Thank You Step Card

Here's a little "thank you" step-card I made recently and wanted to share with you.  Step-cards are so much fun to make and this one was no exception.  I used Kraft card stock for my base - it's so versatile and goes with everything!  Did you know that it's being renamed to "Crumb Cake" and will be part of the Neutrals Card Stock selection being released in the upcoming 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog. 

The DSP is a retired Stampin' Up Valentines Day double sided paper that I just loved and couldn't get enough of.   A piece of Chocolate Chip was cut out using the Top Note Die and used as a design element on the first and last step of the card. I cut a flower for the last step of the card from the DSP and Chocolate Chip card stock using SU's Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch and glued them together to give some weight to the flower.  A large button was used for the center of the flower.  Sentiments from Fresh Cuts and Best Yet stamp sets were used to express gratitude and stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. 

On the first step of the card I glued two different patterns of the DSP separated with the Chocolate Chip Top Note piece.  I then added a scrunchy flower that was made by  layering one each  of 1", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circles punched from the DSP with circle punches.  The circles were scrunched into little balls and then unravelled and stacked on top of each other, with a Red Fire and Ice brad in the center. How do you like it.......wish you could see it in person because it's pretty cute! I love making all these new flowers and using them as embellishments so I've decided to share some of the tricks I've learned in future posts and will be holding some "Card Candy" classes this summer so you can share in the fun!

Another part of this card that was really fun to make was the bird.  A template was drawn free hand by my good friend Sheri and I traced her template onto the DSP.  You may not be able to tell from this picture because it's a bit grainy, but I used the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch in a contrasting DSP for the wing - I just trimmed the beak off and then flipped the bird (pardon the expression) upside down to create the wing on the larger bird.  It's held in place with a button and some twine.  A brass coloured brad from one of the Hodge Podge sets was used for the bird's eye. 

Hope you like this card.  I'll be using this design in my June card classes.  Thanks for dropping by!  Leave a comment if you like it.

Exciting Summer Stamping News and Chance for Free Passes!!!!!

UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! "Early Summer Edition 2010"!! will open June 25th and will run through July 16th "Early Summer Edition 2010"!! This is going to be a fantastic event showcasing Stampin' Up! Sneak Peeks from NEW Catalog releasing in July AND you can be sure that the HOT & HIP NEW COLORS that SU! is debuting, will be here there and everywhere on the projects shared!!



My other exciting news is that I've been invited back as a Guest Designer, and I'm over the moon about this! Working with Dawn's Creative Crew and host of Guest Designer's has just broadened my horizon's so much.  It's hard to believe that I started participating only a year ago, but that's right when this Early Summer Edition airs in June, it will be my one year anniversary!   How the time flies!  So in order to get ready, I've got my thinking cap on so I can come up with a fabulous design that I know everyone will be excited about! 

The Early Summer Edition 2010 is going to be a "everything goes" kinda event...everything and anything that Stampin' Up! offers is fair game for the Design Team to just go crazy with. There will be summer things for sure....... cause this is the summer edition.......... but there will also be some "Christmas in July", Halloween, Thanksgiving and other special treats to work on! Think of it as an open air bustling market place, one treasure more enchanting than the next!! I am sure you won't to miss out on this event!!

For more information or to sign up today click here for all the information.  Early Bird pricing of $19.99 US is in effect until June 1st, 2010.  After June 1st it will increase to $24.99.  So get in early. 

Oh and one more thing............did I mention there will be a free pass give away.......The FREE PASSES this time around will go to 13 winners that will be drawn through a random drawing on Dawn's Blog. The names will be selected from the group of names that post a comment* on Ustamp With Dawn between May 21 and May 31st. The winners will be announced on June 1st. If a winner is selected and has already paid for the event, a refund will be issued.  So all the more reason to check it out.


Note to post a comment on Dawn's Blog you need to scroll down on the post dated May 21st 2010 about the "Early Summer Edition 2010"............ go all the way down to the bottom and you will see "Posted by Dawn at: 9:29 AM", click on the 9:29am and it will put you into the comment box.  Good Luck........... Hope You Win a Free Pass and if you do tell her you got the information from my blog!!!  Thanks.

Do You Love Big Shot?

"Hey Big Shot Worldwide 2010 - That's How We Roll" - UStamp Event is off to a great start with many new and returning designers. Here's a glimpse of the Matchbox Trinket Box I designed for this round of UStamp, and I was so excited to see my project featured on May 15th.  

As you might have guessed by the name, this trinket box is made using the Matchbox Die that is exclusive to Stampin' Up. What a versatile die this is.  It makes the cutest little matchboxes in the blink of an eye or takes the tedium out of making a more intricate project like mine.  I truly love this die.  I've received many wonderful comments and much love and encouragement from the gals who're participating in this round.  If  you would like to make this box click here for more information on joining this round of UStamp.

And here's my finished Trinket Box.  Let me know if you like it! 

Free Technique DVD's Special Offer

From April 1-May 31, join Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator and receive two FREE technique DVDs.

• Workshop Wow DVD 2008-2009 (140 min.) Includes 19 demonstrator presentations of “WOW” techniques.$32.95

• Workshop Wow 2007-2008 DVD (117 min.) Includes 18 demonstrator presentations of “WOW” techniques for use in preparing for workshops.$20.97

Total value for over 250 minutes of stamping and paper crafting ideas!$53.92

*DVDs are in English only
Contact me to learn more.

