Early Valentines!!

Hello Everyone - It is that time again for Ann's challenge and this time she has chosen Valentines!! What a great choice so we can start thinking about what we want to do. For mine I used the new set coming out called Love you much. The hearts in the corner are with the new heart punch and my papers are real red, pretty in pink, and close to cocoa along with the new candy lane DSP. I was not sure if I liked this new DSP much or not but I do love the way it turned out on this particular card. I also used the real red grosgrain ribbon. Be sure to check out Ann's challenges and join in the fun.

Christmas light show - so awesome!!

This is one of my favorite christmas light shows, so I wanted to share it with all of you - I hope you enjoy it. It gets good if you watch the whole thing. Be sure to pause my music player on the bottom of my blog before you view so you can hear the music with the light show.

Free Shipping!!!!

Hello Everyone!! Stampin' up! is offering a free shipping promotion from December 9-23, 2008 on orders of $70 or more - the retired list is here click on the link to the side and save 10% off any stamp sets that are retiring. There are several other specials and promotions going on right now so if you click on the links you can check them all out. If you are interested in placing an order please email me at brandela12@yahoo.com. Thank you for checking out my blog.

Sleigh ride

This is my Christmas card for this year to everyone. I made 100 of these and might have to still make a few more. I borrowed the idea from a card that I recieved but i also changed it some to make it mine. I used Sleigh Bells Ring stamp set, night of navy and whisper white cardstock, night of navy ink. On the holly I used my copics markers. I added dazzling diamonds where the snow would be but that is hard to see on this picture. The card itself didn't take long to make, the longest part was coloring and cutting the holly which is up on a dimensional.

Snowman has a gift!!

My snowman has a gift inside - he is holding a gift card that you can't see. He is my item for Ann's challenge this week - a gift giving item!! She gave a great tutorial on how to make this holder, be sure to check it out and make one too - join in on the fun. I used baja breeze, choc. chip, whisper white, basic black, riding hood red, tangerine tango, and ski slope DSP papers - I punched out my snowman with circle, square, word window, and a tree punches - I used a dimensional on my do not open until december 25 - My snowman has glitter on him however this picture does not do it justice, for the glitter I used my atyou spica copic marker - they are great. I used several rub-ons for the snow on top and the saying from Season of Cheer set. Velcro holds this guy together at the top, the soft sky double stitch ribbon is for decortaion only, not the fastner. On the inside is a legal evelope folded in half and cut open at each end - to see a picture of the inside check out Ann's blog as I forgot the picture of my inside.

The bundles are here!!!

WOW!!! The bundles have been released - so, get 'em while they're HOT!! Oh my goodness!! You can view the bundle HERE!! There is something for everyone! The bundles are limited though, so once they're gone, they're gone!

You may order these bundles NOW through December 1st!! You can get them anytime of the day, in your pj's, sippin your favorite drink :)

I also will be having my own special during this time. If you place an order with me of $50 or more, recieve 20% off your order. If you place $100 or more, recieve 30% off your order. This also only goes from now until December 1st but you have to place your order directly with me and not from the website to get my discount.

Hope you all have a very awesome Thanksgiving!

My first Christmas card this year!!!

This is my first Christmas card of the year - so many more to come!! My cards that I am sending to everyone are different from this but now I really like this one alot. I made this card for Ann's challenge this week also. I used some of my retired stuff - purely pomegranite, wild wasabi paper, ribbons, and ink. I also used whisper white paper and a dimensional to apply the tag on which is punched with the scallop square punch. Ann's challege for this week is a simple sketch, the best time to join in - I don't think the challenge could be any easier. You can only have 2 layers along with your base layer, and one additional piece for your saying. The inner layers had to be smaller to create more of a frame from the base layer and the only embellishment is ribbon. Be sure to check out Ann's blog and join in on the fun.

