Creative Blog Hop ~ Guy Greetings

I've been asked to participate in a fun blog hop by Catherine Harwood, a fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. This is a great way for Demonstrators to share ideas, and learn a little about each other along the way.

I decided to share a masculine card. Give me flowers and butterflies, and I can create all day long. But when it comes time for those "Guy" cards, I don't know about you, but I tend to struggle just a bit.

I used the new Guy Greetings set found in the Occasions Catalog. It's a fabulous set with 22 stamps! Also, one of the sets that you have the choice of wood mount, clear mount or photopolymer! I love having the choice of which style of stamps I want to purchase to add to my collection.

I also love texture, so I've used the Argyle Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with my Big Shot to create a fun background. The patterned paper is from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack. Just for fun, and to add the finishing touch, I've added a couple of Candy Dots.

Here are a couple of questions I was asked to answer for the Blog Hop ~

1. What are you working on?

I just returned from Leadership, so I was working on making my swaps. I participated in 3 orgainized swaps; cards, which I used my Guy Greeting card, 3x3 note cards, which I shared earlier, and mini treat bags, which I will share later. I also have my Quick & Cute Card Class today. This class runs the first Monday of every month. You can check my calendar for all of my classes and events.

2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?

Everyone has their own style. I feel that I have an eclectic style, there is not only one way I like to design. I love vintage; lacey, soft & buttons, and bold with texture and great lines. With 7 grand kids, I have to throw in a whimsical once in a while too!

3. Why do you create what you do?

Instant gratification! My mother is a quilter. Oh, how I wanted to be a quilter. I love the fabric, the colors, the patterns, and coordinating the colors and prints. I even worked in a fabric store for 10 years! I tried ~ a quilter I am not. But! I can take paper, cut it apart and put it back together to create beautiful projects within a couple of hours, rather than months, or years in my case. Yes, instant gratification!

4. How does your creativity process work?

Sometimes, I can look at a stamp set, and know exactly what I want to do. Other times, I look at it, and 20 minutes later, I'm still looking at it. No ink has touched it! So, I start browsing all of the amazing online resources that we have. In no time, I'm inspired! I keep a notebook of sketches, and scribble down ideas, and if I can decipher my notes, those ideas will be transformed into a project.

Thanks for stopping by. Next Monday, my friend and fellow Demonstrator, Bethann Buehler will share a project idea, and an inside look at her creative process.

Filled With Love

Are you Paper Pumpking yet? The January kit, Filled With Love, is awesome! 24 adorable little treat bags ready to be filled with yummy treats! In your box, you receive everything you need, except your treats, of course, to complete 24 bags. A Photopolymer stamp set, and Real Red Stampin' Spot, lots of die cut shapes, cellophane bags, and these fun clips and twine are all included!

I didn't need 24 treat bags, so I decided to make some Valentine Cards. I wanted to see what I could do without adding a lot of extras. Here are two cards that I made.

I couldn't help myself, and had to use the new Happy Heart Embossing Folder from the Occasions Catalog. Using embossing folders, is a quick and easy way to add texture to any project.

Here are close-ups of each card. I used Blushing Bride on this one.

And just a strip of Real Red on this one.

Remember, during Sale-a-Bration, you can save on your 3-month Prepaid subscription to My Paper Pumpkin, and also qualify for a Free SAB item!

To find out more about My Paper Pumpkin, click HERE, or contact me. I'd love to chat with you!

Thanks for stopping by ~
Debbie D.

You Amaze Me

I will be attending Leadership in Orlando next week, and participating in 3 organized swaps. I really enjoy these swaps, because I get to meet up with Demonstrators I usually only get to see during Stampin' Up! events. One of my favorite swaps is the 3x3 Note Card Swap. These are great little cards to have on hand. Here is my card that I will be sharing.

This card features the new stamp set Crazy About You. This is an amazing set with 30 word stamps! So many possibilities. There are also 2 different flowers and the leaves. The word "you" is from the coordinating Hello You Thinlit Die set, which when purchased as a bundle can save you 15%! The Designer Series Paper is from Painted Blooms, which is also amazing!

You can find all of these products in the new Occasions Catalog. Don't forget that during Sale-a-Bration, you can earn Free exclusive SAB items with every $50 you spend (before shipping & tax). Click HERE to start shopping.

Thanks for stopping by ~

Debbie D.

Even More to Sale-a-Brate!

For the first time ever, Stampin' Up! has lowered the price of the 3-month Prepaid Subscription to Paper Pumpkin! During Sale-a-Bration, you can save money and instantly qualify for a Free Sale-a-Bration item!

• Save $5.00 on your 3-month Prepaid Subscription!
• Instantly qualify for a Free Sale-a-Bration item!
• Already a subscriber? Purchase one as gift for a friend so you'll have a Paper Pumpkin buddy!
• Find two friends who would love to save money and enjoy a monthly creative escape. When they purchase their 3-month Prepaid Subscription too, You have an instant Workshop!
• Earn Hostess Dollars for even more Free products from any current catalog!

Contact me for more information, or visit HERE to order your 3-month Prepaid Subscription today!

