive stamp sets and accessories, as well as a selection of catalog stamp sets, digital content CDs, ribbon, buttons, and even a NEW embossing folder! 
Now, more than ever, there's something for everyone! 
View the Sale-A-Bration brochure here. 
See available My Digital Studio products here.
*Excluding tax and shipping

Sale-A-Bration +  Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary = the best time to host a Stampin' Up! party!

• Get FREE Silver Glimmer Paper when you host a $150 workshop!*  
• Get a FREE hostess bundle when you host a $400 workshop!* 

Hostess Bundle Details:
The Hostess Bundle includes

• Madison Avenue stamp set (wood- or clear-mount)
• Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper
• Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack

*Offers are not incremental (i.e., a hostess does not receive two packages of Glimmer Paper for a $300 workshop or two bundles for an $800 workshop). Offer is valid on all order types, including orders from my Online Store. When placing qualifying orders in my Online Store, you will be prompted to select your qualifying bundle selection with a $400 order. You will be required to use one of the following item numbers for your free bundle:

• Wood-Mount Hostess Bundle: 133316
• Clear-Mount Hostess Bundle: 133317
• Free Glimmer Paper: 133318

Sale-A-Bration + Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary = 25% more Starter Kit products for FREE!

Sale-a-bration is the my most anticipated time of year!  

I have looked forward to it every year as a customer and the excitement is so much greater now that I am a Demonstrator!  Why?  Because now I get to share my excitement with you, my customers and friends!  There is no greater feeling than being able to share the opportunity for FREE products with you!  FREE Fabulous products - some of which are exclusive to Sale-a-bration (meaning you will never see them offered again and you can't buy them either) - all for buying supplies and stamp sets that you would have bought anyway!  

How awesome is that?

I always saved up for Sale-a-bration... stashing away extra cash and coin - in anticipation of placing a larger order and earning myself extra goodies!  I know, sounds a little crazy, but I did it!  It was so much fun!  I still giggle thinking about it!  But, there was nothing like the feeling I got when the order would arrive and seeing all of those wonderful goodies in the brown Stampin' Up box - and gathering up all of my FREE products that were not available any other way than earning them during Sale-a-bration!  Gives you chills :)

  

If you would like your own FREE Sale-a-bration goodies, it's easy!

Just shop my online store and place an order of $50 or of $50 increments!  

You will be prompted to enter the item numbers 

of your Sale-a-bration products at the end.  

Your order, and free products, will be delivered direct to your door - 

or to the address you provide!

or

You can call your order in to me 

and I will have it delivered wherever you would like! 

If you would like your own personal copy of our Sale-a-bration brochure, 

Spring Catalog or Annual Idea Book and Catalog (and DO NOT have a relationship with another Stampin' Up Demonstrator) let me know and I will be happy to provide one to you!  I would love to be your Demonstrator!

Here is a card I made using TWO of the FREE stamp sets 

you can earn during Sale-a-bration!

 

Introducing: Feeling Sentimental and Vintage Verses

Wouldn't they make excellent additions to your collection?

Happy Shopping and I look forward to stamping with you :)

Mary 

New Classes: Technique Tuesdays! Begins January 29th

Welcome to my Technique Tuesday Class Series!

We will focus on two Techniques during each class.

We will create 3-4 projects using these Techniques.

Your Basics Kit is necessary for this class - 

contact me for a complete list of what your Basics Kit should contain. 

All kit contents are available in my online store.  

You can order them to be shipped directly to your door or, call me with your order 

 I will have the items delivered to me and have them ready for you when you come to class!

Any Basics Kit products you order for our classes will count toward earning your class for FREE!

Each Class session is $15 or FREE with a $50 order! 

Classes held between January 22nd and March 22nd will take place during Sale-a-bration! 

During this time period, we will be using some of the products available 

exclusively during Sale-a-bration - which you can earn for FREE with a $50 order.

Space is limited to 6 attendees so book your space now !

You can book now for any/all of my Technique Tuesday classes!

Just visit my events calendar and reserve your class!

Our first class will be "Sponging and Brayering" with a little bit of "Masking" thrown in ;)

Hope you can join us!

Mary

Conversation Hearts

(Note: I've updated my original photo.  The original was so dull!)

Today I had a "Play Date" at my Sister-in-Law's house.  We haven't stamped together in more months than we care to admit.  Our friend Debbie was there too - the three of us stamped together a lot the last few winters and it felt so good to be "playing" with them again!

I actually got quite a few cards made and I will be posting them here over the next few days.  

I just need to work on getting some good pictures of them!

My SIL and I had the same idea for a Valentine's card... 

Conversation Hearts spilling from the cannery jar from Perfectly Preserved!  

And, it just might fit in for the Paper Players Clean and Simple Challenge #129 that you can see here.

The Candy Conversation stamp is currently available in my online store in the Clearance Rack!!!!! 

The row of Candy Hearts is a "must have" for Valentines!  It just screams Necco Candies!  

Those conversation hearts are my FAVORITE Valentine's candy!!! 

And, what can be better than a stamp with a coordinating punch???  

Each little heart can be perfectly punched out with the Small Heart Punch!  

At just over $5 for the stamp and $5.95 for the punch, you can't go wrong!  

But, hurry, this stamp is NOT going to last long with Valentine's Day just around the corner!!!

Just jump over to my online store and get yours before they are all gone!!!

I can almost taste the conversation hearts now... yum!  

Thanks for stopping by today!

Mary

Details:

Stamps: 

Candy Conversations (Clearance Rack Item), 

Perfectly Preserved, 

Delightful Dozen

Cardstock:

Melon Mambo,

Whisper White

Ink: 

Basic Gray, Melon Mambo,Assorted Brights and Subtles

Ribbon: 

Whisper White Organza

Other:

Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder,

Small Heart Punch

Stampamajig