Polished Stone

This is one of the very first techniques that wowed me when I was first introduced to Stampin' Up! It's really very easy, and gives a very elegant look to any card. This is also the very first stamp set that I purchased, Lovely as a Tree. I think all Demonstrators hold their breath when the list of retiring stamp sets comes out hoping that this one won't be on it. Well, I'm happy to say that it made it into the catalog another year. I love versatility, and this set is just that. I have used it for Christmas, Father's Day, Birthday, both feminine and masculine, Sympathy, Get Well, and Thinking of You cards.

The Polished Stone look is easily achieved by wetting a cotton ball with denatured alcohol. Add two drops each of two coordinating colors of reinkers, and one drop of Encore Gold Ink. Gently dab it on to White Glossy Cardstock until you achieve the look you want.

The colors used here are Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla. The tree is stamped with Always Artichoke. The sentiment is from the stamp set Thoughts & Prayers, stamped with Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla cardstock, and layered using the Large Oval and the Scallop Oval Punch. The Scallop Oval Punch can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

This is another card designed by a fellow SU Demonstrator for our meeting. Now can you see why we have so much fun! So many great ideas shared, and we get to do the stamping and take home wonderful samples to share with you!

Are you entertaining this summer? Check out the Country Living Summer Cookout Kit for some cute decorating ideas. Just click on the picture on my sidebar for everything you'll need.

As always, thanks for stopping by today!

dd

Summer Sunflowers

I have another cute card for you today from our meeting last weekend. This one was created by my friend Pam. I just love what you can do with punches, and this card is a great sample. It was made using 6 different punches.

The Scallop Circle, and the 1-1/4" Circle Punches create adorable sunflowers. The centers were made by stamping the polka dot design from Itty Bitty Backgrounds on Chocolate Chip cardstock, and then punching out the circle. Use your Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere your centers. Lightly sponge the edges of the scallops to add a little more depth. I snipped each scallop to create the petals. The Large Oval Punch was used to make both the leaves and the stems. Trim the oval to make the leaf shape, fold it in half and then run it through your Crimper for a perfect leaf. Use the Tag Punch to create the vase, and remember, stamp the design first, before punching it out. Use the Scallop Edge Punch for the grass. Stamp your sentiment, this one is from the Hostess set in the current catalog, Sweet Little Sentiments, and punch it out with the Word Window Punch.

There you have it! A really cute card made entirely with punches. There are so many projects you can create using all of the great punches SU has to offer. Watch in the weeks to come for some more fun ideas.

I hope you enjoyed your visit today!

dd

Pick a Petal

This is one of my favorite stamp sets, Pick a Petal. Thank goodness it will be in the new catalog! It is such a versatile set. Isn't this card adorable? It is the card that my friend Lynn made for our swap at the SU meeting. I also love her color choices. Perfect Plum, More Mustard, and Old Olive. The petals for the flower were stamped and then hand cut. For the leaf, Lynn took a whole sheet of cardstock, laid it in the bath tub, and used a toothbrush to splatter it with bleach. Clever huh? This is one reason I love our meetings so much. We always learn some fun easy technique. We then simply stamped the petal and cut it out. I love the added dimension the bleaching technique gives the leaf. The stem is hand drawn, and the sentiment is from the stamp set Heard From the Heart.

Please don't be annoyed by my constant reminders, but don't forget to check the list of discontinued stamp sets and accessories. There are only a couple of more weeks, and these items will be gone for good! If any of these stamp sets or accessories are on your wish lists, you need to get them now. You can find the Last Chance List by clicking on the picture on my sidebar. Some of the accessories are discounted as much as 50% off so hurry and check them out today. Also remember, you can place your order online while you're there.

Another quick reminder. If you host a qualifying workshop, or place a qualifying order with me, or online, you can earn Bonus Hostess Rewards. Click on the picture on my sidebar, or contact me for more information.

