Paper Pumpkin April! SERIOUSLY!!

So this month's Paper Pumpkin arrived last night and it was a complete surprise.  I had not seen or heard what this month's kit was and it was SERIOUSLY, a surprise!!  Loved that!  And I love that one of the stamps in this month's kit was this great 'seriously' image!!  Below is the card that the kit is designed to make:

 

 And below are the other cards I made with it!  You know, it is so much fun to colour outside of the lines, isn't it?!;)

The card above, was my second attempt with this month's kit.  I loved the pattern on the card base, so I wanted it to show more!  And aren't the buttons darling?!  (They are in the current spring catalog if you want some to play with but haven't signed up for Paper Pumpkin:)

 For the card above, I had an extra dress framelit cut out in vanilla sitting on my workspace and that's where this idea came from.

 For the card above here, I decided to get out my dress framelits and cut out the dress form in the patterned paper included in the kit.  This card was inspired by the current 'all dolled up' kit Stampin Up is offering.  You can see here for details.

 I had extra patterned paper and stickers, so I made a fifth card even out of a very vanilla base (just using a half sheet of my stash of cardstock).

And below, you can see all 5 cards I've made with this month's kit...which was SERIOUSLY fun!  I love getting these...takes lots of the work out of cutting and measuring for me and I can just create & play!!

If you haven't signed up yet for Paper Pumpkin and you would like to, just click here and sign up (and please specify me as your demonstrator:))...a surprise kit will arrive for you each month (starter kit will be the same as the kit I showed you last month and will include a FREE gift of an acrylic block!)

Earn More for FREE When You Hostess (Through May 31st)

Colour REFRESH! ...and free shipping April 6-8th!

With the new catalog that comes out May 31, 2013 there will be a colour refresh to SU's four colour families.  The colours added to the colour families (many of which are former in colors) are pictured in the banner above.  The table above shows what the new colour colour families will look like and which colours are sadly being discontinued.  As a result, if you love any of the colours that are being discontinued (like I love ridinghood red, more mustard, Baja breeze and not quite navy), you'll need to order your cardstock/ink pad(s)/reinkers/markers etc before May 31st.  (And see below for free shipping coming up this weekend!!)

Here's a video explaining the new colour families after the colour refresh:


And now for the details about FREE SHIPPING which will be available on ALL orders from April 6th - 8th (3 days ONLY!) on ALL orders whether they be online or workshop.  So if there is some cardstock or something you want of the retiring colours, you can place your order without having to pay for shipping between April 6th & 8th  OR if you've been wanting to try the new THIS & THAT product line you can get it with free shipping during this period (I just got mine today...so excited!!)  OR if you've been wanting the Sent With Love bundle, you can get it with free shipping OR anything else your heart desires.  Click here to place an online order (and click shop now once you reach the link)  or contact me by April 6th!!

More details about THIS & THAT and Sent with Love can be found on my SU website.  Just click here.

Sent with Love

Today, I'm posting 4 quick cards I made with the Sent with Love bundle!  I created these in a snap using the quilting technique I previously showed with some valentine cards (and the more amore suite).  I absolutely adore the Sent with Love bundle of products and, as you can see, I can't resist decorating my envelopes too to coordinate with the cards:)

If you haven't ordered your Sent with Love bundle (or just the dsp paper or the stampset if you didn't want all of the coordinating products), then click on my right sidebar on 'shop now' to order yours today or contact me directly to help you place your order.  Sent with Love is only available until April 30th!

Paper Pumpkin - Welcome Kit Alternatives

Just thought I'd show you a couple more ideas of what you an do with the first month's Paper Pumpkin kit...  These are 2 of the cards I made with mine.  On the top card I also used one of the paper doilies in the spring catalog and in the bottom card I used a bit of ribbon from the free ribbon I got in sale-a-bration.

What are you making with your paper pumpkin this month?  If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to do so.  You'll receive the same welcome kit as I did with a free block too!  Just click here and be sure to specify me as your demonstrator!:)

1st Paper Pumpkin

My first Paper Pumkin box arrived this week and so I got to play with all the goodies!  First I made this card from the instructions included in the box!  (For the welcome kit they even included a FREE acrylic block D!)

Then I decided to mix it up a bit as I made the other 3 cards with the contents of the box.  Below is another version of what you can make and I'll share 2 more ideas tomorrow!

