I'm back

Hey Everyone!
  Sorry for the absence--life has been BUSY here :)  It was my oldest son, Alex's birthday at the end of March, and it seems that we have spent the last three weekends celebrating with a family party, a kid party, and then the Harlem Globetrotters Bench Experience this past weekend.  He and his best friend got to sit ON the bench with the players during the game as well as meet all of them and came home with a signed program, ball, and jersey.  It was pretty neat.  I also did a table at our local Docs vs. Jocks hockey game promoting Stampin' Up, and came away with a couple workshops booked as well as (hopefully) some new customers!  It was a fun day.  I am still looking for ONE more lucky lady to join my team before 4/30.
  Tomorrow I'll be back with an SUO Challenge post, so be sure to check back :)  Hope you have a fabulous day--thanks for checking in!

Amy

SUO Challenge-A Birthday Card

Happy Tuesday Everyone~

  Here I am today with another SUO Challenge for you.  This time the challenge was to create a birthday card.  It was a perfect challenge because I just got done creating Jack's birthday card, in February, but I shared that one with you guys already.  As luck would have it, Alex's birthday is just around the corner so today I am sharing with you his birthday invitations, however, they could easily be turned in to a birthday card, too.

  Alex picked out his paper that he wanted.  (Do the ones with all the mixed up arrows, Mom)  So, I started with a simple Whisper White base.  On that I layered a piece of Real Red, followed by the paper from the Celebrations pack.  I customized each one with some stickers from the Celebrations Accent Kit, punched out a piece of Whisper White stamped with "Party This Way" arrow from, fittingly, the Party This Way stamp set.  :)  I layered that on a scalloped circle of Real Red and voila, party invitations that scream 9 year old boy.  

  I hope you enjoyed what I had for you today.  Please hop over to www.suochallenges.com and see what the other members of the Design Team have cooked up for you.   Lots of talented ladies over there, I am proud to be a member of their team!!  While you are there, link us up to your birthday creation.  We'd love to see what you make.  I'll be back tomorrow to share a preview creation, as well as some pictures of the soon-to-be birthday boy.  Thanks for stopping in!

Happy Stampin!

And the Winner Is........

Hi Everyone!!
  Hope you all had a great weekend.  We sure did-we kicked off the birthday celebrations for Alex, my oldest.  He will turn 9 on the 28th, but we kicked off the celebrating with family this weekend.  Next weekend, a kid party, followed by treats at school and dinner of his choosing (hopefully not Burger King ;)  on his actual birthday.
  I don't have a crafty post to share with you today, but stop back later this week because tomorrow I'll have a new SUO Challenge post for you--we will be posting birthday cards and challenging you all to submit your creations, too.  I also have a cute scrapbook page we will be making in my club this week to share, and some samples I created with the sneak peek set and paper from the upcoming 2011-2012 Big Catalog and Idea Book.  So, you won't want to miss it.
  Ok, I've stalled long enough...thanks to Random.org (random number generator), the winner is:

#2  Congratulations Missy!!!!  Email or message me and I'll get your set out to you.  Enjoy!!  Thank you to those of you who took the time to leave me a comment.  I loved reading them!!  I'll be back again with some more blog candy in the future--it's always fun to do a giveaway!

Missy said...

I used this set to make a card at my stamp club last week. Loved it!!

MARCH 18, 2011 9:31 AM 

Tonight it's the blue and gold banquet for Alex-- :) I'll share pictures

Happy Stampin!

Blog Candy Giveaway

Happy Friday Everyone!
  To celebrate Spring this weekend, I am giving away a clear mounted, but never used, Nature Walk.  I had ordered it out of the new mini, and then that's the set they gave us at Regionals--so I am passing one on to one of you lucky winners :)  All you have to do is leave me a comment and I'll be back Monday to draw a winner.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Stampin!
Amy

With Sympathy

Happy Thursday Everyone!

  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!  Had I been on the ball I'd be sharing a card I sent out to all of my Irish relatives.  (My husband's mom is 100% Irish---xoxo Quealy Family!!)  I guess now would be a good time to plan for next year!!

  Today's card is made with Teeny Tiny Wishes and all kinds of fun new things out of the Spring Mini.  I used a Whisper White background with a layer of Baja Breeze.  On top of that I mixed my favorite floral pattern and the stripe pattern from the Springtime Vintage DSP.  To disguise where the two papers come together I wrapped a piece of Baja Breeze seam binding around the paper and tied it in a knot.  I love the softness of this seam binding and that you can either cut the edges neatly, or like I did here, you can fray the edges.  I punched out a piece of Baja Breeze with the Modern Label Punch and stamped With Sympathy in Chocolate Chip and added a pretty plastic flower in Very Vanilla to finish it off.  I like that it's a sympathy card that is soft, delicate, and pretty.  

