With Heartfelt Sympathy

Todays post comes with a heavy heart. I made this card for first time parents and friends John & Danielle, who are grieving the loss of their precious baby boy Nathanial.

Nathanial was born prematurly on May 27th with congenital heart disease and some other complications. Nathanial and his Mommy and Daddy spent most of his life in the NICU in Toronto Sick Kids Hospital. Nathanial caught a virus and was put on a respirator on July 6th and taken off of life support on July 18th and was able to go home for the first time. Nathanial (along with Mommy & Daddy) had a lot of "firsts" like a buggy ride, a walk to the park, meet his puppy, sleep in his own bed, attend church and be close to his entire family.

Nathanial lived 5 weeks and 4 days off of life support and went home to be with Jesus on August 26, 2009.

I am convinced God had a plan for Nathanial and that Nathanial has completed His work. Nathanial has touched so many hearts and we saw God's hand at work.

Nathanial recieved the best care from doctors and nurses in the NICU and was given so many nick names; he was a fighter for sure. Nathanial left the doctors puzzled and amazed that such a tiny little body could endure so much pain.

Today at the funeral service, a celebration of his life, Danielle expressed that her little man had taught her more in such a short time than she could have learned in a life time.

Nathanial, you have blessed so many.

Love and Prays for you John & Danielle.

There's Still Time!

What are the benefits of being a demonstrator?

Demonstrators enjoy many benefits, including Product discount.

Demonstrators get a 20% discount on all Stampin' Up! products, including stamp sets, paper, and accessories. It's a great way to support your love of stamping and paper crafting.

Extra income.

You'll earn extra income based on your sales and recruiting--how much extra income is up to you. Maybe you just want enough income to pay the electric bill every month, or maybe your goal is bigger--the monthly payment for your new car--it's up to you!

Flexible schedule. This is your business, so you can put as much (or as little) time into it as you'd like!

Support from Stampin' Up!

We love our demonstrators and it shows through our demonstrator support materials, including a monthly magazine, workshop ideas, and audio and video trainings on all kinds of topics on our Demonstrator Web Site.

The Mini Starter Kit Special runs through August 31st. For only $105, you will receive the following:

For All You Do stamp set

All six In-Color Classic Stampin’ Pads (Bahama Bay, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede)

Whisper White Card Stock (8-1/2” x 11”)

In-Color Assorted Card Stock (8-1/2” x 11”)

Business Tools including (8) 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalogs, 8 Holiday Mini catalogs, 50 Customer forms, Getting Started DVD and more!

And if this is not enough, the Standard Starter Kit is available for $269

You decide if you wish to be a hobby demonstrator or make it a business to suit your needs.

Contact me at dale.livingston@sympatico.ca if you would like more information on becoming a demonstrator.

Sunny Day Class

My scrapbook is made using Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit and hold three 4X6 photos two 3X4 and several smaller photos or you could add embellishments and journaling. I am offering this as a class on September 28th at 7:00pm. The cost is $34 which is the cost of the Simply Scrappin' Kit and the class is free. You will have loads of product left over so you can go home

and make another scrapbook, create scrapbook pages or make some cards.

Artisan Award Entry by Jodie

As I mentioned yesterday, Martha & Jodie both participated in the Artisan Award this past year and althought either of them won they were in the top running and were showcased at Convention 2009. I sure wished I would have been there to cheer them on when their names were on the screen for all to see. The adrenalin and exicement must have been over flowing on Awards Night at Convention with Jodie & Martha and as well Heather (our fabulous upline) for their hard work and recognition.
Anyway, back to the photo...this is one of the scrapbook pages submitted by Jodie for the award. I love the colour scheme and the layout of this page.
Well done Jodie.

Cards for a Cure- GI Cancer Research Fundraiser

Cards for Cure - 4th Annual Fundraiser for GI Cancer Research

I hope you can join me along with the team of "Simply Stars" for a morning or afternoon of stamping, fun and friendship. No experience necessary!