Such a cutie

What a cute penguin huh - I didn't create him myself, I seen him somewhere on splitcoast but can't find him again on there to give you the link. I borrowed whoever's sample and changed the colors of paper in a few spots. I used baja breeze, whisper white, basic black, tangerine tango, pink pirouette, bella rose dsp, and ski slope dsp. I punched the penguin with the wide oval, large oval, small oval, boho blossoms, 1/4 circle, 1 3/8 circle, 1 1/4 circle, 1/2 circle, and the small circle on the crop-a-dile punches. I used white taffetta ribbon for the bow and for the scarf used bernat boa (found in the sewing section at jo-anns). My stamp set for the saying is Snow Swirled. This card was created for Ann's challenge this week - be sure to check out her site and join in on the fun.

Snowman!!!

I had to share this with you guys really quick - my 7yr daughter, Karmen is the sweetest most loving child. She always likes to make stuff for you when your away so you come home to gifts but in return she wants you to bring her home something everyday also. Yesterday was our first snow in Jackson that stuck to the ground, mind you we only had maybe enought to cover the ground but she went out and build her first snowman of the season. She faced it towards the house and put it right out side of our front window so her brothers (2yr Bryce and Brayden) could see the snowman. She used up every bit of snow in the front yard as you can see from the picture. So today we have no snow left except for the snowman. She did a great job for her first snowman alone with no help. She used rocks for the eyes and nose, and sticks from the yard for his arms.

Chipboard Challenge

UPDATE: I made this also for my goofy gobbler and now she has recieved it - I can share that with you, we are now doing the Rowdy Reindeer.


It's that time again for Ann's weekly challenge, I have missed a week or two because I have been too busy but now I am back. This week was to use chipboard in someway. I made journal book this for two things - one is the challenge and the other I can't share right now or I will give something away - I will share with you when I can what the second thing is, you just gotta trust me on it. I used elegant eggplant, and lovely lilac on everything - paper, ink, etc. My chipboard square/diamond has lovely lilac ink covered with twoway glue and dazzling diamonds and the letter P has elegant eggplant ink with the twoway glue and dazzling diamonds - the P is on dimensionals but you can't tell that in the picture at all. The two small flowers are stamped with lovely lilac in also. I used the new rope ribbon in the mini catalog for stampin' up. And little paper clips on the rope are held on with mini glue dots. Be sure to join in on Ann's challenges and have some fun challenging yourself.

Goofy Gobbler

Ok, so it's been a little bit since I posted and I want to try and get better at post so eventually I can put something on here everyday for you all to see. I would also like to start doing some kind of project each day to put on here for you all but my blog is a work in progress while I figure out how everything works with my blog to make it the way I want and fit me (my personality). I have been a part of the Goofy Gobbler going on splitcoast for the Michigan Minglers. The Goofy Gobbler is like a Secret Santa. My Goofy Gobbler got me the cutest picture box below and it was filled with all the goodies in the second picture. My Goofy Gobbler is awesome and I just love her. This post is for her - you go girl!!! Your awesome and wonderful and I can't wait to see what you send to me next week. Thank you very much!!!

This picture contains the insides of the box - a handstamped candle, handstamped tile coaster, some candy (chocolate - always the bomb) and a cute, cute card.

If you are from Michigan, love stamping, hanging with the girls and want to go for a weekend of fun in March - join in on the Michigan Mingle at splitcoast - not sure how to do it then email me and I will fill you in. I am very excited on going to my first Michigan Mingle in March - a weekend away, with the girls, stamping and having a ton of fun - what more could a girl ask for!!! (actually a lot of things - this is just one on my long list).

Recollections - on board art journal

Today I made another project for this week's challenge with Ann. As I said before, I felt my other project was super easy so I wanted a little harder one to do and this was it. I used the Stamin' Up! On Board Art Journal and covered it with the retired DSP recollections (still one of my favorites). I used sticky strip to hold my paper to the journal, roughed up the edges and put bravo burgundy ink around them. I embellished it with twill tape, provo craft alphabetz (white colored w/bravo burgundy ink), and rhinestone stars. I am not one who uses non Stampin' Up! products much but have a few things to use up so I am using them here and there when I can do so. Be sure to check out Ann's challenges each week and join in.

Rub-ons

Rub-ons!!!! Stampin' Up! added rub-ons this year - there are many to choose from and each come with at least two different colors. I have been experimenting on several different things with them just to see if they work. Ann's challenge for this week is an altered object, so I decided to try rub-ons on a candle and they worked!! I will probably try to get done another altered object for her challenge as this one was quick, simple, and easy to do. I need to challenge myself and so should you - be sure to join in the fun and do Ann's challenges each week. For my project above - I used a basic candle that you can get anywhere and used the Seasonal Sayings Rub-ons from the hostess level three of Holiday Happenings Bundle.

