Sweet Adorable Baby

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  I know mine was busy.  I had a workshop this weekend plus was busy moving my stamping room.  I am slowly getting there. Slooowwwly LOL

I will definitely post pics when it is complete - getting so excited.

Today's card is super sweet.  The layout is copied from another demo but the card itself is completely my own.  (Go Margaret LOL)

Sweet and adorable.  I love how the ribbon and button add the perfect finishing touch to the card.  I used retired DP on it and it seemed to be the absolute right fit for this card.  And who can't resist the cute images from the set Animal Stories.

Sending Some Birthday Love

I have been busy this week preparing for workshops and classes and at the same time trying to move my stamp room.  Let me tell you this is no easy feat.  Mel and I got a lot done on the weekend but boy was there a lot left to do.  It was a tad bit tough having my paper and adhesive downstairs but everything else still upstairs. I had to do a lot of running back and forth the other day to complete my workshop projects, but the exercise did me good. LOL

Last night I managed to get all my stamp sets, punches, ink, ribbon, colouring mediums and a few other odd things moved downstairs.  This means I just need a table and a chaird downstairs and I can start working on things again.  Woo hoo!

Okay - today's card, I admit it - yes - I CASE'd this card with only a couple minor changes.  This is what happens when you are crunched for time.  I love the Sending Love DP on the Clearance Rack.  The paper is really gorgeous and sparkly.  This card was so quick and easy and I like how the sponging around the Vanilla layer added the right touch to the card.  It just looked too plain and bare without it.

Margaret :)

Supplies:
Sending Love DP - clearance rack
Real Red CS
Very Vanilla CS
Chocolate Chip CS
Scallop Trim edge punch
1 1/4" square punch
Scallop square punch
1/4" Real Red grosgrain ribbon
Sincere Salutations stamp set
Chocolate Chip ink
Sponge

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year........SALE-A-BRATION TIME COME ON!!!

Sale-A-Bration has begun!! It's the best & biggest promotion SU has during the year, and it's also a great time to join Stampin' Up!


CUSTOMERS - receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $60 they spend (before tax and shipping)!


HOSTESSES - receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $395 in workshop sales*, in addition to our regular hostess benefits!

OR:

If you've ever thought about joining Stampin' Up!, this deal is amazing!  For just $182.75 you can join & get $60 in more free product!


The Sale-A-Bration Bonus Bundle
As noted on the back of the Sale-A-Bration brochure, any new demonstrator who joins during Sale-A-Bration will not only receive 15 percent off their Starter Kit, but will also receive a special Bonus Bundle of products valued up to $60! The following items will be included in a new Demonstrator's Starter Kit (whether it's the standard kit or the Digital+ Starter Kit):

Item      Page   Description
121620      165        Color Coach (or multiple languages Color Coach)
120806      183        Something Special Simply Sent (or any Simply Sent kit)
117114      183        Live, Laugh, Love Stamp Set (or any Simply Sent Stamp Set valued at $11.95 or less)
119881      202        Heart to Heart Punch (or any punch valued at $23.95 or less)


Here are a few more reasons to join:



Fill your Wish List!  Imagine this!  Save 30% on your first product order of $200 or more (placed within 45 days), plus earn hostess rewards & receive a minimum of three Sale-A-Bration gifts (1 for every $60 in product purchased). Yes, us demo's get the same perks as you plus more!
Take a Demo Test Drive!  Enjoy Stampin' Up! Demonstrator discounts and benefits through June 30, 2011 with NO further need to sell or purchase any products beyond the starter kit. 
If you wish to extend your demonstrator status for the following quarter (July through September), you would be required to have $400 in product sales (including your own orders).  There's no penalty to drop.
Starter Kit ships FREE.  Yes, that's free shipping!
Become a member of my team!  You'll have access to perks like special meets and swaps.
 Call or e-mail me for more information or just sign up on my website here:

Transfering Photos onto Tiles

I had been left a comment on the post I did about My Beautiful Babies and was asked how you transfer photos onto tiles.  Unfortunately I was unable to figure out how to send a message with instructions directly to Carla so I am posting a quick note here on my blog in hopes that Carla will be back and see this post to help her out.

Hopefully this will help my other readers as well.

Splitcoaststampers has a full tutorial on how to create these from start to finish.  The only pointer I would add that I do not believe was in the tutorial is that when you get to the step about adding a layer of Modgepodge over the photo, that you need to be very careful and gentle as the photo can tear and smear.

Click HERE to view the full instructions.

Margaret :)

Divine Valentine

I had mentioned how much work I have to do after getting over the flu bug and last night while Chris lay quietly recuperating from his pain treatments I took the opportunity to get some work done in the stamp room.  I think I surprised even myself.  I managed to get designs completed for 2 classes (3 cards designs in each class).  So I left the stamp room after about 3 1/2 hours feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.  I will be sharing those cards with you over the next week and a bit.

