Gather Together and Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving Stamping friends!

Today's the day we typically gather with friends and family and enjoy a day of good food and conversation. I'm not so naive as to believe that all Thanksgiving days are picture perfect but most of us have much to be thankful for and I am grateful for a day dedicated to gratitude.  Here's my list:

1.  Thankful for my dad who is still with me, almost 90 years old. We will be having meal #1 with him at noon.
2.  Thankful for my husband and kids who love me so well and love each other every day of the year.
3.  Thankful for the beauty and adventure of Montana, the place we call home.
4.  Thankful for so many friends over so many years that I'm still in touch with, thanks a lot to Facebook!  You have all impacted my life in so many ways.
5.  Thankful for my faith in the Lord and His many blessings to me, His steadfastness in storms and His watchful care.
6. Thankful for my Stampin'Up! friends, customers, fellow demonstrators and the corporate office for their inspiration, creativity, encouragement and kindness.
7.  Thankful for dogs... all of them.
8.  Thankful for a short drive to Billings later today and meal #2 with our kids and their in-laws.

I know there is more, but that list is what I came up with in about 30 seconds!  I just have one card today, representing my hopes and wishes for you... spending some time with those you love, gathering and giving thanks.

Have a blessed day of thankfulness!
Sarah

Life is Beautiful at Thanksgiving!

Hi Stampers!
I'm returning to one of my favorite sets again during this lovely fall season of the year.  It's "Colorful Seasons" (# 145348) and I love everything about it!  Here's my card today:

Of course I had to use the Adirondack chair in my fall scene.  Are you curious about the pumpkins?  They are featured in the "Painted Harvest" Designer Series paper and yes, I hand cut them out. With dies and framelits, we get a little spoiled but it's okay to grab scissors and do some cutting the old-fashioned way!  My background papers are from the "Coffee Cafe" Designer Series paper pack. I think what I love about this card is that it looks peaceful, contemplative and a perfect place to spend some time. There is probably even pumpkin spice wafting in the air!

Here are some more cards I've made with the "Colorful Seasons" set:

That is just barely scratching the surface of what this stamp set/framelit bundle can do!  It was my number 1 "must have" from the Annual Catalog this year! It's especially valuable to me when I can use it for so many ideas.

I'll be back tomorrow with some Thanksgiving inspiration! 
Until then, happy stampin'!
Sarah

O Christmas Tree

Hey there Stampers!
This is such a fun time of year. I love to craft, decorate, eat and smell all the traditions of the holiday season. Christmas has become a big industry no doubt. On some level that bugs me because that's not really capturing what the true meaning of Christmas is. On another level, I am inspired and amazed by store displays, people's house decorations, music programs, theater productions which all revolve around the theme of Christmas. We are saturated in it almost whether we like it or not. I am guilty of really diving into Christmas in many ways. Decorating the home is something I grew up with and have carried it much further than my mom ever did. She was not a crafter and I am. Hence, many years, we go crazy. My kids and husband have adopted my enthusiasm and there is probably no turning back at this point!

In the midst of the hubbub, simple can be inspiring and heartfelt in so many ways. Everything doesn't have to be a big production, including a handmade card. The cards I have for you today are simple and uses few gadgets and tools. It's okay to get back to the basics of ink and paper!

These both feature the "Season Like Christmas" stamp set. This is a 4 part stamping set which includes the trunk, two stamps for evergreen branches and then a stamp for ornaments (or snow as I did in the 2nd card). The sentiments are lovely and in a great font.  It would be relatively easy to create a whole stand of pine trees, but one solitary pine tree for Christmas can highlight the beauty of the season.   My first card features a traditional color scheme with Real Red and Emerald Envy. The second card is not so traditional with Fresh Fig and Tranquil tide. I love them both! It is not too late to begin a Christmas project of your own. Check out the Holiday catalog for some inspiration. There is a link to the right that will take you right there!  If you see something you want, you can go to the "shop now" link and order from the convenience of your own home. No point in getting out in that traffic, right?!