"National Scrapbooking Month

Take your scrapbooking to a whole new level with Stampin’ Up! During National Scrapbooking Month, get a FREE package of Designer brads with the purchase of My Digital Studio (item 118108) or any of the following stamp sets:

Page #     Description                Item #     Price
81            Extreme Elements        115181    $35.95
119          Framed with Love**   114389    $36.95
128          Certified**                  113706    $36.95
129          Circle Circus               115778    $38.95
12*          Elements of Style         118611    $36.95WB   120045  $26.95CM
13*          Momentos                   119910    $36.95WM  120105  $26.95CM
13*          Éléments de style         119900    $36.95WM  120099  $26.95CM
14*          Rough Type                118659     $35.95WM  120072  $24.95CM
22*          Sentimental Journey     118513    $31.95WM   120075  $23.95CM
25*          First Day                     118521    $31.95WM   120051  $23.95CM
25*          Camino a la Escuela    120152    $31.95WM    120154  $23.95CM

*From the Summer Mini Catalogue  - **A Last Chance stamp set!
WB - Wood Mount  - CM -Clear Mount

Choose from the following Designer brads with qualifying purchase:

Page    Description                       Item
179      Flower Designer brads     112579
179      Filigree Designer brads     112577
179      Circle Designer brads       112571
179      Star Designer brads          112572

View the flyer for more information and some great scrapbooking ideas. Then contact me to place your order or schedule your scrapbooking workshop!

Welcome Home

What a Spring this has been! April flew by in a flurry of activity while we prepared to go on our trip of a lifetime, and May is already half way through. I apologize for not posting for a while but it was with good reason.  My husband and I have just returned from 3 wonderful relaxing weeks cruising from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. Can you say FABULOUS!!! What a holiday! 

We've been waiting to go on this trip with our good friends Doug and Kathy for such a long time and today we're pinching ourselves that it's over and we're actually back home again. The four of us go way back and this trip was about celebrating our friendship and our respective wedding anniversaries - their 40th and our 41st. And, I've got to tell you, we did that and more! The cruise was so much fun and we enjoyed relaxing in the sun, eating, exploring new places, eating, shopping, eating (OMG the food!!!!) and sharing memories of our friendship over the years.  I'm sure that between the two of us Kathy and I took a couple of hundred pictures (yeah I know "you only need a few...") along with all the ones the cruise ship photographers took, so I can't wait to get them developed and start putting together my vacation photo album(s).  Thank goodness May is National Scrapbook Month - how timely and what a great incentive to start scrapbooking!!!

Announcing Big Shot Event

Dawn Raspas has done it again. She's continuing to share her love of creating and her overwhelming passion for Stampin' Up! with demonstrators and non-demonstrators from ALL around the world. WooHoo!! And I'm thrilled to announce opening day for "UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! "Hey, Big Shot!! Worldwide That's How We Roll!!" will be May 7th and will run through June 4th. Every member will enjoy 29 days of creative fun with 24/7 access to the "Hey, Big Shot!! Worldwide that's how we roll!!" blogsite.

Dawn is planning on showcasing Stampin' Ups Big Shot in a BIG BIG way!! Her International Design Team are working with the Big Shot to create amazing and unique projects and for the past month they've been  rollin', rollin', rollin' that Big Shot like crazy!! In fact, their Mojo is cranked up so BIG BIG BIG!! that you're going to be amazed at what you'll see and learn at this event. The possibilities are endless when the Big Shot is at work, and this Design Team is out to prove it. The Hey Big Shot 2010! event will have you looking at cardstock and a whole host of other crafting and household materials in a BIG new way.

And, drum roll please............I'm super excited to announce that I've been invited to join the POWERHOUSE of many fantastic returning and new designers for this event! My tutorial has been completed and I think you're going to love it - but you have to sign up to see  it. I KNOW you're going to be impressed by all the BIG talent in this line up and the fantastic projects that have been created. 

UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! "Hey, Big Shot!! Worldwide...that's how we roll!!" offers everyone the same opportunity to do something REALLY FUN, even if only for a few minutes a day, to check out a project or peak into the chat room to say hello to some friends around the world. Come each day to the website and stay as long as YOU like!!  Here's what's in store for you:

• New projects shared everyday!!
• Several "Double Designer Days"!! 2 projects on 1 day...DOUBLE the fun!!
• All projects include a step by step tutorial, including LOTS of Photos!!
• EVERY Tutorial is available in English, Spanish, German and French
• All measurements are available in Inches and CM
• Prizes, Prizes and MORE Prizes!!
• Live Chats
• Every member gets a cool Big Shot Member Badge for their blog/website!!
• Friendships around the world...happens every event!!
• Way Cool SWAP!! (Optional... but really fun!!)

Don't we all deserve a few minutes of fun to help us re-charge and enjoy what we love??!! Of course we do!! One of the many great things about UStamp is that YOU create when YOU are ready. LOVE the projects, but don't have time to make them yourself right away?? No worries!! The website is available 24/7 and will remain open for many months after the last project is posted and is ready when you are to create, so you won't miss out.   Want more information or have questions about what's on site, then click here to check out the UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! is all about YOU!! blogsite and sign up for this next exciting round.  What a great value for only $24.95 US.