I particularly love today's card I am sharing.  I think for me it is the rich colours and also the texture that the gathered ribbon adds.  I CASE'd the design from another demo, Debbie Henderson but changed a few elements and colours

The card is elegant and classy and I love that. I used the new Framed Tulips embossing folder and although you cannot see it, on the inside I added another piece of Vanilla cardstock and stamped the large elegant image from the Sale-A-Bration set, Bliss, in red ink.5/8” Real Red Grosgrain – $12.25 - 117286

Thanks for looking and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Margaret :)

Supplies:
Elizabeth Stamp - $11.95 - 117120
Teeny Tiny Wishes - $45.95 - 115370
Bliss Stamp Set – SALE-A-BRATION ONLY PRODUCT
Early Espresso Cardstock - $8.50 - 119686
Very Vanilla Cardstock - $9.25 - 101650
Real Red ink pad - $7.25 - 103133
Early Espresso ink pad - $7.25 – 119670
1 ¾ x 7/8” Oval Punch - $22.95 - 119855
Scallop Oval Punch - $23.95 - 119856
Dimensionals - $5.25 - 104430

5/8” Early Espresso Grosgrain - $12.25 – 119753

Framed Tulips Embossing Folder - $10.95 – 121809

Sticky Strip - $8.50 - 104294

Heart Shaped Treat Holder

Well last night I had my monthly stamp club and I shared with the girls some exciting news.  It seemed everyone was thinking I was going to have a baby.  No, that is not the case.  (sigh)

Instead, my exciting news is that my stamp room is being moved from the upstairs to the downstairs and will be about twice as big.  I have drawn up my layout, purchased pantry cupboards on sale and on the hunt for the right furniture that will fit the room.  Once complete I should be able to have about 3 tables that would fit (comfortably) 6 people each.  That means no more stamp club on the main floor in two rooms. Woo hoo!  I can also have larger groups than before and I won't be running up and down the stairs when I forget one thing (or two or three or four - LOL)  In the winter when we get a chill, no problem, there is a nice stone fireplace to keep us cozy.  I am so excited and can't wait to begin putting the cupboards together and start moving.  Two things I am looking for are 2 or 3 white folding craft tables with SMOOTH tops, as well as folding chairs.  I have two craft tables already but they have the rough patterned tops :(  Once I can replace them I will be selling the 'old' ones. 

Once I get the new room set up and organized I will take some pics and show them on the blog.

Okay so enough chatting about my new stamp room and on to today's project.  I would love to claim this idea as my own but I can't.  I CASE'd this design from Deanna at DeStampinCorner.  I changed up the embellishments a tad to make it my own.  This was a simple sweet treat holder.  For stamp club, I had the girls fill a small cellophane bag with cinnamon hearts and candies to put inside.

Thanks for looking.
Margaret :)

Supplies :

Scallop Circle BigZ die - $26.95 - 113468
Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch - $22.95 - 119275
2 3/8” Scallop Circle punch - $23.95 - 118874
Heart to Heart (trio) Punch - $23.95 - 119881
Neutrals Button Pack - $10.95 - 119743
Red Glitter Paper - $4.95 - 121790
Pink Pirouette Cardstock - $8.50 - 111351
Real Red Cardstock - $8.50 – 102482
Finial Press Embossing Folder - $10.95 - 115963
Big Shot - $132.95 - 113439
Glue Dots - $5.95 - 103683
Sticky Strip - $8.50 - 104294
Sending Love Designer Series Paper - $6.19 – 117153 - ON-LINE ORDERS ONLY – clearance rack

Hot Air Balloon

Well I am happy to say that I am feeling a lot better and just left with a bit of a lingering cold.  The bummer part is that it put me way behind on everything as I had no energy to work in my stamp room.  This means I will have tonnes of work to catch up on in between of everything else but that is okay, I can do it.  I am going to set some specific goals for myself and then work hard on achieving them. 

I do have a card to share today.  I have just begun my work for all my upcoming events and we all know Valentine's Day is coming up so for my Stamp Club tonight I decided I would focus on Valentines.  I also have a Valentine's Card Class at the beginning of February but will use totally different designs for that class.  Check out my website for more info on this class.

I had been using ideas from other peoples cards when inspiration hit me to make this card.  It wasn't until the next day that I was moving things around on my table when I noticed my Valentine rub-on's from the Occasions Mini and it dawned on me that I must have had the Heart Air Balloon image in my subconcious. LOL

Thanks for stopping by.
Margaret :)


Supplies:
Create A Cupcake clear stamp set – $19.95 – 121982 (wood 121915 - $27.95)

Heart Embosslit – $15.95 - 117332
Full Heart Punch - $23.95 - 119883
Bright Glimmer Brads – $6.50 - 121006
Real Red ink pad - $7.25 - 103133
Early Espresso ink pad - $7.25 - 119670
Early Espresso marker - $4.50 - 119680
Real Red Grograin Ribbon - $6.75 - 109034
Whisper White cardstock - $9.25 – 100730
Real Red Cardstock - $8.50 - 102482
Jumbo Wheel Handle - $7.50 - 103661
Builder Wheel Spacers - $5.50 - 119895
Builder Wheel – Delight in Gladness - $5.95 – 121950
Big Shot - $132.95 - 113439

Elegance

One of my very good friends recently received MDS as a Christmas gift.  She is totally not a scrapbooker but she decided to give it a whirl.  About a week after Christmas I visited her and lo and behold, she had 3 pages completed on MDS.  I could tell she was enjoying playing with it and a small thing like that makes me happy.

