Great Grads!

Here's my latest "try" for a graduation card. Still working on it! This card uses the Walk in the Park Designer paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog, Basic Gray card stock and Whisper White card stock. Grad is stamped in Jet Black Staz On ink.

I have fun news too! I'm getting a facelift for my blog! (Did you notice that it suddenly went to three columns?) Michelle Laycock is designing a new banner and background and buttons for me and I can hardly wait to see it and start using it.

So in the meantime, PARDON MY PROGRESS!!

Just say it!

Life goes by really fast so it's really important that you don't miss the chance to tell the important people in your life how you feel about them. Don't assume that they know. Even if they do, everybody likes to hear it! Today's card is a great way to say it. The "branches" and the bird were cut out with the Big Shot using the Birds and Blooms die and the Swirly die. The flowers are felt flowers from the Fusion Too set and Clear Rhinestone brads. The sentiment is from the "Always" stamp set.

Tell somebody today!

All grown up...

This is a card (one of several) that I made while practicing and working on some graduation cards. Edward ("Eddie" to his set), my oldest, is graduating from high school this Spring and pretty much all grown up. He and his pretty little girlfriend are going to the Prom this Saturday night. They are going with a whole slew of their friends on a "Party Bus" and planning a really wonderful time with pre-parties, after prom, and of course breakfast.

The thing is....I'm not OLD enough to have a grown son and definitely not ready for him to leave home. He's planning to attend the Citadel in the fall (yeah, I'm proud but would rather it wait for another decade!) This is his Senior portrait (a snapshot of the real thing). He IS pretty, don't you think??? Thanks for indulging me a little mommy brag time!

2 Sweet Simply Scrappin Class

May is National Scrapbooking Month so there's going to be lots of fun and goodies coming for all of you scrapbookers!!! Pictured above is a sampling of the pages we'll be making at the 2 Sweet Simply Scrappin' Kit class. This kit is so cute with the hippest colors and graphics! I will be finishing my pages with pictures of my sixteen-year-old daughter and her friends.

Here's the details:
Class is $26 and includes the 2 Sweet Simply Scrappin' Kit
Optional Embellishment kit will include coordinating ribbon, brads, buttons, etc. for $4
Class will make EIGHT complete pages and will receive instructions to complete a ninth "bonus" page. There are some leftover die-cut stickers and a little bit of scraps to make a couple more too.

CLICK HERE to register!

NOTE TO FELLOW DEMONSTRATORS (must live at least 1-1/2 hrs away):
This class is available as a fourteen-page tutorial so that you too may offer a really fun and easy scrapbooking experience to your customers. The cost is $10 (US$) to you and will be emailed to you upon receipt of payment.

DEMONSTRATORS, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

2 Sweet Cards

Today's post is a couple of cards I made using the scraps and pieces left over from the "2 Sweet" Simply Scrappin Kit. There are no stamped images. What you see are some of the die-cut stickers that are in the kit. Add a little ribbon, a brad and "Poof," there's a cute little card! Don't throw out those scraps and little pieces - you never know when they might come in handy!

EASY PEASY!

YES. Even you can create a handmade card using Stampin' Up! products. It really is EASY PEASY. This card was made as follows:

1. Adhere the background of Pacific Point Card Stock onto the Whisper White Card Base.
2. Cut out the image you want from a piece of Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. (How FUN is this paper? Makes me think of retiring in Florida!)
3. Adhere the cut out image onto the card.
4. Using Crystal Effects, apply some dimension to the some of the graphics on the image.
5. Apply a rub-on sentiment from the Chit Chat Rub-Ons.

See? No stamping, no hard embellishments, no "techniques" really - - - just a cute card. YOU CAN DO IT!

ONE of the good ones?? How about THE good one!

Guess what? I will NEVER be a photographer. Why? Well, because I pretty much STINK at it! This card is not really a glob of glitter but I couldn't get the picture right because the glitter is so reflective. (That's what happens when you use a glob! (Smile) This card was made using one of the new stamp sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog, Just Beachy. The fish are so cute - - I really do hate they are so hard to see.

Stamps: Just Beachy (Occasions Mini), Smarty Pants

Ink: Basic Black craft ink, Tempting Turquoise and Green Galore classic ink

Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Tangerine Tango Card Stock

Accessories: Tangerine Tango Striped Ribbon, Fine Supernova Glitter

Cool Tools: Circle Punches in various sizes, Circle Cutter

Tempting........Turquoise?