If you would like to attend this fun event contact me at dale.livingston@sympatico.ca

When: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Time: 9:30am to 12 noon sitting OR 1:00pm to 3:30pm sitting

Where: Kings’ University College (map will follow)

Cost: $40 which includes the stamp set Four Holidays (page 19 of the Holiday Mini), 10 stamped projects (6 cards – 2 of each design, 2 tags and 2 packages) and $10 of this is donated to GI Cancer Research if paid by October 1st. ($45 after October 1st)

PLUS, there will be some snacks and refreshments and there will be 100 door prizes!!!!!

We will also have a HUGE variety of raffle items. Some of these items may be stamping related but many of them are not and would make fabulous Christmas gifts. We will also have a 50/50 draw in both sessions, with 50% of the proceeds going to GI Cancer research and the other percentage to the winner for a stamp order!

If you are not able to attend this event, kits are available and will include full instructions!

Tickets are limited so please ask your friends, mark it on your calendar and come join us for a fun day of stamping!

Martha oozes with talent

The title doesn't sound very good does it!?
I may have told you in the past that I am a proud member of the "Simply Stars" team under the umbrella of the sweet, generous and extremely talented Heather Summers.

Heather had eight of her team members attend Convention 2009 this year and no I was not one of them but Martha was.

There are many perks for being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator (which I would be happy to talk to you about if your interested) and one is the opportunity to compete in many art comptitions.

Every month is the Stampin' Success magazine (for demos only) with different contest categories.

A big contest is the Artisan Award which contains 3 cards, 2 scrapbook pages, and two 3-D items.

Martha & Jodie both participated in this contest.

The above card is one item Martha submitted for the Artisan Award. You can read up on her experience and details from her blog at: http://web.mac.com/aninchofcreativity/An_Inch_of_Creativity/Blog/Entries/2009/8/14_One_Board%2C_Two_Cards!.html

These ladies work tirelessly on their projects and I can not believe they did not win. Also, the projects become the property of Stampin' Up! to showcase.

Congratulations Martha and Jodie for participating and being recognized at Convention 2009.

Big Shot Hero

Linda & Matt Heller from www.stampingschool.com made this video demonstrating the Big Shot and I think it is fabulous.
Click the link below to watch and be sure to turn on your volume.

http://v.wordpress.com/7KVj6UIB

Charming

The Holiday Mini starts September 1, 2009 and it is jam packed with new products; it's fabulous.
Stampin' Up is introducing "Simply Adorned" an exclusive line of charmes and chains.
Although any image can be used to embellish the charm, the "Charming" stamp set is the ideal size to make the elegant jewellery.
The card is the make and take from our downline meeting last night using a few images from the Charming stamp set. Thanks Jodie.
I can't wait to accessorize my next outfit with this beautiful piece of jewellery.
This will be perfect for Christmas gifts, bridesmaid gifts, birthdays and every special person on your gift giving list.
Recipe:
Stamps: Charming
Paper: Soft Suede, Kraft
Ink: Soft Suede, Versa Mark
Embellishments: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Clips Assortment, Linen Thread, distressing tool, sponging, Paper Piercing Mat Pack

Couldn't Resist...

Everyone knows how talented Kimberly Van Diepen is and I could not resit casing her card here.

This is not my usual style but I love it and think it is so pretty. This is a card I think could be framed (shadowbox style).

Anyways, I didn't have the stamps Kimberly used but I made due with what I have.

Recipe:

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, French Script, Baroque Motifs

Paper: Whisper White, Confetti White

Ink: Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Close to Cocoa

Embellishments: Organza Ribbon, Pretties Kit, dimensionals, dazzling diamonds, SU Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate

Hope you like it. Hope you are having a great weekend.

