Oldies, But Not So Goodies

Ever look back at cards you have made and wonder what you were thinking when you made them?
Well, this morning, I did.
I know I'm not the best stamper or scrapbooker in the world, but I really used to be bad at it. So, in an effort to show you what NOT to do when making a card, I will share a couple of those with you.







Pretty bad, huh? Well, we all have to start somewhere, and I thought these were pretty good
at the time, lol. Hopefully, you won't leave and never come back to visit after seeing these cards. I will try to have another peek into the new mini catty tomorrow.

Thanks for bearing with me while I spent some time with some old friends last night and didn't get a chance to stamp. See you again soon.

Another Challenge Card

During VC Rocks! , there is always a challenge going on. Right now, they are all being put forth
by our fearless leader, Kimm, but soon, all of the leadership team will get the chance to challenge
us. I enjoy the challenges because they force me to use things and/or colors I never would have used. After all, a card REALLY needs to have Chocolate Chip on it, doesn't it? Or a Bird or something with wings?
Anyway, Challenge 8 was to make a background using what ever technique you wanted but you had to use your Markers, Pencils, Chalks or Crayons. I used my Stampin' Up! markers. I scribbled on the back of one of my new stamp cases with Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie, then spritzed it with water and laid my Whisper White Card stock onto it. Easy Peasy.
Along comes Challenge 9.

Take the background technique piece you made yesterday. Look at the colors. What is the main color? Choose an analogous color (color opposite) to the main color of your background piece. Use both pieces to create a card or scrapbook page element. No browns or neutrals.

Geez! So here is my card. Definitely NOT my style, but it's kinda growing on me:



What do you think? A little odd, but it wasn't easy to use that Brilliant Blue with that Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry. I used the new set Sentimental Journey again. You will be able to
purchase this set on May 1st. I love the images in this set, and it kinda reminds me of the 70's.
I think my first car looked a little like this one, lol.

Ok, sorry for the novel today, if you would like to play along with the challenges, join us at VC Rocks! this summer. You will be glad you did.

Thanks for stopping by. See you again soon. Comments are appreciated.

VC ROCKS! Challenges

Well, howdy everybody and I am excited to let you know that VC ROCKS! is officially open for
the summer! If you are at all interested in joining a summer group that celebrates Stampin' Up!
then this is the group for you! We have fun, swaps, fun, a virtual hotel with real roomies, fun,
make n takes, fun, classes, oh, and did I mention fun? We have a blast and there are lots of new friends to be made. It is a high volume email group, but you can choose to read post from the site or go to digest, to keep it at a dull roar, but everyone is enthusiastic, there is no flaming or ugliness to be found.

Here is the commercial for my Hotel Floor: 70's

Go to the site VC ROCKS! and join today! We are taking applications now and new members may join in on April 30th. Hope to see you all there!

So, we opened on the 20th for returning members to catch up and our awesome leader, Kimm, has been issuing challenges. Number 4 was to use our most used stamp set and at least 2 of our favorite colors to stamp a card. Here is mine using the Baroque Motifs set. If you have been to
any of my classes this year, you know that I have hung lots of things from this flourish. It has
been my go to set for many cards this year.



I used some of my favorite colors, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose.
Old Olive eyelets are used for the centers of the flowers.

Challenge #7 was to punch 3 shapes, and cut a 4x8 piece of card stock. We were to stamp on the
cardstock, and on one shape, one shape was to be left blank, and the last one we were to embellish. Then we were to put it together and make a card.



I used Whisper White, a Night of Navy 1" Circle Punch, and Star Punch, and a Real Red punched Heart. I also used Baroque Motifs again to stamp on the Whisper White. Used Stampin' Up Red and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter for the star.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you enjoyed these quick cards. Challenges are great fun.
If you have any questions about VC, just let me know. I would love you to join us.

Last of the Punch Swap Day 7

Today is the last day of the punch art swap posts, I hope you have enjoyed them. The ladies
in this swap always do great work and I am proud to be part of the group.

So last but not least, here are today's punched projects:

1. Cardinal by Patty Jones:



2. Color Wheel by Pam Miller:



Patty, thank you so much for hosting this awesome swap. Can't wait to see what we come up with next.