Don't forget the Online Extravaganza sale is continuing!  There are many products from the last couple of years that are on special discount from now through November 2th.   Go to this link for the complete lineup!

Online Extravaganza 2017!!

Believe it or not, I've almost blogged most of my projects that I've been making this fall, so it's time to make some more!  Yeah!! More time in ink, rubber and paper!  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back regularly and see what I'm up to!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Online Extravaganza starts TODAY!

Hey stampin' friends!
I hope you had a lovely weekend and are all set to head into Thanksgiving!  I heard a great sermon yesterday at church about thankfulness that really got me thinking. What stuck with me is that we can get a lot of stuff right in our day to day lives, i.e. how we speak, treat people, choices we make, etc and still not be thankful to God for all His blessings. As I'm heading towards Thursday, I am meditating on what I am grateful for and not what is wrong or what is missing from my life. I imagine there will be quite a lot as I think it over.

I don't want to trivialize the bigger picture of living a life of gratitude but I do want to say I'm grateful for what Stampin'Up! has introduced me to and brought into my life. First and foremost, I have met people who I otherwise would probably not have met and many of them have become very good friends! My days are definitely richer by the social interaction I have received around the subject of stamping. I'm also grateful for a creative outlet that satisfies that urge in me, which I've had most of my life. I love to make things. Almost anything!  Stamping has been a perfect fit for me because I can use my creative impulses in a positive and rewarding way, growing in ways I never imagined. It's also an opportunity for me to show hospitality and generosity to my customers, downline team and others with my classes, promotions and freebies. I love it all and am grateful!

I wanted to share the big news about Online Extravaganza that starts today!  There are some select stamp sets that are on sale only today. Here's a list:

ITEM #	DESCRIPTION	RETAIL PRICE	DISCOUNT PRICE
139891	Remarkable You Wood	$45.00 USD/$59.00 CAD	$36.00 USD/$47.20 CAD
139894	Remarkable You Clear	$33.00 USD/$44.00 CAD	$26.40 USD/$35.20 CAD
140643	Bloomin Love	$17.00 USD/$21.00 CAD	$13.60 USD/$16.80 CAD
143775	Celebrate You Wood	$25.00 USD/$33.00 CAD	$20.00 USD/$26.40 CAD
143778	Celebrate You Clear	$18.00 USD/$24.00 CAD	$14.40 USD/$19.20 CAD
142982	Cool Treats	$27.00 USD/$33.00 CAD	$21.60 USD/$26.40 CAD
138682	You're so Sweet Wood	$27.00 USD/$35.00 CAD	$21.60 USD/$28.00 CAD
139440	You're so Sweet Clear	$19.00 USD/$25.00 CAD	$15.20 USD/$20.00 CAD
143949	Garden Girl Wood	$27.00 USD/$35.00 CAD	$21.60 USD/$28.00 CAD
143952	Garden Girl Clear	$19.00 USD/$25.00 CAD	$15.20 USD/$20.00 CAD
143740	Good Vibes Wood	$27.00 USD/$35.00 CAD	$21.60 USD/$28.00 CAD
145080	Good Vibes Clear	$19.00 USD/$25.00 CAD	$15.20 USD/$20.00 CAD
142871	Super Duper Wood	$27.00 USD/$36.00 CAD	$21.60 USD/$28.80 CAD
142874	Super Duper Clear	$19.00 USD/$25.00 CAD	$15.20 USD/$20.00 CAD
138764	Heartfelt Sympathy	$17.00 USD/$21.00 CAD	$13.60 USD/$16.80 CAD
144865	Every Good Wish	$18.00 USD/$24.00 CAD	$14.40 USD/$19.20 CAD
144862	Every Good Wish	$25.00 USD/$33.00 CAD	$20.00 USD/$26.40 CAD
144870	Good Tidings	$21.00 USD/$26.00 CAD	$16.80 USD/$20.80 CAD
142954	Milestone Moments	$21.00 USD/$26.00 CAD	$16.80 USD/$20.80 CAD
143689	More than Chocolate	$17.00 USD/$21.00 CAD	$13.60 USD/$16.80 CAD
140653	Number of Years	$27.00 USD/$33.00 CAD	$21.60 USD/$26.40 CAD
140386	Oh What Fun	$21.00 USD/$26.00 CAD	$16.80 USD/$20.80 CAD
141934	Touches of Texture Wood	$45.00 USD/$69.00 CAD	$36.00 USD/$55.20 CAD
143251	Touches of Texture Clear	$33.00 USD/$44.00 CAD	$26.40 USD/$35.20 CAD

