Another Charmed Card

I was playing with this card and decided that there isn't much more that I can do to it, short of tearing it to pieces and starting it over! I think that it needs a sentiment on the front, but I can't seem to get one to fit right and I can't move the ribbon... so.. I'll just have to put the sentiment on the inside.
This charm is one that I had hanging around... but I don't know why. I don't have any sisters.. It's a really nice charm, one that I think I would have bought at a bead store at some point, but I don't know why. But I do like the cherries! So, I think that I will choose one of my stamping "sisters" and mail this to her! Products used: Stamps, cardstock, ribbon and ink by Stampin' Up!, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, patterned paper by DCWV, Glitz Stickles.

"Enjoy" a swappy card!

This little card was created for a swap between me and a few of the other Stamptacular Design Team members. I love swaps and was glad that I got a chance to get a few handmade cards from the team! I'll treasure them and keep them on display in my craft room as a reminder of my time on the DT, even though it is still far from over! :) We were provided with a sketch to follow and it always amazes me how we can all use the same sketch and still come up with such different cards! Well, this is the card that I came up with. One night, late, while lying in bed trying to get to sleep, I had this idea to have the circle open with the sentiment inside.. but I was sure I wouldn't remember when the time came to put the card together! A week later, when I finally had time, I DID remember! Yay! So, the card does open fully like a regular card, but it has the added feature of a small card on the front. I used the "rock and roll" technique on the froggy to give him a little more texture. I think it could have done with some sparkle maybe, or pearls, or rhinestones.. something, but I also like the simple green feel to it. I was pleased enough to send an extra that I had made to my Sister-In-Law for her birthday! I hope you like it too!
Products used: Stamps, cardstock, ink and Word Window punch by Stampin' Up!, Scallop Oval and Classic Oval Nestabilities, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, patterned paper by DCWV, ribbon from my stash.

SSC #4 - Charmed, I'm Sure!

Happy Monday, friends! I was at work all day yesterday, and I forgot to set this up to post.. not that I've figured that out yet, anyway! So, I'm sorry that it's late!

This weeks challenge at the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge blog is called "Charmed, I'm Sure" and all you have to do is add a charm to your stamped project! Such a fun idea, and something that I haven't done before! I struggled a bit with this project. I have a ton of charms in my craft room from my beading days... but I had a hard time getting one onto a card! First I did the fishy card that you saw here.. but the charm didn't look right, so it turned into the flower.. then I made another card that was cute, but is still missing something, so it's still in the works. Then I made this one.. and it got rave reviews from my Husband, so it made the cut! I hope you like it as well!

Be sure to visit the rest of the Stamptacular Design Team and see what they came up with for their "Charming" projects this week! I hope to see some familiar names in the challenge, too! So, dig out your charms and have fun!Products used: Stamps, ribbon, ink and markers by Stampin' Up!, Coredinations cardstock, patterned paper from my stash, Petite Oval Nesties, Labels 2 Nesties, deckle edge scissors.

Projects from the Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar

Note: This is my second post today, please scroll down to see the swaps that I brought home from the seminar!

Well, finally I managed to get some photos of the projects that Stampin' Up! provided to us to create during the seminar. I am really excited about these projects, because each one of them either used a product that I haven't used much before (Sizzix Big Shot or Chipboard) or an image that I don't use often (flowers) or a new trend that I have grown to really love (birds!) I think all 6 of these projects are great and I plan on using the excellent instruction sheets that were given to us to create all of these again!
So, here they are!This card uses a flower stamp that I normally wouldn't use, but it turned out so pretty! It also uses the Stampin' Up! AquaPainters and Watercolor paper, both of which, I have never used and now love! Isn't this card just pretty?This card is probably my favorite project from the seminar! Again, flowers that I would not have chosen myself, but really pretty! We used the Watercolor Crayons (again, a new relatively product for me, I've only used them once) and a misting bottle to create the effect on the flowers. On both of these cards, we distressed the edges, which I think really adds a nice touch!This project is a little treat box. I love the colors we used here! This was using the Sizzix Big Shot to cut and emboss the flower, then we sanded the flower to get the white edges. This little box also uses our new corduroy buttons which I have decided I need many, many more of!I didn't realize this shot was so blurry, I'll try to take another one soon, Sorry! This is an 8x8 scrapbook page, which is perfect for me, because the scrapbook that I "plan" on finishing for Bradley is an 8x8. I need to start it in order to finish it! I have a few pages done, I just haven't put photos on them yet! Not like I don't have enough photos, right? Ok, enough babbling! This one surprised me and my Mom.. neither of us knew that if we used a Stampin' Up! Craft pad to color the chipboard, that it would turn out this nicely! Now we are both ready to order lots more chipboard to play with!This little basket is so cute! I actually didn't get this finished until I got home, and somewhere along the way I lost the little DSP bands that were to go around it.. and my tag is different from everyone elses, as the sample was stamped and I used more Sizzix flowers on mine. This was the first time I used the Sizzix Big Shot, I have a Sizzix, but it's the old red one, this one is much nicer! And, Oh! The things you can do!Ok, I lied! THIS is my favorite project from the seminar! Only because I am huge into the birds trend right now! And I love these colors! This little gift card holder (as in actual cards for gifts, not gift certificate cards) is just adorable! And such a cute idea that I WILL be using this again! So, if you are coming to one of my upcoming workshops, be prepared to make one of these!
Here is a photo of how it lookes opened up and with the cards inside. We even used DSP to decorate the inside of the envelopes! What a cute idea!I hope you like the projects! I know I had a wonderful time making them and meeting all the amazing demonstrators at the seminar! I am definitely Convention-bound next year!

