Something New in time for This Month's Stamp Club

I think Christmas came early... Stampin' Up! has a new item and demonstrators have had a chance to play with them for a bit before the November 1st release.

These new Stampin' Blends are AMAZING! And I think my stamp club ladies enjoyed using them, too, since we used them over the weekend to create a fun card that's quick and easy, too!

I love how the markers glide over the paper and the ink knows just where to go (the image above was colored using the thin tip, as it was easier to get into smaller spaces). Tip... instead of using an X-acto knife to cut slits in the paper for the ribbon, I used Paper Snips to cut up from the bottom, slid the ribbon in, then used Fast Fuse to make sure the top layer was adhered to the Basic Gray layer.

The inside was stamped with the host set In the City (outline and solid images for color are included in the set), and the grass was colored with the Old Olive Stampin' Blend. Such a fun set! I have a few friends who have moved recently so I'll be creating more of these and sending them out.

Check out this video of the new Stampin' Blends, which you can order beginning November 1! Can't wait until then? If you join my team, you have the opportunity to preorder these pens and start playing with them now.

I can't wait to color many more pages of the Just Add Color Specialty Designer Paper with the Stampin' Blends!

Happy Blending!

Just Add Color Specialty Designer Series Paper [144180] $13.00	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $8.00	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $8.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144574] $4.50
Rich Razzleberry Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144584] $4.50	Pool Party Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144595] $4.50	Crumb Cake Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144582] $4.50	In The City Photopolymer Stamp Set [143771] $16.00	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] $7.00
Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [131180] $6.50	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181] $6.50	Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad [141398] $6.50	Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon [144171] $6.00	Clear Block Starter Bundle [129851] $20.00
Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00

The Three Cs of Swapping

There's a group of sweet gals in Colorado and Canada who swap with me here in California (hence, the three Cs)... well, I'm in California... they don't come to California (but that would be super fun!). Some of us, however, will meet up in Salt Lake City next month for Stampin' Up!'s OnStage (convention) and I'm sure we'll swap in person there. Until then, since we are all in different areas of North America, we swap by mail. It's such fun to see how different our styles are, but that each of us creates such beautiful cards.

If you don't know me personally, then you may not know about my love for the beach. It takes me back to my childhood, when I grew up not far from the Pacific Ocean. When I saw Beachy Little Christmas in Stampin' Up!'s holiday catalog, I knew I HAD to have it and HAD to use it for my swap! But creating something for a swap was a bit of a challenge. Luckily, there are only eight of us, so putting more into the card was easy - especially for this group.

Yes, I fussy-cut the palm tree and beach hut... and yes, I had to add Wink of Stella to add a bit of sparkle to the water and the hut. If I close my eyes, I can almost feel the warmth of the sun and the spray of the ocean. Almost.

Be prepared for me to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) the others' cards and post them here over the coming weeks. I may even use their designs in my classes! I tell you... they are some awesome cards! I can't wait to show you.

Beachy Little Christmas Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144857] $20.00	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115318] $8.00	Marina Mist 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119682] $8.00	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910] $8.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00
Seaside Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [141481] $8.50	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975] $6.50	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978] $6.50	Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad [126962] $6.50	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad [141394] $6.50
Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [126982] $6.50	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [126973] $6.50	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [126983] $6.50	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [131180] $6.50	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00
Brights Stampin' Write Markers [131259] $29.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00
Glue Dots [103683] $5.25

Gift Jar Inspiration - Let's Get Hopping... Round 2

I missed the Let's Get Hopping... Round 1, so I didn't want to miss Round 2 - and I almost did! Thanks to our Blog Hop leader, Jennifer, for letting me sneak in. (This is what happens when I'm not consistently blogging and too much time is spent working and not playing LOL!)

Do you ever find yourself with some household items that you're saving and thinking, "One day I can make something really cute out of this..." Well, I'm one of those people, too! I took this cute little drink jar (I don't even remember what tasty beverage was in there - or when I started hoarding it) and turned it into something cute. I liked the idea so much I, used it for inspiration for my stamp club group project!

I love Stampin' Up!'s Delightful Daisy stamp set and coordinating punch! You may remember the card I did as a sneak peek for the annual catalog back in May (see it here). I'm sure this won't be my last time I use this set.

Check out how much texture and shimmer are on those flowers!

Thanks so much for hopping by... hopefully this inspires you to want to stop hoarding and start creating something beautiful with everyday items like beverage jars!

Now let's see what amazing project Sherry Espinoza has created!

Happy hopping!

A Lesson From my Childhood

I'm old. Okay, maybe not old, but I do remember when cassettes replaced 8-tracks and the days long before Spotify. I also remember - even way back then - the emphasis put on the environment and the need for recycling. Earth Day was still new, which began five years before I started school, and there was a call to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We collected aluminum cans and newspapers, and we were rewarded with classroom parties for those who collected and recycled the most. As a child of the 70s, my focus was limited, but today,  I'm the one sifting through my family's trash, making sure no items are carelessly tossed when they should have made their way to the big blue bin.

Hubby and I do quite a bit of shipping and receiving in our business, so we try to save boxes and use them to ship orders to our customers. Not pretty, but it makes me feel better knowing these containers have a longer life than just a one-time use. The same can be said for the bubble wrap. But knowing I couldn't use all that I had collected, I remembered my friend Maria makes cookies and ships them to people, not only across the country, but overseas as well.

Sure Maria creates fun cookies for birthday parties, baby showers, and weddings, but she also receives orders from those who have loved ones serving in the United States military, and often her cookies are shipped to deployed service men and women. Much TLC goes into the baking, decorating, and packing to ensure safe arrival.

 

Did I mention Maria sometimes donates her cookies to those who are deployed far from home? As a momma of three Marines, Maria wants those who are unable to be with their loved ones, feel (and taste) as much of home as possible.

Aren't they adorable? She's even made cookies for me on occasion... most recently for my crafting retreat in June which had a "summer fun" theme.

Thank you, Maria, for helping the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling. And thank you for being a Marine momma... helping to take good care of our troops - one cookie at a time.