Did you receive your Paper Pumpkin this week?  If not, what are you waiting for, why don't you sign up.  Just click here and be sure to specify me as your demonstrator:))

LAST DAY OF 2013 SALE-A-BRATION!

Today is the last day of this year's SALE-A-BRATION and so I couldn't resist sharing one last card using my favourite FREE stamp set from this year's sale-a-bration, Feeling Sentimental.  If you haven't gotten yours for free yet, click here and choose 'shop now' to place a qualifying order online today because tomorrow it will not be available!

I stamped the bicycle image from this stamp set 3 times to create the shadow and feel of motion.  I also used the That's the ticket stampset for the ticket embellishments on this card, and I also used the argyle embossing folder for the background and some first edition dsp.

Sale-a-bration ends TOMORROW!

There are just 2 days left in this year's SALE-A-BRATION, so just 2 days left to get the Sycamore Street DSP and the coordinating embellishments pack for FREE with your order.  If you haven't gotten your free sale-a-bration goodies yet, click here and choose 'shop now' to place your online order!!

 

Today I'm showing you 2 chalkboard cards, one of which (the friendship one) uses the sycamore stree dsp and the coordinating ribbon embellishments.

 

The stampset used for these cards is From My Heart which is in the Annual Catalog, and as with the other chalkboard cards I've posted, the stamping was done with whisper white CRAFT ink.

For a tutorial on how to make cards like these, you can visit Becky's site.  She, like me, saw this idea on pinterest and couldn't resist making her own, and she did a great job of creating a tutorial on how to make the card shape/base too!:)

Club Project 2 - Petite Pocket Mini Album

The second project I did with the ladies at this month's club was this mini album which is made out of 3 petite pockets (using the dye by that name).  To get the variation in sizes I cut 3 pockets out of sahara sand card stock and trimmed one down by 1/2" and one down by 1".

The pockets were decorated with the gossamer lace stamp and the sycamore street (free during sale-a-bration) dsp.  The album was tied together with the sycamore street ribbon (also free during sale-a-bration), and then the focal point is a 1/2" bottle cap with images from the collage curios stampset.  That same stampset was also used for the pulls for the pocket inserts which were made out of dsp also from the sycamore street pack.

Stampin with Sherri Club - Chalkboard Technique

Tonight is our last club of this session and Sandy is the hostess.  It's also just about the end of sale-a-bration, so I was sure to plan this month's projects using exclusive sale-a-bration goodies.

Project 1 tonight will be this card using the chalkboard technique.  We'll be using the vintage verses stamp set and the sycamore street dsp which you can earn for free if you place an order before sale-a-bration ends of March 22nd.  We'll also be using the designer build a brads from the spring catalog and the embossing on the card base is from the tulips embossing folder.

I made a card similar to these earlier in sale-a-bration and decided to do another take on it for the club girls since the chalkboard technique is so popular right now.  One of the keys to doing the chalkboard technique is using white CRAFT ink.  The card base is made out of rich razzleberry which I picked because purple is this month's hostess's favourite colour.

Sale-a-bration - Get your free products before it all ends March 22nd!

There is just a short time left in this year's sale-a-bration.  If you haven't placed your sale-a-bration order to earn your free goodies, contact me today or click on 'shop now' on the right sidebar and place an online order.  The sale-a-bration flyer is also available for clicking on the right side bar.

I have a workshop order going in on Thursday March 14th if you need anything!:)

Paper Pumpkin - March deadline is TODAY:)

Sign up by March 10th (today!)  to receive your first Paper Pumpkin in March.  Orders after March 10th will be shipped in April.

Click here to order OR to find out more!

March's Exclusive Best of 25 Year's Stamp Set

Click on flyer above to see in more detail!

Vintage Touches...

This birthday card I made for my daughter has several vintage touches...  The first I want to mention is the background.  It is made from a piece of tinfoil that I embossed with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  It has the effect of an old tin ceiling almost.  Next, I used the dress form framelits and cut the dress form shape out of some crumbcake, which Is tamped on with images from the Established Elegance stamp set.  Then I created the skirt for the dress form out of several of the paper doilies from the Spring Catalog.  I tied some lace from the Artisan Embellishments Kit around the waist and then added a flower from the flower trim also in the Spring Cattalog.  The birthday banner was made with a greeting from the Apothecary Art stamp set.

