A Happy Heart

These beautiful cards were made by my friend Pam Downs. This stamp set is in the holiday mini, but will continue to be available in the 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog. Pam does a great job of using embellishments to really enhance a project! I’m sure you agree as you look at these! 

Supplies: Stamps - A Happy Heart (111758), Paper - Pink Pirouette (111351), Chocolate Chip (102128), Sweet Always (112468), Ink - Pumpkin Pie (105216), Regal Rose (105211) Accessories - Clear Buttons, Build A Brad (109128), Soft Subtles Brads (106954), 1/2" circle punch (104390) , Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (111366) , Crop-a-dile (108362, Filigree Brads (112577), Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Crafters Tool Kit (104310), Clear Buttons (105447), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

Supplies: Stamps - A Happy Heart (111758), Paper - Real Red (102482), Old Olive (100702), Summer Picnic (111355), Ink - Old Olive (102277), Real Red (103133), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Accessories - Build A Brad (109128), 1/2" circle punch (104390) , Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109054) , Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), 1 1/4" circle punch ( 104403), 1 3/8" circle punch (104401)

A Happy Heart stamp set is perfect for Valentine’s Day, but don’t limit yourself to just that holiday….who wouldn’t love either of these cards…just because! :-)  Order any of these supplies here!

Leadership was fantastic and I look forward to sharing all that I’ve learned there. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep you all posted as I didn’t have all the right technology tools. Currently, there also is some discussion among demonstrators about what I am allowed to share and when according to Stampin’ Up! policy. It’s kind of gray area, so until I completely clear that up, I’m erring on the side of caution. I know you are going to love the catty and all the great new stamps, paper, embellishments and Big Shot dies!  My favorites so far are the Corduroy Buttons (OH MY!) and the Texture Plates for the Big Shot!

Pretty Pink

I'm in Orlando gearing up for Stampin' Up!'s Leadership conference!  I'm here with two good friends that I met through SU!  I made them a little gift over the holiday break.  I found these vinyl spa bags on accident after Christmas at HEB of all places.  They were the right price and I thought I might be able to use them.  They aren't as electric pink as they seem in this photo.  I couldn't get a good shot with the true color.  

  I used some Chocolate Chip Rub Ons to decorate the bag and metal tag.  All of this is retired, but could easily be substituted with stuff you have in your stash or with current product!  :-)

 

In the bag I included a chipboard calendar, these yummy chocolates, and a bag tag.  The chocolate is in a tin decorated with the new Love You Much Stamp set.  So easy!

 

 

 

 

At each Leadership or Convention, we receive a bag with our stamp set(s) and other goodies.  This year we'll also get the 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog in it!  Thousands of demonstrators with the same bag...oh my....so this is a way to help us tell our bags apart quickly.  :-) 

 

 

I got the tags from Oriental trading and decorated them using some of our pretty DSP, on board chipboard coated with craft ink and embossed using iridescent ice embossing powder, and some of our great designer brads!  Here's a closer look at one of them.

 

 

This paper is new DSP from the new catty.  It's called Rasberry Tart.  Of course I used a mostly kiwi kiss sheet on two of these...doesn't look very rasberry-ey or tarty!  The middle one uses the soon to be retired Maine Blueberry DSP.  My friend REALLY likes blue!  I hope they like their bags! 

I hope to report back to you later today new and exciting things coming our way!

Live Like You Mean It!

Happy New Year! 

This calendar is one of the projects we made at the gift camp (now months ago!), but perfect for January!  We used two chipboard coasters and covered them with gorgeous paper (Haiku in this sample) and cardstock on the back.  It's "bound" with ribbon.  The stamp set is one of the level 1 hostess free sets called "Live Like you Mean it" (and is only available until January 18th - quick schedule a party!)  I just LOVE that statement!  And, of course, I think it is perfect for a calendar so I (or a recipient of this as a gift) can be reminded to live every moment and not take anything for granted.  You can't see it too clearly on this sample, but 'live like you mean it" is embossed in black under the months.  I designed it so a photo could be added.  So perfect for any workspace!

