How Much is That Doggie in the Window??

How much is that doggie in the window!  Doesn't this card make you sing that song?!!  He's just so cute!  I used two stamp sets on this card - Balloon Builders and Painters Pallette.  The doggie is made from stamps in the Balloon Builders set, stamped with Smoky Slate ink.  The frame is from Painters Pallette.  I stamped the frame in Versamark, embossed it with silver embossing powder and cut it out.  The inside of the frame is die cut with the Layering Squares framelits.  I cut off the top and the legs on the bottom and glued them directly onto the Pop of Pink designer paper.  The frame itself is popped up using the wonderful Foam Adhesive Strips (pg. 182.)

It was hard to see the free Sale-a-bration glimmer paper sell out so fast, but SU! did a great thing by adding some new items right from the catalog that we could choose for FREE instead. Several Designer Series Papers are on that list including Tasty Treats. This DSP is so much fun.  There's not much time left to take advantage of the Sale-A-Bration sale!!  If you place an order with me, please use the Hostess Code at the top of my blog (on the left).  Thanks!

Tasty Treats - so many options!

I had fun today playing with the Sale-a-Bration set, Tasty Trucks.  This set wasn't originally on my list but it grew on me.  It is a really cute stamp set!  Food trucks seem to be the "it" thing now-a-days. When Ashley was in Texas, there was a B-B-Q food truck not far from her and we enjoyed picking up some BBQ for lunch or dinner and taking it home to enjoy pool side.  Now that she is in Hawaii, there are shrimp trucks that are the "norm" there.

I still had the Love You Lots (hostess) set on my desk so decided to have a little fun with the trucks and the animals.  See, the frog is serving the elephant an ice cream cone!  I colored them with my Copic markers and did a little doodling on the sides.

This one is a taco truck - those are tacos waiting to be eaten in the window.  Again, I used copics to color the truck and found that they matched the Calypson Coral striped DSP.  I cut strips of Pacific Point for the sides of the DSP.  For this truck, I cut the window part on a scrap of white and used dimensionals to pop it up.  I also used the Owl Punch for the tires.  Love that sentiment - "Let's taco 'bout how awesome you are"

These next images are to show you different things you can do with this stamp set.  It doesn't have to have a food window!  I just masked the part where the window should be when I stamped it onto the white card stock.  I tried to duplicate the UPS symbol (not real well!) and the US Post Office logo.  These are just stamped on Whisper White card stock.  To use them, I will just fussy cut them and put them on a card.

This is one of the Shrimp Trucks in Oahu - the most famous one.  It is over on the North Shore.  Ashley and I had the shrimp plate when I was there this summer.  But, when we were there in December, the line was crazy long so we opted to eat at another shrimp truck and it was just as good!

If you are a fan of Hawaii 5-0, you might recognize this food truck.  It is the one they use on the TV show.  Now if I could just find it AND Steve McGarrett (heart throb) on my next trip to Hawaii!! Ashley has a neighbor who gets called occasionally to be an extra on the show.  I am hoping that will lead to something (for me!)

Hope you enjoyed my trucks today!!

NC Demo Sale-a-Bration January Blog Hop

Creative minds have been at work here in North Carolina!  Welcome to our monthly Blog Hop. I hope you are getting lots of inspiration from the NC demos blog hop today.  Our theme this month is Sale-a-Bration, which means a FREE project for every $50 purchase from Stampin' Up.

I am sure as a paper crafter, you are probably aware of the popular new craze called adult coloring books.  The book publishing geniuses really hit the mark when they started offering coloring books for grown-ups.  A lot of us didn't even know how much we secretly missed them!   Not only is coloring super relaxing and fun, but it also takes us back to simpler times - when all we had to worry about was making sure we put our toys away.  As a child, coloring and paper dolls were my favorite things!  I didn't play with baby dolls or do sports, but give me a coloring book and I was happy.  It was so fun to get a new pack of crayons and try out all the colors - especially if you got the super big package!!  Fast forward to our new Sale-a-Bration catalog and guess what?!  Yes, a designer paper just begging to be colored.  It is Stampin' Up's! answer to this fun, out-of-the-blue craze.  The Inside the Lines Designer Series Paper leaves you with the opportunity to make the colors of each paper your own.  Think of all the ways you can use this paper!