Thanks for stopping by ~

Debbie D.

An Occasion to Sale-a-Brate!

Nothing like Sale-a-Bration to motivate one to update their blog! It's a new year, the new Occasions Catalog is live, and, it's Sale-a-Bration time! The perfect opportunity to get back into the world of blogging, and share my passion of stamping with you!

If you haven't seen it yet, the Occasions Catalog is beautiful! Full of awesome new products ranging from Valentine's Day to Easter to Mother's Day and Father's Day. Something for almost every event that you may be planning. Along with the release of the Occasions Catalog this year, we also start Sale-a-Bration!

There are 3 different ways to earn Free products during SAB ~

1. Shop ~ It's that simple! Earn a Free product for every $50 you spend (before shipping & tax). Get those items you've been wanting and earn Free product at the same time!
2. Host ~ Earn $25 more to spend on Stampin' Up! products with a qualifying party.
3. Join ~ It's a great time to join my Team! Choose one of two limited-time Sale-a-Bration options to add to your Starter Kit when you join between January 6, and March 31. 2015.

• Option #1 ~ Choose a Free Simply Created Project Kit from the Occasions Catalog to add to your Starter Kit.
• Option #2 ~ Choose 2 Free Sale-a-Bration items to add to your Starter Kit.

Would you like to see some of the Sale-a-Bration items at work?

Check out these Stampin' Up! videos demonstrating some of the great products and how to use them.

• Sale-A-Bration Masking Technique with A Happy Thing
• Sale-A-Bration Irresistibly Yours Specialty Paper
• Sale-A-Bration Project Life This Day Mini Card Collection
• Sale-A-Bration Lotus Blossom Stamp Set

Thanks for stopping by!

Debbie D.

Patriotic Pinwheels

I know you've heard me talk about My Paper Pumpkin, and the awesome improved kits. The June kit is a true example of just how awesome these kits are!

Here's what I found when I opened my beautiful box ~

• Pinwheel Party 3 piece Photopolymer Stamp Set
• Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Spot
• Double-Sided Designer Series Paper pre-cut and ready to create 24 Pinwheels!
• 24 Sturdy Paper Red Striped Straws
• 20 Whisper White Die Cut Banners
• 24 Cellophane Bags
• 24 Silver Brads
• 24 Silver Clips
• Small Spool of Basic Grey Baker's Twine
• 96 Glue Dots

I was so excited, I could hardly wait to dive in and start creating! I made a couple of the adorable pinwheels, and a super fun banner!

Wouldn't you love to get a surprise crafty box in your mailbox each month? You can, and now when you subscribe to My Paper Pumpkin, you have some great options. You can choose to subscribe for just one month, to try it out.

You can choose a 3-month subscription. This subscription would make a great gift for a stamping friend, or someone interested in learning about stamping.

If you sign up for a 6-month subscription, you will save $1 off each kit each month!
Sign up for a 12-month subscription and save even more ~ $2 off each kit each month!

• 1 month   ~  $19.95   ~ item #137858
• 3 months  ~  $59.85   ~ item #137859
• 6 months  ~  $113.70 ~ item #137860 ~ save $1 each month
• 12 months ~ $215.40 ~ item #137861 ~ save $2 each month

Already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber? You can still purchase a Prepaid Subscription and save!
Contact me today to get your subscription started or visit ~ https://mypaperpumpkin.com?demoid=68941

Thanks for stopping by ~
Debbie D.

Share Your Passion

Almost two months, but here I am finally posting to my blog again!

Stampin' Up! has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself personally. I am really a fairly shy person, but when it come to sharing Stampin' Up! something explodes inside me, and I can talk about it with just about anyone, forever! Honestly, I'm sure some people probably get tired of hearing about it!

When I was young, I always dreamed of being a Teacher. Funny thing, I never really "liked" school. In many ways, through Stampin' Up! I am fulfilling that dream. I am teaching others how to find the creativity within themselves. I can't express how gratifying it is to see the smiles, and hear the squeals and oohs and aahs, when someone realizes how easy it is to create with Stampin' Up! I have a lovely, talented Team that I truly enjoy mentoring and sharing my passion of stamping. As a team, we learn from each other and share what we learn with others.

I would love to share my passion with you, and Stampin' Up! is making that easier than ever! Through June 30, 2014, you can join my Team for just $50. You customize your Starter Kit and choose $55 of the products that you want to start your business. You will also receive your Business Supplies (a $65 value) and a Free Paper Pumpkin Kit.

Contact me today, so you can begin sharing your passion of stamping!

Here's my card for today. This uses a lot of new products!

The patterned paper is from one of my favorite items; Designer Series Paper Packs. This one is called Moonlight. They come with 48 sheets of double-sided paper, 4-1/2" x 6-1/2", the perfect size for card making and scrapbooking. The card stock colors are Lost Lagoon, and Basic Grey. The flowers were stamped with Hello Honey and punched out with the Petite Petal Punch. I love the coordinating stamps and punches!

Here is a project I created back in 2009. These products have retired, but I can still "Live With Passion".

Thanks for stopping by today ~

Debbie D.