I know that turquoise isn't the first color that comes to mind when you're thinking "love" but aren't you just sick of pink and red??? This card uses the bold brights colors and is so easy to make! Here's the steps:

1. The card base is Tempting Turquoise. Cut a 8-1/2 x 11 piece of card stock in half to make it 4-1/2 x 11 and score and fold it at 5-1/2.
2. The blue piece at the bottom is Brilliant Blue, another Bold Brights color. It measured 2x5-1/2 before using the eyelet border punch along the bottom.
3. The ribbon is from the new Occasions Mini Catalog and is white satin. Adhere a 6-1/2" piece to the front by wrapping it around the edges of the blue piece and securing with snail adhesive on the back.
4. The floral border at the top of the blue piece is rub-ons. Apply any design you like!
5. Adhere the blue piece to the bottom of the card.
6. Tie a 4-1/2" piece of the white satin ribbon on to the strip across the front.
7. Using Versamark Ink, stamp the heart image from the "Wagon Full of Fun" set (also in the new Occasions Mini Catalog) twice: once to a scrap of the Brilliant Blue and once to a scrap of the Tempting Turqoise.
8. Emboss the images with white embossing powder.
9. Trim the images and adhere to the card. The turquoise heart was adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.
10. Stamp the oval sentiment from the "Welcome Home" set in Brilliant Blue ink onto a scrap of Whisper White card and stock. Using the two-way glue pen, apply Dazzling Diamonds to the scrolls in the image.
11. Cut out the sentiment using the large oval punch.
12. Cut out the scallop oval from Brilliant Blue card stock using the new scallop oval punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog and adhere to the card.
13. Using the Uni-Ball Gel Pen, draw "dots" in the corners of the card as shown.

Have any questions??? That's what I'm here for!! Please give me a ring or send me a message--I look forward to hearing from you!

Another Simply Scrappin Kit Class On the Way!!!

May is National Scrapbooking Month so there's going to be lots of fun and goodies coming for all of you scrapbookers!!! Pictured above is a sampling of the pages we'll be making at the Tailor-Made Simply Scrappin' Kit class. This kit is AWESOME for all sorts of pictures including anything with a boy/man, mountain trips, vintage pictures and more. Here's the details:

• Class is $26 and includes the Tailor-Made Simply Scrappin' Kit
• Optional Embellishment kit will include coordinating ribbon, brads, buttons, etc. for $4
• Class will make EIGHT complete pages and will receive instructions to complete a ninth "bonus" page. There are some leftover die-cut stickers and a little bit of scraps to make a couple more too.

Click HERE to register!

NOTE TO FELLOW DEMONSTRATORS (must live at least 1-1/2 hrs away):

This class is available as twelve page tutorial so that you too may offer a really fun and easy scrapbooking experience to your customers. The cost is $10 (US$) to you and will be emailed to you upon receipt of payment.

Happy Easter!

I realize this picture is completely unrelated to stamping but could you resist scrapbooking it??? This is the "baby girl" of my three children, Maci Ellen. She is five years old and a real gift! Thanks for letting me share her and Happy Easter!

Bring on the Spring!

After a gorgeous weekend, I'm just so excited to get going in the flowers!!! This post is in honor of Spring and I hope you are as glad as I am to say good-bye to winter. The grass got cut for the first time this year and the flowers beds are all raked up ready for the new annuals to go in. (I NEVER plant mine until around Mother's Day because I can't STAND to have to go outside and put blankets or bags over them when we have that last cold snap.)

Black, White and Red are one of my favorite color combinations and I think the rub-on in bright white really sets off the red and black. Try these colors on your own project and please share! I would love to see what you've been up to.

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun (Occasions Mini)
Ink: Black Staz-On, Riding Hood Red, Cameo Coral, Basic Black and Green Galore Classic Ink
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black Card Stock, Pink Flamingo DSP
Accessories: Loop to Loop Rub-Ons (Hand Drawn Bundle-Hostess Level 3), Ribbon Originals Dress Up, Basic Jumbo Grommets (Occasions Mini)

Friendly Butterfly

I just LOVE the new Occasions Mini Catalog (can you tell?) Today's post comes from my experimenting trying to come up with a card for a swap with other demonstrators. The parameters require that you keep your card really simple so that others can make it in ten minutes or less. I'm not sure why this is so hard for me!!! I get to playing and forget what I'm doing and the next thing you know I've added and added and "junked it up!"

This card was stamped in Versamark on the right side and them clear embossed to give it some dimension. Don't overlook the Chocolate Chip colored polka dot ribbon in the center on the left. It was an exact match to the paper!!! Gotta love Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Great Friend (Occasions Mini)

Ink: Baja Blue and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, Versamark Ink

Paper: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze CS, Bella Rose DSP

Accessories: Ribbon Originals Valet

Cool Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Heat Tool & Clear Embossing Powder

Thanks~

Here's a simple little card that you can make in just a couple of minutes. I like to have some generic cards made up that I can pop on a sentiment and send! This sentiment is from the Occasions Mini Catalog set, "Matchbox Messages" which coordinates with the Matchbox die. Have fun!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Matchbox Messages

Paper: Kraft and Whisper White CS, Parisian Breeze DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink

Accessories: Baja Blue 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Brad

Cool Tools: SU! Circle Punches

April Flight of the Butterfly Workshops

This is a sneak peek of the workshop being offered for the month of April. Workshops are a chance for you to invite some friends, create some fun projects (at no cost to you or your friends) and play with some of the Stampin' Up! products.