Simply Sent

I have loved playing with the Happy Hello Simply Sent Card Kit that you can earn for free during sale-a-bration.  Today I paired it with a sentiment from the Feel Goods stamp set in the Spring Catalog, a bit of First Edition dsp, a paper doily and 2 flowers from the flower trim, also in the Spring Catalog.  I just love the shape of this card, which comes die cut in the kit!

"Bless" Banner - Artisan Embellishments

I wanted to make a spring banner for my home and I went back and forth with what I wanted it to say.  I decided upon 'bless' as it is truly appropriate for both Easter and St. Patrick's Day and we could all use a reminder to focus more each day on our blessings and to bless others too.

My upline (Susan) also provided some inspiration for this banner and the use of the Artisan Embellishments Kit which I combined with my favourite of the dsp pattern in the Sycamore Street dsp pack that you can earn for free during sale-a-bration.  I also used some First Edition dsp (probably my all time favourite) and both summer starfruit and crumbcake card stock.  I had a hard time choosing between the morning post and broadsheet alphabet stampsets for the lettering, but I ended up going with broadsheet...this time.

Banner's are all the rage in home décor right now, so I'm planning to do a class on a banner similar to this using the Artisan Embellishments Kit but using cardstock that coordinates more closely with the kit (vanilla, primrose, pool party/Baja breeze & crumbcake). The banner we will make in the class will be customizable for any (appropriate) four letter word.  I will be making one using the word HOME at the class, but you will be able to customize it to LOVE or MOM>3, etc.    The class will be on April 6th (March 14th registration deadline & spaces limited), and I will email details and invites out shortly.  For the next few days though registration is only open to the ladies in my monthly club.  But if you are interested, feel free to email me if you don't get an invite by the end of the week.  Also, a take & make kit will be available for the class banner.

 

 

Dress Up

 

 

This project was made purely for me.  I just sat down with the Dress Up Framelits, the Artisan Embellishment Kit and the Flower Trim and made what I felt like.  I might find a place for this on my desk at work.  It's pretty and vintage and everything I like and it has my word for 2013 (love) on it too! 

Other items I used on this project were the Established Elegance stamp set and I used an old wooden spool and a wooden skewer for the base for this project (and some hot glue).  I also used a bit of the crumb cake tulle I had left over from the Holiday Catalog for the hem of the dress (sorry, it is no longer available, but the Established Elegance stamp set is, just see in the Annual Catalog).  I got the idea for putting my dress up form into the wooden spool from Kimberley.  Her blog is Stampin by the Sea.  She has a couple of examples on her blog of making skirts for dress forms.  She likes to use the pop-up posies designer kit, here's an example here, and she likes to melt tulle (like the tulle SU had in the Holiday Catalog).

Follow Up Questions

My friend, Hillary, had some follow up questions for me after yesterday's post, so here goes:

1. Where is your dream vacation?
I dreamed of Paris my whole life and then when I went there it was even better than my dreams, so much so, we've gone back 2 times and dream about going again and again:)
Lately we've been talking a lot about Belgium (Bruges & Brussels) too...though we have lots of dream spots (enough that I had to start a 'places I want to go' board on pinterest;)

2. If you could have on super power, what would it be?
Maybe to fly super fast so it didn't take so long to get to all the places I dream of going!;)
Probably more so, I'd love to be able to live my life in such a way that people see God's love and come closer to Him:)

3. What is your favorite old-time TV show? (MASH, Brady Bunch etc.)
Gilmore Girls is what came to mind, but that's not old time is it?  But I miss it!
I think Petticoat Junction is a hoot and remember watching reruns when I was a little girl at lunch...I wanted to be Betty Joe (cause she got Steve;).
And I also remember watching One Day at a Time when I was little.

4. If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chocolate seemed the obvious answer, but I don't think if it was the only thing I could eat that would work, so then I tried to come up with a more balanced response...  I thought about berries, bananas, granola, potatoes, seafood...and many others that I love, but then I came back to it, chocolate, that's what I would eat:)

5. Favorite color, and why.
PINK!  I'm a girlie-girl and have loved pink since I was tiny.  I love all things vintage and feminine and frilly and pink conveys that all.  It feels romantic to me.  Now that said, don't ask me how much pink is in my home (I live with my husband you know so there isn't much), but I love rich colours too...and reds are just darker pinks, so I often have red (or even pink's cousin, purple on).

