Hello Crafting Friends!

I do not have my newest order yet, so I had to dig around for Valentine themed stamps from my current collection.....which is just fine because when we buy stamps, they should take us from year to year, time after time.

LOVE YOU MUCH is a recognizable and popular stamp set from STAMPIN' UP! and is in our current catalogue.  However I used just one stamp for this card - the love birds, and I just luv em!  They are the cutest couple!
Together with a Bigz die, the Scalloped Circle and our Circle Scissors Plus tool, I made my card. Inks, marker, chalks...the ol' favourites are all here.

I also employed a new tool - a lid!  Ha ha - that's right, a highly technical tool!

Here is what I did.......

I layered some paper onto whisper white cardstock - by turning the paper clockwise til one end juts above the fold line, trimming the edges. I am keeping the cut off corners to see if I want to do something with them...perhaps layer them on the corners? Or maybe not ;)

I cut Pretty in Pink cardstock with the Scallop Circle die in my Big Shot machine, I also 

cut a 3-3/4 inch circle with the Circle Scissors Plus tool on the glass mat. 

I stamped the birds using Basic Black ink and then using a LID, I traced the edge of the lid to create 

a telephone line - or a clothing line right at the birds feet....trace edge to edge! 

The birds are coloured with markers (Pretty in Pink) and chalk (Bashful Blue) and 

the heart is stamped in Rose Red.  The heart stamp with the flourish came from TINY TAGS stamp set. 

The black FLOWER BRAD is from our Naturals Flower Brads collection. 

I think the black colour helps to make the other colours stand out! 

Stamped "love" from TINY TAGS as well.

Mount the Scallop Circle Love Birds to the card base 

slightly off the top edge, secure with the brads. 

Add a black, sheer ribbon and tie. 

Center the bow...or off to the side! 

Aww....

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
STAMPIN' UP!'s 

SALE-A-BRATION !


If you did or didn't find your fav new craft items under the tree these past holidays - it's like we get to do it all again - whoohooo!
And here's how we do it.....Sale-A-Bration!

What?    FREE PRODUCTS to choose from the SAB      
               Catalogue!!!


How? 


     1)  as a Customer: for every $60 you buy from Stampin' Up!   
          equals 1 free choice from the exclusive SAB products!
     2) as a Hostess & Customer - not only do you receive free   
         products for your own purchases, but ADD to that the 
         extras you'll choose from the sales of your home party!
     3) Join SU! as a new Demonstrator - receive 15% off of 
         the purchase of your Starter Kit; then enjoy 20% discount
         from then on as you begin your home business or 
         as an advantage for your Hobby!

SALE-A-BRATION IS OUR BIGGEST EVENT 

and it only comes 

ONCE A YEAR 

so ENJOY and stock up on YOUR goodies!

Place your order with me beginning this Tuesday JAN 25th!!!
And start enjoying yourself - it's a new year :)

HI....fellow crafters!

I am sick - just the bad headache and stuffed up head kinda sick, but its putting a curve ball to my major cleaning and crafting.

Soooooo....I thought I would take a detour from crafting myself and see what others are up to - and WOW there are such great ideas out there, huh?  Collectively we are all awesome!!!!

So here is what I have found so far......I'll add to it as I go along till I'm better - enjoy!

Stampin' Up! Stars

What comes in small packages?  Check these out.....

1.).the first is a super-cute project from LeeAnn Gref and her blog Flowerbug's Inkspot and its her Valentine's Dresser........how cute is this!  It features the Matchbox Bigz XL Die, a few punches and our latest Love Letter DSP, glimmer brads and the lovely red glitter cardstock.  Very nicely done!

LeeAnn tucked some treats and 'love'ly coupons in order to pamper her husband!  Awesome idea for anyone on your list...your MOM, children,.a BFF, or to keep your neighbour on your good side...bribe them with a few favours!  LOL!

2.

HERE is another sweet 'box' project.  Tammy Howell from her blog, Tarheel Stamper. By using a papermache box and our Daisies #2 Bigz Die, she has created her Valentine Heart Box - and I love the crimped collar around the top's side....sweet!  

