"EH"

 

"EH"

 

 

This is how I feel like my life has been lately...just "EH", because I haven't been able to create anything in the last few weeks.  And when I don't create, I'm not happy.  Why, you ask?  I'll tell you.

For those of you that didn't know, up until December, I had my dream job - I owned my own scrapbook and rubber stamp store in southeastern Wisconsin.  I got to create EVERY day!  And it was fun and I was happy!  And then it ended and I had to pack everything up and stuff was in three different locations and my house was jammed with stuff and I couldn't find ANYTHING!  So I didn't create and I was sad. 

Well, after months of not being able to find what I needed to create, I started going through all of those boxes and sorting things out. (I had four days to get out of my store :-( Things were a BIG mess and my husband was getting a little sick of not having "man land" anymore.) So, last week I had a HUGE craft sale and got rid of a lot of stuff.  But, I set up my garage almost like my store, so that people could easily shop and it put me into a big ole funk!  It was my dream job!! And I miss my customers, who became great friends, and a lot of them came to see me and I miss them even more! 

Right now, there is no art going on in my world and I'm feeling pretty blue.  So, please forgive me for not posting lately.  I'm going to push myself to create tomorrow and put a little "AH" in my world and hopefully yours, too!

Until then, have a crafty day!

Where'd she go?

No, I haven't been on an exotic vacation - I WISH! I actually took a little paper free vacation.  Oh, I've still been crafting, just not with paper.  Gasp, right?

 

Over the weekend, we put up the gazebo on our deck and the cheesy toggles that hold the mosquito netting back had disintegrated! Seriously people, we just bought it last summer!  So, I could have just bought some more elastic and attached them back on, but I have like 100 rolls of ribbon in my craft room, surely something would match, right?  So there I was Saturday afternoon cutting and HAND SEWING pale yellow ribbon ties to the netting.  I do not sew, I try to avoid it if I can, but I couldn't resist fancying up the tie backs.  Will anyone notice?  Probably not and my husband definitely will not, but I will and the gazebo is my summer sanctuary so I did it and it's okay, not great, but it works.  I also hung my Moroccan inspired lights in the gazebo.  I wanted to do something different from last year and after about 3 hours and numerous times up and down the ladder, I decided on how to hang them, only to see a way cool "Chandelier"  made from a hula hoop and icicle lights on Pintrest later that night.  It's probably a good thing I couldn't find the hula hoop in the garage at 11:00pm or I would have been making one.  By Sunday night, I was still thinking of making one, but then I looked out at the deck to see it encased in a beautiful soft glow from the lights already hanging there and sighed.  It was just what I wanted!  Maybe next year for the "chandelier" (or next month or whenever I find that darn hula hoop, I know it's in there somewhere! ;-) )

 

The other thing I did was made some onesies for my beautiful new great nephew, who entered the world two weeks ago today.  Again, I DO NOT SEW, but hey, I didn't have to, because Hero Arts made some way cool iron on ties especially for baby clothes!  And here's the card that goes with the gift:

 

I made this card a few weeks ago.  I love when the card and gift coordinate.

Speaking of gifts...Check out the video that Stampin' Up! just put out on decorating packages.  I hope you get some ideas, I sure did!  Do you think it will be rude if I ask my non-crafty friends if I can have the ribbon back?!?!  Just kidding!  (or am I?)

 

 



I'll have another Stampin' Up! video for you tomorrow.  And Kelly and I are working on a video for you on Friday, using the skin tone Blendabilities. 

Plus check out my Facebook page for some special offers I have going on.

Until later....Have a crafty day!

Super Joining Special!

 

For a limited time only, Stampin' Up! is offering

TWO incredible joining specials. 

Option #1:  $99 STARTER KIT (choose up to $125 in products)

• YOU CHOOSE:  Up to $125 worth of products (any current catalog, clearance, specially priced bundles--if we sell it, you can include it) for your kit.  That's $26 in FREE product. 
• FREE SHIPPING:  The kit ships to you FREE, another 10% savings.
• FILL YOUR WISH LIST:  Enjoy a 1 time benefit of 30% off your first product order of $150 or more (placed within 45 days).  Stock up on your favorite paper, stamps, inks and tools and save!
• EVERYDAY DISCOUNT:  You'll receive a minimum of a 20% discount on anything you purchase while you remain active.
• Receive FREE catalogs and an opportunity to preview and PURCHASE NEW PRODUCTS IN ADVANCE (one of my favorite things).

Option #2:  $50 STARTER KIT (choose up to $55 in products) -  FOR A LIMITED TIME.  Offer ends June 30, 2014

Choose up to $55 in product.  This is a perfect way to REJOIN Stampin' Up! or "test drive" all the perks of being a demonstrator with no obligation to purchase anything further!

With either starter kit, you can enjoy all Stampin' Up! demonstrator discounts and benefits! - here are just a few highlights!  