6. What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?
Go back to Paris with my husband, of course!;)  From there we could plan the good we could do with this good fortune.

7. Do you prefer coffee or tea, and why?
I like both equally.  My great Aunt Bammie gave me tea as a wee girl and so I learned early to appreciate a proper cup of tea (to me tea must be a proper tea leaf, not what many herbal teas these days are made of, and my favourite is black tea with mil).  I love everything about tea...teacup, teapots, teaspoons...it all fits with what I told you I love in #5.
I like coffee too, but I'm more of  latte/macchiato girl than a fresh brew.  I love my Starbucks because it's an experience not just a drink, it's for all your senses, what you see, smell, taste, hear and feel.  There's a richness that I love, and there's something just so friendly about going for coffee with a friend:)

8. Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie?
Both can be good...neither would be my favourite...one a year a slice of either is divine though:)

9. If you had Aladdin's magic lamp, what would your three wishes be?
(1) world peace (seriously that people would know God's love:)  (2) for health & wellness for my family and me and friends (3) to be able to do the things I love to do mainly (not mainly the things that pay the bills)

10. Fame vs. Fortune -what would you choose and why?
I don't think I'd choose either...too much of either would probably lead to a fall.  I have a propensity to want everyone to love me and I've had to learn to surrender that to God because it can lead to people pleasing so I don't think I'd pick fame, though I would like to be liked.
As for fortune, I would like to be comfortable and help people and be able to do the things I dream of doing with my husband, but  I'm afraid that big fortune could lead to striving or stress...you know, the more you have, the more you have to take care of...and there's no freedom in that.

11. Why do you blog? What inspires you
I started blogging as a young mommy to share my thoughts...then I became a bit inconsistent...then I started to create more and my husband told me that I need to share what I created (because he said I gave everything away), so I started sharing my projects on my blog.

I would like to someday really write more.  I have a lot inside of me to say, but haven't found the time to do it consistently, but one day... It's always good to have an idea you're looking forward to:)

Much of my inspiration comes from the people I create things for, and much of my inspiration comes from the places I've traveled and the places I dream about going.

Liebster Blog Awared

I was tagged over at Tanya's Stamps 'n Things for the Liebster Blog Award and in doing so I must share the following things:

•Post 11 random things about myself.
•Answer Tanya's questions for me
•Come up with 11 questions I would like people to answer
•Nominate 11 more people to play along!

11 Random Facts about Me:
1. I do not carry a cell phone around with me most of the time...in fact, if it wasn't for my day job I probably wouldn't have weakened and gotten my own cell phone even yet!

2. My husband says I smile when I am signing cards...sounds like a good trait for a cardmaker, I think;)

3. I'm a hopeless romantic!

4. I love vintage pretties!

5. I don't really trust people who say they don't like chocolate...just seems suspect to me!

6. Paris is my favourite place I've ever been and I could go there again and again...such a beautiful city. In the words of Samantha Brown, "you don't just love Paris, you fall for her!"

7. I love decorating and creating.

8. I'm a girly-girl and I love to primp

9. I love ruffles!

10. I'm not a morning person...still love staying up late when I can and sleepin' in!

11. My faith is super important to me and would rank much higher on the list than any random fact above...somehow this list didn't seem right without mentioning that:)

Tanya's Questions for Me:

1. What's for dinner at your house tonight? My husband took me out to a diner tonight and we had burgers and shared a chocolate shake - quite a treat!

2. What talent or skill do you wish you had? I wish I was an effortless singer. I love to sing. I love to worship. My husband says I sing well, but I would love to be completely effortless with an amazing range...my range is low to mid and not every song fits that range well.

3. What is your favorite way to travel? Where to? I love to travel, but getting from point A to point B is not my favourite. In the car with my family is great for short trips, but anything over 6 hours I'd prefer to fly.