I have chosen to highlight the Inside the Lines DSP for my projects.  There are so many choices when it comes to using this DSP.  Hopefully, you will enjoy what I have done with them.

I'm excited to share these cards with you.  Each card is colored using a different tool such as:  sponging, watercoloring, markers, and sponge daubers.  Each method provides a different look to the paper.  While the cards are different from each other, they are simple to make with only a few additional layers and embellishments.

For the first card, I cut a 3" x 5 1/4" strip of DSP and colored it using Stampin' Up markers.  I used the Swirly Scribbles Thinlits to cut the white card stock (4" x 5 1/4").  The middle piece was adhered on top of the DSP which was then adhered to my white card.  The two pieces on the left and right were popped up with dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment from Thoughtful Banners and punched it out with the Duet Banner Punch.  The final step was to sprinkle silver sequins all over the card.

 My next method of coloring was with Copic Alcohol Markers.  I cut a flower out of the DSP and used the Watercolor Pencils to color the flower.  I popped the flower up with dimensionals.  I used my Two Way Glue Pen on the flower and sprinkled it with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  The sentiments are all from Thoughtful Banners and each one is popped up.  Can't wait to send this to my daughter!

My next card is watercolored using the ink from the Peekaboo Peach and Wild Wasabi ink pads and my aqua pen.  As long as you don't get your aqua pen too wet, the paper won't buckle.  I did use a SU marker for the darker orange (Tangerine Tango).   The sentiment (from Layering Love) is stamped on a piece of Peekaboo Peach cut out with the Stitched Shapes Framelit.

For my next card, I only used a small strip of the DSP (2" x 4") which was colored with Copic markers.  I used a lot of glue dots to hold down the pleated Sweet Sugarplum ribbon.  (You can find this ribbon on page 21 of the Occasions catalog.  It is the Succulent Garden Combo Pack.)   The sentiment is from Heartfelt Sympathy (pg 51 of annual catalog.)

For this card, I used the wonderful Watercolor Pencils found in the Occasions Catalog.  Sales for these pencils have exceeded Stampin' Up's forecast and are continuing to sell strong.  Because of the cost incurred in back orders, Stampin' Up has made the decision to place the pencils in not-orderable status as of last Thursday (1/26).  The estimated availability for them is Feb. 13.

I scribbled the pencils on the paper and then used my Wink of Stella to blend the colors.  You could also use an aqua pen (but not real wet) or a blender pen.  I have tried all three but I think I prefer the Wink of Stella (clear)!

My final card is super simple.  I used a sponge dauber and just daubed the Sweet Sugarplum ink randomly on some of the flowers.  I colored the leaves with the Watercolor Pencil also, blending it with my blender pen.  The circle is die cut from Stitched Shapes framelit.  I also die cut the flower from the Sunshine Wishes framelits.  This is a great set of framelits to have - check it out on page 194 of the annual catalog.  Not only do you get this flower but also the little butterfly, a heart and four sentiments (hope, love, congrats and sunshine).

I hope you enjoyed my take on the Inside the Lines Designer Paper and you are inspired to create your own cards using this paper.

Hop on along now to the next stop on the Blog Hop -

Tamra Davis -

Jo Anne Hewins

Michelle Irinyl

Tracie Evans Langley

Sharon Maranich   (you are here)

Laurie Meier

Hey Chick - Valentine

Happy Saturday!  I wanted to share another card we made last week at Stamp Club.  This is a cute Valentine card but you could also make it into a birthday card as several of my stamping friends did.  I used the darling chick from the Sale-a-Bration catalog - Hey Chick!  I just think he (or she) is adorable!!

