Hello Friend!

This is another card using the Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper, and the Sweet Stems Stamp Set. I really love the bright greens & pinks in this paper. I used the Watercolor Technique on the Flower. I stamped the image on Watercolor Paper with Jet Black Stazon, then used my Aqua Painters and Ink Pads to "paint". When I use the Watercolor Paper, I almost always distress the edges. This paper gives a really nice distressed look. That's kind of an oxymoron, isn't it?

The sentiment is from the Chit Chat Rub Ons. This is a fantastic assortment of sayings. There are actually 92 sayings each of Chocolate Chip & Whisper White. There is something for almost any occasion!

The Ribbon is the Double-Sided Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla Satin. The Cardstock colors are Pirouette Pink, Rose Red, and Kiwi Kiss.

Today is the first day to order from the New 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog! The Stampin' Up! website will be down, while they load the new catalog, and some updates to our Designer Websites, until noon Mountain Time. My website, and Online Ordering will not be available during that time. Please be patient...it will be worth the wait!

My next class is Sunday. If you haven't signed up yet, there is still time! Post a comment here, or email (or call me) directly. Also, I have new catalogs! If you need one, just let me know.

Have a Marvelous Martin Luther Monday!

dd

Last Day Reminder

Just a quick reminder today, that tomorrow is the last day to:

1) Order Any Retiring Stamp Sets or Accessories
2) Order Anything from the Inventory Blowout Sale
3) Order Anything from the Holiday Mini Catalog
4) Place a $20.00 Order and receive a 20% discount on any set from the Fall Catalog Sampler

If you are interested in ordering, please be sure to contact me soon, so I have plenty of time to get your order entered.

I also have another card to share with you. I was inspired by a sample I saw on the SU website. This is the new Petal Pizzazz stamp set. I used the Masking Technique to create the layered look. I love this color combination. Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Tangerine Tango, & Whisper White cardstock. The Classic Ink colors are Perfect Plum, Tangerine Tango & Riding Hood Red.

I added a Pink Rhinestone Brad from the Circle Ice Assortment. The sentiment is from Bella's Bloom.

Have a great weekend, and I'll have more fun things to share with you on Monday!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

dd

Embarrassed, But Organized!

After having the pleasure of not having to leave the house for 2 days, my craft room is completely reorganized! I am delighted with how it turned out, and feeling very good (in spite of the nasty fall I took yesterday) about being able to work more efficiently.

I did something really stupid yesterday while finishing my organizing. I needed to put some things on the highest shelf in the closet. My grand daughter has her own little table & chair in my room so when she is here we can create together. Well, her chair was right there, so I just grabbed it to stand on to reach the shelf. I still had to stand on my tip toes, and when I did, the chair tilted, and broke! I fell straight back and bashed my head into the floor. Thank goodness I had straightened and there wasn't anything behind me, and the floor is carpeted. I don't usually swear, but I think I did as I was falling. I laid there a few seconds, thinking holy *@!# I just fell.

I felt a bit like Goldilocks, and poor little Baby Bear's chair is now smashed to smithereens!

I have several bruises, and my arms, hip, and tailbone are a little sore, but other than that, I'm fine, more embarrassed than anything. Please learn from my stupidity...don't try this at home!

Okay, I promised projects. Even after my incident, I did have quite a productive day. I decided to only use chairs to sit in...my nice soft office chair. I have two cards to share. These were both made using new product, but I figured there's only a couple of more days, until the new catalog is released, so I would go ahead and show them to you today.

This is the new Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper. My photos are a little washed out. The paper is bright pinks & greens, very yummy! The flower on the first card is from Petal Pizzazz. This stamp just happens to coordinate with the Scallop Circle Punch. On the second card I used the new Sweet Stems set. This is an adorable set of 4 flowers...and you know how much I love the flowers. I stamped them with Basic Black Ink, used my Blender Pen to color them in, punched them out, layered them and viola! I also used the Crystal Rhinestone Brads, which are being offered separately now, not only in the Pretties Kit...way to go SU! The brads on the second card are from the Rich Regals Assortment. The ribbon is the Pretty in Pink Taffeta.

There are so many great new things. I can't wait to share it all with you!

Have a Spectacular weekend.

dd

Baby It's Cold Outside!

If you sing the song, then it doesn't sound so bad. Right now it's zero!

Do you like my new Header picture? I have been wanting to update it since Christmas, and it snowed here yesterday, so I stood on my front porch to take this picture.

This will be a good day to stay indoors, with some hot cocoa, or coffee, or whatever your preference, listen to your favorite music, and play cards. Not what most people would think of when you mention playing cards though. That is exactly what I'm going to do. I have a little more organizing to do, and then it will be time to create. I have my work area all clean and ready to go. The UPS man came again yesterday, so I'm excited to use some of the new things he brought me.