The Daisy die has 3 sizes of the flower - which is how Tammy made such a lush-looking daisy! What a cute button too!  

Alright I wanted to showcase a card, but then I found THIS NEXT IDEA....!!!

Our STAMPIN' UP! brads, buttons, small embellishments usually come in small round  translucent containers, right?  Right - and this talented SU! Demonstrator has discovered  that 'another' person dressed up these containers - so she 'cased' the idea and came up with these.....!!!  Aren't they worth the love that goes into making them?  

Catherine Cote featured project on her blog, CeeCee's Creations.....last year, but they're well worth repeating......

....awwwh, how cute!   

Another one below....

Well that's it today - I promise to dig up some card and scrapbooking ideas! 

 I'm off to rest - how do you do one of those 'sleeping faces' ...++ 0  [I don't think so, lol!]

Helloooo.....been such a long time between posts as I am in the throes of "re-organizing"!   Gosh where does all the stuff that clutters every spot come from? Anyways - I think its a good idea to use January as 'the' month to de-clutter esp. here in the wintery North.  Not much fun outside anyways, right?

But there is fun in our craft corners - and I tried a little technique with this card, so I'm here to share!

 I received a card in the summer which embodied a colourful personality - and it really made me feel great, all sun-shiny and happy!

Upon close inspection, the card involved no less than 3 patterns of cardstock. Very busy and different patterns!  Layered together as a "strip" or band against a soothing backdrop of a solid colour. The focal point - a 3D flower sat on top, slightly off-center. And all made sense together! WONDERFUL!

So: busy patterns layered together, soothing backdrop and a dimensional focal point! Voila!

Now I tried it, here it is - my Valentine's Card for a friend ( can't say who cuz they haven't received it yet!)

Colourful Patterned Band

As you can see, I made my strip from 3 patterns!  I chose the patterns from a co-ordinating collection, but as long as they share something in common in colours, you should be good!  

Combining Patterns is easy if you follow a few guidelines:

      - try 3 similar patterns - for example, all florals or all dots; 

      - or a 'combo' of one or two similar motifs (ex: flowers) with a graphic element (i.e. plaid); 

      - vary the sizes (tiny print, medium print and large print),

....I used a large plaid, with 2 floral motifs [ one a small print and the other a mostly larger print].  But they all shared  similar colours!  

Soothing Backdrop

My background is a soft pink framed with a bit of vanilla - and I have added texture {Stampin' Up's Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder] by running the cardstock through my Big Shot - but over-all, its pretty much a large dose of a soothing backdrop to support the busier elements in front. 

Focal Point

I punched out 3 hearts in a glittered cardstock - and embellished them with buttons.  I love adding buttons - for such a small investment, they add a lot of 'punch' - lol! 

One problem emerged - my card was 'front heavy' and in danger of falling forward on its face!  To counter-balance this, I added a layer of cardstock to the back as well, and an embellishment. This weighed the problem out, as you can see here....

back of card

So there you have it - I think it turned out swell and the reaction from my daughter was great when she saw it! Unfortunately the picture doesn't do justice to the lovely colours - but I believed I achieved that zipitty-do-dah look I was after!   

TRY IT YOURSELF - its great to use up lovely bits of left-over cardstock! 

Thanks for swinging by!

STAMPIN' UP! SUPPLIES -  Heart Punch, cardstock in 'Pretty in Pink', Textured Embossing Folder 'Elegant Bouquet', 'Rose Red' Classic Ink Pad & Marker, sponge. 

Isn't this the best?

This grateful dog gives her rescuer some "Thanks" after a fire in her home was put down. Four days later the doberman pincher gave birth to puppies!  

Found this while surfing for pet rescue sites today - something I like to do once in awhile. We gave a treat, food & toy gift basket (may of mentioned this already) to our local animal shelter as our Christmas donation.

If you can, please consider helping shelters with much needed donations. 

What to give: Money, Toys, Beds, Consumables such as Food, Garbage Bags, Newspaper, Litter and even your Time! 

Thanks!