Oh Crabby Day!!

Okay, I was SOOOOOO excited to learn recently that this ADORABLE set was going to be available in the next (Spring / Summer) catalog...and even MORE excited to learn that it could be purchased through the Fall Winter season, so I can use it for Christmas classes, and through the summer months for workshops. I REALLY REALLY love this set! I have been playing with it today and oh my..what fun!



This first card is a Crabby Christmas cutie...Don't you just love that silly crab and smiling starfish...and "Sandy Claws"..come ON that is cute! For this card I did the focal image on watercolor paper, used WCC and ink to color, added some liquid applique to his hat, and some glitter to the sand. Background is all done with Timber Brown Stazon, red WCC and glitter. Cardstock colors are Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Gable Green and SO Saffron.








This next one is a design inspired by Jeanne S on SCS... Love her work :)

The focal image is also watercolor paper. The circle mat was scalloped using my corner rounder punch (I took off the guard, and then punched all the way around the circle - tedious, but cute!
Ink Colors include Timber Brown Stazon, Soft Sky, River Rock, Creamy Caramel, WWC in Real Red, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral
Cardstock is Soft Sky, Real Red and Barely Banana.
Ribbon is Red Grosgrain and Red Gingham.


Finally I did this fun, somewhat masculine option ...the focal image is stamped on watercolor paper in Timber Brown Stazon. I used Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, River Rock and Close to Cocoa inks, Summer Sun, Pumkin Pie and Really Rust WWC and painted using an aquapainter. The Cardstock on this card is Not Quite Navy, Blue Bayou, Kraft, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip. I tore the Kraft and Close to Cocoa, sponged the edges, stamped with Bitty Backgrounds and Cheesecloth, and added microbeads with liquid glue.


I think I am done playing for today... but that sure was fun! Have a Crabby Day!

Three For You Christmas Wreath

I am trying to start early this year playing with ideas for Christmas cards. I had fun with this one, but can't see making a hundred of them, so I don't think it will make it as my card this year!


For this card I used the Three For You Punch, and punched flowers in Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Always Artichoke. I attached them to a Confetti White square, using glue dots, and then added real red brads for berries, and a red bow. The background is the floral background stamped in Versamark on Certainly Celery, and the greeting was done with Real Red craft ink using a greeting from Many Merry Messages. Layers are in Real Red and Always Artichoke.

Piece a Cake!

This is the "cake" I made to share at my open house last night. I have to admit, this was a little labor intensive, but I like the way it turned out. The template for this one was given to demonstrators from Stampin' Up. To create my cake, I used Confetti Cream Cardstock, Close to Cocoa classic ink, Chocolate Chip Craft ink, Clear embossing powder, sponge dauber, and the new Baroque Motifs set. Sadly, no one wanted to take the cake apart to take one, so I still have nearly a whole cake (and about a bajillion hershey kisses) - what in the world am I going to do with this giant cake?? (Clearly I can figure out what to do with the chocolate!)

My Open House...THANKS!

What fun! I had my new catalog open house last night - I had so much fun!!!! Of course, I am a ding-dong, and I did not take a single picture, so you will just have to trust me that it was a good time! Thanks to all of my fabulous friends and customers that came and made it such fun - I am so blessed to know such a neat group of people!

Okay, I got tagged...

To be honest, I have not been at this blogging thing long enough to even know what in the world that meant. But I got it figured out! Sunflower Stamper tagged me, so now you have to learn more about me, and I get to tag a few more bloggers! Check out Sunflower's stuff!

Okay, here ya go:
List seven random things about yourself:

1. I used to be a Hula Dancer.
2. I play in the water for a living.
3. I like juice on my cereal
4. I love to read stories with my kids.
5. I love to spend quiet time alone (RARE!)
6. I hate to cook!
7. I have a fear of Jeff Goldblum.

Choose Seven people to Tag: (Note - THIS was hard! So many talented girlies out there!)
Ellen
Jenni
Shell
Fairle
Jane
Angela
Kristin

Post Rules & the bloggers I tagged here
Leave tagged bloggers comments on their web sites so that they know they have been tagged

New Hostess Set

I am so excited by some of our new hostess sets. This one is a level 3 set. Honestly, when I first saw it, I really did not like it, and I almost did not get it. But since I have had a chance to play, I am SOOO glad I did. It is so much fun, very versatile and whimsical! And really easy to use. I made several cards with this set and it is really fun to watercolor! (will share those later). I also LOVE the sayings that come with this set, and I think I will use them a lot.

In this sample, I stamped the vase on patterned paper, and cut it out. I used the new Three for You flower punch to make the flowers (love this too!)

Ingredients for this card:
Stamp Sets: Vases in Vogue
Card Stock: Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi
Ribbon: Black Gingham
Accessories: Three for You Punch Box, Earth Elements Brads

Well, I was right...

Yep, I think I might be too busy to keep up with a blog. I am going to keep trying though! This has been such a crazy couple of weeks... stamp a Stack, preparing for open house, my son's 6th grade promotion (he did an awesome job playing piano by the way!), awards ceremonies (gosh my kids are smart!), preschool parties, and now today is my daughter's birthday party. And can you believe, my job still thinks that I should come to work! So my plans to update this regularly have just had to wait...but life will get easier (yeah, right!) and I will keep trying!