The Tour is Over

I hope you enjoyed the Blog Tour. The links are gone for this tour, so I hope you bookmarked all your favorites. Our next tour will be July 27 and 28. It will coincide with the launch of our yearly catalog, so be sure to stop back here in July for updates!

Welcome to the May 15th & 16th Blog Tour

Welcome to

Tour #5

Stop #5

Welcome to Stop #5! This tour features 20 stops featuring projects using stamp sets from the 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog. Hopefully you've poured yourself a glass of tea, Coke or (in my case) ice cold water, have your feet propped up and are enjoying all the wonderful projects on this tour! Be sure to bookmark your favorite stops as the links that make up this tour will be gone at midnight on Saturday (May 16th)!

I am using the cutest stamp set - Animal Crackers (113395, page 49) and I had so much fun creating projects for this stop on the tour that I had to just stop and walk away so I could work on other projects!

The first card uses the little penguin sitting on an ice cube image. Because penguins are black and white, I wanted to use just those colors for the card...the only color I used is the Bashful Blue Stampin' Write marker for the ice cube. I didn't want the top layer to be totally plain so I used a Texturz Plate to give it a little umph. I punched the Basic Black layer with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch and the Shimmery White layer with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch. Isn't he just the cutest little thing looking out that "window"?

Stamps: Animal Crackers

Paper: Basic Black, Shimmery White

Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink, Bashful Blue Stampin' Write marker

Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Harlequin Texturz Plate

The next project uses the squirrel image. He instantly reminded me of my dad! Not because my dad is "squirrely" or has a big, bushy tail but because my dad LOVES peanuts!! I used the Sizzix Matchbox Bigx XL Die to create a box and its cover. The "belly band" is also cut from a piece of DSP and the tag is one of the tags on the Matchbox Bigx XL Die. As you can see by the second view of this project, the matchbox is filled with peanuts! :o)

Stamps: Animal Crackers

Paper: Riding Hood Red card stock, Whisper White card stock, Candy Lane DSP
Ink: Basic Black & Going Grey Classic Ink

Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Matchbook Bigz XL Die, mini glue dots

The third project is one that I made for my niece. She's a gymnast and the giraffe holding the star was just perfect for her! I love making little treat bags and really can't believe how easy they are! I used black, red and white jelly beans because those are her team colors (as well as her beloved UGA Gym Dawgs!). I couldn't wait to give her this little treat bag and see the big smile on her face....it was priceless!

Stamps: Animal Crackers

Paper: Basic Black, Real Red and Whisper White card stock

Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink

Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Top Note Bigz Die, Small Cellophane Bag

My last project uses the little rabbit image. This one reminds me of my nephew....he's always moving! I just look at this little guy and think, "Donny!" I was blog-surfing one day and saw this color combination as a challenge and just had to try it out for this card. It's not a color combo I would normally put together so I had to challenge myself.....that is why it's called a challenge, right?!

Stamps: Animal Crackers

Paper: Barely Banana, Real Red, Basic Black and Confetti White card stock

Ink: Basic Black & Creamy Caramel Classic Ink

Accessories: Aqua Painters, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

That is it for my leg of this tour. I hope you enjoyed your visit and the projects I created. I hope you'll leave me a comment to tell me how you liked my projects and come back to visit often or you'll subscribe to my blog. There are more stops and some great projects for you to see so I'm sending you on your way to Dawn Dickinson at Stop #6. Dawn is showcasing Trendy Trees and I'm sure you love what she's going to show you!

Click on the "Next Blog" icon below to travel to Dawn's blog. This icon will be used throughout the tour to help you find your way to the next stop on the tour.

Mother's Day Cards

This was the first Mother's Day that I got to spend with my grandmother in a long time and I couldn't wait to get to my parent's house to spend the day with my mom and grandmother! Since these two women are a lot alike (don't tell my mom I said that!), I knew that I had to make two cards that were alike only different! My mom's favorite color has always been yellow so I used Summer Sun for her card and my grandmother had a pink rose bush that had grown up her garage wall and over the opening so I used Regal Rose for her card.

They loved the cards...and their gifts. ;o) The day was wonderful...great weather, great company, great time!

At last!!

After my trainer didn't show up for our session this morning, I came home and got started on Brittany's b.day/graduation party invitations. They're not totally finished but I wanted to get the finished version posted. I'm happy with the way they turned out and Brittany really likes them so that makes it even better!

