Here it is!!

Alright people, I left you in suspense a couple days ago...This is what I was talking about!

I can't pass up a great deal when I see one. It was a special for home party consultants only...for several crafting companies. Here's the link www.provocraft.com/consultants

They are offering this deal only through this Friday. If you're a demonstrator and want to take advantage, put my name (Sara Redman) in the reference area.

I'm off to play with it now. I'll be back to show you what this thing can do!

ladybug invites

These are the invitations I sent out for my daughter's 3rd birthday party. I've seen these all over the internet and thought they were so cute!

When I asked Cassidy what kind of party she wanted, she told me "RED!" over and over. (Red is her favorite color now) So I brainstormed ideas, and came up with ladybugs. She did not like the idea at first because she is freaked out by bugs, but when I showed her party themes with ladybugs, she thought it was a great idea.

I sure wish I had a Cricut when making these! I used my old fashioned circle cutter (which would have been fine if I was making one of these-But I made 9!). The whole process didn't go as fast as I thought it would.

Cassidy did help me assemble which was fun........for her :) You know......there are days that I have more patience, and the day we made these cards, I didn't have too much much of it. But we survived. And had to stop and finish them another day.



Recipe:
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Printer paper
Tools: 1" Circle Punch, 1/16" punch
Accessories: Black brads, googly eyes

Supersize Snowflake Masking

1. You will need your Supersize Snowflake stamp, some Post-Its, and an inkpad. I used Almost Amethyst







2. For each of the "branches" put a post-it where you want to mask. I masked just below the largest "V"







3. Ink it up like normal








4. Now take all of the Post-its off







5. Stamp it on your paper and you will now have a smaller size snowflake!







Recipe:
Stamps: Supersize Snowflake, Many Merry Messages, Snow Flurries
Paper: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac
accessories: Eyelets, dimensionals

Supersize Snowflake

A couple of days ago I posted this card using the Supersize Snowflake from the Holiday Mini. I actually got a couple people asking where I got the words "Winter * Wishes". For those that don't know...They come with it!!

Actually if you look at my picture,(click it to view larger) you'll see 2 different snowflakes (solid & outline) and Winter Wishes. This all comes together when you order Supersize Snowflake! And die cut, may I add!!

When I received it, "winter wishes" was connected to the solid snowflake, but I just chopped it off and slapped it on the side of the wood block. That way I don't have to use the words if I don't want to.

Face to a name & anniversary

Well, this is me!



I also wanted to share that this week (can't remember the exact date-Kristin maybe you can help me with that??) Is my 4th anniversary as a Stampin' UP! Demonstrator!! I joined after just 1 party and was hooked. I have heard of so many others that have done the same. I really didn't do much stamping before, just scrapbooking, but knew it was something I could get into. I never would have thought I would have stayed this long. Next year I'm hoping to make it to my 1st convention in SLC and celebrate 5 years!!

Apology

I am so sorry I haven't been blogging for a few days. And I actually have something to blame it on! Our Internet has been out since Saturday. I guess lightning hit a fiber and they didn't get it fixed for almost 3 days! (I don't know if you have heard, but our neighbors in the next 2 counties East of us have been hit so hard with the rain we've had the last few days. I think the highest from Stockton, MN was around 17-18" from Saturday through Monday. Everything is gone, I couldn't imagine how they're coping. Keep them in your prayers.)

But anyway-I was going crazy around here without being able to check email and other stuff. I'm so glad I'm back now. I've posted a few cards below, and I've got more coming.

I also have a BIG shipment coming....and not from Stampin' UP!, Can anyone guess what it is??

CC128-Groovy Skies #2

I loved this combo so much I had to do another one. I was also excited to play with the new stuff from the Holiday Mini!

This one was really fun to make. I got out my Scallop Circle punch for the snowman...He's just so cute!

I needed more white on my Sky Blue & Groovy Guava layers, so I drew dots and snow on the trees with my white gel pen. Makes that stuff really pop!










Recipe:
Stamps: Merry & Bright, Short & Sweet
Paper: Groovy Guava, Sky Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Black Stazon, Groovy Guava, Sky Blue, White Craft
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/16" punch
Accessories: Groovy Guava Ribbon from Sherbet Ribbon Originals, Sky Blue Double Stitched Ribbon, Pop Up Glue Dot

CC128-Groovy Skies

What a great color challenge this week! I love it and would have never put these 2 colors alone together. Here's the link: CC128

Can you tell I used both of the snowflakes on this one? I used Sky Blue for the solid snowflake and Groovy Guava for the outline. Of course I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for this and it worked beautifully!

I needed to add some sparkle too, with my 2 way glue and Dazzling Diamonds. Then punched a tab with my slit punch and then added ribbon to that. Pretty simple card!


Recipe:
Stamps: Supersize Snowflake
Ink: Sky Blue & Groovy Guava
Paper: Sky Blue, Groovy Guava, Whisper White
Tools: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, 1/8" hole punch, Slit punch
Accessories: 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Cute stuff from a 2 year old's mouth

One morning out of the blue my daughter said to me: "Mommy, I've been a really good girl, I think I need a treat!"
ME: "Not right now, you need to finish your breakfast"
Cassidy: "Please, Mommy! Pretty please!" Imagine this in a 2 year old's voice, very serious!

