Stamps, Paper, and Ink

WHoo's wishing you.....

WHoooo's wishing you a happy valentine's day? My friend Kim, that's who!! Kim made this sweet valentine for our swap and I just had to share it with you. I'm sure you'll agree it's the cutest ever!

Kim loves to stamp and design. When I first met her she had never stamped before and after one class she decided to design and make her own wedding invitations, save the date and thank you cards. I was amazed at her beautiful projects! She is a gifted designer, completes beautiful projects with precision and knows just how to add that unique personal touch. If you live in the US, Kim will custom design for you! Imagine coordinating your own wedding stationery, or the perfect baby shower or child's party invitation. Kim has a knack for finding out what you want and creating it to order. If you've been looking for someone to make cards for you, please e-mail Kim at : kangeL546@aol(dot)com.  Don't forget to put a . instead of the word. (dot)

I love being able to promote Kim's business becasue I know it can be a blessing to you.

I'm off to stamp, have a great day!

 

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!

  Visit my online store  HERE if you need supplies or to see our specials

Do you have any questions about our products, my projects/classes, or being a demonstrator? I am happy to answer them, just send me an e-mail, you'll find it HERE

Featured Guest

I have a surprise for you! I am featuring my special Guest designer JudyG today. Judy is a great designer, longtime stamper; wonderful, loving ACTIVE grandmother and lots of fun to be with!  Recently I taught the double-pocket card and challenged the ladies to come up with their own design for the next month. Here's what Judy came up with:

 Isn't it amazing and so cute? In the bottom there's a gift card for a bookstore and I love the way she used a bookmark in the top pocket.

For another challenge, Judy made this sweet card using the Build A Bear products. Judy has twin grandchildren, a girl and a boy - isn't this a perfect card for them?

Judy, thanks for inspiring me with your work and always cheering with your smiles and laughter.

Thanks in advance for your comments for Judy on these cute projects. I'll be back on Monday, have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Display Boards 1

If I wasn't able to be here at convention I'd so miss getting to see the sample boards! I found all of my artisan projects on display and that made it especially exciting. Hope you'll enjoy these photos and if you've sent creations to SU! maybe you'll see them here. 

      

Here's what I've been up to...

Well, here I am posting, of all things! It seems I will be sporadic for a week or two more and then be able to keep up the pace of regularly creating and posting again.I thought you might like to know what I've been up to~all good things but there's a bunch of 'em with a card at the end, don't miss it!

keeping up with a busy household

going out to lunch with a friend on my birthday

going to pick out a PUPPY! (details to come)

long phone chats with my Mom

going out with another friend for my birthday 

posting for the June Dirty Dozen gallery

Accompanying my kids to String camp = 8 hrs of driving + four hours of excellent and inspiring music!

Having the best tea party EV-uh with dear Ruth Ann

getting ready for a big family reunion bash

getting the car fixed

counting the days until we can go to get our puppy (details to come)

going to see Toy Story 3

designing cards for the July Dirty Dozen gallery (love the work, it's the deadlines I have a hard time with!)

looking at the new SU catalog and often adding to or re-adjusting my Wish list

trying to catch up and fit in all the things I didn't do when I was out to lunch, lol

Receiving Beautiful birthday cards and being blessed that my life is so full and I have the health to enjoy it.

Here's a very special card I received from my delightful friend and Great Swap Girl, Vera. You'll find more of her outstanding work on her blog, Verastamps.

Vera's card could not be more beautiful in my book, I love her color choices and the delicate elements. Her cards are always embellished with just the right touches~perfectly placed. Thanks, Vera!

Thanks to all of you, for checking back with me and being patient. Coming soon - puppy details.

Almost heaven....

I'm back from my WVa mountain vacation and it was a great time visiting with family and playing! I'm glad to see that some of you checked in on the posts that I left for you and liked the masculine cards. I will be sure to continue interspersing those masculine projects among my other posts.

I do have some fabulous cards to share with you today, done by talented stampers who are also dear and wonderful friends!

But first there are two announcements.

I'd like to let Sandra R know that she won the draw to participate for FREE in my Something New video class!  Congratulations, Sandra! Thanks to all who posted, your opinions matter and I really will take them to heart. 