I got the coasters from a demo friend who ordered a gazillion of them.  Mine are plain vanilla-ish in color.  They were super cheap, but I don't know where she actually purchased them.  I'm sure a quick google search will provide you with numerous sources!  Now, you could reuse the coasters you get when you go out to dinner at any of the great restaurants that use these types of coasters (Chili's and Outback come to mind immediately), I've been told that some restaurants will actually let you take some that haven't even been used...what a bonus!  I adhered the paper with my glue stick and punched holes with my crop-a-dile.  Colors on this one are Tangerine Tango and More Mustard.  The numbers are from a retired stamp set, Straight Up alphabet and numbers.  The calendar came from an excel template.  You can e-mail me if you need it.  Here are some other calendars made by....ummm...it's been so long, I don't remember!  Enjoy!

This one uses Maine Blueberry Paper

 

and this one uses Frosty Day from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

Celebrating Bandit

  This morning we said good-bye to our dear friend and family member, Bandit.  She has been a treasured part of our family since 1997.  Before that she enjoyed herding doggy friends near the ranch she lived on.  Earl and I bought our house in 1997 and my sweet friend Anne convinced me we needed a dog (this dog!) to make it a home.  She was right of course!  Bandit was about 5 or 6 when she came to live with us.  She loved going for long walks, sitting on our couch, chairs and bed, and most of all, playing ball or catch for hours on end.  She was a kind and loving companion to all of us, a great mentor and big sister to Riley and numerous kitties, and incredibly patient with Emma and Parker as they grew and learned about doggies.  She had an endless supply of love and pretended to be a great watchdog.  She was a big fan of steak bones, belly rubs, cookies, cats and cat food!  When she could she liked to wander around the neighborhood looking for new friends, she was so adventurous!  Even this last year with her tired legs she managed to get herself arrested and was able to wander to the creek about a mile away to meet one last new friend.  We are taking comfort in the thought that Bandit can now play catch endlessly again and herd new friends in heaven.  We'll miss her terribly.  Here are some of our memories of Bandit.

"Will I still have to do this when you have 2 leggeds?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Honest Santa, I've been VERY, VERY good!"

     

 

 

 

An action shot - "I got it!"

 

 

 

 

"I love my new puppy (Riley)! She's a great new chew toy!"

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing the pillow, sharing the love!

 

 

 

 

 

         "Here's how you play catch young grasshopper"

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what you call "alpha dog"

 

 

 

                 "Come on in, it's not that cold!"

 

 

 

 

"Look Bandit, I'm learning!"

 

 

                                                Nearly equals.

 

 

 

 

Teaching Waffles how to "run with the Big Dogs!"

 

 

 

                                  Snoozing with Bobalu!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's hard work watching after the house all day!"

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours...Merry Christmas!

 

Joyful Mail!

I'm sure most of you feel the same way...any time I receive mail that is not a bill, I am so thrilled!  It is even more joyful when I receive a handcrafted card!  This time of the year is especially fun because it is the one time of year that many actually use the US Postal Service!   Here are some of the beautiful handmade greetings we've received this year.  Aren't they inspiring??

Domino Frame

This was another project we did at the gift camp.  Again, this was inspired by a swap I received at convention.  Unfortunately, I cannot find the name of the person who swapped this!  The frame is a $1 frame from Michaels (although apparently they are now in short supply here in the Austin area).  Images were stamped in Stazon and colored in with chalk.  At Saturday's camp, Lucinda shared that she has started sealing her dominos (she makes gorgeous jewelry with her dominos) with floor wax....BRILLIANT!!  If you keep floor wax in one of your aqua painters like I do, this is so easy to do!  Here are some of the ones that were made at camp:

Again, I missed several people's frames!