Stamp, Ink, Paper

Every morning I have coffee with my blogging friends, people who *inspire, *create and *share, their projects for everyone to see. There are certainly a lot of talented people out there.
I remember when I fell in love with Stampin' Up! I was attending my first workshop and we made a simple card with a layer or two using cardstock, ink, stamps and I was hooked. Since that day I have made cards that are more complex, more embellishments, more layers, and more embellishments. It just seems natural to incorporate new techniques, ribbon, brads, buttons and the list goes on. Now don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with this, I love it.
Every once in a while I like to make a simple card, something that takes less time to whip up.
So by using only stamps, ink and paper this is what I came up with. You know, sometimes it is hard to resisit using the gorgeous ribbons, fabulous buttons, and brads Stampin' Up! offers:)
Recipe:
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry
I hope you like todays card. Remember, in order to get away and stamp each day, keep it simple.

If you would like to invite a few friends into your home to stamp and receive free product please contact me at dale.livingston@sympatico.ca . I would love to come and demonstrate how to make a simple card like this or even a step up with a few embellishments.

Birthday Wishes

I take no credit for the design of this card; I CASED it from Jen at iheart2stamp. Jen's card popped out at me with the bright colours and her use of the punches and the placement of her sentiment as well as the paper and how she tied...actually everything about this card is so bright and cheerful. I love it!!
Recipe:
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes, WOW Flowers
Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Old Olive, Perfect Plumb, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black
Embellishments: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Olive Dew Drops (not SU!), CUrly Label Punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches, dimensionals
I stamped two of the balloons on the Cottage Wall DSP and pieced them onto the Whisper White cardstock for added appeal.

Love my Paper Storage Unit Tower

I do not have a stamp/craft room and I do not expect to have one anytime soon however I am taking over the family room slowly.

I am so excited I have to show you what my dear husband built for me. I love it!

It houses 40 colours of paper and fits 12 x12 paper. Now if you are doing your math, everyone knows Stampin' Up! has 48 classic colours 6 In Colours and 6 Neutral Colours and then there is DSP and also 12 Naturals so I am short at least 32 shelves plus all the DSP I have :)

I did inform my husband that I need at least 48 shelves before he started. After this was finished he said he was not making another one (It was very time consuming cutting each groove into the boards to fit the shelves) :(

So now I have my paper in the storage tower but the colours are doubled up and I still have a stack of DSP that does not have a home yet. Lance knows how organized I am and that this would bother me immensely so ...because he loves me, he is going to build me another one. Actually while he is at it, he might as well make me two more. This will give me 120 shelves and each colour will have it's own shelf :)

I think over all it will save me money because #1 I won't order paper I don't need and #2 I will use up the DSP before it retires becasue I can see it and it is at my finger tips.

Thanks Lance.

Kreativ Blogger Award

I am so excitedbecause today I received a Kreativ Blogger Award today. Thank You Laurie for nominating me, you are so sweet and I appreciate it so much. You can check out Laurie's fabulous blog at www.stampingupnorthwithlaurie.blogspot.com

It's so fun to get awards..thanks!

Here are the instructions in order to accept these awards:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name seven things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate seven Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
7. Leave comments on all seven blogs letting them know you nominated them.

Here are seven things that you may find interesting.

1. I did not get married until I was 31
2. I am by trade a Pharmacy Technician
3. I love being home with my children
4. I admire the recipe pages Laurie makes
5. I am not a big T.V. watcher
6. I have a lot of hobbies...
7. and cannot find time to do them all

Here are some great blogs! My nominations are:

1. http://monicas-passions.blogspot.com/
2. http://www.stampinchic.com/
3. http://web.mac.com/aninchofcreativity/An_Inch_of_Creativity/Blog/Blog.html
4. http://stampwithjodie.typepad.com/my_weblog/
5. http://belinda-stampinmama.blogspot.com/
6. http://paulamballard.blogspot.com/