That's hard to resist!


The other day we went to the Library and as I was buckling her into her car seat, she said to me: "Mommy, I was a good girl at the library!"
ME: "Yes, You were!"
Cassidy: "You were a good girl too, Mommy!"

That just cracked me up!


As we were driving one day, we drove past a fairground and I saw one of those bulls (where you can pay to have whatever you want written on it) And said "Hey look at the big bull!" Cassidy then replied "he's on skates!" Nate & I looked at each other and just started laughing, but trying to hold back because she was right, he was on a trailer, and it probably looked like skates to her! Too cute!

Some projects

This is a little paper bag book I whipped up the other day, took me only about 1/2 hour to do! I used our "Happy Me" SS kit form the Hostess section. I love this kit with all of the fun colors and elements. I haven't even touched it since I got it over a month ago, but I was determined to do something with it. Someday I'll add pictures, someday.

For the cover I used the striped paper and Groovy Guava Paisley for the "binding". then added some self-adhesive Die cuts. And for the binding I used the Pomegranate polka-dotted ribbon (that comes with the ss kit) to tie it all together.












Pg 1-2















Pg 3-4














Pg 5-6










Inserts


Recipe:
Stamps: NONE
Paper: Happy Me SS Kit
Ribbon: PP polka-dot Ribbon, Soft Sky double stitched ribbon, groovy Guava ribbon from Sherbet Originals.

Crop-a-dile dry embossing

I'm back from my busy week! I actually had planned to mow the lawn today, but there is a flat tire on the lawnmower. I'm not into fixing that kind of stuff, so I'm leaving that until Nate comes home.

So instead of mowing I guess I'm blogging! Lucky for you I have a few projects I wanted to show you.

I made this card to show the different ways to use a Crop-A-Dile.

First, notice the dry-embossed circles in the upper right corner of the card? Can you believe that was done with the Crop-A-Dile? Set your cubes to: top-A, bottom-1 or 2. You will squeeze slightly, but NOT TOO HARD!! Otherwise you will punch a hole. It will make a little dry embossed circle. Then just add more as you wish. I used a piece of paper that was punched out with the photo corner punch as a guide to make the circles in the corner.



Then, I punched out a hole for the jumbo eyelet in the center of the scalloped flower. I finished that and wanted to add a green rhinestone brad somewhere, and then thought it would look cool in the center of that jumbo eyelet, and it sure does!!














Recipe:
Stamps: In the Spotlight
Paper: Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Basic Grey
Tools: Scalloped Circle punch, Crop-A-Dile
Accessories: Green Rhinestone Brad, Wild Wasabi ribbon, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon.

What did I do?

Yesterday my hubby came home with these flowers! He hasn't done that since we were dating. I have no idea why he decided to get them, but I was very surprised! The card said he appreciated all I do. That was nice to hear.



Sorry I haven't been blogging for a few days. I have been preparing for our stamp camp which is tonight. I promise I'll be back tomorrow with some goodies that I made for stamp camp!!

No stamping here!

This is a Reverse Pocket card I made for my SIL's b-day this morning.

I love our new designer papers-they make such cute cards as well as SB pages.

Absolutely no stamping on here, just cut out the flowers from one of the designs and attached a blue rhinestone brad to the center, and mounted it with a dimensional on a scallop circle punch.

I also used our new corner rounder punch to make the scalloped edge and a slit punch to make the tab.




Recipe:
Stamps: none!
Paper: Cutie Pie DS 12x12 paper, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate
Accessories: Pomegranate polka-dotted ribbon from Sherbet Ribbon Originals, blue Rhinestone Brad, Scallop Circle Punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder, Slit Punch.

Perfectly Pierced Photo Corner

I have always wondered how people pierced their photo corners so perfectly. I figure they bought the Piercing kit and had the template to keep their holes so straight. Well, I do not own one of those kits and I don't plan on buying one. Although I did break down and get rid of my thumb tack and bought a paper piercer at Michaels for like $2.50, and came up with my own way of making my perfectly pierced photo corner!
(you may click on the pictures to get a larger view)





1. Start with a piece of cardstock, Photo Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, and a self-healing mat.






















2. Punch out 2 photo corners of the same size. I punched the small size.



















3. Next, line up the photo corners on top of each other overlapping just slightly.

4. Using the top photo corner as your guide, start piercing your paper along the edge.











5. Now move the top photo corner down slightly to make your 2nd row and punch along like in the previous step.





















6. Now you're done with your perfectly pierced Photo Corner! Add this to your card or scrapbook page with a little dimensional.

Fabulous Flowers DTR

I designed this card for a shoebox swap with my demonstrator group last night. Only problem I had was I forgot to bring the stamp set with me! They didn't seem to have a problem, and called my condition "placenta brain". I'll accept that!

For the flower I stamped it first in River Rock, then with a marker-I colored the large petals in the center, and only one edge of the rest of the petals. My upline informed me that it is technically called Direct To Rubber (DTR).

