S'more Great Birthdays

This great card layout is from Mojo Monday card challenge #80.
I have started to participate in card challenges as it is a good way to steer away from the usual and try something new.
My husband told me yesterday that we forgot his brother Bill's birthday and so I went right to work making a card for Bill. Bill loves the outdoors and loves to camp too. We remember a time when Bill came to visit us and we sat by the campfire and ate hotdogs and s'mores and enjoyed the music Bill provided playing his guitar. This is how this idea came about.
Recipe:
stamps: Under the stars
paper: Baja Breeze, watercolour paper, riding hood red, Sweet Slumber Specialty DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel
Embellishments: Aqua Painter, Bold Brights Brads, So Saffron Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

You Rock!

Hello Stampers!

I was away the entire weekend in Toronto to see "The Sound of Music" with my Mom.

The production was fabulolus, we loved it.

I have been making some cards but I am not sure if I can post them becasue I am entering them in a Stampin' Up! challenge.

In the mean time I will show you a card that was on display at Regionl's that was held in London two weeks ago. I was not a fan of skulls until my friend Heather started stamping using the Just Jawing stamp set. Between Stampin' Up! and Heather I have changed my mind about skulls.

Hope you had a great weekend and found time to stamp.

Enjoy Every Moment

I cannot believe I have not used the new Raspberry Tart DSP from Stampin' Up! until now.
It really is very pretty and some patterns are busy but when you pair it with the right colour of cardstock it really is stunning and makes me happy.
I absolutely love the Wagon Full of Fun stamp set too - it has so many cute images which makes it versatile and versatility gives you more uses which gives you more bang for your buck. Anyway back to the card which is inspired by Taylored Expressions Card Challenge.
Recipe:
Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun, Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Raspberry Tart DP, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink: Black, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette
Embellishments: Pink Pirouette 5/8 striped grosgrain ribbon, dew drops
I think Spring is here as we are enjoying a bright sunny day but a bit on the cool side. Have a great day and be sure to do a little stamping.

You Rock!

I have mention in the past that I volunteer at my children's school every other Monday during the lunch hour.

Today we only had 6 students but generally we have 10 delightful young ladies. I feel blessed to hang out with them and teach them how to stamp.

I prepare the materials and we make 2 projects in the 45 minutes we are together.

The girls really liked the skull from "Just Jawing" and this card idea was taken from Heather. Thanks Heather!

We also made a photo frame using two 4 x 4 chipboard coasters.

Recipe for card:

Stamps: Just Jawing

Paper: Tempting Turquoise or Pink Passion, Basic Black, Halloween DSP

Ink: Black, Pink Passion or Tempting Turquoise

Embellishments: Dazzling Diamonds, 2 Way glue Pen, dimensionals

Introducing "Stamp with Us"

What better way to launch "Stamp With Us" than by giving away blog candy?!

If you have been joining in on the fun with "U Stamp" then you would have met Monica who is a Dream Team Member for the United Kingdon.
Monica, Natalie and Zoe have decided to embark on a new journey, a creative & fun, good for the soul journey. Click here to check out the new blog "Stamp with Us" to see more details.
Leave Monica a note of encouragement and be sure to add their blog on your favourites, you will truy be inspired.
"This blog is for everyone out there who shares our love of papercrafts and all things Stampin' Up!"

Oh Baby!

Oh my goodness! This diaper cake is so cute (even if I do say so myself).

I found an adorable diaper cake made by Susan at suziestampalot and just knew I had to make one. Luckily our youth pastor and his wife (Congratulations Pastor Jay & Sarah) were expecting their first child.

Our church is hosting a baby shgower for Baby Tyson on Thursday and I can't wait to give it to them. It will look so cute as the focal point for the shower (well at least until Baby Tyson arrives anyway).
I know, I know the only Stampin Up! product I used was the Bashfull Blue, Barely Banana and Certainly Celery ink pads but there is a good reason and that is becasue I wanted to use up the generic paper first to make room for new Stampin Up! product (hee hee).

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the fabulous weather we have had the last few days. Thanks for checking in to see what I have been up to.