I know some of these ladies are VC Rockers, so we will be doing some great swaps then, too. I
am so excited for VC to begin. It opened to returning members on the 20th and new members
may join starting the 30th. Also, if you are returning this year, look for me at the VC Rocks virtual hotel. I am the manager for the 70's themed floor. It is VC's 10th year, so it should be a great year. Loads of fun and games and lots of other stuff, too. High volume email, but it is only for the summer, if this sounds like it's for you, let me know.

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon.

Punch Swap post # 6

Day 6. Punch Art. I am still waiting for the phone call or email to put ALL the Stampin' Up! punches in your hands.....you know you want them. LOL

Here is your daily dose of swaps:

1. Karate Kid (no name on this one):



2. Sheep by Wanda McGlamery:



Geez! What do you suppose happened to this one, sorry about the blur.

3. Gymnast Girl by Shannon Emerton:



We are almost done with a week of Punch Art. I think I have three more to show you, so check in tomorrow to see the last ones. Thanks for taking time out of your weekend to visit.

Punch Swap post # 5

Oh my gosh, here we are with the 5th day of these awesome swap pages. How many Stampin' Up! punches do you own? You know you want all of them now that you have seen these swaps, and if so, you can just give me a call and I can make that happen for you, lol.

Today we start off with this one, A Japanese Doll (no name on this one):



Second is this cute little baseball player (another with no name):



And last for today is this little bunny by Wanda McGlamery:



I just love these. I am hoping to do another swap like this one in the summer. We have a few more to go so keep coming back. Don't forget that I work for comments, lol. I enjoy reading them, so please post if you can.

All A Flutter Sneak Peek

Today I have another sneak peek for you. I just love the new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini
catalog that goes live on May 1st. I mean, the Ocassions Mini was spectacular and I didn't
think they could top it, but I think they came really close on this one. Makes me a little
nervous thinking about the new Idea Book and Catalog coming out in July, lol.

Here is today's sneak peek:



What do you think? Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White card stocks.
Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry and Black StaZon inks, and Pumpkin Pie eyelets were used here.
Oh, and that awesome new Textured Impressions Square Lattice embossing folder, again. I just
love it.

Thanks for stopping in again today. Please leave a comment if you can. I do appreciate them.

Oh, and to my friends from up north, I hope you are all home and safe. Have a fantastic summer and come back ready to stamp. I'll miss you.

Punch Swap post # 4

Howdy! Hope your week is going well. Today I will share three more of the great swaps I got
back. Stampin' Up! makes awesome punches. Here is proof.

1. Puppy by Pam Miller, original by Jackie Topa:



2. Tractor by Patty Jones:



3. Bear by Patty Jones:



I love how Patty used the little journal card that opens up to put the rest of the instructions on.
I wish I had done that on the ones I made for the swap instead of on the back of the page. That is exactly why we do swaps, to get ideas we may not have thought of.

Hope you enjoyed today's swaps. There are several more, so if you want to see them, drop by again soon. Thanks for coming.

Vroom Vroom Sneak Peek

Hi, everybody! Are you ready for a break from the punch art swap and to get a sneak peek of
a couple of the new items in the Summer Mini starting May 1st? I sure hope so, cuz I made a
couple of cards last night, just for fun. What do you think of this one?



This uses two of the new Stampin' Up! sets from the Summer Mini. Sentimental Journey and
Motorcycle. I also used the new Textured Impressions folder called Square Lattice. It really
took well to this Brushed Silver card stock. Also used are Basic Black, Whisper White, and
Tempting Turquoise card stocks. Black Stazon and Tempting Turquoise Inks, and the Silver
Zig Painty that Stampin' Up! used to sell, but no longer does.

Hope you enjoyed today's sneak peek. Please come back soon for more. Thanks for stopping in.

Punch Swap post # 3

I have lots going on this week, so I hope you are enjoying these punch art projects.
I also have lots of new stamps and stuff from the new Summer Mini, so I am hoping to get a chance to play with some of them tonight and give you some sneak peeks of this awesome little catty. Until then, I have three more of my Punch Art swap to share with you.