Be sure to look these over!  There are some favorites of mine including Number of Years, Touches of Texture,  Good Tidings and Remarkable You which is an awesome set for coloring with the new Stampin' Blends.  

There is more on sale as well, all week, but the stamps are only today so I wanted to bring those to your attention!  Check out this link for the entire sale:

Online Extravaganza !

I know this is a hectic week and of course it can end up becoming a prelude to Christmas and all those preparations and plans. Let me know if there is anything you would like from this sale and I'll take care of ordering it for you!  I'll be placing an order by 5 o'clock tonight for the stamps (plus anything else on the sale that people already know they want) and you can jump on the group order if your total is less than $150. If it is more than $150, it's best for you to place an order yourself and reap the Stampin' Rewards for you!

Thanks so much for your friendship and business!  I truly appreciate you!

Blessings,

Sarah

Happy Anniversary

Hi Stampers!
For several weeks, I've been bouncing back and forth between fall/Thanksgiving related cards and Christmas cards. It's good to not forget there are other reasons to create a special card like a anniversary for a special couple!  I thought the "Half Full" stamp set would be a perfect theme. Here's what I came up with:

My background paper is a piece from a retired Designer Series Collection but the rest of the card is all current products. I used some of the new Stampin' Blends to color in a bit of the glass of wine and the wine bottle. I wanted to keep this subtle overall and was really happy with the results. To go along with the current time of year, I added the silver foil snowflake!

Here are a couple of more ideas, also using this wonderful set!

Anything "wine" themed is really popular so this could be a often-used stamp set for many occasions.

Speaking of occasions, we will be gearing up for the launch of the Occasions Catalog on January 3rd!  That is a little ways off, but soon I'll be getting my hands on some products from that catalog and start to showcase some ideas.  It seems like a crafting year really goes by fast, doesn't it.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I try to create projects that are delightful to look at, interesting to create and easy to replicate. I would love to expand my customer and demonstrator base so contact me if you would like to know more about Stampin'Up!  It looks like an amazing fun and creative opportunity, which it is, but it is also the best therapy available. Working with your hands to create something handmade is unparalleled in providing satisfaction to those who create and love and paper hugs to those who receive the creation. The options are endless for any style or budget so jump in!

Have a great day today!
Sarah

Huge News! New Tool !! The Stamparatus

Hey Stampers!
Boy did we get an early Christmas present from Stampin'Up!  Actually it is the promise of a present that will arrive around February 1st!  It's a new tool called the Stamparatus!  It's a stamping platform that allows you to mount red rubber and photopolymer stamps and stamp with perfect positioning every time. You can introduce multiple colors, multiple stamps and have awesome results that take out the "eyeball it" method which is my former go to method or using the Stampamajig which is somewhat cumbersome.  Here is more information!

Isn't that exciting!  You will be able to reserve one for delivery in February during November 16-30. Go to the online store and select "reserve". You do need a credit card to reserve the Stamparatus however, your credit card will not be charged.

For you long time stampers, you also know that Sale-A-Bration is just around the corner!  When it's closer to February, you will be able to add to your Stamparatus order to get a SAB freebie!  I will be watching all of this and remind you what you need to do and how to get the most benefit out of all the promotions.   The Stamparatus will be in the 2018-2019 catalog for regular ordering as well but you can get it sooner with the reserve system. I'll share more details in the coming days!



This is very exciting!  Did I mention it's only $49?  That's a great price for a tool you will use over and over again!