Stay warm today, and be safe if you have to go out. Check back tomorrow, I promise I will post a project or two!

Once again, I want you to know how much I appreciate you stopping by and visiting me. See you tomorrow.

dd

What Have I Been Up To?

First I want to apologize for the lack of projects lately. Not only is this an exciting time, it's kind of a difficult time. I have been creating, making cards mostly, but it has all been with new product, which I am not allowed to share yet for another couple of days.

I have also been working on reorganizing my craft room and sorting through EVERYTHING! Believe me, that's a lot of stuff. To help keep myself efficient while creating, I always pull out all of the retired stamps & accessories, and keep them separate from the current products.

One of my goals for 2009 is to organize my room...again. Those efforts are coming along nicely. Michael's had their Storage Organizer Cubes on sale, so I took advantage of that and this is what I came up with for one wall in my room. I still have some labeling to finish, but I Love how neat and organized this makes me feel! I did just have a table with miscellaneous bins, nothing very uniform about it.

This is a picture of all 10 cubes. The shelves were already there, so I just added as many cubes as I could fit in that area. There are several different styles. I wanted to put as much as possible away, in drawers, so most of the cubes I bought have drawers. They are very nice, and have a metal handle with the plate to insert labels. There are 2 different shelf units. I have one of each.

The larger unit in the middle is actually a closet shoe organizer, that I already had. When I assembled it, I just left out a couple of the dividers to accommodate the plastic totes. This is where I store most of my punches, by shape, if you were wondering. Circles, squares, etc.

One of the cubes actually comes with one drawer with a shelf. I wanted to use both as shelves for my Sizzix Dies, so I bought two of those, and put both shelves in one, and have two drawers in the other.

The other 2 pictures show you a little closer how I store my Big Shot Sizzix Dies, and the closet shoe organizer for my punches.

It feels so great to be organized!

Have a super day! I appreciate you checking in, only 5 more days till I can share the new products from the 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog with you!

I forgot to mention that these cubes are build-it-yourself.

dd

6 Days & Counting

Only 6 more days until we can start ordering from the New 2009 Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog!

This is always such an exciting time. This morning when I was driving home from work, it was a 6am day again, I was thinking about SU, and that I had placed an order for some things that I needed for a project, and remembered that it should be arriving today. It's always an exciting day when that big brown truck pulls into the driveway. As I turned on to my street, a UPS truck pulled out of one of the neighborhoods near my house. I thought to myself, I hope you're going to my house, and sure enough he pulled into the driveway the same time as I did. Now, for the most exciting part...not only did he bring my order...he brought me a box of new catalogs! Finally, I can see all of the new things for myself.

I got settled in, and spent the next hour or so drooling over the new stamp sets & accessories. They have added several new dies for the Big Shot. This is definitely going to be were I have trouble restraining myself. I will tell you one thing. Think about the cover to the current catalog.
If you don't have one or don't remember what is on it, I'll tell you. There is a butterfly that looks like a die cut...do you see where I'm going? Well, last July when the current catalog was released, we were all expecting that butterfly to be a die for the Big Shot. Can you imagine our disappointment when it wasn't? Everyone wanted that butterfly...demonstrators and customers! Well, be disappointed no longer! There is a new die cut with 4 butterfly shapes. That one is definitely going on my wish list. Oh, who am I kidding...it will be on my first order!

Unfortunately, I can't tell you any more. I have to wait until the 19th to reveal everything else.
Remember, if you want your very own copy of the new catalog, just let me know. I think I'll go sit by the fire and look through mine one more time.

Also, remember the 18th is the last day to order from the current catalog, the Holiday Mini, and to take advantage of the Inventory Blowout Sale.

Thanks for stopping by!

dd

My Studio

I've been working on a project, and decided to show you what my room looks like when I'm in action. I like to think of myself as somewhat of a neat and organized person. But when it comes to stamping, or scrapping in this case, things get a little hectic. Tools, Cardstock, Designer Series Paper, Ribbon, & other various embellishments seem to take flight and land where they may. I don't know how many times I put down my scissors, and had to unbury them (or just use another pair) when I needed them again. I did manage however to complete a 20-page 6x6 Christmas Album.Okay...so this is when I was just getting started, so it doesn't look too messy...yet. Notice the two staples I must have while creating, Classic Coke & M&M's the best chocolate because it really does "melt in your mouth, not in your hands". If you look closely, toward the top center of the picture, and you can see the card I made using all new products, and the front page of the mini album I just finished.

My plan is to either put together kits with instructions for completion, or sell completed albums ready for pictures and journaling to be added.

I would like your opinion. Would you prefer a "kit" that you would assemble, or would you prefer to buy an album that is "picture/journaling" ready. Post your preference here, by next Thursday, January 15, and be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a stamp set.

Thanks for visiting today.

dd