Happy Valentine's Day!

Life has been super busy (whose hasn't?) and I've neglected several things I love - scrapbooking, stamping, and my blog. I did carve out a lot of time today to clean my playroom (YIPPEE!!!) and make a few things that I'll be showing throughout the week to come. It is so much fun even if I did have to get past a mojo block. To remedy that, I used the Mojo Monday 121 sketch to jumpstart out my imagination.

Before I go on, I have to rant a brief moment. Is it ridiculous that I consider myself semi-techie and I can't figure out how to rotate pictures in blogger? It's infuriating! Please enjoy the picture below while touching your right ear to your right shoulder.

This is a non-stamping card. I was going to put something in that glittery vanilla piece, but I hated to cover it up and wanted to use that pattern. On the other hand, this is a really fast and easy card to complete!

Supplies:
Pretty in pink cardstock (#100459, $5.50)
Sending Love Designer Series Paper (#117153, $11.95)
Chocolate chip double stitched grosgrain ribbon (#111849, $8.95)
Sweet Pea stitched felts (#117266, $7.95)
Corner rounder punch (#109047, $6.95)
Scallop trim border punch (#188402, FREE with the supplies to buy this card)
Tombow Multi Adhesive (#110755, $3.95)
SNAIL Adhesive (#10432, $6.95)

Stamping and Tortilla Soup

On Tuesday night, I attended my upline's monthly demonstrator meeting. She gives away really awesome stuff and there are also some incentives for monthly sales. There have been several months that I placed in the top 3 or so - shock! We always make three projects - a card, a 3-D object, and a technique card. This month, we made a little box from the milk box die using the Big Shot machine. I changed mine up a little - I used multiple butterflies rather than a single one and I did not use the going gray taffeta ribbon (gorgeous!).

One of the aides at our school sent an email to the entire middle school offering to make tortilla soup for everyone for lunch today. She is an excellent cook and no one turned the offer down! She even made homemade tortilla chips for everyone. A few people made cornbread, sides, or desserts. I made a cherry cream cheese pie. I wanted to give her something, but I didn't have time to make a new creation. So I gave her the box and she loved it. I filled it with Valentine M&Ms and she thought it was the cutest thing ever! I'm so glad Stampin' Up! makes gifts so easy!

Supplies:
Big Shot
Milk carton die
Basic Black cardstock
Going Gray cardstock
Going Gray stampin' pad
Vintage Labels (FREE Sale-a-Bration set with a $50 order)
Butterfly Sizzlet (cuts and embosses all at once!)
Glue dots
SNAIL adhesive
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Up! Library Clips

Stampin' Lovers Meet and Stamp

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to a stamping event in Allen, Texas. I signed up as a demonstrator and took two of my favorite customers - my mother and her sister. :) We had a great time making four make-and-take projects, swapping 40 cards, seeing tons of samples using beautiful SU supplies, and learning new techniques.

As fun as all that was, do you know my favorite part? My upline gave me a gift for taking customers to the event. It was a reusable shopping bag that was only sold at the Leadership conference in early January. I can't go to Leadership because I don't have a downline, and I always drool over all the neat things that are available only to those who get the opportunity to attend. I was jumping up and down excited over the cutest bag ever! See?

Jumping on the Fabric Wagon

I knew that I love my Big Shot. Isn't it great? Look at how much you can do with it. But honestly, you know what? I've only cut a fraction of the items that you can cut. It's almost embarrassing how little I've stepped outside the Big Shot box.

However, with all the abundant cuteness out there, I had to make a trip to the fabric store and get some super cute fabrics. Ok, I admit it. I went a little overboard. Let's just say that there was a loooonnng line behind me at the cutting table (um, I think I counted over a dozen) as I handed them a few bolts of material (well, I came home with sixteen different fabrics).

So, I rushed home and I was so excited about rolling out (It's a pun - get it?!) a quick flower pin. I was aghast to discover that I didn't own the flower folds die. AAGGGHHHH! I had to remedy that right away and had the order expedited. Finally, I had the fabric, the die, and a few minutes (I got up at 4:15 before work one day) and this is what I created...

