Weekly Bloggers' Challenge

Whew! I made it! I'm actually even a tad bit early....can you believe it?!! While I cannot promise that this will always be the case in the future, I AM trying!!

Have you seen the wonderful Sale-a-Bration catalog yet? Hopefully, you received yours recently in the mail.....SU has outdone themselves again! Fun sets, don't you think? Don't forget that Sale-a-Bration begins TOMORROW, February 1, and you can begin earning your favorites!!!!

Anyway, the Challenge this week was to copy the layout of the card on the front cover of the mini catalog. Since Valentine's Day will be here very soon, and I still had Priceless sitting on my work surface, so that's the set used for the layout. Inspired by something online, but can't remember where, and modeled after one of the cute little mini cards from my Love Notes Class for this coming week. Enjoy! Hope you'll join me in visiting the other Bloggers' to see what beautiful creations they've come up with this week.....just click on the Bloggers' Challenge logo.

Stamps: Priceless, One of a Kind, Holidays & Wishes

Inks: Purely Pomegranate, Rose Red

CS: Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink

Misc: Corner Rounder (old), Scallop Punch, 1 3/8 & 1 1/4 Round Punches, White Gel Pen, White Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Crystal Brad from Pretties Kit, Dimensionals

New SU Website

Hope you'll pop in and check out my new site. I've added a couple of classes and will be posting some ideas in the gallery as time allows. Hope you will visit often!

Sale-a-Bration is Almost Here!

This is a quick birthday card I made today.....Don't you just love the great, new, soon-to-be-released Sale-a-Bration set, So Many Scallops?!! So versatile and so much fun! I found this very old, long retired background print paper buried in my stash (one of my New Year's resolutions was to actually USE and not hoard some of the many things in my collections!!). What you cannot see is the glitter on the flames of the candles. Enjoy!

Stamps: So Many Scallops

Inks: Orchid Opulence, Basic Black

CS: Basic Black, Whisper White, Sweet & Sassy DP

Misc: Corner Rounder (for making the scallop), Basic Black Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Mini Brads, Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Round Punches, Paper Piercer, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen

NOTE: All items used to make this card are SU, except the Quickie Glue Pen.

Bloggers' Challenge -- W/O 1/25/08

This one was fun! I just needed to make time to create it.....and the best part? This card does double duty! (Needed a quick TY note and this is it!!) The Challenge this week was to follow the layout of the card on Page 141 of the catalog. My new Sale-a-bration set, So Many Scallops was just crying out for ink! What a fun-tabulous set! So versatile....and of course, it was designed just for our Scallop Punch!! Gotta love that! Easy card, but uses a bit of retired Designer Paper, which I've featured in previous entries. I'm so going to miss this paper.....you are not going to see much more of this, because it is almost gone!

Enjoy!...... And don't forget to check the other Bloggers' challenge cards. Just click on the Blogger's Challenge logo and it will take you to the long list of those who participate. From there, just click on each individual name to go to their site.

Stamps: Thinking Happy Thoughts, So Many Scallops

Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink

CS: Whisper White, Pixie Pink, Pumpkin Pie

Misc: Slit Punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Round Punches, Pumpkin Pie Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercer (Tool Kit), More Mustard Mini Brad, Dots & Dashes Designer Paper*, White Gel Pen

*Retired

NOTE: All items used for this card are from SU. My scanner is not working, so I cannot seem to add the copyright.

Christmas Grab Bag

Ok....well, yes Christmas is over, but my upline and some of my sidelines met recently for a post-holiday dinner and gift swap. Here's a few photos of what I gave away. The first is a group photo of everything. (Also included were a Quickie Glue pen...one of my very favorite things!, and a scissor sharpener by Fiskars.)

We had tried to meet before Christmas, but just couldn't find a mutually agreeable date. But, since it was our original plan to have a "holiday" get together, I began this gift package during December, and the ornament and bracelet are holiday related. Still, the winner, loved everything! Check out the photos below for a closer look.





