Hello Baby!

I've been playing around a little with some of the products I love that are retiring next week. I will still have them, they just won't be available for sale in the catalog. I could shed a few tears over that, but the good news is there are plenty of new things to catch my creative attention!  Besides, life is to precious to cry over craft supplies at any time !!

I needed a baby card recently and this was what happened. I love the alphabet embossing folder and thought it gave me a good base layer. A baby has no interest in the ABC's but that is coming!

I've listed the supplies below in case you are interested in reproducing this card. Act quickly before they are gone!

Here's one more baby card that I made, though didn't like quite as well. I do like the Itty Bitty Baby stamps, especially the face of the baby... Makes me smile!

Anyway, there are some ideas for you!  Designing the layout of a card is the hard part for alot of people so even if you don't care for the color scheme or the theme/occasion of a card, check out the design layout and see if it's something that you could possible use or even make your own with some tweaking.

Almost the weekend...
Sarah

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Graduation!

What a fun time of year!  I enjoy going to the grad parties we get invited to, when we can and celebrate the achievements of the graduate. Many of them I remember as little kids and it's always a shocker that they are all grown up!

Here are some more cards for graduation that could easily be altered to fit any occasion!

This one combined some great paper with ribbons, washi tape and the "Celebrate Today" stamp set from the Occasions Catalog. It's great when individual words are separated out in a stamp set so you can combine them, i.e. Happy and graduation.

These next two were made from a school-themed paper I had stashed in my drawers.  I love the color scheme:  So Saffron, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand and Night of Navy.

In the coming days, I'll be focusing on some new products from the new Annual Catalog which premiers on June 2nd!  My open house that day is from 10-12 and/or 5-7. If neither of those times are convenient, just stop by and I'll have a catalog here for you to grab and some displays to show you. Let me know if you need directions to my house!

have a great Wednesday....
Sarah

Back at it!

Real life pressed in a little the last couple of weeks and my blog was not the priority!  I have been keeping up with my little side business of card selling and also fit in a trip to the homeland... Rapid City, South Dakota!  All of it is fun!

I have some graduation cards to show you today and tomorrow. I realize not everyone needs grad cards, but they can easily be adapted for another occasion. Take the techniques and design ideas and use them for what you need !

First, I love to make cards out of maps!  The original map for this card is about 2-1/2 x 4' big, the whole United States and part of Canada and Mexico. It came from a geology friend and don't tell him I cut it all up because he would probably cry, haha!

I am in the process of cleaning my room somewhat and found some beloved stuff I had forgotten about so you won't see alot of Stampin' Up! product in these, but that's okay. It feels unbelievably good use up some things I've had around for too long!

The next card features stamping on Vellum. For best results, I would use a Stazon ink as I think it will dry better. I used Stampin'Up! ink and then used my heat tool to make sure it was dry. The background paper is some old map paper from SU! And, yeah... washi tape!  instead of actually using the arrow paperclip as a clip  (because it covers up too much of the clip), I attached the paper clip with a small glue dot and now you can see the whole thing!

The last card today is a favorite Stampin'Up! paper pack called "I am Me". I love the camera and travel motif. I don't know why, but I really like to use any kind of travel-themed product for graduation cards. I guess it is the whole "moving on" thoughts it inspires. I had some blank camera film negatives that were fun to staple on there too!

Anyway, lots of ideas for a rainy Tuesday!

It's only one more week until the new catalog goes live!  I can't wait to share it with you. If you live outside the Gallatin Valley and want one, let me know.

I'll be hosting a drop in open house next Tuesday where you can see some of the new product, try some of the new colors out, snack , grab a catalog and order some brand new things! Hope you can come. More details to come...

Meanwhile, back to the craft cave!
Sarah

Coffee, anyone?

This can be a bittersweet time of year in the Stampin'Up! world. While we get incredibly excited to see the new colors and products, it also means that some of our favorites are "retiring" so to speak. I put that in quotes because I don't quit using the things I really like!  This card I am posting today features such a stamp set (Perfect Blend #131392  $10.95). I am not a coffee drinker but I hang out with alot of them... some of my best friends are coffee drinkers... even a daughter and a husband!  This card also features some old Designer Series Paper that had the word mocha in it, so obviously, it was a perfect match!

This is a classic design that I use alot as well with a paper on the top 2/3 of the card and the reverse side on the lower 1/3. Works every time!