It looks much better now. The fabric has worn a little and looks soft and loved. It's slightly frayed on the edges and matches so many things! I thought that it wouldn't go with many outfits, but it actually matches most of what is in my closet (and my mother's closet too!).

Supplies:
Variety of fabrics
Big Shot
Flower folds die
Hot glue gun
Stampin' Up designer button
Hot glue gun & glue sticks
Pin mechanism (bought at the fabric store and sewn on a piece of coordinating felt used as the backing for the flower)

Blog Hop Thanks

If you stopped by over the weekend to participate in the Stampin' Addicts blog hop, I want to say THANK YOU! I appreciate the visits and all the sweet comments that have been left. I also want to thank the hop-meister and participants who did such an amazing job with awesome projects. It is always an honor to be associated with them!

I promised that I would show some close up pictures and provide more details this week.

First, a close up of the scrapbook page elements. (Egads! I guess I have to make a confession. I have a messy stamping table. I made it clear to my picture-taker to only get my hands and be sure not to get me at all. I guess I should have mentioned the background too. And I was so conscientious to get a new piece of grid paper so you wouldn't see remnants of my last 87 projects! Thanks a lot, Mother.) See how I used the oval stamp to make flower petals? I'm still thinking of other things I could make with those. (I'm working on another idea. If it works out, I'll show it later in the week.) I free-hand cut the stem of the flower. For the leaves, I cut four of the smaller corners with the photo corners punch.
I folded each in half and glued the stack of them together, one on top of the other.

Finally, I put SNAIL on the back side of both punched pieces and glued them to the page creating a fan of three dimensional leaves.
The other cute trick I used on the scrapbook page was the grass. I saw this on another blog some time ago. Of course, I can't find it now. If this was your idea (it was brilliant!) let me know. I'd love to give you credit. First, you punch the scallop edge border, just like you always do.

Then, go back over the scallops and punch about half way between the hills. You can be really haphazard on this step - you don't want them all to look the same. I try to end up with some "blades" of grass that are longer than others (it makes me feel at home!).Supply list for scrapbook page:
Whisper white 12x12 cardstock; 106529; $7.50
Green galore 12x12 cardstock; 107110; $7.50
Tempting turquoise 8.5x11 cardstock; 102067; $5.50
Real red 8.5x11 cardstock; 102482; $5.50
Whisper white grosgrain ribbon; 109025; $4.95
Crushed curry polka-dot grosgrain ribbon; 115614; $9.95
Summer sun corduroy button; 114343; $9.95
Real red corduroy button; 117268; $9.95
Scallop edge border punch; 112091; $15.95
Photo corners punch; 109042; $15.95
Wide oval punch; 112082; $15.95
Scallop circle punch; 109043; $15.95
Real red stampin' pad; 103133; $5.95
Tempting turquoise stampin' pad; 100814; $5.95
Crushed curry stampin' pad; 115659; $5.95

Stampin' Addicts' SAB Blog Hop - Stop #1 - Vintage Labels

Welcome to Stampin' Addicts 2010 Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop. This is the time of year when Stampin' Up! offers you FREE merchandise for every $50 of merchandise you order. It's one of the best times of year and this blog celebrates all things Sale-a-Bration!

You have found stop #1 on the hop, featuring Vintage Labels, an exclusive stamp set you can only get free during Sale-a-Bration. If you just arrived from Stampin' Addicts, welcome and thank you for stopping by! You can follow the hop right through - each stop will lead you to the next and make a complete circuit. The last stop on the blog is Twila's Stamp a Little Longer where she showcases this year's Ronald McDonald charity stamp set, Very Thankful. You can follow the hop forward or backward and it makes a complete circuit. The blog hop posts will be active through midnight on Monday, January 18. After that, many hostesses will post detail pictures, instructions, and supply lists. Be sure to bookmark your favorites and go back to visit next week!

I created three projects using this stamp set - a card, a scrapbook layout, and a 3-D project. The stamp set coordinates with four Stampin' Up punches: the curly label, the scallop circle, the 1" circle, and the wide oval punches.

The simplest - and fastest! - project I made was a little box using the matchbox die and Shades of Spring DSP, orchid opulence cardstock, and certainly celery grosgrain ribbon. I also used my Movers & Shapers die with the extended cutting pads to make a mat.