First is a Lady M & M by Elizabeth Kratzer, inspired by Ellen Kemper:



Second is a crow by Elizabeth Kratzer, original by Ellen Kemper:



and Third is a Lantern by Pam Miller, original by Ellen Kemper:



Ellen is awesome and is very, very talented. I am lucky enough to call her
a close friend of mine, even though we have never met. hopefully that will
change soon. She has a great sense of humor, too and I love
that so many people are inspired by her artwork. If you have never been
to her blog, GO NOW! Here: Blinkin', Thinkin', Inkin'
or click on Blink, Think, Ink in my left sidebar. You will be glad you did.

More tomorrow, don't forget to stop by. Thanks for coming.

Punch Swap post # 2

Ahh, today is the second day of posting the punch art swap. I know you are excited to see some more of this great work. So without further ado, here are three for today.

1. Mickey Mouse by my friend Wanda:



2. Punch Art Vases, by Crystal French:



3. This awesome tree by Pam Miller:



I just love punch art. Isn't it amazing how many great things you can make with our Stampin' Up! punches?

Check back again tomorrow for more punch art. Thanks for coming.

Punch Swap, Post # 1

I received my punch swap back a couple of weeks ago and I must say, they are awesome!
These ladies did an great job of making art using Stampin' Up! punches. I will share them in sets of three. I know you are gonna love these.

Ok, the first one I will share is by Patty Jones who cased it from my upline
Amanda Coughlin



next is Sesame Street Characters by Shannon Emerton:



and last for today is this cute baby buggy by my buddy Wanda McGlamery from
North Carolina:



I hope you have enjoyed these today. I will post three more tomorrow.

Thanks for coming. See you again soon.

Welcome my new recruit, NANCY!

Hey everyone, today I want to send a big welcome out to my new recruit, Nancy.

Welcome Nancy, I am so glad you decided to join my Stampin' Up! family!


I have a couple of pieces of artwork that Nancy taught a group of us
stampers to make on Thursday night.









This awesome artwork is for your yard. Now, some of them aren't quite finished,
and are sitting in buckets, etc., waiting for the glue to dry, but let me tell
you, they are AWESOME!

Thanks so much, Nancy, for showing us all how to make such beautiful pieces. I
think we all had a fantastic time.

Let me know what you think of our art. Back tomorrow with a sneak peek from the
Summer Mini Catalog that begins May 1.

Thanks for coming by. See ya!

VC Rocks 2010 and A Frame

What is VC Rocks! you ask? Well, it is a celebration of what we love and love to
share and that is Stampin' Up!. It is a virtual convention, complete with swaps, classes, make n takes and even roomies in our AWESOME! hotel.

VC Rocks 2010



Follow the link above to check out this short video. VC ROCKS! opens for returning members on April 20th. For new members April 30th. Come celebrate with us! We
have loads of fun, make new friends, and our swappers are some of the best. You
DO NOT have to be a demo to join VC. If you would like an invitation, be sure to
leave me a comment and let me know and I will be sure you get an invitation.

Hope to see you there!

Now, some eye candy for today. This is a name frame I made for my daughter, Gabrielle. These have been a part of so many gift giving occasions around our family. I think everyone pretty much has one, so I guess I will have to think of
something new to give, lol.



If you have never made one of these, they are fun, easy, and gorgeous!

Thanks for stopping in today. Don't forget to leave a comment.

Vintage is All the Rage

I love Vintage, maybe because I am vintage, not sure, lol. It
brings to mind a simpler time and lifestyle and I love that, too.

This card is the last of the projects from Saturdays hostess club. I had a wonderful
time and ladies, thanks to all of you for coming. Here is my vintage card.



I used the Stampin' Up! En Francais background stamp in Close to Cocoa and the Folk Flowers Decor Stencils from the Occasions Mini. I sponged Tempting Turquoise and Close to Cocoa onto the card. Then I used a Close to Cocoa button, the Tiny Tags set and the Medium Jewelry Punch and added little tags under the button. I used the Distress Tool Kit to distress all edges then sponged all edges, the front of the card and the Tempting Turquoise Ribbon to soften it up a bit.

I thought it turned out pretty well, and definitely has the vintage feel.

Hope you found some inspiration here today. Thanks for stopping by.

Cute Mini Magazine Holder and Cards

3Hi Everyone, and happy Wednesday. I have a really cute project to share with you
today from my hostess club this weekend. We made this really cute mini magazine
holder and four little 3x3 cards to go inside.