4. What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you anything close to that? I wanted to be a teacher. I ended up being an accountant. Are they close, not really, but I do teach a lot of staff in my job (and in my hobbies)

5. What started your passion for your favorite craft? When my daughter was young, my husband worked shift-work and so I couldn't go out easily to do things with my friends. I spent a lot of years just doing things for others and my husband noticed me looking at scrapbook kits from time to time at the stores, so one day he brought one home for me from Costco and I started to create after my I put my daughter to bed at night. A while later, a woman in my Bible study group invited me to a Stampin Up workshop and it was a Sunday evening and my husband was off so I could go. I went and had so much fun creating with the ladies and I learned the joy of creating something like a card in as short as a half an hour (my scrapbook pages would take me a whole night, sometimes 2)...after that I soon joined a monthly club...after that I got asked to teach from time to time...and after that I became a Stampin Up demonstrator...

6. What is your favorite movie? Midnight in Paris...you must see it if you haven't:)

7. What technology do you use even tho you hate it? Cell phone...I fought this one for a long time and probably wouldn't have it now if I didn't need it for work. I just don't think we need to be THAT available...and others can be so rude with their use of cell phones in public places etc.

8. If you had a weekend completely free to spend exactly how you like, what would you do? I'd go out on a date with my hubby on Friday night (dinner and a movie or something like that...maybe a walk if it's nice). Saturday I'd sleep late and make scones for breakfast and linger with my family...maybe do some shopping in the afternoon...then go to church in the evening and come back home afterward and maybe enjoy a glass of wine and some cheese with my husband while watching some travel videos or something. Then Sunday I would create for a few hours and we'd spend some family time playing board/get-together games and then make a nice supper like a roast chicken and fixings. Or...if money was no object, well fly to Paris with my love, of course;)

9. What is your favorite holiday, and favorite memory of that holiday? My trip to Paris this spring with my husband was my favourite. We were celebrating a special anniversary and to commemorate it we put a lock (symbolizing our love) on the Pont des Arts:)

10. What kind of blogs do you enjoy? I like papercrafting blogs because they inspire me. I also go to the Paris Daily Photo blog each day because I'm over the moon for Paris. And I love going to pinterest...I know it's not a blog per se, but it links me to new and different blogs that I would not find another way.

11. Why do you visit this blog? I visit Tanya's blog because she's a sweet heart. I love to see what she's been creating and how her family is and how her kids are growing and she is one of the most encouraging people when she visits my blog:)

My Questions for My Nominees Below (or anyone else who'd like to play along):
1. How would you describe your creative style?
2. What inspires you?
3. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
4. Do you like to cook...and if you do, what is one of your favourite recipes to make?
5. If you use pinterest, how do you find new pins? (ex. pin directly from the internet, repin from those you follow, specific searches, review popular posts, etc)
6. What is your favourite decadent indulgence (food/beverage related)?
7. What is your favourite way to pamper yourself or a friend?
8. Do you journal? If so, what is your method/frequency/what inspires you to write?
9. Where would you like to retire?/What would you like to do in retirement?
10. Who is someone you admire and why?
11. Do you have any unusual/off-the-beaten path blogs/websites that you visit? Could you share one or two and what you like about them.

My Nominees for Blogs I Really Enjoy:
1. Nadine - The Beautiful Ordinary
2. Hillary - Joy Unspeakable
3. Kimberley - Stampin by the Sea
4. Jenny - Lakeshore Stampin
5. Patty - Patty Stamps
6. Catherine Pooler
7. Monica - My Many Many Passions
8. Amy Celona
9. Shawna - Shawna's Stampin Spot
10. So Shelli
11. Tanya - Tanya's Stamps & Things (my original nominator...one of the sweetest bloggers I know:)

If you participate and answer my questions above and give the 11 random things, please leave a comment below so I can be sure to visit your blog and read what you've posted:)

Birthday Card for a Friend - Chalkboard Method

All over pinterest and crafting blog, I'm sure you've noticed the chalkboard method is en vogue these days.  This card was inspired by one of Sandy Mciver's.  We used different colours and embellishments, but I used her method, meaning, there was no embossing on this card...it is stamped in craft whisper white ink...and the coloured details (in yellow and pool party) were done using pencil crayons (Sandy used water colour pencils).  The upper corner embellishements is made out of one of SU's designer build a brads.  The dsp comes from the Sycamore Street pack that you can earn for free during sale-a-bration and the main image is from Vintage Verses which you can also earn for free.