Happy Fall Ya'll

Happy Fall Ya'll!!! The title says it all - the time of the year, the name of the stamp set, and time again for Ann's challenge. The challenge for this week are the colors of basic black, only orange, green galore and basic grey (optional). They were picked as Halloween is soon to be here - and who doesn't love Halloween. I used all of her colors, but I am not really sure on how I feel about this card. It honestly was just whipped together really quickly and not much thought put into it at all. The scarecrow is colored in with Stampin' Up! retired metallic pencils. I also added black grosgrain ribbon as I didn't care for how plain it was looking when I was done. Be sure to check out Ann's website and join in on her fun challenges.

Serene spring shadow

It's that time again for Ann's challenge. This week features shadow stamping where you stamp the first image normally and without reinking stamp the next ones to make it look as if it is moving from one spot to the other. I used Serene spring stamp set with Chocolate chip, pink piourette, and whisper white paper. I used pink taffeta ribbon, bashful blue and black ink. For the coloring I used my stampin write markers (ballet blue, bashful blue, creamy caramel, close to cocoa, bravo burgundy, mellow moss, certainly celery, so saffron, blush blossom, pretty in pink, regal rose, and rose red). I think this card is simple, quick, and easy along with CUTE. Be sure to join in on Ann's challenges and win some sweet prizes!!

An odd shaped card (GCA11)

Hello everyone,
This card is part of my friend Ann's challenge for this week - a card of a different size. My card is tri-folding and when folded makes a 4 x 4 card. I use the new in colors of pink piourette, riding hood red, kiwi kiss, and baja breeze. My stamp set sets are Eastern Influences (bird) and A Rose Is A Rose (everything else). I also used Bella Rose DSP on the outside. Below is a picture of the inside - the saying says "thank you for touching my life" Be sure to check out Ann's challenge's and join in each week - she gives away some great prizes if you win.

Bella Rose Backpack

This is something I made today, and it took me a few trys to get it right but I wanted to share it with you because it eventually turned out very cute. I am not sure who created these little backpacks but they are ADORABLE - and pretty easy to make after you know what you are doing. (I am making a couple more tomorrow morning - my daughter wants to take one for show and tell filled with candy to hand out and I wanted to do something for my friend's Ann and Pat who helped me out recently with a pretty big project). I was going to try and give you a step by step picture tutorial but my camera is messing up so I am giving you the template and explaining how to make these. My backpack here was made w/basic black cardstock, Bella Rose DSP, and my embellishments are from the pretties kit (died to match of course). So to start of this tutorial you first need to look at the template which I got here from Tonya Klar's website after searching and searching trying to find directions on how to make these cute things. Here template is a really good one, I am going to also explain it and add a little more details for you to help you out. All you will need for this project are 2 8 1/2x11 sheets of cardstock, and half of a coordinating DSP sheet to match, matching ribbon and embellishments - sticky strip, scissors, velcro,and a cutter w/scoring blade. You want to start with your 8 1/2x11 sheet of paper scoring it on the long side at 1 3/4 - 5 1/4 - 7 - 10 1/2 inches and on the short side at 6 - 7 3/4 then follow the template to know what pieces to cut off. Figure out what side is going to be your front and add a 5 3/4x3 DSP, then on the back side punch your holes for your ribbon (but dont add it just yet, set this aside for a few) and cut out your front pocket (5 3/4x3 3/4), your flap for both the back pack (4x3 1/2), and flap for the pocket (3 1/2x2 3/4) - then cut out your DSP that will attach to these - for the front pocket it will be a 2 1/2x2 1/2, backpack flap 3 1/4x2, and pocket flap 2 1/2x1 1/2. You can round the flaps if you like (takes some time and maybe some trial and error to get it to look correctly) or make them anyway you want but attach your DSP to them, then complete the front pocket putting sticky strip on the very outside edge that says 3 1/2 on the template (do this on both sides to complete the pocket, then add your flap making sure that the whole 1 3/4 is down in the backside of the pocket - set this aside for a few moments. Go back to your backpack it's self and add the flap but before you do figure out where the holes need to be and punch them so you can add your ribbon. Next add your ribbon just tying it in a knot on the inside to hold it. Next put sticky strip on edge that says 10 1/2 on the template and along the bottom where you feel it is fit to keep your bottom together (me I am a have to make sure it sticks so I put stick strip on all 4 pieces but you can get away with just one piece if you fold the bottom in correctly). After you have done this you will want to add a velcro dot to hold the backpack shut, pushing in your side a little at the time to make it look like the backpack (instead of a square box). Also add a velcro dot to hold the flap on the pocket (think I forgot that part when making the pocket - oops!). Then add your pocket to your backpack using sticky strip and finally embellish anyway you see fit. If you have any questions or need assitance with making this project please feel free to contact me at brandela12@yahoo.com, I will be glad to help out anyway I can.

