Simple Frienship at Last

Oh, I must share that I've had the best weekend! I got to stamp, scrapbook, shop, read and relax, all in one weekend! WOW!

Yesterday, I was playing with a new stamp set I received, Simple Friendship. I had my eye on this stamp set for quite some time, but just hadn't gotten around to ordering it. Now, I'm wondering what took me so long. I absolutely adore the butterfly in this stamp set. I was anxious to use it, so I mounted that baby and stamped! Hum, it wasn't a nice solid image, so I inked it up again and .. hum, still not a nice solid image. So, I pulled out my sanding block and rubbed it over the stamp a few times. Then I cleaned it (oh and in case you are wondering, I did clean it before I sanded it) and tried again .. ah -- perfection! Has that ever happened to you? Sometimes there is a residue left on those bold image stamps that prevents a good clean image, so all you have to do is sand the stamp just a little bit and it works wonderfully! I also had so much fun creating the background for this card. I used the small flower lined image and stamped it using three different colors - Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise. Yeah, I know - who would have thought Tempting Turquoise. But, boy, it really looks great with those colors!! The scallop was made with the Scallop Circle #2 die and the circles were made using the Circle Scissors Plus. As you can image, my table was covered with everything during this creating process! Lastly, did you notice the frayed edge on the ribbon? I actually did that on purpose - ha!!! I used one of my favorite tools - the Paper Piercer to pick off the ends and fray it.

I had a blast playing and creating this weekend - I'm glad I can share my goodies with you!

I'm Still Rubbing!

I wanted to share another card done with the Summer Love Rub-ons and again -- Baja Breeze!! Yeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaw!!! The colors used are Baja Breeze and Basic Gray which ire gorgeous together. Now, I didn't come up with this color combination. Actually, the scallop oval rub-on is done is Basic Gray and Baja Breeze. So, I don't have to think and oh gosh, I'm all about not thinking (how many times have I said that!) I liked this "inspire" rub-on because it coordinates perfectly with the new Scallop Oval Punch that is in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The birds and little *'s are also done with the rub-ons. The DSP paper is Walk in the Park, also in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I can't wait for tonight to rub -- and if you were not able to sign up and are interested in this class, you can order it to be mailed to you with all the products necessary to complete the projects for $20! How's that! You can either email me or purchase below. If you would like to pick up the class kit, the price is $15. The class includes one sheet of Summer Love Rub-ons and one sheet of Bright Delights Rub-ons, along with the cardstock, already cut, and instructions to complete six cards. I guarantee you'll fall in love with all the projects in this class!!!!

Rub-On Class

Kit/Mailed $20.00 Kit/Pick Up $15.00

I hope you have a great day!!!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

I'm so excited that tomorrow is Friday, and the Bright Delights Rub-On Class will be rubbing and rubbing!!! Woo hooo!!!!!

I'm sharing with you a sample of another card I made using the Summer Love Rub-Ons from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I think you all know how much I love Baja Breeze so you can imagine how excited I was that the Summer Love Rub-ons coordinate with Baja Breeze! I love the way the Baja Breeze Button looks tooooo cute in the middle of this rub-on! Also, I took a half-pearl from the Pretties Kit and attached it to the center of the button using a Mini Glue Dot.

I really do enjoy creating projects with rub-ons. While during this class we will be making cards, one of the great features with rub-ons is that you can rub them on almost anything! They are great to use for scrapbooking because you can use them right on a picture!

For those of you attending the class tomorrow night -- I'll see you then!!!

Special Scrapbooking Class!!

Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking Month? Yup, sure is! In honor of this wonderful month (which is also the month my sister gets another year older ... shhhhhh), I have a special class for you! On May 31, 2009, at 2:00 pm, I will be hosting the Tailor Made Scrapbooking Class! During this class, you will make TEN 12" x 12" scrapbook pages from this wonderful Simply Scrappin' Kit. I'm only pricing this class at $35!!!!! Registration and payment for this class will end on May 15, 2009. However, if you pay prior to May 1, class fee will be $30! So, if you would like to go ahead and pay now, just click on the "Pay Now" Button below!