The second project I created was a card. I again used the Shades of Spring DSP and coupled it with the top note die, the dotted Stampin' Up Backgrounds #1 Texturz plate, and the scallop trip border punch. I layered barely banana with the DSP on pretty in pink cardstock. I sponged the barely banana top note and the scallop circle with pretty in pink ink to give it a distressed look. I sprayed a healthy dose (translation: a whole lot!) of frost shimmer mist onto the every layer except the barely banana top note.

The final project is a scrapbook layout that I had mushing through my brain for a while. The style of the Vintage Labels stamp set is ... well, vintage. but I really wanted to show you something else you could do with it. I like the vintage look, but I know that not everyone does. I've always loved the Pick a Petal set and knew I could make that wide oval frame into a flower. Once I did that, the circle one screamed SUN to me! I used a summer sun corduroy button, crushed curry polka dot ribbon, a real red corduroy button, my scallop edge border punch, my photo corners punch, and white grosgrain ribbon. The blue clouds are sewn on using my sewing machine.

I hope you've enjoyed the projects I created with this stamp set. You could earn the stamp set for free by purchasing the materials to make each one of these projects. I will post detail pictures, supply lists, and instructions for the projects next week after the hop is over. In the mean time, hop over to Stella's blog - Stellar Stamps - where she has created projects using the Happy Moments set.

It's Almost Here!

You only have to wait one more day for the Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to be participating again. I have some fun projects that I really hope you will enjoy. I'm also a little scared - I'm the first one on the hop tomorrow! So come back to support me and then hop through to all of the other stops. There are some amazingly talented ladies who will be following behind me. You won't believe all they come up with. I can't wait!

I {Heart} This Card!

I had a lot of fun with this card. This is a fast and simple card made with only a few supplies. It is also one that you can easily adapt for other occasions and with alternate supplies. I textured a piece of whisper white cardstock with a plate from the Stampin' Up Backgrounds 1 set then sponged the raised/embossed portions with Pretty in Pink, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip inks. The stamp set is a new set called I {Heart} Hearts. The image I stamped is actually two stamps, the filigree heart and the dotted outline. I used my Stamp-a-Majig to make sure the images were lined up so my finished product is just perfect!

You will need these supplies to make this project:
Real Red cardstock (#102482 - $5.50)
Whisper White cardstock (#100730 - $7.50)
Pretty in Pink ink pad (#101301 - $5.95)
Real Red ink pad (#103133 - $5.95)
Chocolate Chip ink pad (#100908 - $5.95)
I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (W #117010 - $26.95, C #118571 - $18.95)
Big Shot (#113439 - $99.95)
Stampin' Up Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (#114512 - $11.95)
Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (#109052 - $7.95)
Linen thread (#104199 - $4.50)
Real Red corduroy button (#117268 - $9.95)
Stamp-a-Majig (#101049 - $11.95)

Friend, You Raise Kindness to an Art

I fell in love with this stamp set the first time I laid eyes on it. I envisioned the long skinny stamp making a border so that is what I had to do with my first project using it. This card would not have been possible without using my Stamp-a-Majig. Some people are talented, but I can use my SAM and look like a pro too! It's the best thing since sliced bread. Everything turns out perfect every time.

So, using my SAM, I created a border frame. I cut along the edges for a filigree effect and stamped the floral flourishes inside the frame. I stamped the flower and friends elements on very vanilla cardstock. The larger flower and the F are both stamped in chocoalte chip. The smaller flowers were stamped in bordering blue. I then used the rock-n-roll technique (remember my card with that technique from Monday?) with chocolate chip to make two-toned flowers. I placed a chocolate chip corduroy button on the larger flower, but Stampin' Up doesn't make small brown brads (we do have the jumbo brads in two sizes!). What are you supposed to do? Put a silver brad on the flower (I didn't like the way that looked)? Buy a brown brad from somewhere else (Heavens no! Plus, why spend more money when you already have supplies?)? My solution: I made a chocolate chip brad. How, you ask? I patted a regular silver brad onto the chocolate chip craft pad and then dipped it into clear embossing powder. I heat embossed the brad then repeated the process. How awesome is that? You can create brads in any of Stampin' Up's 51 craft ink colors! You can't beat that with a stick! Finally, I added chocolate chip double stitched grosgrain ribbon, popped up the filigree frame and and all stamped elements, and curled up the edges of all stamped flowers. I stamped the sentiment (You Raise Kindness to an Art) at the bottom in chocolate chip.

