It is always difficult to make Sympathy cards.  No one likes to make them but they are necessary.  In  the Stampin'Up  Occasions mini there is a set called  Thanks for Caring  on page 13 that I had to purchase.  I like the simplicity of the images and the sentiments. 

Stamps:  Thanks for Caring and Elements of Style
Ink:  VersaMark, Marina Mist
Paper: Very Vanilla
Big Shot:  Elegant Lines TIEF
Punches:  2 1/2" circle
Extras:  Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight Watercolor crayons, gold embossing powder

Clean and simple card.  Hopefully I will not need to send it anytime soon. 

Yippee!  Today is the start of Sale-A-Bration!  You know this is a great time to host a stamping party!  I have added the Sale-A-Bration brochure on  the left margin of the blog so you can see what all the sale-a-brating is about. 

If you are unable to host a "live" stamping party please consider hosting a catalog party.  The excellent  Sale-A-Bration benefits and hostess plan are  the same for a catalog party.  You can also place an order directly with me via my online store and you will receive Sale-A-Bration benefits on your customer order of $50 (merchandise total) or more. 

This is the card idea I took to SU leadership as my shoebox swap.  The only difference is that the card I took had a Real Red border and Bashful Blue frosting.  I love this cupcake punch and matching stamp set.  Both of these items can be found in the Occasions mini catalog.  Notice the double folder embossing Pink Pirouette border.  I used both the Perfect Polka Dots folder and the Elegant Lines folder.   I am working on a little kit using the cupcake punch and stamp set so check back for all the details!

Yesterday I shared with you a couple of Valentine cards I made at the shoebox swap while in Nashville TN.  Here is another card  I made and it was designed by Leslie Banks.  I love the color combination that Leslie put together.   It is  stunning and not one I would have thought of. 

Pretty cool huh?  Here  are the supplies she used.
Stamps:  Awash with Flowers
Ink:  Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Garden Green
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White. Brights Patterns                 Designer Series Paper stack (both Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry are in this                 paper stack!
Ribbon:  Basic Black Taffeta ribbon
Buttons:  Brights Designer Buttons

If you are wondering what or where the Patterns Designer Series Paper stack is, look at the top of page 175.  Each stack represents a color collection.  You get 40 sheets  of paper total,  ( 2 each of 2 double sided designs in each of the 10 colors in the collection).   The designs are very easy to work with and suitable for all kinds of occasions.  The stacks are a great way to get lots of different colors of DSP and who knows you may come up with a fresh new color combination!  If you want to  order your own DSP stack, you can go to my website or click on the link in the upper right hand side of the blog and it will take you to online ordering.  You can also contact me directly.  

While in Nashville TN for  SU Leadership I participated in a shoebox swap with 40 other demonstrators!  The organizer, Sherrie does a great job of managing the swap and it is a lot of fun.  How this particular swap works is you bring the supplies to make 20 cards (same design) and you bring 20 completed cards.  Here are 2 of the cards we made.  I apologize that I do not know who designed these cards. 

Stamps:  XOXO (Occasions mini catalog)
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Love Impressions DSP (Occasions mini catalog), Glimmer                 Paper(LOVE this!  Occasions mini catalog)
Punches:  Scallop edge punch
Ribbon: Real Red grosgrain
I hope that we get lots more colors of the Glimmer paper.  It is so sparkly and leaves no glittery mess.  You need this!

Stamps:  Valentine Defined
Ink:  Blushing Bride, Real Red
Paper:  Blushing Bride, Real Red and Love Impressions DSP
Punches:  Full Heart ,  Curly Label and Dotted Scallop Ribbon border
Big Shot:  TIEF Framed Tulips (another must have in the Occasions mini)
Ribbon:  Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon and Blushing Bride 1/2" stiched ribbon
Extras:  Rhinestone bling

I will be sharing more from the swap and also the card I made.  Check back soon!

The eye candy at Stampin'UP Leadership was amazing.  The display boards were really stunning.  Here are a few more things that really caught my eye.

Aren't these simply amazing little snowflakes?  But wait a minute they are made up of keys!  Yes, these little beauties were made from the Trinket keys on page 24 of the Occasions mini catalog!  Wish my mind worked like this.

Wouldn't it be great to have a real cupcake tree?  I would love a Red Velvet cupcake tree that also grew some German Chocolate and Limoncello cupcakes.   I guess until the time comes that someone comes up with one I will have to be happy to make one out of the cupcake punch on page 22 of the Occasions mini catalog!  Isn't this just too cute!

Hold on to your socks cause this next one might knock them off!

Yes, the key made out of keys is pretty cool but the one that really amazed me was the portrait of Shelly Gardner (co-founder of SU) made out of Glimmer brads!  Isn't that incredible?  

All of these embellishments and more can be found in the Occasions mini catalog.  I just ordered more so let me know if you need a copy and I will get one to you!

Hi Y'all!  Can you believe it?  Nashville is colder than it is in Seattle!  It snowed a little bit today and there is  some snow on the ground.  Hard to believe.  I have been having a great time at the SU Leadership conference and it is great to reconnect with old friends, learn  new things and get inspired.  I want to share a cool little project I saw on one of the Display boards. 