Class Sign Up Dates/Price

Before 5/1/09 $30.00 5/1/09 - 5/15/09 $35.00

I sure hope you can make this class. I had a blast creating these pages!! I know you will too!

Created .. by Vicky

My downline, Vicky, and I often plan many of our classes together. We sorta compliment each other, but really, she just puts up with my creative and non-creative spurts! See, she's really nice (but those of you who have met her already know that)!

So, last weekend she was so excited because she brought this card for me to use at one of my workshops. Now, normally I have this tendancy to change a thing or two and never use anything -- as it is! Well, I just love this card and all the elements and I told her that I wanted to use it with no changes whatsoever! Really, she almost fell out of her chair!!!!! But take a peek - isn't is gorgeous!!! So, the stamp clubs this weekend all made this card and loved it as much as I do! Also, we learned how to set the Jumbo Grommets that are in the Occasions Mini Catalog!

I hope you have an awesome day!!!!!

Many, Many Thanks!

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that I've earned the 2010 Stampin' Up! Incentive Trip to the Southern Caribbean. How did I do this? Well . . .

I'm blessed to have you as my customers, and more importantly my friends. I thoroughly enjoy what you allow me to do by sharing my love of stamping with you. Without you, I would never be able to earn this trip and again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

In addition, I could also not have done this without my downline and theirability to grow their businesses. Their support and friendship again is invaluable and I hope one day one of them will earn the incentive trip!

Thank you all again!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Here .. Really I Am!

This has been a busy week and I'm excited that I've been stamping, playing and creating and having a blast! So, let me share a few things that I've been doing!

This card I created for my Downline Meeting last Tuesday using the Just Beachy Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Now, one of the rules of doing projects at Downline Meetings is that we use current Stampin' Up! Supplies. Being my usual, well sometimes, flaky self, I pulled this cardstock from my prefolded cards and created this. So, when we get ready to stamp it, Vicki kindly informs me that this is not current cardstock -- it's Bliss Blue! Ut oh! Fortunately, they all forgave me and made the card! I think it turned out way too cute and the little googly eyes are just adorable on those fish!!

This is one of the cards that we will be doing at Friday's Rub-on Class! I have six projects, well actually, I've created 10, but I'll have to narrow down what we create! We are using both the Bright Delights and Summer Love Rub-Ons which are colored and beautiful!!! This class is scheduled from 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday, April 24. If you would like to come, if you let me know by Monday, I can include you in this class.

Last, but not least, is the two-page spread that we will be doing at our April 26, 2009 Scrapbooking with Phyllis Class. It starts at 2 pm. If you would like to attend this class, the fee is $20 and payment is due by Monday, April 20, 2009.

I hope you like these projects. I can't tell you how much fun I had creating them!

Walking in the Park with Baja and Gray

Do you see a pattern here? Yup, here is that Baja Breeze again! What am I going to do when it's gone.

This is one of the cards we did at the April Stamp, Play and Create and was a quick and easy card! The DSP at the bottom is from the Walk in the Park package in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The Best Wishes, along with the Scallop Oval Punch is also from the Occasions Mini Catalog! I also incorporated the stamped image behind the scalloped oval punch from the Great Friend stamp set (also in the Occasions Mini Catalog). Matter of fact, we used so many things form the Occasions Mini Catalog because during the month of April, if you purchase $40 from the Occasions Mini Catalog - you can select one item from the "Under $10" page (pg. 208) FREE in the Spring Summer Idea Book and Catalog! Yummy, huh!!!

Below is a picture of the Oval All Stamp Set, as well as the Scallop Oval Punch. If you order both of these items, plus the Walk in the Park DSP, it totals $42.85 and you can select one "Under $10" item FREE! And, you can even do this online by utilizing on line ordering on my Stampin' Up! website! Once you are at my website, just click on the Shop Now button in the upper right corner! Then in the left column, click on "Specials" and it will bring you to the items in the Occasions Mini, as well as the "Under $10" page!