Snow flurries class

Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for that “hard-to-shop-for” person in your life? Everyone loves to give cards during the holiday season, so why not gift them with this gorgeous card portfolio with 5 coordinating cards!
Please email me to sign up for this class or to order it through the mail with full directions: brandela12@yahoo.com
Price of the class is $30
Supply List
• Stamps: Snow Swirled
• Inks: VersaMark pad
• Paper: Ski Slope DP, Whisper White, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip 8 ½” x 11” CS, Medium Whisper White envelopes
• Accessories: Snail adhesive, sticky strip, mini glue dots, 5/8” Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8” Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Vintage Brads, Silver cord, Antique Brass Build-a-Brad, Season of Cheer Rub-Ons, Little Felt Flurries, large cello bags, paper snips, scallop edge punch, 1/16” handheld punch, ½” circle punch, horizontal slot punch, 1 ¼” circle punch, 1 3/8” circle punch, scallop circle punch, ticket corner punch, Stampin’ Scrub, Stampin’ Mist, paper trimmer & scoring blade, bone folder, paper piercer and foam mat, pencil & ruler

Alzheimer's Blog Candy Give Away

I will be sending this card to our local alzheimer's Trellis Garden for a caregiver there. I also will be making up quite a few more to send with it but this was the first I finished. I decided to do this when I came across a website by Carolyn talking about her grandmother who passed away in June from alzheimers and it made think about how hard of a job these caregivers really have. To take care of someone everyday who might or might not know who you are and just continue to do it because you truely care about others is a great thing. Carolyn decided to do a big blog giveaway of over $1000 in prizes to one person.

I have also decided that not only will I be sending this now but will continue to make some cards to send to various caregivers just to say "thanks" and let them know that they really do a wonderful job. Make sure you check out Carolyn's blog and give some of yourself to someone that you don't know just to say thank you. There are many other great things on her blog besides the give away so check them out also. I used the stamp set Autumn Harvest and inside wrote a personal note.

Christmas time

I am back at Ann's challenges again, had to miss a couple due to going on vacation. For Ann's challenge this week she used the FS (featured stamper) from splitcoast. The FS this weeks is E3stamper (Shannon) be sure to check out here stuff along with Ann's blog - they both have some great stuff. Join in the fun also. The challenge was to look through the FS stuff and base your card on one of theirs changing two things and leaving two the same. I changed the colors and stamp sets, and left the layout and brads the same. For my card I used Riding hood red, pink piourette, whisper white, and DSP Bella rose. The stamp sets I used are Sock monkey accessories and Best yet. My card is based on Shannon's card here.Join in on the fun, Ann gives away some great stuff and even if you don't win - challenge yourself to do something new.

Myrtle Beach Pictures!!!

The beach on the first few days we were there, the water was 82 degrees - it was warmer than going in the pool.

The picture on the top is just outside the hotel property on the beach with the beach grass and the picture on the bottom is some dolphins (the little black spots) - the dolphins are hard to see in the pictures but we had at least 100 of them swim by. The dolphin picture was taken from our balcony on the 15th floor (almost the top of the hotel, only 5 floors left above us).

On the left is my daughter Karmen picking up shells, and on the right my son Bryce checking out the ocean for the first time.

On the left is my son Brayden checking out the ocean for the first time, he didn't care for the water hitting him too much but he loved the pool. On the right is Karmen playing in the sand.

Bryce on the left, and Brayden on the right just playing in the sand. We had such a fun and awesome time down there - soooooo, can't wait to go again.

Just some chatter

So, I don't usually just add to my blog unless I am putting a project of some sort on here or some information for everyone to see but I want to start posting on my blog more and have realized the most blogs are not just projects but also some personal aspects also. I am still learning all this blogging stuff and hope to have mine one day be a blog that people look forward to checking each day. I would like to in the near future start adding different days like a tutorial day, or challenge, etc. but until then I thought I would share with everyone about our vacation.

We went to Myrtle Beach and had a blast. No hurricanes, no tropical storms - just sunny, sunny awesome weather the whole time we were there. We had so much fun on the beach, golfing, shows, pools, etc. My daughter Karmen became a shell queen - we came back with a ton. Bryce and Brayden discovered how much they really love the pool, water, and beach. My husband loved the golfing, and myself - well, I just enjoyed every moment of it. Myrtle Beach is one of my favorite places to go. I will post some pictures later today.

I will also tomorrow or Sunday be posting some Halloween cards that I am working on, I feel like it has been FOREVER since I have been able to work on anything. I had a trainee at work for awhile, at home the kids and trying to redo my scrapboook room, and then vacation - so now it's time for some FUN with my stamping.

Shop Stampin' Up!! 24/7

Online ordering is finally here! I am so excited to be able to finally make this announcement! Whether you wake up in the middle of the night with the perfect plan for the perfect project, you need to make cards with no time for a workshop, or you want to shop for the perfect gift for the crafty person in your life, it’s no problem! Now you can order Stampin’ Up! ’s awesome products from me day or night from the convenience of your own home. Best of all, you can also receive hostess rewards with all qualifying orders.
You can place your online orders from anywhere and have it shipped right to your door! It’s so easy to get started:

Visit my demonstrator website at http://www.starstampers.stampinup.net/.
Click on SHOP NOW in the top right corner.
Click on customer login to set up your own personal shopping account (be sure to save your password in a safe place).
HAVE FUN SHOPPING!!!

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to email me at brandela12@yahoo.com.

Plain, Simple, but cute

It's that time again for Ann's challenge - this week she put a picutre of a brown, blue, and white bedding set out of the Ginnys catalog to be the inspiration. I debated on doing a simple, yet cute card or one that had more stuff to it. I chose to do simple, yet cute since that is kind of what the bedding set is. I chose to go with the colors and the color split on the bottom portion of the bedding. My basic card is ballet blue, white bottom, and brown grosgrain ribbon across the center to blend the two papers. I used the embrace flower stamped in ballet blue on the ballet blue top portion of the card and the saying in ballet blue is from the humor in high heals set. Be sure to check out Ann's website and join in on her challenges each week.

Thank you to my girls!!!

Thank you to my girls!!! My girls are my friends and family who meet with me every month to make cards and hang out. They have been with me for quite awhile now so this month I did a special thank you to them. We made three cards, and this 3D project. It is a 3x3 notecard box and cards to go with it. I also got each of them a stamp set. The project to the right is not one I created myself, it was actually found on split coast stampers - thank you to Elaine from Elaine's Creations for the idea that I borrowed for my girls. They loved this cute 3d project as much as I did. We made it completely together instead of me having everything ready for them like I normally would. So just one more last thank you to my girls - I love ya!!!!

Pun Fun

Ok, so here is my card for Ann's challenge this week. It is minimum materials. Three layers including the base layer, two embellishments, and dimensional, any theme. I used the Pun Fun stamp set - only orange, rose red, old olive, and barely banana paper for my three layers. Flower fusion orange flower, and green rhinestone brad for my embellishments, and my dimension is the barely banana square the hippo is on. Very quick, easy and cute. Thanks Ann for keeping me challenging myself and on my toes - also for making me get on my blog more by doing your challenges.