  The Spring Mini runs through the end of April :)  Let me know if you "need" any of these items.  Tomorrow I will share the birthday party invitations I made for Alex's birthday and Friday--BLOG CANDY!

  Thanks for stopping in!

Happy Stampin!

Thank You!!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!
  Today I am featuring another card in the set I made for a co-worker.  This one is a super simple thank you.  I can't seem to ever have enough thank you cards on hand.
  I used a really fun, and kind of unexpected color palette for this card.  It is a piece of Perfect Plum layered on Whisper White cardstock.  I used a strip of Rich Razzleberry and Basic Grey Designer Series Paper to accent.  I used Engraved Greetings for the sentiment and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I added two rhinestones for a bit of sparkle.  I really like the pop of color the Razzleberry gives to the other colors.
  Tonight I am going to package these cards up and also whip up birthday invitations to my older son Alex's birthday party :)  Stop back tomorrow for another crafty share, and Friday I'm giving away some Blog Candy.

Happy Stampin!

Monogram....

Happy Tuesday Friends!

  Today I have for you a monogram card that I am including in a set for a co-worker.  I used a base of Whisper White cardstock, and then cut a piece of retired Sweet Pea DSP for the mat.  On top of that I layered a strip of the French Script piece from Botanical Gazette DSP and tied a piece of Pumpkin Pie satin ribbon on that.  For the monogram I used Lovely Letters and Chocolate Chip ink on a piece of Whisper White layered on top of a scalloped punch of another piece of Sweet Pea DSP.  

  I love making custom card orders for people--I can't wait to see what she thinks of these cards.  :)  My UPS guy was here today (love when he visits--my Dad works for UPS, wish I could visit with him more often!!) so I have a box of goodies to go check out!  Stop in tomorrow to see another card from this co-worker set.  Thanks for checking in.  

Happy Stampin!

Monday, Monday

 

 Happy Monday Everyone!!

  Did you all remember to "spring ahead" this weekend?  I sure do like when we have more daylight but man that first week or so sure messes with my kids!!
  Any of you who have followed my blog for awhile know that I have two boys.  It was recently my Jack's 2nd birthday, so I thought I would share the card I made for him.  He is ALL of two right now.  He's starting to play independently (YAY), he's jabbering away like crazy, he is BUSY, and is VERY familiar with the words "NO!" and "MINE".  He also is good at saying "Please", "Thank You ('que' is what it sounds like), and "No a'que" (no thank you)  I'm proud of him and love him, and his big brother who turns nine in a couple weeks, to pieces!
  For Jack's card I used pieces of an old Simply Scrapping kit that has been retired that I seem to have been hoarding for awhile now.  I used a piece of the Brocade Blue textured card stock and a few of the accent stickers as the base of the card.  Then I used the larger star, raised on dimensionals, with the 2 stuck on that.  I also used two of the smaller stars from the stickers.  I love that I am able to make a card in no time that is special for the recipient!  Book a workshop and I'll teach you how to do it, too.  These Simply Scrappin kits are great for cards or scrapbook pages, and you really get a lot of items for your money.
  Check back tomorrow, I'll be featuring one of the cards from the set I was asked to make for a co-worker.  :)

Happy Stampin!

Thinking of You.....

Hello Stampers!!

  Happy Friday :)  Here is another one of the cards that I made at the retreat last weekend.  I used a Crumb Cake base, with a layer of Marina Mist that I ran through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Greenhouse Gala paper, Have a Seat and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets, the Decorative and Modern Label punches and a bit of bling with the rhinestones. 

  I love Marina Mist.  It's such a clean, crisp blue.  I like just the tiniest bit of the Greenhouse Gala peeking out giving this card a little bit of fun.  I made a stack of these so I can send them to my friends and family out of town.  I usually am so busy making cards for everyone else, I forget to make them for myself.  I'm sure several of you can relate to that!!

  I came home today and waiting for me was a sneak peek stamp set from the upcoming Summer Mini called Summer Fun....ADORABLE and will be perfect for using with pictures from the cabin this summer.  I earned it FREE for recruiting new members to my team after attending the Minneapolis Regional.  Thanks Stampin Up!!!  The best part is--Amy and Patti earned one too simply for joining my team.  I'm going to try and create something with it over the weekend.  