Enjoy this nice sunny day as the rain is rapidly coming! Don't forget tax day is April 15, so make sure you get those taxes done and in the mail!

Circles and More Circle

Since the Circle Scissor Plus Class yesterday, I've been in seclusion .. trying to get my taxes done. Believe it or not, I've succeeded!! Woo hoooo!! And hey, I'm a few days ahead of the due date. Now that's amazing, isn't it!

Here is another project from the Circle Scissor Plus Class using two my favorite colors -- Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip. I'm not sure what it is about this combination, but it is pleasing to the eye and soft and warm. Another of my favorite color combinations is Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip. Ooh-la-la!

The large scallop is from the Carousel Notes found on pg. 157 in the lower right hard corner. You get an assorted package which contain Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss CarouselNotes. The envelopes are square and do take some extra postage, but well worth it, I think! Stampin' Up! has carried this project for some time, but I found it hard to layer until the Circle Scissors Plus was introduced in January. I highly recommend this product!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and to those who celebrate - Happy Easter!

Circle Scissors Plus Class

What's the buzz ... tell me what's a happening!!! Do you know what movie that is from? Let me know!!! Okay, I'll tell ya --- Jesus Christ Superstar. I swear I know all the words to all the songs! These bees, well all I could think of was that song when I was making this card. (Do you think the fact that I used Stazon ink had anything to do with this?)

Tomorrow morning is our Circle Scissors Plus Class and I just wanted to share one of the projects with you. Making circles with the Circle Scissors Plus is just so easy! I had all the projects complete and all the cardstock cut (except for the circles which the participants of the class will be cutting themselves). Mickey came out and asked me if I was still cutting cardstock. Guess what I was doing -- just cutting circles. I'm really excited about all the projects because I thought they turned out way too cute!! It is so nice to be able to cut a circle! I swear this is the best circle cutter that Stampin' Up! has had since I've been around!!

I hope you have enjoyed this wonderful day -- because the storms are coming so stay dry and play inside -- with your stamps!

See ya!

Last Minute Easter Card

Need a last minute Easter card? Here ya go! As you can see, this cute little bunny is made with circle punches and an oval punch. The grass in the background is from the Inspired by Nature stamp set. I love how the creator of this project used the flower brads on the blades of grass which look like the stems!

This card was on display in the Hospitality Room on the Hawaii incentive trip. It really caught my eye!!!

Oh, and how cute is that bunny's butt!! :-)

Butterfly On the Window

This is one of the projects that was shown during the General Session on my recent Stampin' Up! incentive trip to Hawaii using the Printed Window Sheets. I think it is so pretty!!!!

Let's see what is used on this card. The DSP is Walk in the Park and the stamp set is the Great Friend, both of which are in Occasions Mini catalog. I'm not sure you can see in the photo, but the greeting was stamped on the Window Sheet using Brown Stazon. When adhering the Window Sheet, adhesive was applied behind the butterfly. Also, a clip from the Clips Assortment was used. How cool is that!!???

When I first saw the Printed Window Sheets, I too wondered how I could adhere them without the adhesive showing! I'm glad that Stampin' Up! is pointing me in the right direction. Just hide the adhesive with embellishments! Woo hoo!!!!

I hope you have an awesome day!!!

Extended Crease Pad Now Available!

At the April Stamp, Play and Create, we used the XL Matchbox Bigz Die. I don't know about you, but I absolutely adore these cute little boxes!!! One item that really helps to "quicken" the time it takes to create these boxes, is the Extended Crease Pad. I'm excited to say that Stampin' Up! is now carrying this product (woo hoo)!!! It sells for $19.95 and it is Item No. 117630.

What exactly is the crease pad for? It is to be used with dies that having scoring lines in them. That way the cutting lines are cut and the scoring lines and scored! How snappy is that?

Also, I have the Brights Delight Rub-on Class scheduled for Friday, April 24 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The fee for this class is due on April 13 and it is $15.00. You can pay by clicking on the link below with your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or Paypal account. Don't worry though, if you need to make other arrangements, just let me know. Oh, and get this!!! I love the Summer Love Rub-ons in the Occasions Mini, so I've decided to use both the Bright Delights and Summer Love Rub-ons for the class! You will get one sheet of each! Oh goodness, I can't wait!!!