 
A heart made of all kinds of trinkets!  There are all kinds of different embellishments from baubles, keys, crowns and they all can be found in either the SU catalog or mini catalogs.  Pretty amazing little project.  

If you want to make your own little charmed heart give me a holler and I will be happy to help!

I am leaving in the morning for Nashville!  No I am not going to become a country singer, I am going to SU Leadership meeting.  I love this event becuase I learn so much and leave excited and inspired.  I am in need of some inspiration so this comes at the perfect time for me. 

Here are a few quick cards I made using the Simply Sent Sweet Hello kit (p age 183) .  I know I have shared how quick and easy these kits are to use.  I decided to use some punches and die cuts instead of the pretty ribbon flowers that come with the kit.

Here I used the punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch pack and the Beautiful Wings embosslit.

Here I used the Aviary set and OOOPS a retired punch that I obviously still like to use called Trio Flower punch.

Here's another that uses the Beautiful Wings embosslit and words from Fligth of the Butterfly.

Again these kits are super easy to use and perfect for the novice and the expert!

I plan to report in from Nashville so check back with me soon!

So, have you tried the Double Folder embossing?  I have received some questions about the exact procedure on how to accomplish this technique.   The first time I emboss the cardstock in a TEF you can run it through your Big Shot on tab 1 but when you emboss the 2nd time  use no tabs.  I have noticed that with my Big Shot a lot of the newer TEF can be run on no tabs and still get a great, deep impression. 

Here's what cardstock vellum looks like using the Double Folder embossing technique.

I used the Framed Tulips TEF and the Manhattan FlowerTEF.  Isn't it pretty?   Here I ran the Manhattan Flower TEF first and then the Framed Tulips TEF.

Here's a card I made using the DFE (double folder embossing) and cardstock vellum. 

This is a quick and easy card.  I wanted the embossing to be the main focus on this sample.

Stamps:  Valentine Defined (Occasions mini 2011)
Ink:  Early Espresso and Versamark for the heart
Paper:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Cardstock Vellum, Pretty in Pink
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots TEF, Framed Tulip TEF
Punches:  Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle and 1 1/4" circle, Heart to Heart
Ribbon:  Pretty in Pink taffeta
Extras: Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Hope you try this  technique and let me know if you need more Textured Embossing Folders.

I spent a little time in my stamp room playing around with the Double Folder embossing idea.  I did try it with cardstock vellum but that card is not finished yet so check back tomorrow and I will have that one to share.  So, have you tried the double folder embossing? 

Here's a really simple and quick card I made today.

Stamps: Valentine Defined and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Early Espresso,Regal Rose and VersaMark
Paper:  Early Espresso, Whisper White and Regal Rose
Big Shot:  Framed Tulip TEF and Perfect Polka Dot TEF
Punches:  tiny heart from the Owl Punch and Heart to Heart
Extras:  Iridescent Ice EP

First I stamped the heart tree on the Whisper White and then i embossed the polka dots and then the framed tulip.  Stamping before you apply texture is always easier than stamping after you have run the folders.  I wanted to add a little something to this simple card idea so I used the VersaMark and inked up a piece of Regal Rose cs and then sprinkled on the Iridescent Ice ep and heat.

This is a super simple card but I think it is sweet.  I want to put in a plug for the Valentine Defined set.  I really like this set.  I think it will work for a lot of different occasions and not just for Valentine's Day.   The set can be found in the Occasions mini catalog.

Okay check back tomorrow for more double folder embossing and samples from the Occasions mini catalog.

Today I wanted/needed to get back into my stamping life.  I have been away from it for a month and now that the move is done and the holidays  are behind us I have no more reasons to delay.  I wanted to use my new Framed Tulips textured embossing folder (TEF).  This folder is one of the new products in the Occasions mini catalog.  One of my downline, Louise says this folder is sweeter than honey so i knew i needed to work with it.  When I looked at it I immediately thought that it would be so cute if I could also use the Perfrect Polka Dots TEF with it and have little dots fill the frame.   Here is what I came up with.

 
Stamps:  Valentine Defined and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Pear Pizzaz, Black Stazon, Real Red
Paper:  Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz, and Real Red
Big Shot:  Framed Tulip TEF (page 28 of the Occasions mini catalog) and Perfect Polka Dot TEF
Ribbon:  Real Red satin ribbon
Extras:  Dazzling Diamond glitter on the little red hearts.

I cut the White cs 4 x 5.25".   I stamped my image allowing a little room for  the frame.  I then ran it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots TEF  and then put it in and ran it through  using the Framed Tulip TEF.  The dots do get smashed down a little but you can still definitely see them.  Pretty cool huh?  I love the way this looks, these 2 folder were meant to go together.   I am going to experiment and see what other folders might look good together.  The other thing I need to try is this double folder embossing with cardstock vellum.  I wonder how that will work.  I will definitely be playing around with this idea some more and will of course share the results with you. 

If you want your own Framed Tulip TEF you can order it today!  Go to my online store www.sharonstamps.stampinup.net, email me or give me a call.  I know you are going to love this folder after all like Louise says it is sweeter than honey!