  Next week I'll share a few more things I made on my retreat, and hopefully some things I got done this weekend, too.   Also, it will be time for some blog candy,  so stay tuned!! Thanks for checking in!  Have a great weekend :)

Happy Stampin!

Home Decor

Happy Thursday!

  One of the things I love most about Stampin' Up is how all of their products coordinate so well together.  Today I am showcasing a Decor Elements Chunky Frame that I made for my sister.  She recently moved in to a new house and was in need of a few things to "spruce up the place" so I made this for her.  I got this idea from Seeing Ink Spots, one of the blogs I really like to read.  She did a very similar frame (more ribbons, more butterflies) and I liked it so much I made a similar one.  I used a piece of Love Letter designer paper, the Bliss stamp set, Victoria, Black 1 1/4"Grosgrain, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, and Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbons, Trinket Keys, and Rhinestones. I am so pleased with how this turned out.  I hope she loves it as much as I do.

  Here's a few more pictures of the details.  Hope you enjoy :)

Happy Stampin!

THANK YOU!

Hi Everyone!

  Today's card was inspired by the Color Coach.  I LOVE that tool.  I consider myself to be one that is good with colors.  I'm good at picking out what "goes", I like to mix patterns and colors.  Sometimes though, I find that I just keep going to my "go to" colors.  Greens, Blues, Brown.....  So, while on my retreat last weekend, I dug out the color coach and came up with this combo: Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, and Early Espresso.  My neutral is a piece of Whisper White and I used some retired River Rock stitched ribbon.  I was really happy with the clean and fresh look this thank you had.  It would be a good masculine color palette, GREAT for baby boy cards, and boy cards.  

  What are your favorite color combos?  My challenge to you is to step outside your color palette "comfort zone" and create something you really love!  

Happy Stampin!

Sidekick Sayings

Hey Everyone!
  Sorry my post is a tad bit late.  We were at the Boy Scout Pinewood Derby last night, Alex took 3rd in his den and 5th overall in his heat for his pack.  Needless to say, when we got home last night, I was helping to shepherd our little darlings in to bed.
  The challenge this time over at SUO Challenges is to use your favorite retired stamp set.  I have lots of favorites, but this set, Sidekick Sayings has been speaking to me from the shelf for some time now.  In fact, even after making this card it's still speaking to me, so I will be making some other things with it that I will share.  I paired this set with some fun new items from the Spring Mini--the Baja Breeze flower, Springtime Vintage designer series paper (LOVE), Baja Breeze seam binding (delicious--the feel of this seam binding and how it can look clean or soft and vintagey is so great!), First Edition Newsprint paper, and the Sweet Summer set from Sale-a-Bration.  Everything old is new again, right??  I'd love to see what you all create--check out what the rest of the design team has put up and don't forget to link up your creation, too.

  Thanks for checking in!  I'll be back tomorrow with a thank you card inspired by the Color Coach.  :)  Oh, and, here's a picture of Alex with his car and trophy last night. (Jack wants the car)  Way to go Scouts!

Happy Stampin!
Amy

A Check In

Hey Everyone!!
  Just wanted to drop in and let you know I'll have crafty posts the rest of the week this week, as well as BLOG CANDY on Friday :)  I was at a retreat last weekend with 15 other fabulously crafty women.  SO much fun.  If you are in the MN/WI area, I definitely recommend you check out Sugarleaf in the Brainerd/Crosslake area.  And, while you are there, check out Christmas Point Wild Rice Company it has a great deli for lunch, and SO many cute things to look at in their shop.
  Thanks for checking in, and stop back tomorrow for another SUO Challenges challenge, and the rest of the week for some of the crafty goodness I was up to last weekend.  Have a fabulous day!!

Amy

Stylish Blogger :)

Happy Friday Everyone!

  Imagine my delight when I received not one but TWO Stylish Blogger Awards and in the same week no less!!!  Thank you, so much, for choosing me!!  I have visited several ladies who have received these and thought, oh, how nice that their readers think that about her, and always thinking how much fun that would be to have someone send to you.  Well--watch out blog ladies and gentleman--these are coming your way.  Thank you again, Tonya and Sandy for choosing me (Click on their names and go check them out!)!  You made may day AND my week.  I'm so glad that those of you out there reading are enjoying the things I am creating.  It makes me want to create and share more.  My goal is to try and leave comments on the blogs that I'm reading, so thank you for this privilege :)

Part of the award is to do the following:
When you receive this award you are to:

1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog

2) share 8 things about myself

3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered

4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition:

So, with no further ado, 8 things about me:

1.) I'm the oldest.  I have one younger sister, Emily, who I love SO MUCH.  No one can make me laugh like my sister!  Growing up with 2 girls, I am now the mother of two boys--Alex and Jack, who I am totally blessed to call my sons.  You'll see them on the blog from time to time.  They are SO much fun and a delight every day.  (I'm also married to an oldest child, so as you can imagine, there are lots of strong opinions in our house :) You who are the oldest know what I mean)

2.) I am married to a man that I love dearly.   He's my best friend, and totally "the other half" of me.

