Thanks for checking in with me!  It is going to be a busy day so this will be short and sweet kinda like me( haha!  remember I said "kinda")  I havea bunch of running around to do and want to get it all done before it gets too hot.  Here's a quick card using one of my fave new sets...Aviary. 

Stamps:  Aviary and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Peach Parfait and Poppy Parade
Paper:  Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, and Sunny Garden DSP
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dot folder, Circles # 2, Scallop Circles #
Punches:  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
Embellies:  Bitty Buttons, linen thread

Have you been thinking about hosting a Stampin Up party or a catalog party?  Call me and let's get it scheduled.  I have a few open dates in August and it will be a GREAT month to be a hostess.  I will fill you in on all the details tomorrow!

Don'tcha ya just love that there are more single stamps in the new catalog and that they are now in the front of the catalog?!  Every time I say single stamps I think of that Beyonce song and think we need to come up with new lyrics to fit...oh you should have put some ink on it!   Not to worry I won't sing it to you.  Anymay ( yes, I meant to type anymay and not anyway.  This word is brought to you courtesy of Debbie.) I had to get the So Many Thanks stamp and unlike my usual purchases I actually had an idea on how I was going to use it.  This is not exactly what I envisioned but it is close.

 

isn't it sweet?  Here's what I used to make it.

Stamps:  So Many Thanks and Homemade (both are single stamps on page 18)
Paper:  Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso (will this become my new Chocolate Chip?), Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink:  Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink (pad and marker) and Regal Rose
Punches:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle Extra-large (NEW!), 1 3/4" CIrcle.
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and Circles # 2
Embellies:  Pretty in PInk Satin ribbon

After making the above card I thought wouldn't it be cute to make it look like a flower.  Well let's just say it looked better in my head than it did in real life. So I made a double thanks for those times when you are really thankful but don't want to write a lot.  Hold on you will see what I mean.

 
I used pretty much the same ingredients except I used Pretty in Pink for the front piece instead of Pink Pirouette.

I am working on a chart showing all the different circles and scallop circles we now have and how they all layer or don't.  It does get confusing as there are a lot of choices with hand held punches and Big Shot dies.  Check back and remind me if I forget to share it! 

In preparation for the Thank You events next week I have been working on spiffing up the stamp room.  I am not doing anything big but there will be some new things to look at.  I wanted to move things around and asked my friend Debbie to help me (she may be little but she is STRONG!).  She agreed to help but I still cannot figure out what to move but I may just move stuff around just to mix it up.  Kinda like when I change things in the kitchen so the BOYS cannot find the glasses. 

One of the things that definitely needed spiffing up were my pens.  I should have taken a "before" picture so you can see what I am talking about. Here's the after.

 

I used the Blossom Party die for the Big Shot and fun foam!  Remember fun foam and flip flops?   The Big Shot cuts the fun foam so beautifully and the Blossom Party die has 5 different  flower pieces you can layer.  I used 4 of the pieces on my flower pens but check out page 213 for a sample that uses all 5!  

You know I love to stamp and make cards.  You would think that I would always have a stash of cards ready to be sent and most times I do but just recently I was caught off guard.  I did not have  time to go and make a card, (hubby was in the car ready to go) and then I remembered I ordered the Simply Sent Sweet Hello kit (pg 183).  I grabbed a card from the kit and inked up a saying and then got in the car.  I attached the cute little ribbon flowers (self adhesive-thank you!)  and we were good to go.  The kit includes the card already printed (the little leaves are dry embossed), ribbon flowers and envelopes!  All you have to add is a greeting.  You get the supplies to make 8 cards.  Wouldn't this kit be perfect to have in your desk drawer for a card emergency?  I also think this would make a great gift for someone who doesn't craft.  You could also  include a few sentiment stamps and a little ink spot. 

So cute huh?

 
Thanks for coming by and please remember to let me know if you are coming to the Thank you events next week!

No, I am not talking about the dessert though I love that too!  I am talking about one of the new colors from Stampin'UP!  Unfortunately I have not been able to get a good picture of the color in all its glory. You will just have to stop by and see it for yourself.  Today's project ie the last one for a new display I am doing in my stamp room.  I am pretty excited about it and I hope you will like it too.  Sometimes I wonder if it looks good or if  I am going off on some kind of weird tangent.  You know what I mean?  So, when you see the display and you think, "what was she thinking?", be gentle and let's blame it on too much caffeine.

 

I took this picture so many times and I just could not get it right.  I think it is time to take a photography class!

Stamps:  Word Play and Music Notes wheel
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Love Notes DSP and Basic Black
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Big Shot:  Vintage Wallpaper folder ( black strip). Perfect Polka Dots folder, and Beautiful Wings embosslit.
Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon border
Embellies:  Basic Rhinestones (page 188 these are really sparkly)

Check back with me tomorrow and I promise I will have a project with a totally different look than the ones I have been posting the past few days!

This past weekend I spent  time in my stamp room getting ready for my Thank You parties. I hope you are planning to come!   Make sure you email or call me so I will have enough make and take supplies.  I gotta tell you I am pretty excited for you to see some of the new display items I have made.  It has been so fun making stuff and it really reminded me of how much I love to stamp.  My room and table are a mess but I figure that's proof of what a fabulously fun time it was. 