Stamps at a discount or for free

Stampin' Up! announced a great new way to become a demonstrator...

The 3 Easy Payment Plan !
This is a fabulous idea, since we are all feeling the pinch of the economy and NEED our discount on our stamping supplies!!!
This limited time offer allows you to make a partial initial payment and still receive the Starter Kit right away. Read about the Starter Kit here (including details on how to join)

3 PAYMENT DETAIL:
Payment #1 (charged when you order) -$69.68 (+ sales tax)
Payment #2 (charged April 15) - $69.66
Payment #3 (charged May 15) - $69.66

JOIN BEFORE MARCH 31 AND YOU WILL:
Save 15% OFF the Starter Kit (regular price is $249)
Choose a FREE stamp set of your choice.

SIGN UP IS EASY:
Start by printing the order form and customize your starter kit.
What are you waiting for fill out the 3 Easy Payment form .

Contact ME as paperwork must be received to Stampin' Up! by March 31, 2009.
You cannot join online if you want to take advantage of the payment plan.
It's the perfect time to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! You can simply enjoy the discount for yourself or start a club by stamping with a few friends each month or make it a full time business.
I would love to have you join my team!
If you have any questions please e-mail me.

WOW Workshop by Heather

I had so much fun yesterday at Regionals held in London. You certainly leave the event feeling inspired and motivated to try new experiences.

I said to my husband that if we ever move to Utah it would have to be Salt Lake City so I could work at Stampin' Up! I think it is the best company offering the best product and everyone is so kind.

Anyway back to todays post. I apologize for the over exposed quality of the cards.

As I mentioned yesterday, my upline Heather Summers presented a WOW Workshop. Heather loves the Stmapin' Up! punches and has so much fun creating animals with them. Her "Barnyard Tails" are so cute - especially with the cute little bums and their adorable little tails. You can see Heather's awesome work here.

Be sure to leave her a comment, she would love to hear from you.

Stampin' Up! Regionals London, Ontario

Today was a very full and fun day as I, along with roughly 600 demonstrators attended the Regional Stampin' Up! Seminar held at the London Convention Centre. I wish I had taken a picture of what so many woman who are passionate about stamping in one ballroom looks like; but I can tell you it is energy with enthusiasm at its fullest.

Registration started at 8:00am and doors open at 9:00am. There is quite a buzz in the room with ladies swaping cards, idea boards, stamping presentations, WOW workshops and yes we got to stamp six projects and of coarse there were door prizes.

My fabulous up line Heather Summers presented a WOW workshop (her picture is above) and as always did a super duper fantastic job. Heather is oozing with talent and great ideas and works extremely hard...that is why she is in the top five demonstrators in Canada. I have to admit for me she is like a celebrity and I am so proud to be a part of her "Simply Stars" team.

Do you know what is so rewarding about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? Sure there are stamps and supplies at a disount but you know the relationships I build with other woman who have the same passion for stamping as I do is incredible. I met three young ladies who are from Zuich (Ontario) and wouldn't you know they know my brother and sister in law and the other two ladies (who are sisters) thought I looked familiar as they are from my hometown of Exeter. I also had another lady come up to me to say "Hi" and wouldn't you know it was Brenda, also from the Exeter area who I worked with at Big V Drug Store and went to South Huron HIgh School with. I haven't seen Brenda since I left Exeter so for me it was like a big reunion and it felt so good.

I am tired and should be in bed however the adrenalin is still flowing. I had a great day!

Birthday Tote

I wanted something really special to go along with the gift for my good friend and hair stylist JoAnne. I know it is not the same as getting a cake baked for you but I think this is super cute and fun. I made this with the new "In-Colours" but I used a limited edition designer paper (meaning it is no longer available) just becasue JoAnne is special.

I am not the genius' behind this project, (that would be Heather and Nichole) but I love it. I am so excited to offer this as a Birthday Class that I couldn't wait to show this to you and I don't even have the details such as the "when" and "cost" and which designer paper we will use figured out yet. I will stay with use a colour scheme suitable for male and female alike.

The Birthday Package Class consists of a cake tote which holds the cake mix, sprinkles and cupcake picks to decorate the cake. An icing wrapper and a birthday card.

Another clever idea is that the cake mix and icing container slips right out of the packaging which allows the recipiant to reuse this for someone else. The gift that keeps on giving.

Branching Out Into Spring

On Sunday we lost one hour of sleep as we turned the clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time.
The mornings are not quite as bright as they were and we enjoy more daylight in the evening now. So you may be going to work in the dark (not for long though) but for sure you are coming home at the end of the day and it is still daylight - yeah.
Anyway, with the winter thaw and rain on the weekend, there was a lot of water flowing and this will definitely cleaned things up and make the grass green. This lead me to make the above card as I thought of rain, rubber boots and birds chirping (they are already making a sweet sound) and it won't be long until the trees bud and we will have leaves on the tree. I am definitelyl ready for Spring! The yellow rubber boots brought back memories of me reading the story "Big Sarah's Little Boots" by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clarke - great book!
Anyway back to todays card-
Recipe:
Stamp: Branch Out
Paper: Delicate Dots DP, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Embellishments: So Saffron 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. Eyelet Border Punch
Thanks for droping by today and find time to do some stamping.

Under the Stars with Bella

I am embarassed to say that this is the first time I have used "Under the Stars". The first time I saw this set it was love at first sight and it was not on a wish list...it was on my need it now order.
Todays card came about because my 14 year old son asked me if we could go shopping for a gift for Hilary. I of coarse offered to make a birthday card for him to give to her. I was offering suggestions and his only request was Hilary likes red and he wanted a funny card.
I know the bear is not funny in this card but he sure is cute and of coarse I would use Bella Rose DP becasue of the red and I could softened the look with the pink pirouette and of coarse add chocolate chip to give it the masculine/outdoor feel.
I also paper pieced the balloons and gift and popped them out with dimensinals. To add texture to the card I tied a pink pirouette knot using the 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon and added crystal effects to the balloons.
I was pleased with the card but more important it brought a grin to Justin's face and that was all that mattered...Justin approved.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Hurry!! UStamp 09 Spring "Special Pricing" ends tomorrow!! - UStamp 09 Winter SAB

A Special Treat....

I have to share with you a special package I received in the mail yesterday.

This beautifully stamped envelope came from Mary Jane who is a member of the UStamp Dream Team in France. Mary Jane is very talented; not only does she make her own cards and create beautiful scrapbook pages but she also does calligraphy. Yes, Mary Jane actually did all the calligraphy you see on these two cards and on the postcard.

These cards are a part of her Recipe Calender 2009 and she is working on the Chocolate Calender for 2010...so yummy!

Mary Jane was born and raised in Ontario and later moved to France and is bilingual. Mary Jane's blog is en francais but you can get the idea of her work. Be sure to check out her work and don't forget to leave her a comment.

Thank You Mary Jane for this beautiful piece of you. I will treasure it always.

Swell News...

I am a true Strampin' Up! snob, in a good way. I love Stampin' Up! products and tend to stick with everything they offer because the ink matched the paper which matches the ribbon which matches the eyelets, brads, and markers.
I found myseld in a pickle when I wanted to make a card for a couple at our church who are expecting their first child and I didn't have anything from Stampin' Up! that met my need. You would think with all the stamp sets I have I could find something but I didn't so I reached for the only stamp I had. The only Stampin' Up! product on this card is the cardstock, designer paper, and ink/markers. and the new lace punch.
Hope you are having a great day.

Occassions Mini Catalogue

Stampin' Up! has released the new Occassions Mini Catalogue which begins April 1 to June 30, 2009.
The best news is that Stampin' Up! is offering you the opportunity to order selected stamp sets early starting March 01, 2009. You can see the selected pre-order stamp sets at the link below.
www.stampinup.com/ca/documents/pg11-13_Occasions_09_CA.pdf
Order online at www.stampinup.com or email me privtely to take advantage of this offer.
Make time to do some stamping today.