The stamp set I used is the new set "Great Grad". The base card stock is Basic Black and I made the invite a top fold card. I used Whisper White for both the outside layer and the inside sentiment layer. I stamped the "Graduate G" twice - once in Basic Black and once in Brilliant Blue. I punched out the Basic Black one with the 1 3/4" circle punch and sponged the edges with Brilliant Blue. I then punched the Brilliant Blue one with the 1 3/8" circle punch and adhered the blue 'G' over the black 'G'. I used Dimensionals to pop this up. The outside Whisper White layer was run through my Big Shot with the Texturz Flourish plate to give it something extra....it looks great! The ribbon is a royal blue organdy ribbon that I bought at a local craft store....it matches perfectly! What do you think?

Outside view

Outside view with peek to the inside.

Before they were punched.....

after they were punched and put together....

after the Dimensionals were added.
They look like "poker chips" in this view to me. LOL!

I hope the wait was worth it for y'all! I had fun putting everything together and look forward to working on my Mother's Day stuff tomorrow! Hopefully I'll have those cards completed and posted for you to see....at least I know my mom, mother-in-law and grandmother won't see them here! ;o)

Ever have one of those days....or two of those days?

The past couple days have been "those days" for me! I've been taking care of a family emergency since last Wednesday and even though it was supposed to be over Sunday evening for me it has continued until tonight! UGH!

I was able to get the card stock cut for Brittany's birthday/graduation invitations before I got a call and had to run out the door. Tomorrow I'm hoping to actually get one invitation put together, scanned and posted for you all to see! If I'm really lucky I'll get all of them done and in the mail...but I'm not holding my breath! ;o)

I hope you all have a great night....and remember to hug the ones you love....and be good to them!

It's Graduation Season!

I have a Senior! I can't believe it but I do! I haven't been able to stamp much this week because of a family "issue" but I was able to get Brittany's birthday/graduation party invitation samples done for her to choose which one she wants to go out to everyone. I was surprised when she picked my favorite....pleasantly surprised since it's also one of the easiest I did! ;o) I had to change one thing on it and I didn't want to show you until I made one of the "real" ones with the change. I'll post that as soon as I get it done....most likely Sunday.

I really can't believe that not only will Brittany be graduating at the end of this month but she'll also be turning 18! All this within days of each other....She turns 18 on a Friday, we'll have her birthday/graduation party on Saturday and she graduates the following Tuesday! Where did my little preschooler go? I can't believe she'll be going off to college in a few short months....even if she is going to school nearby! ;o) I am SO very proud of Brittany and super excited about this next phase of her life...and mine!

Be sure to check back Sunday evening to see the invitation that will be sent out for Brittany's celebration and tell me what you think about it!

Scrapbooking Starter Kit Promotion

In celebration of National Scrapbooking Month, join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator for only $75 with our limited-time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. The Scrapbooking Starter Kit contains the following:

Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set* - $42.95
Simply Scrappin' Petal Party - $19.95
Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12") - $11.95
Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad - $7.50

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $43.95 value.


Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items. Please see the Scrapbooking Starter Kit Order Form for details. The Scrapbooking Starter Kit also contains all the business supplies contained in the standard Starter Kit:

Getting Started DVD
Getting Started Guide
Guest Invitation Postcard (100)
Idea Book & Catalog (8)
Occasions Mini Catalog (8)
To My Hostess Envelope (10)
Recruit Folders (5)
Recruit Brochures (20)
Hostess Brochure (20)
Hostess Benefits Form (10)
Customer Order Form (50)

You can either join my team via my website or we can get together to complete the paperwork and mail it in. If you have any questions or need more information, don't hesitate to contact me!

Exciting Scrapbook Promotion!

Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking Month? For many people, scrapbooking has played an important role in their lives. It may have started with something simple: the first time they placed a sticker on a piece of paper or picked up a camera. Perhaps for you, it was the first time you realized you could leave your family story for future generations to read, enjoy and learn from.

During the month of May, we are celebrating National Scrapbooking Month. This is an opportunity for you to create while you save money at the same time....two different ways!

1. Buy three packs of Designer Series paper (including our Specialty Designer Series paper) or 12" x 12" textured card stock, and get one FREE! There is no limit to how many free packs of paper you can get, you can mix and match your paper and ALL Designer Series paper, Specialty Designer Series papers, and 12" x 12" textured card stock are eligible for this promotion!

2. Buy a sneak peek stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog--Jumble Alphabet (set of 52; double-mounted)--at a 20 percent discount. There is no limit to the number of sets you can purchase at 20% off and this special is only available during the month of May.

Contact me if you would like more information.