DURING APRIL ONLY ~ Host a workshop of at least $150 and earn your choice of any item on the last page of the catalog under the $10 & Under category AND a free Sale A Bration stamp set, ribbon bundle or package of Designer Paper just for booking your workshop!

What can I expect if I host a workshop during April?
1. You and your guests will get to make two cards and one 6x6 scrapbook page. (I will show you how to "step up" your page to a 12"x12" page). If you want to do ONLY scrapbooking, then your workshop will consist of a COMPLETED 12"x12" page with all of the embellishments.
2. Play with the following Stampin' Up! products: Flight of the Butterfly Stamp Set, Bella Birds DSP, Crystal effects, Build a Brads, Pretties Kit Flowers, Eyelet Border Punch and MORE!
3. Door prizes, samples and workshop only discounts for you and your guests
4. I will bring everything we need to complete the projects

What will I have to do to earn those fabulous gifts?
1. Send me thirty names and addresses of people you will invite (that's right! I'll even mail out the invitations for you!) Click here for a worksheet to help you think of people to invite. Remember that you don't HAVE to invite only your closest friends. Think outside the box! You would be surprised at the girls that enjoy stamping and scrapbooking!
2. Call your friends that were invited and get a "head count"
3. Be positive and share how much fun stamping is!

EXTRA BONUS!!! Be the first one to book a workshop during the month of April and you will earn EVERY ONE of the promotion items in the SALE A BRATION brochure! That is a package of several stamp sets, a ribbon bundle including two colors of ribbon and the package of Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper. You cannot buy any of these items as they were promotions for a limited time only!

Email me at cjbrasher@aol.com if you would like to book a workshop in April!

Do Not Adjust Your Screen!!!

My post tonight is to show you a couple of cards I made. It's too funny to me because I ended up making a FEW black and white cards when my INTENTION was to try to make something using some REALLY bright colors. The card that drove me to black and white is at the bottom of this post where all reject cards belong!

This card was inspired by a decorative paper I saw at a scrapbook store that was white with black print all over it. I stamped the sentiment over and over on whisper white card stock then used it just like I would our own DSP. You could use any color ink, any sentiment or any color card stock to create the same thing.

Stamps: Soft Summer (Occasions Mini Catalog)
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray Cardstock
Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Hidden Garden Rubons, Micro Beads
Cool Tools: Eyelet Border Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch

Here's my second Black & White card. The stamp set used here is from the Occasions Mini Catalog which was just released April 1. It is a two-step stamping set that I think is really fun to use. To get the "shadow image," there are actually TWO stamps. One stamp is the outline of the image (stamped here in black) and the other stamp is the solid version of the same image (shown here offset and in basic gray). In color, it gives a really pretty watercolored "look."

Stamps: Soft Summer
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Basic Gray Classic Ink
Paper: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Whisper White Card Stock
Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Clear Rhinestone Brads

And this is the DUD - don't try this at home. I've NOW learned the correct way to insert the cool Designer Hardware shown here. Notice that mine looks all dented up like it's been in a car wreck??? Well, that's because I had my Crop-A-Dile set wrong. Yes, that's right. I've been wrestling that Crop-A-Dent, Crop-A-Dud, etc. for days and days.

So I'm posting this DUD of a card so you don't make the same mistakes!!

*First, I think the color combination would work alot better if the turqoise were the accent color. (Minor problem.)
*Second (and this one is NOT minor), ROSE RED felt flowers and ROSE RED grosgrain ribbon are NOT, I repeat, NOT the same as Pixie Pink (which was the original concept, obviously!)
*Third - there is a RIGHT way to set the Crop-A-Dile. This was an Ah-Ha moment for me. I hope you get a laugh and that you're NOT identifying with me! The correct way to set the dials is that the Letter and Number that you want it set on are FACING each other. All these months, I've been turning the dials so that the letter and number are facing ME.

Since this made no sense to me either, I'm posting a pretty helpful (and insightful) video on the Crop-A-Dile for you to learn from below. In honor of my sister, who lives across the pond in Manchester, England, this is a British video and the speaker has a really cool accent. While practicing with your crop-a-dile, be sure to talk like that -- it's alot more fun!

Buy a Crop-A-Dile NOW along with some designer hardware and/or eyelets and get any item from the under $10 page in the back of the catalog FREE!! All you have to do is be sure your order adds up to $40 or more. Shop Online 24/7 ~HERE~

A Great Way to Connect!

Announcing the "Get Connected" Promotion!!

Connect with family and friends when you make them beautiful cards and gifts using products from the Occasions Mini Catalog. From April 1-30, when you buy $40 in products from the Occasions Mini, or host a workshop totaling $150 or more, you’ll get one item from the "Under $10" page (p. 208) in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog—FREE!

Click HERE to download the Occasions Mini Catalog