I love MDS too and the simplicity of the program.  The other night I whipped up this card in about 10 minutes.

It was so easy and I love the simple classy feel of this card.

Thanks for looking and hope you come back soon.
Margaret :)

MDS Card

Here is something I don't normally do!  An MDS card.

The only way I am going to get better at making MDS creations is if I actually use it LOL.

Being as I have been feeling a bit under the weather this post is short and sweet today. 

Thanks for stopping by.
Margaret

My Beautiful Babies

For the past two plus years I have been telling the girls that I want to make picture tile coasters for Chris as a gift.  Originally I was going to take the girls to have their pictures done and use those photos but I have never gotten around to it.  Over the holidays I thought about this once again and thought that perhaps if company came over they might think it a bit vain so then I had the brilliant idea of using pictures of my beautiful babies. 

Although Titan passed away August '09 he remains close in our memories and our hearts.  The picture of the dog standing up is Titan.  Then there is our newest addition to the family, Madden.  He melts our hearts and has been a truly healing entity in our lives since Titan's passing.  Madden is also camera shy and I have had a very difficult time getting a good picture of him in the year and a half that we have had him so unfortunately it is not the worlds greatest photo but it is still a wonderful photo of our son.

Taygan and I were messing around in the stamp room and at the last minute I decided to whip up these photo tiles.  They were SO easy to make and although you can tell that the pictures tore a bit as I adhered them to the tiles I find they give a bit of an aged look to them.  I LOVE how these turned out and can't wait to make more.

Thanks for looking.
Margaret

Three Little Cupcakes Sitting in a Row...

Mmmmm I love this set.  How can you not?  The Create A Cupcake set and the Cupcake punch are so much fun and as my daughter Taygan pointed out, the top of the cupcake would make perfect clouds too!

I was looking to make a simple card that would keep the cupcakes as the main feature.  This card is a 3" x 6" with a Textured Whisper White base.  I added a layer of Baja Breeze and then the card front is again Whisper White Textured.

I stamped the bottoms of my cupcakes in Early Espresso ink.  Next I stamped the cupcake tops in Baja Breeze ink and the sprinkles are stamped in this colour as well.  The centre cupcake was stamped on scrap paper and punched out.  I added ink - direct to paper - on the top of the cupcake, then covered it in glue and added Baja Breeze Glass Glitter, then popped it up on the cardfront.

What is a cupcake without a candle?  To fix this I used my markers to colour the candle that was punched from white cardstock and I attached this to the top of the centre cupcake.

The sentiment is from the same set and is stamped in Certainly Celery ink to match the candle.

I hope you like today's sweet little creation.

Margaret :)

Supplies : Stamp Set - Create a Cupcake  :  Cardstock - Baja Breeze, Whisper White (smooth & textured)  :  Inks - Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery  :  Accessories  - Stampin' Write Markers, Cupcake Punch, Baja Breeze Glass Glitter

Occasions Mini Cupcake

I'm a little behind already this year.  Yesterday the occasions mini began and I haven't posted anything yet so I need to fix that.

Over the Christmas holidays, my youngest daughter Taygan and I snuck up to the stamp room for a bit.  We love hanging out and making cards.

I had some fantastic new products sitting on my stamping desk for a couple weeks and I was itching to ink up the set Create a Cupcake and use the new Cupcake punch but..... I love Taygan's card so much that I am sharing her card with you today that she created using some of these products.

She created a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 birthday card beginning with an Old Olive base.  She has a huge stack of patterned paper and managed to find this fun striped paper that goes well with her base colour.  She stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Level 1 Hostess set Afterthoughts in Old Olive ink.  Then she set about punching out her cupcake bases and tops. She used Stampin' Write markers to colour the bottom of the cupcakes and Chunky glitter and Glass Glitter to cover the cupcake tops. 

She popped these up using dimensionals.  I think what I love most is how she used dew drops as the 'cherry' on top of the cupcake.

I hope you like Taygans card as much as I do.

Margaret :)

Supplies: Stamp Sets - Afterthoughts, Create a Cupcake  :  Cardstock - Old Olive, Whisper White  :  Inks - Old Olive  :  Accessories - Stampin' Write Markers, Cupcake punch, Tombow Liquid Glue, Glitter (various SU glitters), dew drops (non-SU)