Dreams du Jour Box

Ok, so I really didn't care for the box that I made earlier too much so I decided for Ann's challenge to make something else. This is a different shape box that is a 1/2 inch thick and could hold pictures. I used the new pink pirouette cardstock for the box and added the new DSP Bella Rose for the roses. I used the stamp set Dreams du Jour and heat embossed the saying in the bottom left corner in black and the red center saying with clear embossing powder. The box velcros shut, but another look for it would be to use a belly band instead of velcro. Be sure to check out Ann's challenges and join in the fun.

Chipboard Flower Box

This box is for Ann's creative challenge this week. Her challenge this week was heat embossing. I used chipboard flowers and heat embossed white for the outside, and tapped it with mellow moss ink to add a little more color to it. The inside flower is heat embossed with yellow then stamped with real red ink. The saying is heat embossed with black and to make it not so plain I added a mellow moss taffeta ribbon. Not exactly my favorite turn out but it looks ok. Be sure to check out Ann's site and join in on her challenges.

Garden Silhouettes

I created this card as part of my friend Ann's getting creative with Ann challenge for this week. Her challenge involved the colors of Brocade Blue, Groovy Guava, and Wild Wasabi. I used the setting sun technique from Andrea Walford's tutorial. My stamps are Garden Silhouettes, Just Like You, and A Little Birthday Cheer. I embossed them and added some rhinestone brads from the pretties kit.
Be sure to check out Ann's website for her challenges and join in on the fun each week.

Stampin' Up!! Big-shot Die Cut Machine

Hey Everyone -
This week is convention week for Stampin' Up!! I unfortunately was unable to attend this year but they do some amazing and wonderful things at convention including showing off new products that will be coming out. Here is one of the products that will be coming out in the upcoming mini catalog, it is called Big-shot Die Cut Machine. You will be able to order the machine and die cuts starting September 2, 2008.

Cd box - tutorial

Supplies:

1 - 8 1/2 x 11 sheet white glossy cardstock

1 - 8 1/2 x 11 sheet scrap paper

some sort of cd

pencil, black marker, color marker to match

stamps and ink

embossing tool and ruler

scissors

apx. 30 inches of ribbon

sponges or cotton balls

First you want to start by tracing your cd onto your scrap piece of 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Next cut that circle out, and fold in half one way and then the other way - I drew pencil lines to show where you needed to fold at.
Next lay the scrap circle onto your cd and move just slightly to mark a small mark with the black marker at all 4 points on the cd and then use your ruler to draw your lines all the way across your cd with the black marker. You can throw away the scrap paper circle as your cd is now the template to use. Set this aside for a moment.

Now get your sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 white glossy cardstock, use sponges to put on ink and stamp to your desired look across the whole glossy side of the paper.
Flip this over and on the back side trace your cd, then line up 2 of your black lines with the lines on the circle and trace again.
Next move the cd to line up 2 lines with the lines on the circle and trace, do this all the way around both circles - the next picture shows what it should look like when you are done.
Now put your paper on something soft, with your embossing tool - emboss ALL of the inside lines only.
After you have done that, cut out the outside. Then picture below shows what it should look like after you have embossed and cut it out properly.
Now, start with the inside of both circles and crease along your score lines. Check the picture below to see how it should look at this point.
Then finish creasing all of your score lines. Now your box is done and looks like the picture below when opened.
Set this aside for a minute and get your ribbon. Use your matching color marker and color your ribbon, this dries fairly quick so you can use it right away.
Now put whatever you like inside your box, tie your ribbon around it and it is finished. Below is my finished picture from this tutorial.
If you are not able to understand somthing in my tutorial, please feel free to email me with any questions. I tryed to make sure I didn't miss anything by writing it out as I went as this is my first tutorial. Also, if you use the cd - you can get 2 boxes to a sheet but if you want a bigger box - you can use a cool whip lid and get 1 box to a sheet.

Bella Rose Card

This card was made with some of the new in colors that will be coming out. The basic card is Riding Hood Red. The Pink Pirouette had Bella Rose DSP on it w/silver brads and light pink grosgrain ribbon. I used a retired stamp set Watercolor Garden, as I had no current ones to match the roses. My saying is from the current set Carte Postle. I took a close up of the roses so you could see they are dimensional.


This card was a card sketch challenge from my friend Ann's blog - be sure to check out Ann's site.