Thanks for stopping by today!

dd

A Little Sneak Peek

Good Morning!
We had our Stampin' Up! meeting on Saturday. We did what is called a "Shoebox Swap". We each designed a card, and cut enough supplies for 12 people to make our card. After we finished with the business part of the meeting, we went around the room, and each gave a brief explanation of how we made our card. Then we each moved one chair to the left. We had about 10 minutes to make that card, and when time was up, we moved to the next chair to the left. It was really a fun, and relaxing way to get to make several cards, and still get to visit with our stampin' friends. As usual, all of the cards we made were beautiful. I thought I would share the one I made for the swap first, and then in the next few days, I will share the others.

I'm not really supposed to be showing things from the new catalog that is going to be released on July 1, but it seems as though several other people already have...so there is no BIG surprise! I tried to be so good when we got our Sneak Peek, and only order a couple of things...and I was...but after Saturday's meeting...I turned back to my old ways and placed another order for ALL of the new In Colors! I just couldn't help myself. If you know me well, you know I LOVE all colors, and I LOVE combining them in fun different ways...I can't wait to get that order.

Anyway, here is the card that I put together for the swap on Saturday. This is the new stamp set, available July 1, 2009, Autumn Days. It's the silliest thing, but I really like this pheasant, and I have a thing for leaves too. I chose this set for the swap because I thought not too many Demonstrators would probably buy this one, and this way, they would at least have a sample to show to their customers.

This set just felt like fall to me, so I used fall colors. Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Ruby Red, and Very Vanilla. The pheasant was stamped in Close to Cocoa, and the sentiment in More Mustard Classic Ink. The sentiment is from the current stamp set Trendy Trees, and was layered using the Wide Oval, Large Oval, and 1-1/4" Circle Punch. I'm not sure if you can tell in the picture, but the More Mustard layer was textured by running through the Big Shot using the Distressed Texturz Plate. The ribbon is the 1" Chocolate Chip Stitched Grosgrain, tied with Linen Thread.

Ah, it's good to be back! Thanks for visiting, I appreciate your dedication. Have a Great week!

dd

Home At Last

Finally...nearly three weeks later...I got the call yesterday that my computer was fixed, all cleaned up, and ready for me to pick up and bring home. So, as soon as I finished at work today, I rushed right over to pick it up. I'm happy to say that it seems to be working just fine, and that as far as I can tell so far, I didn't lose any information I had stored.

I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things and get some projects posted for you. I received my new Stampin' Up! catalog, and it is Fabulous! I don't know how they do it, but every year it just gets better & better!

Don't forget to check out the Last Chance List of Stamp Sets and Accessories. Both that and the Occassions Mini Catalog can be ordered from through June 30, 2009. The Accessories are while supplies last, so don't wait too long.

Thanks for hanging in there with me while waiting for my computer to be repaired, I appreciate you stopping by.

dd

Still Waiting...

Just a quick post to let you know that I am still without my computer. It has been 2 weeks, and it looks like it will be another 3-5 days until they get everything "cleaned up" as they put it, when I called for the second time to see what the delay was.

On a happy note, I will be attending our Stampin' Up! meeting this coming weekend, and hope to share some of the fun projects that we always do. I am also expecting my "sneak peek" order from the New 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog, and although I can't share yet, I can work on projects to share as soon as it is released on July 1.

Be sure to check out the Last Chance List of Stamp Sets and Accessories, and get those items on your wish list before they are gone. The items on the Accessory List are limited to the stock on hand, so don't wait too long.

Have a Great Week!

dd

UGH!

I really don't understand the satisfaction that comes from sending viruses to innocent peoples computers. That is what has happened to me, and why I have not been able to share any projects with you lately. I have been without my computer for a week now. In some ways, it's sort of nice, but in other ways it is really bothersome. To think that someone intentionally sent damaging information that virtually shut down my computer. I had virus protection, but this one some how got through. The technician stated that this was one he had not seen before...lucky me! Hopefully it will be repaired in the next couple of days, and I won't have lost any of the information and pictures that are stored in it. Unfortunately I don't have anything to share with you today, except my grief, as I have quickly borrowed my daughters computer while she is babysitting.

I do want to tell you that the Last Chance List of stamp sets and accessories has been posted on the Stampin' Up! website. Some of the accessories are on sale, and they seem to be selling quickly, so you will want to check that out soon. Once those items are gone, they are gone for good. Don't forget, you can place your order online while you're there!

Happy June!

dd