Oh! Almost forgot! I won a door prize! Yay! Check it out! Here's a photo of the stamp set that I won (Scene in a Garden) and the stamp set that we got for free with our attendance to the seminar (Best Wishes and More). I also won the flowers set (Soft Summer) that we used on the flower projects, but Mom really liked that set, so I gave it to her!Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

Swaps, Swaps and more Swaps!

WoW! All I can say is that there were some incredibly talented demonstrators (and guests) at the Regional Seminar in Seattle this past weekend! I am honored to have met them all and been able to bring home a piece of their talent! Just take a look at these pictures! I kinda had to squeeze them together to get them all in! Thanks to all the demonstrators that were there to swap with me!

Whiff of Joy blog candy!

I can't tell you how many times I have built a shopping cart at the Whiff of Joy webstore... only to sigh and say, "Maybe next payday!" I have a lot of fun building shopping carts at my favorite online stores, but if I were to actually purchase as much stuff as I dream of, my hubby would take away my wallet and change all the credit card numbers!
But now, I (and you, and a million others, I'm sure!) have a chance to WIN the NEW Whiff Of Joy Summer Stamp Kit! Yay! I love chances to win! So, here is what you have to do to enter:

• Grab the above banner and put it on your sidebar with a link to the Whiff of Joy webstore.
• Write a post on your blog letting people know about the candy.
• Go back to Katherine's Blog and leave a link to your post in the Mr. Linky Widget.The candy is open until May 1st, so what are you waiting for???

(cut and pasted that from Carisa's blog -thanks dear!)

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And, while you're in the mood for blog candy, or Boot Loot - go check out Marie's blog and wish her daughter a happy 6th birthday!

So, go, now, enter and good luck!

SSC #3 - Black & White plus 1

Happy Sunday everyone! Time for another Stamptacular Sunday Challenge!

This week our theme is "Black & White plus 1", so whatever you create must only use black, white and one other color! I know the wonderful design team has come up with some amazing projects to show you and I hope that you will pop over to their blogs and leave them some love as well! You can find links to every one of them on my sidebar.

Here is my "B & W + 1" for you!

I actually timed this post to show up this morning... but it didn't work! Sorry it's late..one of these days I'll figure it out!! :)

Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White cardstock, and Scallop Border Punch. Patterned paper from the Daisy Bucket Wedding Collection. Ribbon from Sweet Callie's stash and slide from my stash. Image colored with Copic Skin White and Pale Pink and Diamond Stickles.

The Girls in Seattle!

Just wanted to share a quick photo with you of my girls who joined me at the Seattle regional seminar!

My Mom, Cauleen, is here as well as Jackie, on of my Stampin' Up! downlines, and her daughter Nicole (next to me in the bottom row) and 5 more of Jackie and I's favorite customers. Jackie's Mom, Donna also joined us, but had to leave early, before we snapped this group photo.

A great time was had by all!

Again, photos of swaps and projects to come! I have to go get my Mommy packed for her trip to California to visit her Sisters.

Have a great night!

Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar in Seattle!

Oh, so much fun!! This is the first time I've ever attended a Stampin' Up! sponsored event and I was super excited! Now I want to attend convention as soon as possible, too! Everyone there was so nice and friendly! I learned lots of new techniques and tricks using products I already own! I came home with so many beautiful swaps and everyone seemed to love my popsicles! I even ran into another demonstrator from Kennewick, so hopefully we will be able to meet up and get some stamping done together!

Aside from hanging out with my Mom, Jackie (one of my downlines) and 6 of our favorite customers (yes, there were 9 in our group! WeeHaw!), I have to say that the best part of my afternoon was meeting Shelli Gardner (C0-Founder & CEO), live and in person and getting photos with her!
More pictures to come!!! I've got pictures of projects, swaps and more friends that I want to share with you, so stay tuned!

Easter Sunday

This is my second post of the night, be sure to scroll down to find my latest project...

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter! I had to work that weekend, but I managed to get in the hospital Egg Hunt and Easter Basket joys before I left for work. I put together a slideshow to share with you of photos that I took over the weekend. Enjoy!

Stampin' Up! Swaps

I am so excited to be going to the Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar in Seattle tomorrow! My Mom will be going as my guest and one of my downline will be going as well, with a few of her customers joining her! It is sure to be a fun-filled day!
I finally finished up my swaps for the event and I cannot wait to come home with a bag full of wonderful ideas!
I got this idea from SplitcoastStampers and from bloghopping and on YouTube. I saw this project in lots of places and I loved the idea so I ran with it.
Oh, and by the way - I made over 100 of these cute little popsicles!!

SSC #2 - "This is for the Birds!"

Hi everyone! It's Sunday again! Time for another Stamptacular Sunday Challenge!

The theme this week is "This is for the Birds!" - your projects need to have a bird on them.. somewhere, anywhere! The Design Team and I had a lot of fun playing with the birds this week! Please go visit the other DT members and let them know how much you love their amazing creations! You can always find their links on my sidebar.

I am so excited for this weeks challenge, I just recently got the Good Friend stamp set from Stampin' Up! and I just love it! Also, I learned how to make this really cute A2 box, that fits standard sized cards! It's super easy and I think the set turned out super cute! I hope you like it too!

So, be sure to go check out the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog and create a card, box, bag, scrapbook page or anything else that has a bird on it! Don't forget to use something stamped! And remember, if you participate in 3 challenges a month, you'll be eligible for a Guest Designer spot on our Design Team!

All products used from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted: Good Friend stamp set, Kiwi Kiss cardstock, Pacific Point cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, Pacific Point classic ink, Pumpkin Pie classic ink, Scallop Border punch, Dimensionals. Patterned paper from DCWV, Cuttlebug embossing folder "Bloom Dots", Diamond Stickles, Martha Stewart Rhinestones.