I stamped the chick with Black Archival ink since I was planning on watercoloring and didn't want the colors to bleed.  I used the new watercolor pencils to color the chick.  The little hearts are from the Jar of Love set and the heart balloons are from Balloon Builders.  This proved a good lesson on masking.  We used a sticky note to mask the middle balloon after it had been stamped with Sweet Sugarplum ink and stamped the two balloons on either side.  I used a Sharpie Marker to draw in the balloon strings.

We are headed out this evening to watch the Charlotte Checkers hockey game.  This is the first time we've seen them play this year.  It's a fun outing.  We are going to try out the restaurant in the Bojangles Coliseum.  When Sonny and I were dating, one of favorite date nights was to watch the Checkers vs. the Greensboro Generals.  At the time, we both lived in Greensboro (where we met) and so we were pulling for the Generals.  There was always a fight that broke out between the two teams on the ice.  They were natural enemies I think!!  You know, a hockey game is not a good one unless there's a fight or two!

Make sure to check back tomorrow evening for the NC Demos Blog Hop.  We will be featuring products from Sale-a-Bration.  I will show you fun ways to use the Inside the Lines Designer Paper.

Paper Pumpkin Valentines

I have had a very productive two days!  I have been making cards!  I know that sounds strange because you probably think that is nothing new.  But, I have been in a card making slump for several months.  With the holidays, I was so busy with other things that I just didn't enjoy making the few Christmas cards that I made (which wasn't much!)  But yesterday and today, I had nothing on my schedule but "ME" time and I took advantage.  I've made about 15 cards in two days!  While I was on a roll yesterday, my mom called and asked if I would make 8 valentines for her for the shut-in's at her church.  Sure!  I don't have many Valentine stamps so I started going through what I did have and found several stamps and framelits that would work for Valentines.  Plus, I just received my January Paper Pumpkin which had Valentine stamps and materials to make little goodie bags.  I didn't want to make the goodie bags - leaving that for Marianne to make for mom using her Paper Pumpkin.  (Mom planned on asking Marianne to also make 8 cards for her.)

Here is what I came up with:

Not only did I use things from January's Paper Pumpkin but I also pulled the gray DSP from the December kit.  See?  You can do alternative things with Paper Pumpkin.  The December kit creates a photo/memory book with patterned paper, window sheets, stickers, washi tape and for the first time, a rotary stamp and black journaling pen.  I decided I didn't need a photo book so I created the cards above.  I am going to make a few cards and other items with the supplies I still have left.  From the January Paper Pumpkin, I used the gold heart stickers, the vellum banner, the gold thread and the "love" heart which was stamped onto a white heart that was included.  I punched the small pink hearts using the Owl punch.

The Paper Pumpkin kit is on sale through March.  Now during Sale-a-Bration is a great time to take advantage of the sale.

3-Month Prepaid Subscription (137859)
$59$55 USD/
$79$74 CAD
Get a discount on 3-month prepaid subscriptions and instantly qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item!
12-Month Prepaid Subscription (137861) $215 USD/$295 CAD
Take it to the next level with a 12-month prepaid subscription. Save over $2/month with the everyday awesome price, earn Stampin’ Rewards, and instantly qualify for 4 FREE Sale-A-Bration items!
This offer will end on March 31, 2016 at 11:50 PM (MT).

Stamp Club January Calendar

I think I should leave a sticky note at the top of my blog saying "sorry - I've been busy."  I have been snowed under (not really snow) and neglected posting to my blog on a regular basis.  I am the photographer for the Newcomers group which means I take pictures all year of events going on and at the end of the year, I put together a memory book for our president.  Well, I've been busy trying to finish up the book.  I finally finished yesterday and sent it to the printer.  Now, hoping it will be back in time to present it at our next meeting but I have my doubts. 

Last week was Stamp Club.  I am doing something a little different this year.  One of the gals from my Club (and my neighbor) gave me a calendar in a shadowbox frame for Christmas.  She bought the frame at Hobby Lobby.  I just love it!

So I decided that each month in Stamp Club, we would do a calendar page.  The gals can use the calendar this year and at the end of the year, they can just add the 2018 months and give it away as a gift to a friend.  This is the page we did this month.  The snowman is not Stampin' Up.  Believe it or not, I do not have a Stampin' Up snowman!!  Everyone had a different background snowflake piece of DSP.  We framed the snowman and calendar with Emerald Envy card stock.

Speaking of calendars, this is one Marianne gave me for Christmas.  It is hard to see in the picture, but she used glitter on the ground beneath the Lovely As A Trees.  It is so sparkly!!

Don't forget about Sale-A-Bration.  If you have been thinking about subscribing to Paper Pumpkin, now is the time.  Not only is the price reduced, but with a 3 month subscription, you will get a FREE item!! 

3-Month Prepaid Subscription (137859) $59 $55 USD/$79 $74 CAD Save on a
3-month prepaid subscription and instantly qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item!

12-Month Prepaid Subscription (137861) $215 USD/$295 CAD Take it to the next level with a 12-month prepaid subscription. Save over $2/month with the everyday awesome price, earn Stampin’ Rewards, and get 4 FREE Sale-A-Bration items!

I'll be at Buffalo Wild Wings later today cheering on the Steelers.  If they win today, we are Super Bowl bound!  Unfortunately, our opponent is the New England Patriots.  I am a little nervous!  We are definitely the underdog in this race.

Pretty Pocket Card Kit

Enjoy this video as Donna, a Stampin' Up trainer, demonstrates the Pretty Pocket Card Kit.  The card kit is available from the Sale-a-Bration catalog (pg 19).  I love card kits.  They make card making so quick and easy!!

Hang In There

Well, today is the day.  Ashley is moving to Honolulu.  She and Bogart have an early morning flight from San Antonio and will be arriving in Hawaii in the afternoon.  I talked to her briefly Sunday and I don't think it has hit her yet - she's been too busy.  She has been staying at her college friends home for the past week and when she left their house Sun. morning she said the kids were all crying - that they won't see Bogart again!  She said she has too much to do to think about crying but will probably do so when Courtney drops her off at the airport this morning.

I made her this card a couple of weeks ago when she was trying to get everything done - selling her house, having her roof replaced because of the recent storms, trying to get all her papers signed and processed for her transfer, getting a airplane-approved carrier for Bogart plus all his papers for him to enter Hawaii.  He can't travel in the plane like he normally does but has to go in the cargo area.  Luckily, the airline she is flying is one of the few with a temperature controlled cargo.  But, it is still going to be a long flight for him with a lay-over in California.

This card uses the retired Sale-a-bration stamp.  I love this little chick!  The balloons are from Balloon Celebrations.  I stamped them in black onto Soft Sky cardstock and then sponged ink over them.  Lots of retired stuff on this card - the Washi Punch for the sentiment; the twine, the cloud stencil, and the Dots embossing folder.  No matter - it all makes a cute card!

I went to my 50th High School reunion this weekend!  I kept procrastinating and didn't sign up in time; plus I had promised my mom I would take her to my nephew's high school graduation in Charlotte.  Well, late on Friday, my nephew found out that he was not going to be allowed to graduate because he didn't take a computer class that he had to take to graduate.  So Saturday afternoon, Sonny and I drove to south Charlotte and got a hotel room and went to the reunion.  We were able to pay at the door.  Of course, name tags had already been made for everyone with their senior picture on it beside their name.  Yay!  I didn't have my picture on my name tag!  It was fun seeing people that I haven't seen since I graduated and trying to match up their faces now and then.

Happy Birthday Times 3

This is a card I made several months ago using a stamp set from Sale-a-bration.  But you could do a very similar card with any other stamp set.

I really like the emboss resist technique.  In this card, I stamped "happy birthday" 3 times using VersaMark ink.  Next I embossed all 3 of them with clear embossing powder and my trusty heat gun.  The final step was to sponge over the embossed images with ink.  I used Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder and Crushed Curry.  I scattered a few sequins around and made a couple of little banners at the top - a pretty quick and easy card.

Pedal Pusher

I have been making a lot of birthday cards lately.  This is one I made using a Sale-a-Bration stamp called Pedal Pusher.  It is a great way to use up strips of DSP that you have been accumulating.  I seem to always have lots of little strips left over!   

The Cucumber Crush card is cut at 4.25" x 10" and scored at 4.5".  The Whisper White piece is cut at 3" x 4".  Stamp the sentiment at the top (from Perfect Pairings, another Sale-a-Bration set) and the bicycle at the bottom.  I used my SU markers to color in the bicycle and the basket of flowers.  Adhere the white piece to the front of the card and layer several strips of DSP of varying widths.

Another sentiment is stamped on the side of the card so it is visible when the card is closed.

Put Your Party Pants On!

Just a day left for free products during Sale-a-bration!  There were so many cute stamp sets this time.  I am going to sad to see them retire (although you'll still see me using them occasionally.)

This little chick is a favorite of mine.  He was great for Easter cards but even better for birthday cards!  I love the saying "put your party pants on" from Party Pants (another Sale-a-bration set.) Wonder what his party pants would look like???  The DSP is also from Sale-a-bration.  The colors I used on this card are Cucumber Crush, Melon Mambo and So Saffron.  I have not used Cucumber Crush much but I really like the bright green - very spring-like.

I have to share a picture with you.  I was at Wal-Mart yesterday buying chicken when I saw these Chicken Paws!  What would you do with them????  I've heard they are good in making chicken broth.  I am not buying them though!

YUCK!

Pedal Pusher Love

It is still not too late to spend $50 with Stampin' Up and receive a free stamp set (or paper, Project Life item, washi tape, etc.).  This bicycle set is one of the new stamps for Sale-a-Bration - Pedal Pusher.  I think it is so cute and can be used for a lot of occasions.   I decided to send it to someone special.

I stamped the bike with black Memento ink and used markers to color it so it would match the Lost Lagoon card.  Oh how I am going to miss Lost Lagoon when it retires in June!  I just realized that when I took the picture of the card, I had not adhered the panel to the card.  Rest assured, I did glue it down before mailing it!  The DSP flag that is peeking out of the side and the DSP background piece are both from Sale-a-Bration also (Wildflower Fields, pg. 12).  The "love" sentiment is from a great stamp set in the annual catalog, Something to Say (pg. 108).

Final Stamp Club cards for Feb.

These are the last two cards that we made at Stamp Club last week.

This one uses the Botanical Blooms bundle - DSP, stamp set and framelets - a pretty good deal I think.  The card on the left is one I received at Quarterly but sorry to say, don't know whose card it is. I made the card on the right switching out the flower center to Cajun Craze and using a sentiment from Trust God.  I love the sentiment!!

This next card proved to be a bit tricky - only because of the math involved!!  I had mistakenly put the wrong measurements in the directions for cutting white panels so we had to do some "figuring!" The correct measurement is 1 3/8" x 3".  The "For You" is from a Paper Pumpkin set.  I had hoped to put all the flowers on a large block and stamp them all at the same time but I could not get them close enough since they are the rubber backed stamps and not photopolymer.  So we just passed the stamps around the table.  I really like the Sale-a-bration stamp set.

Sky is the Limit Congratulations!

I made a card using the Sale-a-bration airplane set.  I really like this stamp set and am sad to see it be retired so soon.  This card was my "congrats" card to Ashley for getting the new job in Hawaii.  Now that she has received it, I can show it to you.

When you pull on the tab on the right side, the airplane flies across the card and the message pops out.  I used some non-SU paper that I found in my stash.  I found the video for making this card on Splitcoast.  Here is the link for the SLIDER.  I find it easier to follow a video for instructions so that I can start and stop it when I need to.

Hope you are staying warm wherever you are!!  Haven't seen any snow here yet but it is bitter cold!

Sale-a-bration & Occasions Swaps

Well, the Super Bowl has come and gone and the team I was rooting for did not win.  In fact, not even sure they showed up for the game!  What a disappointment.  But I am happy for Peyton Manning (Denver QB) that he is going to retire (we think) with a Super Bowl win.  Always good to go out a winner!  I am really sick of hearing about all the hype about Cam Newton.  It is time to go on to other topics!!

A bit of news from Stampin' Up:  The Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 139673) has been so popular that we are going to do something that we don't normally do: we've decided to bring it back in the 2016 annual catalog! It will be available in the new Upcoming catalog this June. 

This is the final week for a few items from Sale-a-Bration - like this one - Sky Is The Limit.  This has been a very popular set.  If you want it, it will only be available until Feb. 15!  With a $50 order, you can get this set for FREE!

The SAB sets will be replaced with some great items.  Check them out HERE.


This next set (Flowering Fields) has also been a popular item and one of my fav's.  I like to put all the stamps on a large clear block and stamp them all at the same time.  Sure makes things easier!

These next swap cards are from (top) Botanicals For You and (bottom) Hello.  The Hello set will also be retiring Feb. 15.

This set is from the Occasions catalog and perfect for your special Valentine!  You can find these items on pages 16-17.

Here are more swap samples that come from the Occasions Swap at Quarterly.

I hope these cards have inspired you today!

NC Demos SAB Blog Hop

Welcome to the first NC Demos Blog Hop!  A group of NC Stampin' Up demonstrators have decided to start a monthly blog hop.  We will be publishing our blog hop on the last day of the month.  So make sure you mark your calendars and check out our blogs and our great projects each month!

For January, we have decided to focus on items from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.  Remember - for every $50 you spend, you can choose an item from Sale-a-Bration for FREE!!  There are some great stamps and papers in the catalog.  Also, there are a few items that are only offered for a limited time (pg. 16 - 18) so if you want one of those items, you'd better grab them now!

I love making Framed Collages so that is what I have done this month showcasing the Flowering Fields stamp set (pg 12) and Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper.  Instead of making my collage in a 12"x12" frame like I normally do, I found this frame on my shelf and decided to use it.  The opening is 9 1/2" x 7 1/2".  I matted each DSP square with Basic Gray card stock and matted the whole thing on Smoky Slate card stock.  You can see all the other items I used by scrolling to the very bottom of this blog post.

Next I made a card using the same stamp set and a few other goodies to go along with the framed piece.

I love the Pool Party Glitter Ribbon!  (pg 9 Occassions)  I also used other Sale-a-Bration items - Perfect Pairings (Hooray!) and Botanical Gardens Designer Vellum Stack (pg 4).  I hope you enjoyed my portion of the Blog Hop and will hop on over and see what Mary has made to share with you.

Shavron Borders

Regina Campbell

Tamra Davis

Kitty Helton

Jo Anne Hewins

Amy Ingram

Michelle Irinyi
Melissa Kerman

Tracie Langley

Sharon Maranich (you are here)

Mary Robinette

Sue Root

Pam Staples
Lisa Tedder
Frances Wagner

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

January Stamp Club cards

Luckily, the sun is still shining here this morning so my friends can make it to Stamp Club today!  I'm ready and feeling better today.  Think my cold is on it's way to bother someone else - just hopefully not Sonny!!

I wanted to do cards from the Occasions Catalog as well as throw in a little bit of Sale-a-Bration stamps this month.

Sale-a-Bration Samples

I got a lot of great cards last week-end and got samples of just about every stamp set in the Occasions and Sale-a-bration catalogs.  It is so different to see the cards made with the stamps than just having to see them in the catalog.

Here are samples from Sale-a-Bration Catalog that were on the display board:

Flowering Fields (pg 12)

Honeycomb Happiness (pg 15)

Perfect Pairings (pg 11) plus Wildflower Fiels DSP (pg 13)

Sky Is the Limit (pg 16) plus Perfectly Artistic DSP (pg 19)

What I Love (pg 7)

What I Love (pg 7)

Botanicals For You (pg 4) plus Botanical Builder Framelits (Occasions catalog pg 26)

I have been making cards with the few stamp sets that I have bought (so far) from the two new catalogs.  I am trying to be a little more frugal this time and love having all the samples for my customers to see.  I have been working hard in my craft room all week.   Except for last night when I had to get dressed to have dinner at a friends house, I have been in my pj's for 3 days!  It has been great!  Sonny went with some guys yesterday on a duck hunting trip.  He came home late last night. He said if he had this on his bucket list, he could check it off.  He won't be going duck hunting again! He never even fired his rifle!!  One of the guys with them got a duck but out of the four of them, one got a duck, one fired his rifle once and Sonny and the other guy never took a shot.  It was a 5 1/2 hour drive to the NC coast Wednesday.  They got up at 5:30 a.m. Thursday (no thank you!) and stared at the blue sky and then drove back home, another 5 1/2 hour!  Sonny was really stiff when he got home from all the sitting.  I had much more fun at home!!

Countdown to Occasions 2016 Catalog and Sale-a-Bration!

The countdown is on .... and we are almost to the launch of the Stampin' Up! 2016 Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration promotion!!  I love this time of year when it's so easy to get FREE products!

Here is the scoop -

• Occasions 2016 Catalog:  first day for customer orders, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016
• Sale-a-Bration Promotion:  first day to receive FREE PRODUCTS with each $50 you order:  Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

To clarify things, you do NOT need to purchase the suggested items shown in the Sale-a-Bration brochure to receive those free Sale-a-Bration products.  You will earn one (1) free Sale-a-Bration item with EACH $50 purchase from ANY Stampin' Up! Catalog OR any online store product OR Clearance Rack product purchase!

Another way to earn free Sale-a-Bration products is with a Paper Pumpkin 3-month Prepaid Subscription for $55.  Watch the video below to learn more.

Club Projects

This is my Stamp Club week.  We had fun making these cards this week:

This first one uses the birthday stamp from Sale-A-Bration along with the birthday DSP and Chalk Paper from the Occasions catalog along with the popular Bow Punch.

This is our Easter card. Most of the pieces for the card are retired - Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery card stock, ribbon and DSP.  I don't want to tell you how many cards I made trying to come up with this one!  We stamped the flowers directly onto the DSP.

This card uses Washi Tape - something I don't use very much  Some of the tape is from Stampin' Up and some is from one of the big box stores but since it matched Coastal Cabana so well, I had to use it!  We also used one of the newer photopolymer stamps - Lovely Amazing You - and the Bitty Butterfly Punch.

.Another easy card using the Vellum from Sale-A-Bration.  I just love this DSP! You can color it with markers but I decided to go simple.  I just cut a square of In Color DSP and backed the square of vellum allowing the DSP to show through the vellum.

More new Sale-A-Bration items:



We are now at the end of Sale-A-Bration with only 2 weeks left.  It's been a rough ride over the last few months with crazy back orders.  The west coast port strike has done a number of back-logged products sitting in crates for too long.  Stampin' Up! is trying their best to keep on top of it but I'm not sure anyone could fully keep up.  The good news is SU has kept us abreast of the situation and even given us a few new options during this period of time.  (See the new items added to Sale-a-Bration above.)  It didn't help that the Blendabilties are now discontinued.  In a way, it is a good thing because of the constant issues we were having with them.  I will miss them but think in due time Stampin' Up! will come up with another option down the road.

Stampin' Up! did make an announcement today that has broken my heart though and that is the discontinuation of My Digital Studio.  Last year it was announced that they would not be putting much effort into the program.  I have adored MDS, as you know, and have created many beautiful albums, hundreds of layouts and have enjoyed teaching digital art to others.  But the writing was on the wall and I knew this was coming; just not sure when so I can't say I was too surprised today. 

If you have downloaded My Digital Studio, no worries.  You can still use the program.  Stampin' Up! will not support the program after May 31st.  All digital downloads will be discontinued.  If there is something that you want or need .... NOW is the time to grab it.  The BIGGEST thing is to back up your current digital downloads.  I recommend an external hard drive - that is what I am going to do.  You can copy your components folder and put it on the external hardIoptions for printing.  I am going to be checking into Persnickety Prints as well as Shutterfly.

I will continue to create layouts and scrapbooks using digital files.  Stampin' Up got me hooked on digital and I see no reason to quit!


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