We used lots of retiring colors for this project including Brilliant Blue, Yo Yo Yellow and Pixie Pink, Real Red which isn't retiring and Stazon Black. Whisper White was also used. We did a small one sheet wonder for the band around the bottom of the magazine file using the Stampin' Up! Sneak Peek set, Awash with Flowers. This is an awesome set of 18 and will be in the brand new Idea Book and Catalog making it's debut
in July. You can get this set, however, through the end of April.

Hope you enjoyed this project today. It was lots of fun.

As always, thanks for dropping by. I would love to read your comments, so please leave one, if you can.

Flower Note Holder

Today's post is one of the make n takes from the Paper Paupers hostess club this past
weekend. I saw this flower on another demo's blog and had to make it. I don't remember who the demo was, of course, I really should write these things down, but I
knew my ladies would love to make one, too. so here it is:



I not sure what the DSP is I used for this one, it was from my stash. Stampin' Up!
of course.

Thanks to the talented Demo who came up with this one. I have done several paper flowers with my club. Why buy them when you can make so many beautiful ones with
stuff you already own? This one also uses the shimmer paint mist recipe to give it
some glimmer. It is very sparkly.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you.

Forest Friends Part 2

As promised, here is the card we made at our class this week. I got the idea from Andrea Karcher, another great demonstrator. This was our last class for the year and
they wanted to make easy and quick cards and this one fit the bill, especially after I spent time making the other one and ended up not using it.



What do you think? Really cute and easy, of course, cuz that's the way I roll, lol.

thanks for dropping in! TA!

Awash with Flowers

In my left sidebar you will see a special widget for the 2 Step into Spring Promotion that Stampin' Up! has going on throughout April. You can buy this fabulous set Awash With Flowers sneak peek from the new Idea Book and Catalog or you can earn it FREE with a $350 workshop. There are also four other gorgeous sets that you can purchase for 20% off, and I will showcase them off and on in the next few days. Click on the widget and find out more, then call me to schedule your workshop and earn it for FREE! FREE is good!

Here is my first very simple card with this gorgeous set:



I love the simplicity of this card. Back to stamping basics, but with a beautiful outcome.

Toodles! Come back soon.

Get Well Soon

I was looking for a simple and quick punch art card to make and ran across this band-aid on Andrea Walfords blog. She is awesome, by the way and you can go to her blog by by left side bar link.



I used Whisper White, Ballet Blue, and Blush Blossom Card stock and Ballet Blue and Creamy
Caramel Inks.

This is one of the easiest punch art cards I have ever made, but it gets the point across, and a
kid of any age would appreciate it, I think.

Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Forest Friends

Well, here we are again with another installment of Forest Friends. This is an absolutely adorable Stampin' Up! set. I think "Bambi" everytime I look at it. I was playing with this set and this is
what I came up with for my class, then realized I didn't have enough ribbon, so I scrapped it and
started over.



Not too bad, but I had lots of mistakes on this one, so don't look too close, lol.

Colors used are Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Old Olive and Whisper White.

Stay tuned for the card I did use.

See ya! Thanks for stopping by.

Stampin' Up! Color Renovation

WOW! The air is buzzing all around Stampin' Up! these days and anywhere you find a
Stampin' Up! demo! Stampin' Up! has just announced a Color Renovation, and a renovation it is!

As of July, with the new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, You will see a very new look to the Stampin' Up! color line.

We will have Bolds, Brights, Neutrals, and Subtles, ten fabulous colors in each.

Added will be 5 Brand New gorgeous colors.

Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, and Early Espresso.

They will be bringing back 10 of the retired In Colors! WooHoo!

Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Riding Hood Red, River
Rock, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango and Wild Wasabi.

Check out the chart below.



Customers can begin ordering in the beginning of July. If you are a demo, you can
order earlier. If you can't wait, contact me to join my team.

Now with this announcement, we will also be saying a fond farewell to many of our
old colors. The chart for these is below:



Stampin' Up! will continue to restock up until June 1st, after that all items in these colors will be "while supplies last". So don't wait, if one of your favorites colors is on this list, order early.

I am so excited about this color change, after all, color is what Stampin' Up! is all about. I can't wait to get my hands on these new color products and start creating. Way to go! Stampin' UP!

You Rock!

Happy Thursday! I can't believe it's Thursday already! Where has the time gone? Seems like just yesterday my friends came down from up north to play with me for the winter and now it's already time for them to leave and go back home for the summer. Thanks so much to all of you for spending time with me this year, we have had lots of fun. I will miss you all.

