Two Wonderful Awards from Two Wonderful Stamping Friends!

Last Sunday I spent 6 or 7 hours chit chatting and stamping with my dear and wonderful friend Sheri.  To tell the truth we probably spent more time talking than we did creating and stamping........but that's another story.  Anyway it was a glorious time!  She told me that she had given me a "Beautiful Blogger" award and that I needed to check it out on her site, so I did that today and here is my fabulous award.  To accept this award I need to share 10 things about myself............groan this is hard:

1.  I like to stay up late and blog hop.
2.  I love spaghetti with thick marinara sauce........ my favourite!!!
3.  I fell in love with my husband when I was 15 and married him 3 years later.  We're still married.
4.  I love to watch old movies and I'm fascinated by the clothing and hairstyles.  Betty Davies you were a looker!
5.  I enjoy walking............ it's my favourite exercise regime.
6.  Love going to Zeller's for Thursday morning breakies with our friends.  Retirement Rocks!
7.  Majong and Freecell are my favourite computer games and I love winning!!!
8.  I work as a casual from time to time, not because I need the money but because I love to work.  Crazy huh!!!   I love all aspects of being in an office atmosphere.   Gets my adreneline pumping!
9.  My favourite cookies are Girl Guide Vanilla ones..................oh yum!
10. I'm hearing impaired, and find it difficult sometimes communicating in the hearing world and dealing with my loss.  However since I've joined UStamp and other stamping sites, I've found a new freedom and feel just like one of the girls! 

Okay that's all you get to learn about me for now.  My second award came while I was away on my trip, so I didn't actually see it for awhile.  It comes from a fellow UStamp Designer Betty Traciuk, who is so special. Check out Betty's blog.............she is one talented lady and she's one of those great people who brightens your day when you get a note from her.  And let me tell you this "Sunshine Award" really brightened my day and came at a time when I really needed it.   Betty how did you know? Thanks so much!!!


To accept this award I need to tell you about a few folks that I think really deserve a Sunshine Award too.

To begin with, I'm going to shoot this award over to Sheri because she absolutely deserves it.  Sheri is a guest designer on Swap Sisters and just bowls me over with all the beautiful creations she comes up with.  Along with all the joy from looking at her stuff, Sheri just makes me laugh.............. can't beat that!!!
hats off to you Sheri and enjoy your award!

The second person I want to give this award to is none other than Sue Denning who is from the "Sunshine" Coast in Queensland Austrailia.  Sue is a fabulous gal who I met through UStamp.  She is such a dedicated and hardworking Stampin Up demo.  Check out her site and group Swap Sisters............. you'll love it! 

Welcome June

Today is the first day of June and it is such a wonderful month.  According to Wikkipedia June is the 6th month of the year with a length of 30 days and it is sometimes called "The Season of the Unicorn".  I found some of these interesting facts about June and thought I would share them:

1. June is the month with the longest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest daylight hours in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. June's birthstone is the "pearl" and other gemstones that are celebrated this month are Moonstone and Alexandrite.  The meaning is health and longevity.
3. June's birth flower is the Rose.
4. For those of you who follow astrological signs the sun rises in Gemini and ends in Cancer.
5. The summer solstice is celebrated on June 21st
6. Father's Day in Canada and the US is celebrated onthe 3rd Sunday in June.
7. June is sometimes called the "marriage" month
8. June is a very common first name for women (#176 out of 4276) and also a very common last name for both men and women (#8724 out of 88799). (1990 U.S. Census)
9. Famous women named June included June Alyson, June Lockhart, June Cleaver (sure there's more)
10. Stampin Up releases their retired lists in June (see previous note).

So there's a few facts about June.  

Last Chance Stamp Lists, Accessories Etc................... Get Them While They're Hot

June 1st is such a special day...................... YESSIREE!!!............. Stampin' Up is clearing the decks to make way for the new Idea Book and Catalogue for 2010-2011 which will launch in July, and in order to do that they've identified all the retiring Stampin' Up stamp sets, accessories and definitely decorative products that will be on the way out.  So, if you had your heart set on getting either a stamp set, paper or other accessories in your favorite retiring color or wall art from the definitively decorative elements now is your absolute last chance.  This merchandise clears really quickly so if you want something do it today!  You can order from my on-line shop button or email  me for assistance in placing an order. 

Here are the all important links to these 3 important lists: 

Last Chance Stamp List

A selection of stamps from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue are retiring, and now is your last chance to get them! Check the list today to see if any of your favourites are leaving, then place your order in my Online Store.

Last Chance Accessories List

Hundreds of accessories are being discontinued—order your favourites today before they’re gone forever! Accessories are only available while supplies last, so be sure to click the Shop Now button and check the list often.



 

  Last Chance Definitely Decorative Line:

Dozens of products from our Definitely Decorative line are being discontinued; check the list to see which ones you can’t live without, then place your order in my Online Store! All Last Chance products are only available June 1-30. Order your favourites today!

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.