The second announcement is a personal one. Back in March I completed 10 projects which I mailed in to the Stampin' Up! Artisan Award Contest.  I put all my effort (and a good bit of heart!) plus more than 40 hours of work into these projects. I didn't win. After all they can only pick 10 winners out of hundreds!  I can't say I'm not bummed. I'd love for you to cheer me up. And, as always, I'll share my work with you.

Beginning tomorrow, and for the next ten days or so, I will be posting my projects. There's more!  I'll add links to others as a mini blog hop. So, do check back!

Here's a line up of some of my favorite cards!

From Kim

The inside says, "I picked you"  I love the way she used Shimmer paint to add sheen to the ocean waves.

Another sweet pretty from Kim-

   

This bright and happy card from Donna makes me happy too!

 

Here's a beauty from Judy - I love her details!

I am glad to be back and honored that you have stopped by today. I'd love to hear from you!

Say hello to the Chocolate Bunny

I didn't get the Chocolate Bunny stamp from the Occasions mini, but he was immensely popular with my customers. Today I have two cards from my friends to share with you and you're going to love them! Jacki and Lynn are both talented stampers and I love the Easter cards they made.

 Jacki's card - I love the way the bunny's eyes seem to be following the butterflies....

Lynn's card...

I'm off to mail my Easter cards today before it's too late!!! We do need to mail these cards we make, LOL!  Hope your day is wonderful in many small ways. Throw in a bit of chocolate now that we know it's so good for us <g> 

Hugs~

Make a Smile your umbrella...

We had just a tad of much needed rain today, but it's sure not dreary here. Get ready to smile because I have two really pretty cards lined up to brighten your day!

Here is Judy's gorgeous card, I just love the way she used the Pink Flamingo DP and her terrific layout.

Next is a beautiful RAK from my friend Donna, who knows that I love bright colors! Don't you just love her design? I so appreciate all your kind comments, and I want to thank you ahead of time for leaving one for my friends. :D

I'll be back tomorrow with a smile and a card from me~ thanks for stopping by!

A fly-by Hello!

Here's a be-yoo-ty-full RAK that I received from my friend Michelle, who I 'met' through this blog.  Meeting new people who love stamping is one of the perks of sharing online! Michelle loves stamping and all kinds of crafts - she just started her own blog which you can find  HERE to see what she's been making! I love the serene, natural colors she used on this card, and especailly the cute way she threaded her ribbon through the eyelets. Thanks, Michelle!

This feels so much like a fly-by post to me today and truly, I am so busy right now that flying woudln't help me with all the things I need  to accomplish!  Stamping-wise I have a class tonight to prepare for, a messy house, and swaps to finish and mail today. PHEW! Thanks for being patient with me, I should get back to normal in a day or two, and I look forward to a little more time to stamp and share.

I've received some beautiful RAKS's lately...

... I wanted to share them with you! The nicest thing about having "Occasions" :D is receiving wonderful hand-made cards from friends and family. I received these gorgeous cards from my daughters, Julie and Emily and my friends Susan and Vera.  I hope you'll enjoy admiring their talents with me...

Julie's card

Emily's acrylic Top Note card

Susan's card

 

Vera's card

Thanks, ladies, for your kind thoughtfulness. Thanks to all my readers~have a great day!

Ready for Christmas yet?

Just kidding! I am not one to start Christmas cards this early, although getting a head start would be a good idea. :D  I wanted to tell you about a Christmas gift I gave to my dear friend Ruth. It's a Martha S plate I just fell in love with, loved the design and the colors. You know what ? Ruth Ann made me a thank you card, inspired by the plate~isn't it a beauty?  I could not believe how well she captured the colors and images of this plate, so I took a photo of them together for you. I just loved the way she wove the images just like the ones on the wreath, and the clever borders made of crimped Baja Breeze card stock.  I so appreciate her gorgeous design and you know - it's such a treat getting really GOOD mail. :D

Edited to add: I've been thinking about Ruth Ann's eye for color and attention to detail and just wanted to add this in. Also the fact that Ruth Ann is a daily commenter to my blog. Ruth Ann, if you'd like to share anything about your card, I invite you to comment today :D We 'd love to hear from you!

I wasn't ready for Stamp with Me Saturday this past weekend. You couldn't stamp with me because I was at the beach having fun with my family!  We decided about Wed. of last week that the weather looked perfect and although it was a scramble and some things just had to be set aside (my computer) for the weekend, we had a wonderful time. I will try next month to do better, thanks for understanding!