Good bye to the Olympics ....plus an Easter card

I'm sad that the Olympics are over.  I really enjoyed watching them.  I really got into Curling!  I think I could do that sport!!  Now, I have to wait 4 years to see it again!!  Today's hockey game between USA and Canada was a real nail biter.  There was no "Miracle on Ice" this time but it was a great game.  If we had to lose the game, at least it was Sidney Crosby ("Sid the Kid) of the Pittsburgh Penguins who did the dirty deed by scoring the winning point.  All over the US, people were coming together to watch the Gold Medal game.  In red states and blue states, tournament MVP Ryan Miller was on the tube and hockey was on the national consciousness.  I've always loved hockey and I think this gave the game a well-needed boost.  For the NHL, the 2010 Olympics generated excitement for a forgotten sport and provided an invaluable national spotlight on the game heading into the league's playoffs. 

While I was watching the game today, I was working on getting some organization to my stamps .... mainly my sentiments.  I have all my stamp sets stamped in a loose-leaf notebook in alpha order, but sometimes don't get much past "L" when looking for a stamp.  And I don't know all the sentiments in my sets.  So, I found a little 4" x 6" Photo Book that was empty and got busy.  I stamped all my stamps on 4" x 6" copy paper and organized them by categories (Love, Birthday, Friends, Thinking of You, Get Well, etc).  Unfortunately, I am going to need at least 2 Photo Books!!  Hopefully, this will make stamping a little easier to find the right sentiment.  I'll let you know!

Here's my first "easel card" that I made last week.  It's an Easter card.  The Easel tutorial can be found on Splitcoast.

I used my new stamp set, Abundant Joy (from Occasions Mini).  I watercolored the flowers and used some of the Champagne Mist Shimmery Ink around the edges and on the flowers.  The scallops around the oval frame are made by punching several 3/4" circles and gluing them around the frame.

Here is the card opened up.

Monday Mailer plus 411 Challenge Card - easy too!

Wow, what an easy card this was!  I made this card for my Monday Mailer and for the challenge at Stamping 411.  It was such an easy layout that I didn't even have to think!  The paper is from that wonderful stack of DSP in the  Occasions Mini Catalog!  If you are on the fence about this paper, jump off and order it.  It is really great!  I'd love to see this paper go into the main catalog next year but doubt that it will.  

So there's not much stamping involved in this card at all since all those flowers are on the DSP - only the saying which is from another great SU product - Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I can always find a saying I want in that set.  So I stamped "because nice matters" on Pumpkin Pie and punched it out with the Modern Label punch.  Then I glued some leaves and a little flower from the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt pack (in the Occasions mini too); tied some orange grosgrain and Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon (I know ... it looks grey) around the DSP; and glued it onto my Rich Razzleberry card.  Easy, peasy!!

Stampin' Up Specials Going On NOW

Country Living Stationery Kit (Customer Order Dates: January 5-April 30, 2010, or while supplies last)

This exclusive Stampin' Up! kit (item 119113) includes the following products:

Dinner Party stamp set (set of 3)
Ballet Blue Classic Stampin' Spot
Preprinted stationery (24 sheets: 4 each of 6 designs)

$19.95 for the complete kit

While designed as a stationery kit, there are a variety of ways the kit can be used; for example, it can be used for menu cards, greeting cards, dinner invitations, etc.

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Not in the Occasions Mini . . . NEW! Sweet Treat Heart Cups & Stamps
Just in time for Valentine's Day! Stampin' Up!'s new Heart Treat Cups coordinate perfectly with the Sweetheart stamp set (also new, below) and the Full Heart Punch (113693).

Download the flier HERE and put in your Occasions Mini Catalog!

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NOW available! Simply Adorned Jewelry and Charms. 

Simply Adorned charms are lockets--they open up so you can insert your custom stamped image. The Charming stamp set, along with Rub-Ons, glitter, ribbons, and other embellishments, can help you create your unique charm insert. And don't forget that you can embellish the chains with ribbon, felt flowers . . . the possibilities are endless! The frame surrounds tempered beveled glass on the front and flat glass on the back. Because there's glass on both sides of the charm, you can display an image on one side or both. You can create a custom heirloom piece that you'll never want to change, or you can swap artwork in and out, depending on your mood and your wardrobe.

Check out Simply Adorned Jewelry (above), featured on page 28 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.

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And don't forget -

Sale-A-Bration: Jan. 5 - March 31. For every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you will receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set (including clear mount options), the amazing new Scallop Trim Punch or darling designer series paper. Click here to view the Sale-A-Bration Catalog.

Occasions Mini Catalog: Jan. 5 - April 30. You'll discover 43 pages loaded with new stamp sets (including clear mount options), new designer paper, ribbon, epoxy brads and so much more. Click here to view the Occasions Mini Catalog.

New Stamps in the House

I took time today to PLAY!!  I put together my new stamp sets that I got from SU yesterday.  I'm loving the new "clear" stamps.  They're not really clear but are packaged so much better for storage now.  I've had a few questions about the stamps so I took a few pictures of how you put them together.  They come pre-cut so you just have to punch them out from the rubber sheet.  Sometimes, I still trim a little off the stamps. 

There is a sticker sheet with the pictures of the stamps on them. 

So you peel off the white protective cover from the stamp and put the sticker on the stamp.  The sticker will cling to the acrylic block and you will be able to see how to place the stamp on your project.

I played around today with the Love Bandid set from the Occasions Mini.  I fell in love with this set!!  It is really cute.  I just love the little guys!  Check it out (remember - you can click on the card to make it bigger):

I made a little scene card!

Card stock:  Melon Mambo, Green Galore, Garden Green, Crushed Curry (sun); Bashful Blue, White

The decorate punches on the corners are from the new Scallop Trim Corner Punch (Occasions Mini).  I tore the Green cardstock to simulate grass and snipped it a little bit.

How do you like it?

Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration Catalog

There has been a delay mailing out the Sale-A-Bration brochures and Occasions Mini Catalogs from Stampin' Up. All of the Sale-A-Bration brochures have now mailed, and the rest of the Occasions Mini Catalogs should mail by the end of this week.   Because of this delay, you are able to view the catalogs NOW at the Stampin' Up Customer site HERE.

Start making your list and give me a call!