The photo on the left is a post-it holder made with a chipboard coaster and some discontinued background paper. There is a magnet on back so that it can easily be hung on a fridge or file cabinet. Note the clip at the top. This item is stamp free!



The ornament is made with the chipboard set sold in the recent Holiday Mini. A bit more time consuming than I expected, but was fun to make and also stamp free. Check out the crystals hanging at the bottom....they are from the Pretties Kit.



The covered tin is really a candle in a can that was discovered in the dollar bin at Michaels. It is simply covered with designer paper and a bit of ribbon. The top embellishment is actuallly stamped....using Seeing Spots, layered on a piece cut with the Scallop Punch and a pearl Pretties.

And that cute little box in the first picture....the one tied up with a red ribbon....here's a photo of what is inside. It contains some York Peppermint Patties....all dressed up! Just used Wanted and the Scallop Punch and the simple turns into something special!

And isn't the bracelet the coolest?!! Ok, well it may look like just a simple bracelet but it is actually made with the large brads from a Build-a-Brad kit! The snowflakes are from Snow Flurries and punched out with the 1/2" Round Punch. Add a few "o" rings and a "clasp, and Voila! (Not my idea....saw it on another blog, but I'm sorry I cannot remember who or where.)

Although this past Christmas may seem a distant memory, hopefully, these ideas will inspire you for gifts you may need throughout the coming year. Oh!...and Christmas '08 is only 339 days away!!

There's a Baby Coming!

Last week was the baby shower for my nephew's girlfriend. If you remember last month, I mentioned they were expecting. Well, being short on time, I needed to quickly add a card to the gift that was from both my sister and I. Easy, easy, easy! Don't you just LOVE background paper?!!

Stamps: Fast & Fun, Noteworthy*

Inks: Blue Bayou

CS: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou

Misc: Scallop Punch, Coluzzel, Blue Bayou Stitched Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Aqua Brush, Night of Navy Mini Brads

NOTE: Yes, the Night of Navy Mini Brads DO coordinate!

*Retired

Bloggers' Challenge -- 1/18/08

The Challenge this week was to use River Rock, Real Red, Blue Bayou and a neutral. I love River Rock, one of this year's new In Colors.....but, find it incredibly difficult to use, although I often see beautiful samples posted. I knew that this would be a real challenge!!!!

Well, just this morning, I finally had a chance to cut my new rubber, and was determined to use one of the new sets: Embrace Life. It's been sitting on a side table, uncut and neglected for a few weeks! Still not crazy about the combo, but it came out ok. Not a favorite, but it will do....what do YOU think?

Stamps: Embrace Life, Paisley Background

Inks: Blue Bayou, Jet Black StazOn, River Rock

CS: Natural Ivory, Blue Bayou, Real Red, River Rock

Misc: Red Watercolor Crayon, Aqua Brush, Red Watercolor Pencil, Corner Rounder, Wide Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Ivory 1/2 Pearl (Pretties Kit), Mini Glue Dot

Hope you'll take a few minutes to check out the other Blogger's ideas......our list of participants is growing. Can't wait to check them out myself!

Bloggers' Challenge -- 1/11/08

Ok.....yes, I am very far behind! But in an effort to catch up, here is my Blogger's Challenge from last week. We were to follow the card layout from Page 37 of the brand new Spring-Summer Catalog. (Have you seen it yet? It's beautiful and fabulous....check it out here!)

Not sure why, but I found this elegantly simple layout really difficult to "copy." Maybe, since I haven't had a chance to really stamp anything in a few weeks, I'm out of practice? Anyway, after many tries that ended in the trash can, here's what I came up with. Amazingly simple....so very easy......uses Designer Background Paper*.