Have you checked out the retiring products? There is a list in the store and you can make sure you aren't going to miss out on something you would really like to have. Here's a link:

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=3073

These products will be gone after June 2nd. Speaking of June 2nd, I'm planning on having a new catalog open house where you can stop by and pick up a catalog, see some of the new products, play with the new colors and place an order in the old catalog, the Occasions catalog, or the new catalog (June 2nd is the only day all three catalogs are available!). More details to come...

Have a great Thursday!
Sarah

Diving into the new stuff

I ended up having a little free time on my hand today and so dove right into my UPS box that I featured in my last post. I have a confession to make... it always takes me a little while to warm up to new colors. I have to try them out to see what I like with them. These colors are pretty, but I am stuck a little with what to do with them, i.e. use them together, use them apart, combine them with old colors? Hmmmmmm....

Well, here's the first batch. I'll save my product information for when the catalog is live but if you have a sharp eye, you will see plenty of new products to look forward to!  I'd love to hear your comments !

So far, my favorite is the last one. Which is yours?

Happy Hump Day!
Sarah

When Mr. Brown comes calling....

With a blog post title like that, you are probably wondering, what is she up to?  Ha ha!  It's simply the UPS guy, always faithful, always on the day promised via email and always with a nice smile on his face. He never even makes a snide remark about having to come to my house more than once a week sometimes!

He was here yesterday and is coming back today. Whooppee!  I love new stuff and although it can be hard to decide what to get, it's pretty fun to open the box!

Every year we get 5 new "In-Colors" to play with so that is mostly what I got. Now I get to play. I tried out the ink last night:

I'm looking forward to combining these with some existing colors to create all new color schemes... If you want to dive into some new color, The best way to do it is to order a combo pack of ink pads and paper.  It's coming soon in the new catalog, on June 2nd. More information later, I promise! Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with a card!

Have a great day!
Sarah

Knew You Could, Knew You Would

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a memorable Mother's Day, no matter what you did/didn't do, saw /didn't see!  I know it's tricky for some people and sad for others as well. Motherhood is wonderful to celebrate, hard to do and something you will never forget, right? I was blessed to see two of my kids and get a phone call from the other and spend some time with my own Mom.

I am a morning person by nature and one of those weirdos that actually likes Mondays. I always reset for the week and accomplish a ton, especially Monday morning. Seems like there is all kinds of time to do all kinds of things and there is no way the week has gotten away from me yet!  I've been busy painting my craft room and removing all traces of the middle school daughter that used to live in it. I'll show some pics when I'm done. This is an easy paint job but would make professionals cringe. I'm only repainting the wall space I can see/access. I have some big heavy furniture, shelving, etc that is not getting moved. It works for me and is saving me a ton of back breaking work!

I actually have a card for you today, too!  It's graduation time and how fun to celebrate those milestones. I used a stamp from the Bravo! set  and map paper from the Typeset pad. I wanted to use a generic color scheme so chose Black, Cherry Cobbler and Hello Honey. Here's the card:

I raided my retired stamp supply for the graduation hat and used Happy Graduation from Teeny Tiny Wishes to finish it off. I love this card!

The biggest excitement I have going on today is anticipating UPS delivering my first order from the new catalog!  I hope to finish up the room painting, restore some order and start playing with new colors and products later today!  I'll let you know how that goes tomorrow!

have a great day!
Sarah

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

For the love of Moms

I wanted to return to the theme of Mother's Day since it is tomorrow. Part of me wants to write alot about having a mom, being a mom, etc and part of me doesn't know where to start. I think I will just say that being a mom has been the best adventure of all! I love my kids for their unique, wonderful, kind, talented, faithful personalities and passions. They love me well and I am grateful.  And, I am fortunate to still have my mom with me. While that relationship was once more complicated, it has become very simple with the onset of her Alzheimer's. She knows my name when I walk in the room and asks me the same couple questions and then the conversation fades. I am grateful to her as well for her love and care for our family that still remains, despite most everything else being lost in a fog.

I have a simple card today. It incorporates my all-time favorite color scheme... blue and white!  I have more than a couple of shelves of blue and white dishes in my house, have gravitated towards blue and white linens and even for a time had blue and white flannel pajamas!  Here's the card:

This features produce that is about to retire, so be sure to check out the list and see if there is something on there that you need to grab before it's gone!  I will especially miss the Labels "Framelits" as they have been my go to die cut for several years now.