Planning Ahead

I know you are probably thinking we are still waiting for Summer to arrive before thinking about Winter and I agree. Our Simply Stars Team is doing a Christmas/Winter card swap and I am playing around with different colour combinations, layouts and stamp sets. I discovered that the Boho Punch fits the snowflake stam in the Christmas Punch stamp set so I Stamped and punched some snowflakes and placed them inside the envelope before tieing the bow.
I am not sure if this is the card for the swap but I thought I would post it anyways to get you thinking ahead as well. You know, when I make sixteen cards, I get sixteen different ones back and so that will be a great start for my Christmas card list.
Recipe:
Stamps: Christmas Punch (Level 2 Hostess)
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Silver, Dusty Durnago Stampin' Write Marker
Embellishments: Silver Brads, 1/2" circle punch, Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Bitty Box and Envelope Die
I am so excited to see the ladies from our team who went to Convention and hear all about it. Our Simply Stars Team Leader/Upline Heather Summers made Founders Circle (Top 10 in Canada) and I am so proud of her. She has set goals for herself and worked extremely hard to earn this achievemnet. Congratulations Heather.

For a Special 15 Year Old

Our son turned 15 yesterday. I can not believe how fast the years have gone by, it doesn't seem possible.
Since I don't have the stamp set Exteme Guitar #115328 page 80 I thought I would make him a card I learned from Heather Summers Simply Punches 3. Justin loves music. Justin is a drummer and a good one at that and has been learning the guitar as well. This summer he is taking vocal lessons as well. We have a Rock Star in the making!
Now you are probably wondering how music and a robot came about right?! Justin likes all genres of music and yes even metal so I thought a heavy metal robot would be perfect.
This card has no stamping, just punches. The sentiments were typed up on the computer and punched out using the new modern label #116630 $22.95 and the word window punch # 105090 $22.95.
One thing I learned about using small shapes and a new craft white ink pad was to use a sponge for edging rather than dragging the cardstock through the ink pad ...it gets a bit messy.

The Last of the Swaps

Michelle (all the way from the East Coast) made this card pop with the balck and Bermuda Bay. The image from Razzle Dazzle was embossed which made the card pop twice. Nice work Michelle!

The very busy and comical and super Mom made this card using punches. Are these babies wrapped in blankets not the cutest. Heather told me she has been so busy running her kids to sports and other activities that she had to case her card from Andrea Walford's blog but regardless Heather did a fantastic job. Thanks Heather, now I don't have to make one with the little babies in a blanket.

This Thank You card was made by Kelly Fleming. Kelly used a variety of stamps from Eastern Bloom, Schoolbook Serif and Fundamental Phrases. The colours Kelly used look very nice together, Sage Shadow, Not QUite Navy, Sahara Sand and To the Nine DSP. I especially like the belly band around the card and when removed, reveals the sentiment "Thank U". Well Done Kelly.

Lastly, this is my card.Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Garden Whimsy
Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Whisper WhiteInk: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo
Embellishments: Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals, two way glue pen, dazzling diamonds (on the butterfly wings), 3/4" circle punch
Thanks for checking in today. It's a great day and I hope you get to enjoy it with family and friends.

More Talent...

There is one thing each of the cards from our swap had in common and that is they used the new "In Colours" and each card was uniquely different and equally beautiful.
The card above was made by Leslie using only designer series paper (DSP) ...no stamping! Nice Work Leslie. Leslie used the Level 3 Hostess set Lovely Flowers.Jodie takes credit for this pretty card which could be used for a Bridal Shower or Wedding Card. Jodie used the stamp set Fifth Avenue Floral #113734 page 98 and . Great colour combination Jodi.

This is a technique I have not done in awhile - crayon resist. Janey used glossy white cardstock to stamp her image on using stazon black ink and then filling areas of the images using white crayon. Next The ink is applied using a brayer or sponge, letting the ink set/dry and using a tissue or cotton ball rubbing ove the images to remove the ink where the crayon was applied. Nice work Janey.

I like the colours you chose Jenine and your stamped image is beautifully watercoloured using Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery and Soft Suede. Very pretty card.

Belinda did a lot of embossing using the Texturz plates Stampin' Up!~ Backgrounds 1 #114512, Beautiful Butterflies die #114507 and I believe the Go Go Boots Sizzlets #113450 and Razzle Dazzle stamp set #116714 page 94.

Participating is swaps is a lot of fun and so rewarding in that you get a variety of cards illustrating ones style, demonstration of techniques and layouts not to mention inspiration for your own card making.

Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy your weekend.