This card features a super-simple Valentine's idea and uses just a single portion of the discontinued (from the Fall-Winter Collection) Petals & Paisley. I just spruced it up with some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. And I had a "eureka" moment: using the dotted stamp from the Three For You Punch Kit, I simply stamped the White Taffeta Ribbon with Regal Rose Classic Ink to give it the dotted pattern shown. How fun!

Thanks for your patience....and for stopping by! Be sure to check out the other Blogger's submissions.

Stamps: Everyday Flexible Phrases, Time Well Spent, Three For You Punch Kit

Inks: Basic Black, Regal Rose

CS: Regal Rose, Whisper White

Misc: White Taffeta Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Tempting Turquoise Marker, Regal Rose Marker, Crystal Brad (Ice Collection), Quickie Glue Pen**

*This background paper has been discontinued.

**Non SU

Sorry I haven't Posted Lately......

It has been a very busy few weeks. My husband and I have been preparing for my mother in law's arrival to New Jersey.....she has been placed in a local nursing home, as she has advanced Alzheimers' Disease. She just arrived Thursday evening from southern Georgia, and although she was well cared for by familiy members, it had just gotten to be an overwhelming job. Now she is in a place with round the clock care and her care-givers truly are taking a personal interest in how she is doing. BUT, the task of going through the enormous mountain of red tape to make this happen seemed insurmountable at times....and has taken a lot of my "spare" time.

Although my husband and I will need to visit her frequently, hopefully, things will settle down a bit. Now it's time to try to catch up! Look for more posts soon, which I promise will begin coming later today! (I'll begin with the Bloggers' Challenges.)

Stampin'Up! Honors National Guard Members!

Just wanted to share some fabulous news.....

Each year, all demonstrators have the opportunity to earn a free cruise, based on sales and recruiting. Next Spring, many of those demonstrators who are eligible will be a part of an all inclusive cruise to Bermuda on a chartered ship. BUT, even better than that is that some soldiers have been given the trip as well! Check this out! Can I tell you how wonderful it is to be a part of such a generous company?!

Bloggers' Challenge -- Pink & Brown

Happy New Year! I've been back for almost a week, but had so much to catch up on. My Mom (and Dad) are doing much better. (Thanks so much to those who sent me their good wishes.) Hopefully you had a wonderful, fabulous Christmas and New Year!

So, now that it's officially 2008, it's time to get back into the swing of things.....and the first order of business is to post my weekly Challenge.....although, I have to admit to "cheating" just a bit! I met a few of the ladies from work this morning for our annual "Christmas" get-together. Well, you KNOW I couldn't go empty-handed! Each one of them received a packet of monogrammed cards and a monogrammed pocket calendar. Donna (her items are here on the left), received her set in Close to Cocoa and Regal Rose.....and so they "qualify" for this week's Challenge. But the set was so extraordinarily easy to make, that I'm almost embarrassed to post them here....but I just LOVE they way they came out! The set features papers from Stampin'Up! and stamps from Papertrey Ink.....and are inspired by Stefanie Summerer from a post a few months back.

Here's a peak at the 3 sets I made: Pam's is in Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip and Lisa's set is in Soft Sky and Not Quite Navy. They all loved them....and who can't use a few extra note cards at this time of the year?!!

Stamps: Ambassador Monogram Edition, Borders & Corners, Monogram Edition (by Papertrey Ink
Inks: Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy
CS: Stampers' Select White CS (for card base---from Papertrey Ink), Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy
Misc: Prints Designer Paper (Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky), Scallop Punch, Narrow Regal Rose Grosgrain*, Narrow Chocolate Chip Grosgrain*, Blue Bayou Stitched Ribbon
*Retired
NOTE: Card base CS and Stamps are by Papertrey Ink; all other supplies are by Stampin'Up!

These sets were so much fun....and SO EASY to make, I just may need to make more! I can think of a few other ladies in my life who would love these card sets as well!

Thanks for stopping by.....be sure to check out the other bloggers' Challenge ideas! And come back again soon....I'll be posting some specials and class ideas.