And one more pic, to honor my Mom....

Have a marvelous weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all...
Sarah

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Graduation, MSU style!

It's that time of year!  Montana State University graduation is tomorrow and every year it catches me by surprise because it seems early!  I'm sure that's not the case for the students however. We have one special friend graduating and know several others so are looking forward to celebrating them and their accomplishments. This year, I decided to make some cards that were specifically for MSU!  I've gotten some great response to them and I'll probably do it again next year. Here it is:

I used the Little Letters framelits for the "MSU" and adhesive transfer sheets so they would stick on without glue. The gold embossed paper is from my treasure trove of random papers.  I also made another card with the appropriate colors and a little bling!

Graduation is always a special event and a great reason to send a card!

TGIF!
Sarah

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Butterflies and more...

Butterflies seem to be really popular right now, or else they just got my attention!  Stampin'Up! has had several sets of stamps and punches featuring the delightful, fluttery creatures and now they have framelits to cut out the delicate ones too!  This card is inspired by something I saw on Pinterest but I tweaked it a bit using our Shimmer White cardstock. You use the remaining piece after you cut the butterfly out as your background, placed over a patterned paper. I only used a couple glue dots in the spine of the butterfly to attach it because I wanted the wings to flutter a little. Anyway, here you go:

I did not take my photo in my usual card photo spot so there is a funky shadow there, but I hope you can get the idea!  What a fun and easy technique/idea!

And, today is special because I registered for the annual Stampin'Up! Convention in Salt Lake City in July.This will be my 4th year going and I can't wait!  I love the camaraderie with fellow demos and friends, seeing all the new stuff and techniques, being inspired by ideas I would never have thought of and participating in all the excitement!  Yippee!!!



Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Got maps?

Ok, here's something really fun to do if you have a bunch of old maps laying around!  My husband was cleaning out some drawers and found some highway maps and Forest Service maps that have long since been replaced by more updated versions. He's so great, he actually asked me if I wanted them before he threw them out!  He's learning...

I had fun cutting away and then figuring out what to do with them. I've got some super fun cards to show you :

I combined some stamping, die cutting and tags to come up with these... Tourism is HUGE in Montana and I hope some lovely tourists go home with a few of my cards!

So, what's languishing in your old map drawer? ;)

Happy Monday!
Sarah

Want to Washi?

If you are not familiar with the paper craft industry, you may not be familiar with the word "washi"... If you have heard of it and haven't tried it, why not?  It's amazing!  Washi is a masking, paper-y sort of tape that is colorful, semi-transparent, repositionable and FUN!  It's been around for awhile and Stampin'Up! has carried it for about 2-3 years now. I have bought some and played with it but not as much as I should have, given how easy it is to work with!  I designed a card using alot of Washi tape and also an embossing folder to help me with placement of the tape. I used the Stylish Stripes folder which has diagonal lines and easily gives you some grooves to lay your washi tape down. Here's the card so you can see what I mean:

How cute is that?!  and easy?!  I love this card and bonus , most of Stampin' Up!'s washi tape is on the retired list, for 40% or 50% off!   If you look closely, you'll noticed a stamped Happy Birthday right on the tape. I used Stazon ink, a permanent ink, that doesn't smear on a slippery surface.  I'm going to make a bunch of these cards! they are fun and easy and as colorful as can be!

Last day of my buffet is today!  Stop by if you have a minute and make this card or another one to suit your fancy!

Washi-ing away,
Sarah

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Watercolor Congratulations

Here's a fun card using some retiring Designer Series Paper that ended being  favorite of mine, Gold Soiree.  It's wedding season big time in Montana, which can be a fun place for a destination wedding!  I love making wedding cards and try to think of different color schemes to complement a couple's plans.  The technique for water coloring that I used is super simple... ink and Aqua Painter. I did switch out the paper to see how it would work. I used our Shimmer White paper instead of watercolor paper. It's a little heavier than card stock and did not disintegrate as I brushed water on it. I love the results!

I heat-embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder and added a few gold sequins for fun. This card is on my card buffet if you would like to make one for yourself!  My buffet is at my house, running from 9 to 1 both today and tomorrow!  Come check out all the fun!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog