Valentine’s Day is Coming

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Valentine’s Day is coming February 14, 2013 and it’s time to get those heart shaped stamps out and make those cards.  I know we just finished Christmas and New Years.

If you haven’t joined my email list, now is a good time…fill out the form in the top right hand corner of my blog. 

Lots of ideas to get you making cards, scrapbook pages (you know those pictures you took at Christmas?) and handy techniques and tips. 

Now, I have a question for you…

Are you a maker of cards or a sender of cards?

While we enjoy making the cards, do we actually send them out to people.  Whether you hand deliver or snail mail them, everyone enjoys receiving a card in the mail.  It doesn’t have to be for an occasion, sometimes a “Thinking of You” or a “Hello” card is just the thing to make someones day very happy.

I know I fall into the category of maker vs sender, and one of my new year’s resolutions (or goal) is to get those cards to a well deserving person. 

So, I am going to keep a total of the cards I make and the cards I send.  How about you? Are you ready to take up this challenge?

Valentine Card

Stamps: Hearts A Flutter ( c – 129252, w- 129249, p11 2013 Spring Catalogue) , Itty Bitties (w-128939, p 25 2013 Spring Catalogue) Affection Collection ( 2012 Holiday Catalogue)

Paper: Naturals White, Primrose Petals Core’dinations, Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Print Poetry DSP Paper Stack

Ink: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Honeycomb EF, Ribbon Lace (Artisan Embellishments Kit, Stampin’ Sanding System

Yes, I made a template for the honeycomb on the front of the card.  Lots of measuring, but I got it done.  Maybe I could have been smarter and used MDS and then printed it on card stock and used that for a template.

So, I did a template to share with you

Hexagon Template

 

Just print my gift out on an 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet of card stock and use to create those cards to send out.

Karen

Become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Can Help with your New Year’s Resolutions.

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A New Year and Resolutions!  We all tend to make them.  Do these resolutions sound familiar?

  • I want to make extra money for me and my family
  • I want to get out in the community more
  • I want to start a business
  • I want to start a hobby
  • I want to be a leader
  • I want to have fun
  • I want to be valued

Well, becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator can help you achieve those resolutions or as I like to put it goals.

Becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator can:

  • Earn you extra money for you and your family, maybe it’s a vacation, maybe it is a new vehicle or a supporting a child and their education.  We can all use the extra cash.

 

  • Establish those relationships in your community through Workshops, Private Parties, Clubs, participating in community events and at the same time promoting your business.

 

  • Jump start a Stampin’ Up! business.  For $125 you can purchase the starter kit and custom design it for yourself.  The starter kit also includes a business package (catalogues, order forms, etc) to help you get started right away.

 

  • Jump start a hobby by purchasing the starter kit for $125 and customize your kit just for you.  Earn the discount and have fun creating.

 

  • Have fun as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, create, share, establish relationships, All these can be rewarding in your life. And as you build your downline, Stampin’ Up! rewards your efforts.

 

  • Be a leader by starting your own downline.  Mentor, coach, and share your knowledge which can be very gratifying for you.

 

  • Feel valued by belonging to the Stampin’ Up! family which provides you with friends, ideas, fun promotions, fun contests and the yearly convention.  This year’s convention will be a celebration of Stampin’ Up’s 25th Anniversary….say FUN!

For more information on becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, EMAIL Me  or visit my Stampin’ Up! website HERE

I will be available to you along each step of the way.

 

Chalkboard Trend and Technique

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I imagine that most of you have heard and/or seen the chalkboard trend in the past few months. I can almost smell the chalk and hear the squeak from the chalk on the board.  Remember the dust from the erasers and then banging two erasers together to get rid of the chalk dust?

Of course the blackboard was never quite clean unless you washed and wiped it down with water.  Most boards were black but a few green ones seemed to make their way.

So how do you do the Chalkboard technique?

I have a greeting card for you that could be used for multiple occasions.

Sale-a-Bration

Stamps: Vintage Verses (c – 129636, w – 129633, 2013 Sale-a-Bration Catalogue), Hearts a Flutter(c – 129252, w – 129249, 2013 Spring Catalogue

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Neutral DSP Stack

Ink: Real Red, Whisper White Craft, Black Stazon

Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Embossing Buddy

Using Basic Black card stock and your Embossing Buddy, scrub the card stock and leave the dust from the Embossing Buddy on your card.  Ink up your stamp with Whisper White Craft ink and stamp the image on the Basic Black card stock.  Using a dabber, pick up a bit of the Whisper White Craft ink and sponge onto the black card stock.

Presto, you now have used the Chalkboard technique.

 

Happy New Year!  I hope that your 2013 New Year has started off on the right track and continues to go on the right track.

 

2012 – Reflect on the Year Ending

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As we wind down 2012, I would like to take a few moments and reflect on the year 2012.  There have been sad times, there have been happy times.

The world is becoming more technical and we are becoming attached at the hip through mobile phones, ipads, facebook and the the like.

Tragedies such as the mass shooting at Sandytown make us reflect on how vulnerable and fragile life is, and happy times call for a celebration of life from marriages to babies.

I have gone back through my posts and picked 3 of my top ones and I would like to share them one more time with you.

In no particular order, here are my choices

 

On June 16, 2013, I launched my first video presentation for the masses.The video focused on the Apothecary Framelit Dies

 


In July, it was off to Salt Lake City for the Stampin’ Up! convention.  We have such a wonderful time meeting up with friends (old and new ones) and sharing our love of stamping and of course gabbing and maybe some shopping in there as well.

Here are a couple of pictures from the convention.  One of the glitter girls showing off their lovely outfits (glittery ones of course)

 

The GLittler Girls

The Glitter Girls

 

Blogging Friend

Blogging Friend – Ann Schach

 

 

Japan Scrapbook Page

Japan Scrapbook Page

Mt. Fuji

 

Completing my Japan trip in MDS was another delight.  I love to use My Digital Studio and with all the fabulous upgrades that Stampin’ Up! has done in the past 5 months, makes me love it even more. Another motivating factor was the reduced prices on print products and the 31 Days of MDS promotions

So that’s it, my blog reflections and a relook at a few of the blog posts that highlight some of my goings on this year.

 

I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2013 and wherever life may take you, enjoy to the fullest.

Karen

 

Some Of My Christmas Celebrations

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Christmas and the celebrations that occur are somewhat finished at my house.  I took all the decorations done and packed them away for another year.  Why so early?

Well, it’s time to get ready for another trip.  This time a cruise to the South and Western Caribbean….yes 2 weeks in the glorious sun and on the blue water.  We have had just too much snow so far this year.  Besides, I will get a break from shoveling.

So, down came the decorations, to make way for the suitcases.

But first, I would like to share a few of my Christmas celebrations.

I completed 2 more cross stitched stockings this year, one for my son and one for my son-in-law.  It gets so hectic around Christmas, that I forgot to take pictures, so took one of my son’s stocking on Christmas Eve.  I still need to get one of my son-in-law’s but that may have to wait until next Christmas.

Christmas Stocking

I have had the pattern for years and was a little hesitant about cross stitching on black.  However, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and I really enjoyed working on this one.  There were lots of embellishments to attach.

The second tradition that I would like to share are the pictures of me and my grandchildren in their Christmas jammies.  Somehow, Christmas Eve just wouldn’t be  complete without the Christmas jammies.

So then, it was off to bed so that Santa could make his visit….and make his visit he did.

Christmas Jammies

Christmas Jammies

I hope your Christmas was surrounded by the love of family as mine was.

Karen

 

 

Henry Says Birthday

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 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and didn’t eat too much turkey and those very important sweets.  Of course, I do hope that everyone was able to spend some time over the holidays with their loved ones.

 

 

We have a Boxing Day birthday in the family.  Kian is 1!  What better way to celebrate a 1 year old’s birthday than with Henry the Elephant.

I just love this little guy.  He will be available for purchase when the new Spring 2013 catalogue goes live on January 3rd.  Can you believe that we are only a few days away from a new year?  Where did the last one go?

Since I retired a year and half ago, the time has just sped up….or at least it seems like it did.

 

 

Henry Says

 
Stamps: Henry Says (c – 128093, w – 128090, 2013 2013 Spring Catalogue)
Paper: Naturals White, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Real Red, Print Poetry DSP, Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP,  
Ink: Black Stazon, Marina Mist, Real Red
Accessories: Big Shot, Garden Green, Midnight Muse, Daffodil Delight Markers, Brights Brad, Googlie Eye
 
Henry’s birthday hat sports a Daffodil Delight Brad and of course the Googly Eye is the perfect touch.  Henry is stamped on the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP and then cut out and attached to the Whisper White card stock.  The banners were placed perfectly on his trunk with the help of the Stamp-a-ma-jig.
 
Want a refresh on using the Stamp-a-ma-jig?  View this video which was originally posted on July 31, 2012.
 
Stamp-a-ma-jig Technique
 
 
 

Simply Said Online Classes Details!

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Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?
 
Karen
 

A Sale-a-Bration Sneak Peek with Madison Avenue

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As we wind down 2012, I would like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and may you have a wonderful celebration with family and friends.

As we look forward to 2013, there is Sale-a-Bration and I have a sneak peek for you.  This is a quick and easy card and can be used for just about any type of occasion.  All you have to do is change the sentiment and it can be birthday, anniversary, thinking of you, etc.

 

Sale-a-Bration Sneak Peek

 

 

Stamps: Madison Avenue (c – 129660, w – 129657, 2013 Sale-a-Bration Catalogue), Pretty Petites(c – 129642, w – 129639, 2013 Sale-a-Bration Catalogue

Paper: Natural White, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit, Sahara Sand, Sycamore Street DSP

Ink: Calypso Coral, Summer Starfruit

Accessories: Big Shot, Floral Frames Framelits, 1-3/4” Circle Punch, Calypso Coral Marker, Sycamore Street Ribbon, Sycamore Street Button, Simply Score Tool, Borders Scoring Plate

I used the Borders Scoring Plate and did a zig-zag effect across the bottom of the Sahara Sand and stamped with the smallest stamp in the Madison Avenue set.

This plate comes with a guide to assist you in the embossing.  A couple of things that I did find is that you need to be consistent in the pressure you apply with the stylus.

The DSP papers are made using MDS2 and printing on Whisper White card stock.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek and I will be back with another one as we count down the days to the Spring Catalogue and Sale-a-Bration

Are you looking for some ideas for your crafting over the holiday season?  Check out the Simply Said Online Classes.

Simply Said Online Classes Details!

Learn techniques and get valuable tips.  Watch the video.

 

Simply Said Online Stamping Club Details!!

Is your paper crafting wish list bigger than your bank account?
Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?

 

A Very Special Christmas Card

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With the Christmas and Holiday season upon us, I would like to share a very special Christmas Card.

While it’s not a card in the sense that we know a card, it is very special because it has come from my youngest grandchild.

He’s 4 and a boy, so not too much into crafting but with the help of his Mom, he made it happen.

 

 

Christmas Hand

 

 

Isn’t this just the cutest?  It’s a hand print and painted to resemble Santa Clause.  His palm and thumb make Santa’s hat and his fingers make the beard.

This types of gifts are so memorable.  It will be displayed on the wall so that we can track how much he has grown.  I have hand prints of my other 2 grandchildren and they are always measuring when they come for a visit.

 

 

Gift Bag

 

 

 

Here is the bag that it came in.  Sagan did attach the felt images to the bag but I suspect that his Mom cut them out.

Just how cute is this…and a recyclable bag.  It will be used for many Christmases to come.

 

 

Simply Said Online Classes Details!

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A December Birthday

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I have a number of December Birthdays to get ready for.  I have my niece, a friend and Lloyd’s Grandson who will be celebrating over the next couple of weeks.

My son’s birthday is in December and I really tried to focus on his birthday so as not to mix it up with Christmas.  All birthday gifts are wrapped in birthday paper and not Christmas paper.  Special dinners, special parties and just taking the time to concentrate on the birthday person.  Those are some of the ideas that I put into practice.

This card uses a selection of goodies from the 2013 Stampin’ Up! Spring catalogue.  I just love the colours the Stampin’ Up! has used in their Designer Series Paper as well as the vintage embellishments and the girlie frills like the flower and the lace tape.  Are you getting excited to see the new products?

Not much a wait…I am sure that you are receiving them in your mail.

 

Birthday 2013 Spring

 

Stamps: Collage Curios (c – 129102, w – 129099, p. 24 2013 Spring Catalogue), Itty Bitty Banners (c – 126257, w – 126255, p. 134 2012/13 Annual Catalogue), Papillon Potpourri (c – 123759, w – 123757, p.115 2012/13 Annual Catalogue)

Paper: Natural White, Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Tea for Two DSP

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder,Large Scallop Edgelit,  Soda Pop Tops, Paper Doilies, Jewel Pearls, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, 2-3/8” Scallop Circle Punch, 1” Circle Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Spritzer, Crumb Cake Marker

 

 

The Soda Pop Tops are so cute, for this one, though, I ran it through the Big Shot and flattened it.  I used the No Tab on the platform and the Standard Cutting pads. It went through the Big Shot with no problem.

The Paper Doilies were cut in half and pleated to go around the bottom of the scalloped circle.

For the DSP background, I used the sheet with chevrons and cut them and placed them on the Crumb Cake spaced apart. The whole card was spritzed with the Crumb Cake marker

Lots of goodies to play with and I will be  back with another Sneak Peek

 

Simply Said Online Classes Details!

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Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?

Birthday I Dig You And Clearance

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Have you signed up for my email list…start 2013 making sure that you receive great projects, lots of tips and answers to questions.

Just use the Sign Up form on your right.

 

 

I just love this stamp set “I Dig You” It’s so versatile in that you can use if for young and younger birthdays, Valentine’s Day cards or anything in between.  With 3 different “Mighty Machines” it’s sure to delight the digger in all of us.

Digger Birthday

 

Stamps: I Dig You (c-122722, w-122720, p 69 2012/13 AC), Loved Ones (Spring 2012)
 Paper: Natural Whites, Whisper White, Garden Green, Island Indigo, River Rock, Festival DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Basic Grey, Basic Black, Real Red, Garden Green
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Framelits Dies, Metal Brads – Gold, Incolour Brads
 

The Clearance Blitz is now on

 Clearance Rack

 

If you love our Clearance Rack, today you’re going to love it more!  And if you’ve never shopped the Clearance Rack before, now is the time to check it out! We’ve added over 300 new items to the Clearance Rack with discounts up to 80 percent off retail—but only while supplies last.So head on over to my Online Store and see what we’ve got waiting for you—you’ll find all kinds of embellishments, like buttons, ribbons, and brads—as well as Designer Series Paper, cardstock, stamp pads, punches, and dies.

 

And for the first time ever, we’re offering stamp sets—both wood- and clear-mount—with discounts up to 40 percent!

 

Visit my Online Store now to see all that’s waiting for you in our Clearance Rack Blitz!

 

Karen

 

Simply Said Online Classes Details!

Learn techniques and get valuable tips.  Watch the video.

Simply Said Online Stamping Club Details!!

Is your paper crafting wish list bigger than your bank account?
Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?

 

Sneak Peek from Spring Catalogue and Celebrate Ice Cream Day

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I am so excited as this is my first project using the new goodies from the Spring Catalogue.  While I can’t show you the actual products, I can show you what you can do with the products.
It’s also “Celebrate Ice Cream Day” .  While I don’t have an Ice Cream Cone card, I do have the colours that you might find in an ice cream cone.
The colours in the Spring Catalogue are so yummy,,,like strawberry, bubble gum, cherry custard, lime.  These are but a few, so have I whetted your appetite.
Why am I talking Spring when winter hasn’t officially arrived and Christmas isn’t over.  Well, I want you to get excited about the products in the Spring Catalogue as you will be able to start ordering on January 3, 2013 and that’s not that far off.
Ok, the suspense of over!

Thank You

Stamps: Oh Hello (c – 130733, w – 130730, p. 4 2013 Spring Catalogue)
Paper: Natural White, Pretty in Pink, Tea for Two DSP, Vellum
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Framelit, Ovals Collection Framelits, Honeycomb Emboss Folder, White Embossing Powder, Large Pearls, Calypso Coral and Luck Limeade Markers Delicate Lace Tape

This card is also for an entry into the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge

Enjoy your day

Karen

Simply Said Online Classes Details!

Learn techniques and get valuable tips.  Watch the video.

Simply Said Online Stamping Club Details!!

Is your paper crafting wish list bigger than your bank account?
Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?

Simply Said Online Classes Now Available

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I am very happy to let you know that the Simply Said Online Classes are now available for purchase.

All classes will be via video which allows you to stop and start and review as many times as you like.

The classes will focus on various techniques that everyone will find very useful and they will also be packed with various tips.

Class #1 features the Field Flowers stamp set and I show you how you can create 2 different Occasion cards by changing the techniques and the products used.  The featured techniques are shadow stamping and embossing techniques as well as lots of techniques

Simply Said Class 1

The video explaining the process is now available HERE
Karen

Christmas Snowman Light – Great idea for a Child’s night light

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I just have to share this cute little Christmas tea light that my upline gave to her group at our Christmas meeting.   It just the cutest little thing and would be so easy to make…ok not this year but maybe next.

Saturday, Dec 9th is International Children’s Day and wouldn’t Mr Snowman Light made a wonderful addition to for a night light in a child’s room…of course, one who is at an age where everything doesn’t go in their mouths.

Tealight Snowman

 

He is a tealight (the one with the coloured wick) which is mounted on a scallop circle, the hat is made from the oval punch embossed with the the petals a plenty.  THe border on his had is a piece of DSP punched with the small oval and trimmed.  His scarf is the trim from the Holiday Catalogue – 1/4″ Sweater Trim.  Lastly his eyes and mouth are done with rhinestones that have been coloured black.

Did you know that you can have any coloured rhinestone or pearl?  Just colour them with an alcohol based marker – Sharpies work great.

Have a wonderful day….

Karen

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Retirement Card for a Friend

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At some we decide to take the plunge and be done with the corporate world.  No more rat race, no more getting up and rushing to work, only to rush home and do the same thing again tomorrow.

Most people who decide to retire (and yes, there are some that don’t retire for various reasons), will tell you that it was the best thing that ever happened to them.  I know I’m loving mine.

A friend decided to take that next step in her life and just do the things that she wants to do, likes to do, or maybe will find things that she never thought she could do.

One area that she is most interested in is quilting and yes, she does beautiful work.  That is one craft that I have never tried….maybe some day…or maybe in my dreams.

So, the card I created for her, uses the premise of making a quilt.  Ok, I tried.

 

retirement quilt card

 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (c – 127802, w – 115370, p. 133 2012/13 AC
Paper: Very Vanilla, Island Indigo, Comfort Café DSP
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Lattice Embossing Folder, Bitty Banner Framelits 1” Square Punch, Word Window Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Blossom Punch, 5-Petal Punch (retired) Crochet Trim

 

I hope that you can see the quilt pattern, it is the star

Maybe, I will give it another try at some time

I hope you have enjoyed.

Karen

 

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Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?

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A Sparkling Christmas Holiday Ornament

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Christmas is nearly upon us and I’m winding down my Christmas card frenzy.  The tree is up and the decorating is done, now it will be on to baking and wrapping.

Today’s Christmas card shows how you can frame an image using the Labels Collection Framelits and cutting out the label in the main panel of your card.  Then insert a piece of card stock as a background to show off your main image.

The ornament is stamped with Early Espresso ink, a piece of adhesive sheet attached and then the image run through the Big Shot using the matching framelit die from the Holiday Ornaments Framelit Dies.  The backing of the adhesive sheet is taken off and the sticky part remains.  You can then swish it around in your Dazzling Diamonds creating a sparkling ornament.

Last but not least, the ornament is tied up with a big bow made with the Scalloped Tulle Ribbon – available until January 3rd in the Holiday Catalogue.

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes (c – 128051, w – 128048, p. 3 2012 Holiday Catalogue), Greetings of the Season (c – 128033, w- 128030 p.8 p. 3 2012 Holiday Catalogue)
Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Holiday Ornaments Framelit Dies, Labels Collection Framelits,  Petals a Plenty Emboss Folder Versamark, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Decorate Label Punch, Adhesive Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds, Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon
 
Have any questions?  EMAIL ME 
 

Simply Said Online Stamping Club Details!!

Is your paper crafting wish list bigger than your bank account?
Do you live in an area where you don’t have access to a stamping club?

Watch the Video that will explain how you can benefit from the Simply Said Online Stamping Club

Karen