3.) I love ice cream.  If I had to choose only one type of dessert for the rest of my life it would be ice cream.  Mint Chocolate Chip on a sugar cone is my favorite, but really almost any kind will do.

4.) I love to read.  If I'm not crafting to relax (in all my spare time HA!) I would choose to be reading.  I get most of my reading done on car trips going to visit our families in the Twin Cities and Chicago.  (My husband is driving of course)

5.) I have lived in Minnesota my whole life.  It's a great state, if you haven't been here, come visit!  In fact, I get to live in one of the Cities that people go to vacation, just a few blocks away from Lake Superior.

6.) A great vacation to me is a quiet place on the lake, up the North Shore.  

7.) I love to watch storms--I get this from my Dad.  If I can watch a storm brewing on a lake, even better.

8.) I am hoping that I can make my fun job (being a Stampin' Up Demonstrator) be my real job by the time my youngest son goes to school.  Wish me luck!!

Now, here are the 8 people I've chosen.  Please go check them out when you have time.  Thanks again for choosing me!  I hope you had fun learning a little about me.

Julie- http://www.kewlstamps-n-more.com/

Mandy- http://www.l-inkedtogether.com/

Jackie- http://jackiebarfield.blogspot.com/

Dina- http://www.dinaloves2stamp.anker.ca/

Mike- http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style/

Angie- http://schwooo.blogspot.com/

Diana- http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/

Carla- http://thesouthernstamper.blogspot.com/

Minneapolis Regionals

Hi Everyone,
   Today I am sharing a few of my Minneapolis Regional pictures with you.  Forgive me, they are on my cell phone, so they aren't the best quality, but you'll be able to get the overall idea.  Regionals were SO inspiring.  I encourage all of you, if you have a Regional coming to an area near you, GO!!
   Tomorrow it's Friday (YAY) and I'll be sharing my answers to the TWO Stylish blogger awards I got! Be watching!!

Happy Stampin!

Shelli doing a little stamping sharing with us what she made her daughters for Valentines Day

They gave us Nature Walk as our free stamp set, here's a couple samples they had with it

Nature Walk and Botanical Gazette Paper

A border made with the ribbon punch featuring the Build a Cupcake set

A cupcake made with strips of Sew Suite fabric and LOTS of hot glue--Did you know our fabric rips straight?

Clear Embossed button background in fun Spring colors

Adorable baby card made with an animal print background using rubber scraps (from when you punch out your sets) and your largest clear block :)

Sale-a-Bration Continued

Hooray! Wednesday--half way through the week!!  More importantly, one more day until my Stamp Camp.  :) I love that group of ladies.  We always have fun when we get together.  We have a potluck, so there's always good things to eat.  Usually someone brings wine, and there are always a lot of laughs.  

This week at Stamp Camp we are making this card.  It uses an elegant color palette of Very Vanilla, Basic Black, and just a pop of color from Marina Mist Satin Ribbon.  I used the Sale-a-Bration set Bliss. Have you gotten this one yet?  LOVE this one!  To add something to the background I used a sheet from First Edition Designer Series Paper (in the Occasions Mini), I also heat embossed the image and added a Basic Rhinestone.  What do you think?

Every time I see the Marina Mist Satin Ribbon I think "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue....."  Wouldn't this be a great blue for weddings?  That season is coming up.

Speaking of Sale-a-Bration, don't forget to check out our Design Team Challenge over at SUO Challenges.  It's all about the Sale-a-Bration sets, ink yours up and play along!

Happy Stampin!

PS....today is my baby's birthday.  He's the big 2 today.  Happy Birthday Jack!  We are so happy you are a part of our family.  I'll post pictures of Jack's birthday party on Monday.  :) Can't believe my "baby" is 2!!

SUO Challenge 13- SALE A BRATE and Punch Bunch

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!

  Today I have another Design Team challenge for all of you.  This time around our theme is "Sale-a-Brate".  Get out those shiny new sets you've all earned during Stampin' Up's biggest sale of the year and play along!  Anyone out there not know what Sale-a-Bration is or how it works, send me an email, I'd be happy to share.