Hope to see you at this exciting class!!!

NEW Stampin' Up! Window Sheets

At Stamp, Play and Create this weekend, I talked about a new product Stampin' Up! is offering in the Occasions Mini - Window Sheets. There are three different products -- Printed Window Sheets, Medium Thickness Window Sheets (7 mil) and Thick Window Sheets (20 mil). I'm excited that Stampin' Up! is offering a video which gives you some ideas on how to use the window sheets! Just click on the picture to the right and it will take you to the Creative Projects portion of my Stampin' Up! website and the first project is the Window Sheets Video! I'm sure your mind with be full of ideas after watching the video! Also, I'll be sharing some projects with you using the Window Sheets in the upcoming weeks, so be sure to come back and check them out!

Hilton Waikohoa Village Resort

I wanted to share with you a few pictures from the resort where we staying during our trip to Hawaii. It was absolutely gorgeous. However, when we first landed on the big island of Hawaii, our trip from the airport to the hotel was pretty ... um .. well, I'll just say we were wondering about the beauty of this island. All we could see was black lava with little growth. Our bus driver told us that this part of the island is a desert and gets very little rain. On the bus, we were all looking at each other thinking, yuk - this isn't very pretty. Check out this picture -- not very pretty, huh! You'll see where there is a word spelled out on the lava. They use white coral to make the words and it is called island graffiti. It was all along the roadway on our way to the resort. And, it is perfectly legal and acceptable. They say if you want to create your own graffiti, just use the coral from someone else .. and rearrange it! Also, they have wild goats -- we actually saw quite a few. Unfortunately, when you are in a vehicle traveling 55 mph, it kinda makes it hard to get a picture!

So, we reached the resort, which was absolutely beautiful! It's green and lush and completely different from what we have seen! Here are some pictures which I hope you enjoy.

Yes, this is actually a waterfall at our resort! There were two of them. The resort covered 62 acres!!














This is the building that we stayed in - the Ocean Towers. Our room had a partial ocean view!! There were three buildings on the resort that housed guests.















Check out these stairs -- I think this was a sick joke! And, I had to walk up them on more than one occasion! I exercised way too much on this trip and actually lost a few pounds!

Here are a few more pictures:






Thanks for helping me earn this trip -- it really was beautiful!!!

Occasions Mini - Not To Be Missed!!!

When I received this mini catalog in the mail last month, I knew I was in BIG trouble! See, I love stamps. I'm a stamp-a-holic. I want everything! Really, I do! I looked through this catalog and just sat there, shaking my head thinking why oh why do I have a budget! So, I was trying to separate the items into what I have to have and want I want. Okay, that didn't work - the lists were the same. Time for Plan B. What stamp sets can I use the most? Well, this worked a little bit better and eliminated four stamp sets from my list. With that, it was time to place my order. Fortunately, as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, we can pre-order the stamp sets the month before the sales period of the catalog AND get 20% off the price (in addition to the 20% we already get). How nice is that? My only regret is that I should have gotten one other set, but oh well! I can always get that later. I think you'll have the same problem that I did - because it's a GREAT catalog!

I had an exciting time today creating projects with you guys during the April Stamp, Play and Create. I focused this workshop on items from the Occasions Mini because Stampin' Up! has the most awesomest (is that a word?) special! If you purchase $40 worth of products from the Occasions Mini, you can select one item from the "Under $10" page of the Spring Summer Idea Book and Catalog. They can be found on page 208. Check it out because there are some really cute stamps and don't overlook the mini note kits for $9.95!! Of course, you can get one FREE! For all the details, click here!!!

While I don't want to give away any other details from the Stamp, Play and Create since we have a class tomorrow (Sunday), I do want to say I had a blast today! It's been three weeks since I've stamped with you guys and boy, I miss it when I go that long between workshops. You guys make me laugh and when I'm with you, all I think about is how much fun we have and I relax!! Thanks so much because I would go looney without you! :-)