Watch my blog for more!  There are so many things going on right now I will probably be blogging more than once a day ;)

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

With Gratitude to Veterans

Hi Stampers!
I think almost all of us have been personally impacted by a veteran who served in the US military or continues to serve at this time. At the very least, just living in this country  makes you impacted for the very freedom and liberty you cherish. We owe them a debt of gratitude that is impossible to pay.

I wanted to share a card I recently made honoring veterans. It's a small thing but can extend some heartfelt feelings to someone so special and who has sacrificed so much.

I used a retired set that I had but the current catalog has just as great of set called "Loyal and True". Check it out in the annual catalog on page 97.

I want to extend my personal gratitude to three men in my life; my father, husband and brother-in-law, all who served in their youth and were proud to do so.

Thank you to these and so many others, I'm grateful.

Sarah

More Coloring!

Hi Stampers!
I took a day off from my blog yesterday as I was absorbed in Facebook and reading all my birthday greetings!  Wow, so fun to hear from all parts of the country and friends from all decades of my life! It really makes me thankful to know so many wonderful people.

I decided to spend some more time coloring yesterday, focusing on Christmas and specifically some retired stamp sets that I knew were perfect for coloring. I won't share any product details as a lot of what I used is retired, but you can see how fun and fabulous our new Stampin'Blends markers are. 

That's all for today!  I'll be back soon with more exciting ideas!
Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Stampin' Blends Coloring!

Hey Stampers!
Today I have some fun things to show you. Yesterday, I held a class featuring the new Stampin' Blends alcohol markers. These are fabulous coloring and blending tools that really make coloring feel artistic and satisfying. How many of you have tried coloring with crummy colored pencils, crayons or markers?  You really have to work hard to get the color on the paper; sometimes the stroke marks show so bad you can't get rid of them and there's no consistency with the color.  Well, there is a great solution to that with the Stampin' Blends. They come in several great colors, two shades of each, a light and a dark. You can buy them individually, as a combo pack or the whole set.  So what can you do with them?  Why color of course!  Here's a sampling of what we did yesterday!

As you can see, we experimented with the "Just Add Color" Designer Series Paper as well as stamping a flower and car image with Momento Black ink. We tried different shading techniques with the dark and light versions of the markers. We even tried coloring on Crumb Cake Card stock after stamping and embossing a flower in white and used the Shimmery White paper (car and presents). It was all a lot of fun and a great way to try the markers and see what we liked best. There is a learning curve to blending and coloring, but it is super fun and easy to catch on to.

Interested in trying some of this for yourself?  Here's a link to the markers and more information!

Store: Stampin' Blends

I'll be hosting more of these workshops in the future so I hope you can come and see if you like these new pens.  I think they would be really fun with all the adult coloring books that are out there now!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Gathering Together

Hi Friends Who Stamp and those who wish they did!
At the risk of you thinking I have a one-dimensional personality and my life is all about stamping, it isn't! However, this blog generally is!  It's a way for me to share what I'm up to, offer some tips and techniques and hopefully inspire those of you with a similar love for this hobby. My dilemma this time of year is loving both Thanksgiving and Christmas and wanting to feature both all the time!  Today I've chosen Thanksgiving again and have a fun combination of sets for you.  Here's my card:

This is a very simple card that could be made much more elaborate if you wanted. I kept the stamping to a minimum and then used some simple die cuts. Did you know if your different card stock pieces are small enough, you can run them all through the Big Shot at the same time?  This really saves some time and energy and worth doing if you have several diecuts to make.  My door is a great stamp from the "At Home with You" set. There is a bundle of stamps and framelits for this set so to step up this card, i could have made the door open with a sentiment behind it. I chose to keep it simple. For my background, nothing beats the various wood motif papers when you are building a house!  The pumpkins and greenery are from the "Pick a Pumpkin" set. I've certainly used that one a lot over the past few weeks.  Lastly, the lovely sentiment is from the very, very popular "Painted Harvest" stamp set. Stampin'Up! recently shared this is one of their most popular sets from the Holiday Catalog this year and I can see why!

I hope the season of thanksgiving is a special time for you and your loved ones. It can also be tough with the memory of those no longer here to celebrate with, but hopefully their memory is a cherished and warm one. It's so satisfying to take a few moments, slow down and think over some past Thanksgivings that are part of our stories.