We made this card together last week, but I just wanted to let you all know that YOU ROCK!

Today is our last class for the year. Take care and I will see you all again soon.





We used Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, and Basic Gray for this card, plus one of the texture plates (the diamond one) and the Big Shot. Stamps are Just Jawing and Extreme Guitar. The Large Star Punch is also used here. Fun Card, great for a teen or tween.

Ladies, thanks so much for stopping by. Remember to leave a comment. For those of you headed north, you can keep in touch by emailing me, calling me or by leaving me a comment here.

Happy Together

Happy Hump Day! Hope your week is going well so far. Today I would like to share a card made with the Happy Together set by Stampin' Up! I wanted it as soon as it came out in the catty, but
didn't actually get it until Sale A Bration. Better late than never, don't ya think? Anyway, here is today's card:



I used Whisper White, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink Cardstocks, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel and Soft Suede Inks and some Pretty in Pink Gingham Ribbon. I also used the Scallop Oval and Large Oval punches. A very simple card, but I like it just the same.

Thanks to those of you who keep coming back. I appreciate you.

Tulips in Bloom & Welcome New Recruits

I just wanted to give a GREAT BIG welcome to my new recruits. Welcome Debbie and Nancy!
I am so happy to have you join my Stampin' Up! family! Debbie and Nancy both joined during Sale A Bration! I am so excited, can't wait to get together and have some stampin' fun!

I lived in Seattle for 8 years in the 80's. One of the things I remember vividly is visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, (it's been a long time, so if I don't
have the name or town correct, please forgive me) It was one of the most beautiful and colorful
sights I have ever seen. Acres upon acres of beautiful tulips and daffodils, as far as the eye could see. Tulips have been my favorite flower ever since. Today's card is a punched tulip. I got the idea from another demo, sorry, can't remember who right now, but If I do, I will make an amendment to the post.



Isn't this just so very pretty?

Colors used are Pretty in Pink, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White and Certainly Celery card stocks and Inks, the background is stamped with the Boho Backgrounds stamp set. Also used is the Large and Wide Oval and the Scallop Circle punches. All Stampin' Up!, of course.

Thanks for coming by today. Please leave a comment if you can. Bloggers work for comments.

Another Favorite

I was playing with my stamps a couple of nights ago and made this joy fold card. I got it all finished except for the top layer, which is the focal point of the card and I decided to pull out my old stand by, Lovely As A Tree. This is probably my favorite set ever. Get it if you don't have it. You will be glad you did.



I used Chocolate Chip, Kraft, and Always Artichoke card stock, Chocolate Chip Ink, The Eyelet Border Punch, and the Lovely As A Tree and Vintage Labels stamp sets. Only 10 more days to get the Vintage Labels for free during Sale A Bration. I also used a retired Stampin' Up! Background stamp, but the name eludes me at the moment.

Be sure to check back, I have another swap to share. It will be the 6x6 Punch Art pages I
received back from my swap. They are great, just gotta find time to upload them and write up the posts.

Hope you have enjoyed today's card. Thanks for popping in.

Swap Post #5 Final

Ok, as promised, here is the final set of Spring swap projects: There are a couple of really cute 3D items in this group, so I saved them for last.

First is this beautiful little card by Karrie Klose? (not sure of spelling) using Abundant Hope:



Then again, a card with no name (can't say much, I didn't put my name on mine either):



This Carrot with M&M's inside by Janet Casto (is this awesome or what?):



and the last one of our swaps is this cute little treat bag with Bunny Topper by another one of my Stamp Vamp sisters, Linda Jones:



now, how cute are these? I hope you enjoyed the swap posts these last few days. These ladies all did an excellent job. Oh and if you are wondering what card I swapped, you have already seen it here. And it won 1st place! Not sure how that happened with all the wonderful talent
that was floating around that day, but luck was on my side and I got to order some of the new
Jewelry that was in the Holiday and Occasions Mini Catalogs to share with you.

Now, don't you wish you were a Stampin' Up! Demo and were there with us at the meeting? You could be. Just ask, and I will tell you all you need to know, and then some, about how wonderful
it is to be a demo with Stampin' Up!

thanks again for bearing with me. I appreciate each and every one of you.