Sunday, May 31, 2009

You won't want to miss this!

I admit it. I'm a hoarder. There really ought to be 12-step programs for people like me. And, well since I just admitted it, I've only 11 more steps to go, right?


Since I started stamping like 8 years ago, I've been stockpiling my stamps & other accessories. It's relatively organized (I know where all my stuff is), but it's still a bit out of control (I just have too much). And so, after much consideration, I'm just going to do it. I'm going to sell a bunch of my stamps, inks, papers & other accessories.


I already have a list of stamp sets that I'm willing to part with - so far I have 54 sets to sell. Next on the agenda: figure out the pricing. They will be discounted, but how much exactly, I'm not quite sure yet. My goal is to sell enough to pay for my trip to Convention next year (upwards of $1,000).


Right now, I'm thinking about doing an Open House in August for a few reasons:
  • The new catalog will be out
  • I'll have time to get some new product for a make & take
  • This gives me plenty of time to get my items ready for sale
  • This gives you plenty of time to save your pennies for all that you'll want to buy :o)

So, stay tuned for the date. An evite will go out in the upcoming weeks.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Yeah, Baby!!



Here's a super quick card I made tonight. I didn't have a whole heckuva lot of time to spend on it, but needed a quick *something* to get out in the mail tomorrow. If you haven't guessed, a couple friends of mine are expecting. And since it's still way early on, they don't know (& they're not finding out) the gender until he/she is born.

Yeah, baby!!

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Huge Apologies

First of all, I gotta send out huge apologies to anyone who has been coming back to this blog for any updates. No excuses, I've been slacking on getting anything posted. I'm back, though. And, I hope you enjoy!


Earlier this year, I was asked by my employer to do the invitations for this year's "holiday party". The information I was given was it was going to be at a Beach Club & there was going to be a "casino". First, I looked for "beach-y" themed cards at their request, but those are almost always too "summer-y". So, another suggestion from the Social Committee was to make the invitations more classy. This is the almost final product (click the picture for a bigger image):



The final product had the following changes (sorry, no photos of the final invite):
  • Name changed from Autumn Extraordinaire to Autumn Royale
  • The font on the bottom (date/time/place, etc) matched the font on top
  • The RSVP card had the red stamped image in the lower left corner instead
Unfortunately, the event has been canceled for this year (everyone is tightening their spending habits & this was one area my employer has cut back, but I'm SO incredibly thankful that I am still employed).

Monday, March 30, 2009

Oh where does the time go?

This is a new stamp set (available from the occasions mini catalog beginning April 1st) called Scene in a Garden.  I just loved it immediately & had to buy it. And then, I signed up to participate in a swap with a few (8 to be exact) other demonstrators, each taking a different stamp set & creating a card with it.  This is mine.  Click on the picture for a bigger view & then leave me a message & tell me what you think.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Happy 1st Birthday!!

First things first, click the picture & see how beautiful it is bigger. If only I had one that you could check out in person, it's SO STINKIN' CUTE (if I do say so myself)!!

This is a card (I actually made two) that I had made last week for 2 little girls turning one year old. Isn't it darling? I just love the bunny from the (retired) stamp set A New Little Someone. The more & more I watercolor, the more & more I'm enjoying it. It was a little bit challenging cutting out around the bunny, but I think it just looks so sweet this way. And, I cut around the front paws (arms?) so it looks like it's holding the scalloped saying.

So cute! I just might have to make another one...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Just Buzzin' By...

Just a quick post to show you another picture from one of my favorite new stamp sets - Just Buzzin' By. This was one of the cards at my last stamp camp. So easy & so cute!

I love it!!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Thank You!!



I know I say I've been saying this on more than one occasion, but I REALLY ought to post more pictures & posts on this blog.

This is a card I made for a friend who recently adopted her baby girl. I love this (retired) stamp set - By Ones & By Twos. I just love the onesie. It's so cute, easy to stamp on some Designer Series Paper, cut out & adhere to your card with a dimensional. So stinkin' cute!! Click on the image for an enlarged image.

I also love when someone else finds some value in what I do & wants to help support my business, my craft & my creativity. A HUGE thank you to those who've supported me in either coming to my stamp camps & open houses, hosting a stamp camp for your friends, purchasing cards from me & telling your friends about what I do. Virtual hugs to you!!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Eastern Blooms Birthday


I needed a quick birthday card for a male co-worker & I saw this & thought, "perfect!!" It uses the Eastern Blooms stamp set, which I just love & don't use nearly enough. I think it can easily be one of the 'go-to' stamp sets for almost any occasion.

Oh, and I'm not sure if there's a name for the technique I used on this one, but it is WAY awesome. So, I took the stamp & inked it up in my classic Night of Navy inkpad. Then, I took the blender pen & took away the Night of Navy ink from the branches - leaving them essentially un-inked. Then, I took the Close to Cocoa marker & colored in the branches. Gave it a huff w/my warm breath & voila! A beautifully stamped image.

As always, for a closer image, click on the picture.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Love You Much

Stampin' Up has this Valentine's promotion right now (through January 31st) where in the bundle, you get the Love You Much stamp set, Candy Lane Designer Series Paper & the Heart to Heart punch. If purchased individually, it would cost $51.85. The promotion has it on sale for 20% off or $41.48. This is the first card I've made that I've taken a picture of, but let me tell you... I am LOVIN' this set!

My picture turned out a little bit on the dark side, but the colors I used are (retired) Blue Bayou & Wild Wasabi.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year!



How cute are these little guys? This is a new stamp set (Just Buzzin' By) that will be in the new catalog. I'm so thrilled that I was able to get it early & start playing with it. My first thought was, "Oh boy! What am I getting myself into with all that needs to be colored?" But, I just used the blender pens & ink pads on regular Very Vanilla cardstock & it was SO easy & it turned out very nice! I tried making like a honeycomb background by using bubblewrap. It didn't turn out quite the way I imagined it would. Overall, I'm very pleased with the way the two cards turned out. Click on the pictures if you'd like a more close up image.