I hope you are able to gather together with those you love this season.
Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Shining some light on the Holidays!

Happy Monday!
The card I want to share with you today perfectly reflects the status on the ground here in SW Montana... snow!  Lots of snow!  It's been snowing for days and continues on today. It's so pretty and so much work to deal with!  That's okay, it's part of what we love around here, at least most of us!

There are some Stampin'Up! products that evoke nostalgia in some way. For me, the "Brightly Lit Christmas" bundle is one of those. I think it's the lamp post that takes me somewhere quaint and memorable but I'm not exactly sure why. Anyway, here's one of the most favorite cards from my recent Card Buffet, featuring this set:

There's a good amount of sparkle in this card including the glimmer paper snow, the bling on the banner, the sparkly ribbon and the foil paper lights in the lamp post.  I kept my color scheme pretty simple on purpose but this card would also be fun with some red and green thrown in. Here are a few more examples:

On the one above, I went a more traditional route with red and green. the "Christmas Around the World" Designer series paper has some coordinating wreaths and gift boxes that can be cut out with the dies making it super easy to dress up a card. I also experimented with the music sheet background.

On the one above, I went back to a favorite tool, embossing past and tried to create the sense of a brick wall that the lamp post is by. Again, I kept this color scheme pretty easy as well.

Here's a peek at the whole bundle so you can see all the options:



Stampin'Up! has gotten so creative and detailed with their stamp and framelit bundles. There are unlimited possibilities of creative options for any project.

It's not too late to dive into a Christmas project!  Check out the Holiday catalog (on the right) and start dreaming about your next masterpiece.  Please contact me if you have any questions or need help bringing an idea to fruition! I love to share in the fun of your great ideas...

Have a great start to your week!
Sarah

More card buffet sneak peeks!

There's still time to come and join the fun... 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today!  Check these out!

Sneak Peek at Christmas Card Buffet

Hi friends!
We got a good layer of snow all over the Gallatin Valley here in Montana and boy is it pretty outside!  You know what that means... it's getting closer to Christmas!  Many stampers choose to make their own handmade Christmas cards each year and can't wait for new ideas, stamps, techniques, etc. To help facilitate that inspiration, I offer Christmas Card Buffet classes periodically starting usually in July. My latest one is this evening from 5 to 8 p.m. and tomorrow morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  If you are in the area, please stop by and if you need specific directions to my house, contact me!

Christmas is a wonderful reason and season to get crafty. There is no shortage of supplies, ideas, cute stuff and amazing artistic elements. My dilemma is keeping my card selections at the buffet limited to less than 20, as that is about all that will fit on the table!  If you've never been, I precut the supplies for a card and gather up everything you need to make a specific card that I have designed. The card and the supplies are in a shoebox. You grab the box for the card you would like to make, make it, then grab another box, etc. Some friends come for just a few minutes, make a special card and then head out to continue their busy day. Other friends come first thing and stay the whole time and make 10-15 cards!  It's your choice and designed to allow you to choose what you want to do and work at your own pace. I hope you can stop by and check it out. It's a lot of fun and you never know what surprises or promotional specials I may throw in for those that attend ;)

Here are some sneak peeks of cards that are on my buffet this time!  Which is your favorite?

This is only a sampling!  I will take some more pictures of the rest and show them tomorrow.  You can see my ideas are pretty varied as far as style, themes, colors, etc. I like it all and love to play with it all! 

If you can't swing by the buffet, you can still get some supplies and get going on your own Christmas card projects. Click on "shop now" to the right and then go to the Holiday Catalog link in the store. You'll find tons of inspiration and just what you are looking for. It's easy to set up an online account and have your order delivered directly to you, no matter where in the United States you live!  I would love to expand my customer base and would welcome any newcomers!  I'm available for ideas, questions, coaching, problem solving and crafting fun and with all the avenues of social media, distance is a minor distraction, right?!!

Well, I have a busy day ahead of me. Hope to see you this evening or tomorrow morning!
Happy Stampin'!
Sarah