We're back!

I feel like the past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind but I'm finally able to breathe! We took a trip to California to visit some relatives, got home the night before school started (what were we thinking) and then had a 16th birthday party the next weekend! I'm exhausted but it was fun!

But now what I'm really excited about...The new mini catalog will be available as of September 1st! If you didn't get one, PLEASE, PLEASE go check it out...there's a link on the side bar. You are going to LOVE all of the great new products we have! I'll also be having an Open House soon so you can see some of the great new products in person! Check my calendar for dates!

If you are as excited about all of the new products as I am then maybe you want to host your own workshop and there's no better time to do it than now. Stampin' Up! is offering you this sweet deal for hostesses September through November:

• Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10!
  *Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.

Take a look and call or email me today!

Look what I did!

Isn't it great? I LOVE the new Definitely Decorative additions...the Upsy Daisies are a great way to give your drab 'ole laptop a personal touch! I used Dark Gray (117566) and Taken With Teal (117923) to create a shadow effect. Take a look at the Definitely Decorative catalog in my side bar for additional colors and products...you're gonna love them!

Hubby's Birthday Card

Today is my darling hubby's birthday! We've been missing our time in the islands so I wanted his card to have a beach/ocean theme. I ran across a card on Michelle Zindorf's blog that was perfect so I cased it. You can see her original here.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Balmy Breezes (ret), Full of Life
Cardstock: River Rock (ret), Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Classic Ink: River Rock (ret), Cool Caribbean (ret), Bermuda Bay, Close to Cocoa, Jet Black Staz-On
Accessories: Antique Brass Brads, White Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen

Another Decor Elements Idea

Here is another way you can use the Definitely Decorative products (formerly known as Decor Elements) to beautify your home! These are both retired products but they were just the right touch for this space...everyone that sees them comments on how beautiful they are!

More Tri-Shutter Cards!

Okay, yes, I LOVE the tri-shutter cards! After I made the first one, I couldn't stop myself! Here are two more that I made for thank you cards.




Both use Define Your Life, Defining Alphabet and retired DSP...on the second one, I made my own patterned paper using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set so I could get the colors that I wanted! Cool, huh?

As Promised...Pictures From Our Last Class

My classes have slowed down considerably this year because we've had so much going on at home. I decided to start ramping back up with the new catalog year. As I poured over the catalog, I couldn't decide what projects to do so I decided to have a "free" class using only the In Colors. (Something about free takes the stress out of the preparation for me...maybe because I'm a perfectionist?)

Anyway, I had seen several Tri-Shutter cards and knew I wanted to try one. I got my inspiration HERE . My card is below...I left the center blank to write on. I ended up liking this card so much that it went to my sister for her birthday!



Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Happy Everything, Full of Life
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Confetti White
DSP: Razzleberry Lemonade
Classic Ink: Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo
Stampin' Write Markers: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Scallop Oval

My second card will look familiar if you have been following the posts this week. Yes, it is almost identical to the birthday card I made! I used in colors and a different sentiment...everyone loved the simplicity of it!





Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Very Thankful
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry
Classic Ink: Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Burmuda Bay, Soft Suede
Stampin' Write Markers: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Modern Label (creates the opening and the layer behind the punch), Stampin' Dimensionals

A Sympathy Card For a Friend

I made this card for a friend of mine who lost both of her grandparents in a car accident a few weeks ago. I really love the stamp set. I saw somewhere (maybe SCS?) where someone let some limbs "flow" out of the box so I tried something similar...I really like the way it turned out.


The following supplies were used:

Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Classic Ink: Close To Cocoa (used sponge dauber to shade below tree)
Stampin' Write Markers: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Big Shot, Texturz Plate

Experimenting with Asian Cuisine...YUM!

I've been craving Thai food lately so hubby decided to experiment a little while the girls are gone. Saturday night we had Pad Kee Mao...well, we attempted anyway. We couldn't find the wide flat rice noodles so we had to get smaller ones. The consistency wasn't the same so we're going to look for an Asian market in the neighborhood next time. It still tasted great...doesn't it look yummy?




Sunday night we had Lettuce Wraps and Chicken Egg Rolls...this one was out of this world and really pretty easy to make! In fact, we're going to serve Lettuce Wraps this coming weekend as an appetizer when the family comes over...just looking at these pictures is making me hungry!

My Creative Space...A Work In Progress!

I'm spending part of my week working on my new creative space. I wish I'd had the foresight to take "before" pictures. We recently realized that hubby has woodworking talent so he's been building a new workspace for me! Here are some pictures of the work in progress...

I'll be painting the base white and the tops of the desks will be stained. There are going to be doors where you see open spaces to hide the clutter...I'm so excited!

Inspiration is everywhere!

It's true...inspiration is everywhere! This cute wrapping paper was my inspiration for a birthday card.


Isn't it great? I love the way it turned out! It's hard to tell here but the darker set of open circles is embossed in silver to match the silver on the wrapping paper and ribbon.

I used the following supplies (All SU, of course!):

Cardstock: Pacific Point (ret), Kiwi Kiss (ret), Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Classic: Pacific Point (ret), Kiwi Kiss (ret), Baja Breeze (ret), Brilliant Blue, Silver Encore
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Upsy Daisy (Birthday celebrations sentiment)
Accessories: Big Shot, Movers & Shapers (modern label), Modern Label Punch, Old Olive Ribbon, Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder, Stampin Dimensionals

I have a week off!

I am so very excited about the upcoming week! Our girls are staying with my parents so I have a whole week to DO WHATEVER I WANT!!!!

You'll be seeing more posts from me for sure including pictures from last weeks class as well as some ideas i have for upcoming classes so stay tuned!