·       Customize!  Choose up to $55 ($50 kit) worth of any Stampin' Up! products OR up to $125 ($99 kit) worth of any Stampin' Up! products.

·       A 30 percent discount on your first order (minimum $150 order placed within 45 days).  The new catalog starts June 2 . . . Imagine getting 30% off all the new goodies!

·       A 20 percent discount on all your orders.

·       Free Paper Pumpkin Kit included with the starter kit.

·       Free registration to our annual Convention (must be registered by the 20th of June and subject to availability).  SEE BELOW!

·       The starter kit ships FREE (another 10% savings).

·       At a minimum, enjoy Stampin' Up! discounts and benefits through October 31 (the end of the first FULL quarter plus a pending month) with no penalty to drop.

·       Renew additional quarters if you reach $300 in purchases or sales.

·       There's no obligation to host workshops or purchase anything further - Be a Hobby Stamper!  That's how I started!

Here are a few things to keep in mind...If you join BEFORE June 1st, you can order your starter kit products from the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog, the Celebrate the Everyday Occasions Catalog or the Clearance Rack or you may contact me and I will send you a pdf. file of the pre-order items available to demonstrators.
If you join AFTER June 1st, you can choose ANY of the products in the NEW 2014-2015 Annual Catalog or Clearance Rack.
Want to be part of my Playground Pals or have questions?  Give me a call at 414.305.0977

Have a crafty day!

Beautiful People

Here is another stamp from the Celebrate the Everyday Occasions catalog called People Like You (#133215).  It's a single wood mount stamp that sadly did not make it into the 2014-2015 Catalog.  I love the saying on it and it punches out with the decorative label punch (#120907) so that it can be popped up on dimensionals, as I've done here.  Still playing with my Blendabilities, using the Rich Razzleberry set again. I can't wait for the other colors, because Water Lillies (which I think these are, are not purple!  At least not the one's I've seen.)  After I punched out the saying, I sponged it with Soft Sky ink so that it would stand out more.  The background paper is from the new DSP paper stack, Moonlight (#133791) available June 2.  Stuck on some Candy Dots from the neutrals collection (# 130934) and called it a day.  Well actually, I had the panel lined up all nice and pretty, but then I saw the Seize the Sketch #121 on my friend Bev's Blog (Hi, Bev!) and ripped gently lifted it off and tilted it.  Here's the sketch:

Hope you have a crafty day!

Challenge Accepted!

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day!  I hope that if you see a veteran or active duty soldier today, you shake their hand and say Thank You!

On to the challenge...Kelly took me up on my Triple Dog Dare You Challenge and here is her amazing creation!  You rocked it, girl!

 

I am so sad to see the Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper retire in just a few short days.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - the color combinations are incredible and I'm sure I'll be using them in the future, sans the paper. boo hoo!

I also made a card using the Perfect Blend Stamp set (item #131392) and my new SU! Blendabilities Markers.  Here is my card...

 

Don't you wish coffee stores had fun wrappers, like this one!  I used the skin tone Blendabilities to color the coffee cup.  It's mounted on a Crumb Cake tag punched with the Scalloped Tag Topper punch (#133324).  The papers are from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Pack (item #132996), which is also retiring in a few days. The thick Baker's Twine will be available in the 2014-2015 Catalog.  This card was made using the Paper Players Sketch Challenge. 

 

I just flipped it on it's side.  Sketches are so fun and really give your Mojo a boost!

Don't forget that both the Big Catalog and the Celebrate the Everyday Occasions catalog end in just a few days.  There is a HUGE Blowout sale on retired products.  Stuff is going fast, so if you need something, contact me directly or you can place an on line order thru the Stampin' Up! website store.

Have a crafty day!







I Triple Dog Dare YOU!

Hope you've had a chance to watch the video I posted the other day.  Now I'm challenging Kelly (my producer-extraordinaire) to make a card using the two colored coffee cups and a stamped image I left her, from the set!  Let's see what she creates with them.  I'm going to stamp and color another set of coffee cups and create a card of my own.  Hop on it, girl, let's see whatcha got!

Fininshed in the nick of time!

Another sneak peek.  Just finished up on this card and it looks like it's just in time, because I think my new little great nephew is about to make his appearance into the world tonight.  I'm on stand by to head over to my niece's, to watch the two older boys, if she goes into labor tonight.  I'm so excited!

Okay, back to the card...it uses the new set Something for Baby and the coordinating framelit dies, Baby's Firsts.  It also uses Lullaby and Maritime (the middle banner) Designer Series Paper, Soft Suede ink, Petite Pairs Stamp set, Early Espresso Bakers Twine and gold sequins.  Hey, a new baby adds sparkle to every one's lives, right?!?  So it just seems appropriate for this card.  I CASE'd (copy and share everything) from the uber talented Melissa Cash.  See her card here.

Well, I'm off to bed, in case I get that middle of the night call. 

Happy Crafting!