  On to today's card.  I used a standard size Whisper White card stock base.  Layered on that is a 4x 5 1/4" piece of Melon Mambo designer series paper.  I have added a piece of Going Grey cut with the Tasteful Trims Big Shot die, then I wrapped a piece of Basic Black Satin Ribbon around all of it and tied a piece of Whisper White Organza Ribbon in a bow.  I punched out a large scallop circle in Basic Black,  layered a Going Grey 1  3/4" circle and on that popped up, with a dimensional, a piece of Whisper White stamped with the "For You" stamp from Punch Bunch.  Overall, I'm happy with the way this turned out.   I like that it's kind of a fun and classy color pallet and it's a nice blend of finishes with the satin ribbon and shapes.

  We'd love to have you play along with our challenge.  Check out what the rest of the Design Team has to offer you over at SUO Challenges.  Don't forget to link up your creation!  

Share What You Love

Good Monday Morning Stamping Friends!!

   It's a blustery and cold day here in MN.  We don't have as much snow as my family does in the Twin Cities area, but we had 50+ mile an hour winds coming straight off Lake Superior.   BRRRR!!  I am READY FOR SPRING!

   I had a great weekend this past weekend--I signed up TWO new demonstrators to the Stampin' Up family--Welcome Amy and Patti!!!!  So, when you see them around on the Stampin' Connection, please make them feel welcome!

  The picture above is what I gave them as their welcome gift.  I took a plain white frame (that you can get at any big box store) added a piece of Melon Mambo textured card stock, a piece of Love Letter DSP, some Basic Black, and then stamped Tess from Totally Tess on a piece of Whisper White.  I colored her in with my markers (Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Early Espresso, Blush Blossom, and Garden Green), added two Basic Pearls for her buttons, and stamped her bag on a sheet of the Greenhouse Gala DSP and cut it out.  Then, I took my 1 3/4 circle punch and punched out the "Love what you do, Share what you Love" stamp that we were able to purchase last year at Convention.  I finished the frame off with some Melon Mambo pom-pom trim and voila--a great welcome gift for my new recruits to have in their stamping space.  ;)  I may have to make one for myself!!

  This week is busy!  Tomorrow another design challenge from SUO only challenges, and I will share some of what I loved from the Minneapolis Regional, as well as my 6x6 page for the Fairy Princess Ball I am working at on Sunday.  Hope you guys have a great start to the week.  

Happy Stampin!

Amy

Hello Fellow Readers!!

Hello Fellow Readers!
  I had a busy week and didn't get to posting this week.  I will be back Monday with my regular posting schedule.  Today, I am going to sign up TWO new recruits to my team.  YAY!!!!!  Welcome Amy and Patti!!
  Monday I will be back with the gifts I have made for them, Tuesday with a new Stampin Up Only challenge, Wednesday through Friday some crafty things, and some shares from the Minneapolis Regional.
I hope you have had a great week!  I'll look forward to catching up on Monday.  :)  Until then....


Happy Stampin!!

Happy Friday!!

Friday Everyone!
  Tomorrow I will be attending Stampin' Up's Minneapolis Regional.  YAY!  I'm so excited.  I'll be ready to share all the fun and goodies when I get back.
  No crafty post today, but today is my sister's last day of nannying for us for our youngest son, Jack.  Em--thank you SO much for all you did for us since you came in September.  You were a great nanny, and you are a fantastic Auntie.  We will all miss you!!  Jack will be sure to send you updates from day care (especially when we get pictures sent to us) and he hopes you will come up every now and then for a day just you and him.  We wish you all the best as you head home to start the new adventures that are waiting for you.  Love you much!
  Happy Friday--and Happy Stampin!

A Birthday Card

Hi Everyone!

  Today I have a little birthday card I recently made for a co-worker's birthday.  I used the Party This Way.  I got this idea from a card Kimberly Van Diepen did on her blog.  I loved how she made the flags work, even though she did them in white.  This card is kind of putzy with the cutting, but it is SO worth it!  Stampin' Up---if you are listening, we would LOVE a pennant punch!!  I used designs from Play Date and Sew Suite papers, stamped the flag on them and cut them out, then layered them on the scalloped edge with a dimensional.  I took my Basic Black marker and free handed a line connecting them all.  Then, stamped the sentiment "Happy Birthday" from the same set, and voila--a finished card.  I think it turned out great--how about you?

Happy Stampin!