Hi everyone!

So I didn't go to Steeplechase this year, how about you all? I want to get on the list for a tail-gating space on the rails, that's the best way to go! lol My daughter went with one of her friends and (of course) got sunburned. Same thing every year!

Well instead of going to Steeplechase, I'm working on some swaps for my upline's team meeting next Saturday. I really lucked out - the team meetings are in Cincinnati & this one just happens to be the weekend I was heading up there anyway to see my nephew, who's coming home on leave from Iraq!

So I need to come up with some cards to swap at the meeting, and I decided to use this image from A Flower for all Seasons - which by the way you can get for FREE with any $50 order during Sale-a-Bration! (#120231)

I'm not actually done with the cards yet, but the first thing I did was stamp the tulip basket image in Stazon black ink several times for my focal point, and spent a happy hour or so coloring them all in with my Stampin' Write markers. After I'd colored most of them in I decided to use a technique I first started using back when I was a kid coloring with crayons (we won't talk about how long ago that is)! When I really wanted to get fancy in my coloring books I would color an image in and then use a slightly darker shade to go over the outline. It really makes an image pop, no matter what you're coloring with. (lol) Just take a look at the difference:

The two images on the outside just seem to have a lot more depth, and the flowers really stand out. Isn't that little birdie cute? I'll show you the finished cards after the meeting - and stay tuned in a few days for another card I have to show you! :)

Tootles!

I had a lot of fun making 9 of these bright cheery cards using the Happy Moments stamp set (#119125), one of the awesome items you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration with every $50 you spend (before shipping & handling)! The pretty colors are perfect for spring, and the cute little stack of presents should give you a hint...

YOU could receive this card in the mail, along with a special gift from Stamp With Steph! Just be one of the first six NEW subscribers to my newsletter! And if you're already a subscriber, just be one of the first THREE to leave a comment on my blog!

I'll be sending the cards blank, complete with an envelope & ready for you to use for your own special occasion. And included will be a special gift from me!

Newsletter subscribers get lots of perks:

• access to subscriber-only specials & promotions
• advance notice of class offerings
• tips & techniques
• special projects
• and more!

To sign up for the newsletter, click the Sign-up Icon at the top left. And, go shopping to earn your own FREE Sale-a-Bration stuff!

Stampin' Up! continues to create new papers & embellishments & stamp "brush sets" for your digital enjoyment! The My Digital Studio (#118108) software comes complete with stamps, embellishments, templates, kits, punches, Designer Series papers, card stock, borders, and more - nearly 2,000 unique elements. But as new designs come out - like the awesome Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper & Stitched Felt embellishments - they can be downloaded to use in your My Digital Studio software - or other digital scrapping software!

Corduroy Buttons & Brads 120170 $3.95	Satin Ribbon 121063 $3.95	My Sweet Pea Digital Kit 119978 $9.95
Spring Shades Designer Series Paper 120172 $4.95	Write Stuff II Digital Kit 1208841 $9.95	Night and Day Designer Series Paper 118115 $4.95

Check out all the available downloads now on my online shopping site - just click "Digital Crafting" in the menu on the left, then click "Digital Downloads."

So, I had such a fun workshop last week (thanks a bunch for hosting, Tracey!!).  I don't do workshops very often, and I forget how much fun it is to meet some new people & chat & and have some girl time.  And I can't tell you how awesome it is to show new people how to stamp - it's my favorite thing about workshops!  Stamping is just wayyyy easier than most people realize until they actually try it, & once they catch on you just see them start to have fun with it & before they know it they've made something pretty!  In fact, that's what makes me capable of being a demonstrator, lol. I've never been very good at public speaking (I still get nervous sometimes & stutter & forget stuff, lol) but workshops are just relaxing & having fun, making cool stuff and helping new friends discover their own creative side!  Plus it's fun getting to spoil my hostess with little gifts, & help her earn free goodies from the catalog!

To help YOU enjoy the fun of workshops, I'm offering a new experience:  a Studio Workshop!  It's the same as an in-home workshop, only it's held in MY home! 

• YOU are the hostess, so YOU can earn FREE STUFF!
  
• YOU just invite your friends/neighbors/coworkers/etc. to my house - 5-10 people is perfect. (You don't even have to worry about cleaning your house to be ready for company!)
• YOU bring snacks/food for stampin' fuel.  (I provide bottled water, paper plates, etc.)
• WE ALL do some chatting & laughing & snacking & chatting & laughing &... well you get the picture!
  
• I demonstrate some fun stampin' projects & techniques.
  
• I provide a free project or two for everyone to make!
• YOU & YOUR GUESTS get to hang out in my stamp room & see my stuff.
• More chatting/laughing/snacking/ordering, etc.
  
• WE ALL have a great time!
• YOU get to pick out your FREE hostess stuff & go shopping in the catalog, according to the workshop's total sales!

So get some friends together & lets have fun!  Contact me today to book YOUR Studio Workshop!

Hello everyone!  I hope you're all enjoying the gorgeous weekend we're having!  I'm determined to clean & fill all my birdfeeders this weekend.  I've sadly neglected my poor little bird friends this winter, they probably gave up on the feeders ever getting done.  I had my husband fill up the one out front on Monday (it's too high for me to reach! lol)  and by Wednesday afternoon I noticed it was half empty already!  Poor little starving birds. 

Here is a project I demonstrated at my workshop last week, a super cute gift card holder from Dawn Griffith:
I used the coolio Scallop Trim border punch (#118402) that you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration, and the new Extra-Large Fancy Flower punch (#118073) from the Occasions mini-catalog, along with the With All My Heart stamp set (#118134-wood #118623-clear). See how the large flower fits perfectly in that punched-out flower shape?  And the ribbon is the 5/8" Satin Ribbon in Celery (#117288), also from the Occasions Mini.

Isn't it cute?  Maybe we can make these at YOUR workshop!

After I demonstrated the gift card holder, we all made this cute 6x6 scrapbook page using the Butterfly punch (#116629) and the Upsy Daisy (#111710) stamp set.  We also used the new Pinking Heart corner punch (#118072) and that scrumptious new Sweet Pea designer paper (#117161), both from the Occasions mini - I just love this paper stack - 48 scrumptious 12x12 pages!

For our last project, we all made this pretty card using the Vintage Vogue stamp set (#117690-wood #118598-clear) & 5/8" Old Olive Satin Ribbon (#117292) from the Occasions mini, and that fun Scallop Trim border punch again.  I love using stamps to make your own designer paper!

Workshop projects are always fun - simple enough for the beginner, but pretty enough for everyone!  Contact me to schedule your own free workshop - better hurry if you want to reap the benefits of Sale-a-Bration, it ends March 30th!!

Ta for now!

Check out this new video from Stampin' Up!'s Bonnie Thurber, with some great information about our new clear-mount stamps:

Did you know that the Big Shot Diecut Machine is a quilter's best friend (in addition to being a stamper/scrapper's best friend!)?  The Big Shot will cut about a zillion different materials, including fabric - and Big Shot diecuts make great quilt pieces/squares in a snap!  Just check out this cool flower square! (click here to print out the instructions)  Imagine how long it would take to cut all these pieces by hand, for an entire quilt! 

And here are some FABULOUS quilts created by some very crafty Stampin' Up ladies, using fabric diecuts from the Big Shot:

Aren't they just gorgeous?!   Check out the entire line of Big Shot dies and accessories right here!  (Just click "Die Cutting" in the menu on the left.)

Carry on stampy people! 

 

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