For the photo corner, I pierced two rows to give it a bit of interest.

Recipe:
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers
Paper: River Rock, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: River Rock, Old Olive, Old Olive marker
Accessories: White Grosgrain, Green round rhinestone brad, photo corner punch, paper piercer. dimensionals.
Technique: Direct To Rubber

Ultrasound Results

We had the big ultrasound last week and found out we're having a girl! I'm so excited that Cassidy will have a sister. I don't think she totally gets the whole fact that a baby is coming and she'll have to share mommy & daddy, but I'm sure it will be fine and we'll survive.

I have a feeling that this baby is going to give us a lot of gray hair. She's kicking and waking me up in the morning and very active when I go to bed too. (sigh) I know I probably shouldn't think about that already, but I can already tell she's got her own personality!

I'm also glad that I don't have to spend gobs of $$ for new clothes, new bedding, new everything, because we pretty much have everything to last us through another girl. Although I'll probably get a new diaper bag to hold enough stuff for 2 kids now and I heard good things about that baby papasan chair thing. I don't know what else is new out there for babies, anyone have any suggestions?

A good weekend

We spent our weekend up in "the cities" for some special time with our daughter. See, we haven't done a lot of kids stuff this summer with her.
On Saturday we went to Stillwater to have a day out with Thomas the Train. Seriously-I've never seen my daughter so happy. She had a smile that I've never seen before! After walking around and looking at all of the activities and the Thomas store, we heard the train come back to the station, and we ran over to see the REAL Thomas up close. We stood in line to have her picture taken with him and when it was our turn, I set her up on the step and stood back, and that's when it happened...the scared kid just cried and cried and I immediately came back to her but she wouldn't stop, we couldn't get a good picture, so I guess this is what we'll have to remember this moment by.

There was tons of stuff to do there-tattoo's, meeting Tophem hat, coloring, stamping (which Cassidy is totally familiar with, and almost couldn't believe she was touching stamps without being told "be careful!!"), playing with the train sets, games, etc.
The whole day was pretty fun and we even talked about going next year.
Later that day we went to MOA and shopped and ate and walked around Camp Snoopy (I know it's not called that anymore, but I don't know the new name & I'll always refer to "camp snoopy") and hit Ikea for some organizational things for when I move my stamp room upstairs. Can you believe I spent less than $15 at Ikea? I also was with my husband, so I usually try not to spend any $$ when he's with. ALTHOUGH he did tell me I could get my CRICUT EXPRESSION for my birthday next month!! I am totally psyched!




On Sunday we got up early and went to Minneapolis to see the I-35 bridge. We went to the Gold Medal Park Hill and there was a very nice memorial for the victims and families. Lots of people were there and seemed to come from every direction. An observation I made right away was with so many people around, there was almost silence while viewing the bridge. It was hard to see the bridge entirely, but I tried to get a picture showing what we saw, you can click to enlarge it. (I think this one was taken from the riverside.) Click on picture to enlarge, you'll get a better idea of how close we could get.



After seeing the bridge, we went to Como Zoo. Cassidy's favorite were the Seals. We went to the seal show, so that may be why she liked the seals so much. When we went to see other animals like zebra, giraffe, or lions, she would stop and look for about 3 seconds and say "okay I'm done"! It was pretty funny. That kid sure knows what she likes!

Hostess Gift

I made this One Sheet Box from Beate's Tutorial. I got my inspiration from Jen Balcer's Blog They are both so talented! I received one of these One Sheet Boxes in a swap and I thought it was really clever. I knew I wanted to eventually make one myself, but didn't get around to it. (It seems like I only work best under pressure) I also needed a hostess gift for a friend that is having a Stampin' UP! party tonight.
So this is what I came up with. I loved Jen's original with the bright colors, but I just wanted to use an In Color. I also love all of the sparkles and how the flower turned out with all of the different layers.
And of course I filled it with chocolates, what could be a better gift??

Recipe:
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers
Ink: Groovy Guava, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Close to Cocoa Textured cardstock, Groovy Guava, Whisper White
Accessories: Ribbon from Sherbet Ribbon Originals, 1/8" hole punch, Dazzling Diamonds, chocolates.

Just some cards

I was trying to figure out a good layout to use some of our new designer papers and came across Beate's challenge. I knew this was a good layout, easy enough and was versatile enough for designer papers. So then I came up with this card. I love it when things go my way! I think it turned out pretty cute for a Christmas card.


Recipe:
Stamps: Big on Christmas
Paper: River Rock, Dashing DSP, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Always Artichoke & River Rock (Classic), Real Red & Always Artichoke (WWC), Always Artichoke Marker (made border around "Noel")
Accessories: Red Grosgrain, Red Brads, Antique Brass Jumbo Brads, Photo Corner Punch.




For this one I got my inspiration from Heather Nichols. I have seen her make projects using Kraft paper as her neutral that she stamps on and I thought I would give it a try. I don't know if mine is as cute as hers, but it was fun to try anyway :)


Recipe:
Stamps: Just Like You, Short & Sweet
Paper: Blue Bayou, Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Blue Bayou, White craft, White gel pen
Accessories: White Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver brad from vintage brads.