The set Just Believe (pg 109) is one of my very favorite new sets.  I know, I know you are thinking Sharon you say every set is your favorite.  Really though, this one would have to be one my mostest favoritest ( see I had to make up words to describe how much I like this set!) of the  new sets.  I am planning on having a class based on this set so you know I really like it!  Before I forget my new class list and maybe a few samples of projects will be at my Thank You party.  I went to a friend's SU Open House (hi Linda!) and she had her class list set thru October! I was totally impressed and in awe!  Anyway back to the stamp set, here is the first card I made on the first inking of the set.

Stamps:  Just Believe and Oval All
Inks:  Cherry Cobbler (totally yummy color), Old Olive, and Black Stazon
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler,Love Letter (this just might be my favorite new DSP)
Punches:  Scallop Oval, Oval Large, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (just put this punch on your list, it is a really good one!  In this sample I am only showing the edge of it, the cute little scallop peeking out.)
Extras: Old Olive Satin ribbon,  Basic Rhinestone (page 188) This is a hidden gem (haha) which is why I am giving you the page number.  You may not be able to find it even with the page number.  It is located in the upper left hand side of the page.  These are really sparkly and you get 150 of them!

Remember to call or email me if you are planning to come to the Thank You parties!  Hope to see you soon!

In this post I talked about how much I liked page 125 of the Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Catalog and Idea book.  If you like page 125 then you have to like page 124!  I like it so much that I decided I needed to CASE (copy and share everything) one of the cards featured on the page.  Here is my take on the card.  It is not an exact copy but it is easy to see which card was the inspiration.

Stamps:  Elements of Style, Music Notes wheel, and Artistic Etchings
Paper: Basic Black textured, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Newsprint DSP (Designer Series paper)
Ink:  Black ink cartridge, Cherry Cobbler,Black Stazon, Basic Gray (for sponging)
Big Shot:  Vintage Wallpaper ( are you getting the idea how much I like this folder?!). Beautiful Butterflies
Punches:  1 3/8" square punch
Embellishments:  Vintage Brads (these are so beautiful) Basic Pearls ( I debated between the pearl and the Basic Rhinestone.  I love them both)  The brad I used has a perfect place for  a pearl or rhinestone)

I think I will be doing a lot more "CASE" Studies.  There really are so many fabulous samples in the catalog I will be busy for quite a while.  If you don't have the 2010-11 SU! Catalog you really need to cotnact me so you can do your own CASE study!

Last week was Hostess club week.  It is always a fun time and it was really interesting to hear what everyone was loving in the new catalog.  One page that got a LOT of attention is page 125.  I was pretty happy to hear that since I love that one too!  In fact one of my projects was a quick card using the Music Notes wheel.  This is a standard size wheel.  I was really happy to give it a roll (haha) and find that it is GORGEOUS!

Here is the card we made in club and this is a super quick and easy card.

The only difference is I used a different embossing folder in this sample, Vintage Wallpaper instead of the Elegant Lines. 
Stamps and Wheels:  Music Notes and Thank You Kindly
Ink:  Basic Black pad and Basic Black standard wheel
Paper:  Very Vanilla and Basic Black
Big Shot:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (totally love it)
Extras:  Real Red Satin ribbon

Since I had the wheel and ink cartridge outI decided to play a little more with the wheel.  Here's another quick and simple card featuring products from page 125.

 

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Music Notes wheel and Oval All
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Brushed Silver
Ink:  Black Stazon, Black ink cartridge and Encore SIlver (oops! this pad is no longer in the SU! Catalog) 
Big Shot: Elegant Linge embossing folder ( definitely another must have!)
Extras: 5/8" Basic Black grosgrain ribbon

Check out pages 218 and 219 for all your wheel options.  I think you will wheely (haha) like it!

So, are you loving the new catalog?  Isn't it beautiful?  So many ideas and the new colors make me happy!  I have been looking forward to playing with the Aviary stamp set and I finally got a chance to do that.   This is the first thing I made and I got to tell you that this little owl just makes me smile.  I also wanted to incorporate the In Colors so I can get comfortable with them.   Hope you like it and it brings a smile to your face.

Here's what I stamped inside. 

 
  
  
Stamps:  Aviary and Word Play
Paper:  Concord Crush (sorry it looks like black in the picture) Blushing Bride, and Whisper White
Inks:  Basic Gray, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzaz, Poppy Parade, Concrod Crush, Blushing Bride
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Scallop circle from the Pennant die, Circles #2

Fun stuff!  Have a fabulous day and if one of your possibilities is to become a SU! demonstrator give me a call.  I would love to chat with you about it!

Here is another card we made at the Watercolor Trio class.  The ovals act as a closure for the card.  Just something a little different. 

 

Stamps:  Watercolor Trio (only one set!)
Inks: Blushing Bride (new color), Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant
Paper: Sahara Sand, Elegant Eggplant, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla
Big Shot:  Square Scallop Clear die, Finial press embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslit
Extras: Large oval punch, scallop oval punch

Call or email me to order your set today!