You like?

To a Friend

I really struggled getting this card together. I really wanted to use that scallop envelope and line the inside with the gorgeous Sending Love DSP, but I couldn't get a layout that I really liked. As a matter of fact, I originally made the card you saw yesterday with the intention of putting this envelope on it. I never could get it to look right, so I abandoned that idea and my cute little envelope. While working on my next card, I knew that this sketch would be a great place to put it. I also wanted to add a different shape and some texture. The best way to do that is to pull out your Big Shot. Do you know that I used to trace shapes I would create on my computer and cut them out to add different elements to my cards and scrapbook pages? It would literally take me hours to complete anything because of all the time it took to get the pieces made. Now, I whip out the Big Shot, insert material (cardstock, fabric, felt, wood sheets, acetate sheets, foam, lots of stuff!), turn the handle a few times, and voila!, I have a shape or I've texturized my paper.

I really love the way this card turned out. Lots to keep me interested without too much to be too busy. I sponged all of the paper pieces (except the chocolate chip cardstock) with chocolate chip ink. After texturing the scalloped circle, I lightly sponged the surface with very vanilla craft ink. That really made the raised-embossed spots stand out.

To make this card, you will need the following supplies:
Big Shot (#113439 - $99.95)
Stampin' Up! Perfect Details Texturz Plates (#115962 - $3.95)
Scallop Circle #2 (#113469 - $19.95)
Scallop Envelope (#113462 - $21.95)
Real Red cardstock (#102482 - $5.50)
Pretty in Pink cardstock (#100459 - $5.50)
Chocolate Chip cardstock (#102128 - $5.50)
Very vanilla cardstock (#101650 - $7.50)
Sending Love Specialty DSP (#117153 - $11.95)
Very vanilla craft ink (#104308 - $7.50)
Chocolate Chip ink pad (#100908 - $5.95)
With All My Heart stamp set (W #118134 - $17.95, C 118623 - $13.95)
Stampin' Sponges (#101610, $3.50)

Sending Love and Thanks

I finally had a chance to sit down with all my yummy supplies I ordered from the new Occasions catalog. You have to see this stuff to believe it! There are so many gorgeous stamps and papers that I can't get to each of my new toys fast enough! You have to see the Sending Love Specialty DSP to really believe it. It is fabulous! I used that paper as the starting point for some of the cards you'll see this week.

Today's card uses a technique that produces a unique image. The technique is called Rock 'n' Roll. You ink your stamp with your lighter colored ink. Tilt the stamp about 45 degrees (half way to sitting upright on its side edge) and press the edge of your stamp into a different colored ink pad. Roll the stamp around so that the edge is inked all the way around your stamp. You can change the angle of the stamp to get more of less of the second color onto the stamp.


To make this card you need the following supplies:
Kraft cardstock (#102125 - $7.50)
Very Vanilla cardstock (#101650 - $7.50)
Real Red cardstock (#102482 - $5.50)
Pretty in Pink (#100459 - $5.50)
Sending Love Special DSP (#117153 - $11.95)
With All My Heart stamp set (W #118134 - $17.95, C #118623 - $13.95)
Real Red ink pad (#103133 - $5.95)
Pretty in Pink ink pad (#101301 - $5.95)
Clips Assortment (#112580, $6.95)
Linen Thread (#104199 - $4.50)

BOLO - Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop

I had so much fun on the last blog hop that I had to sign up for another one. Didn't you just love all the awesome things that were created for the new Occasions mini? There are some very talented stampers over at Stampin' Addicts. You won't want to miss the SAB blog hop.

What is Sale-a-Bration, you ask? This is the biggest Stampin' Up deal of the year. For every $50 you spend in merchandise, you get a free stamp set for FREE. No limits, no fine print, no catches. This year is better than ever because you have the choice of four exclusive stamp sets, a designer series paper pad, (for the first time ever!) a border punch, and 56 (yes, I said, 56) additional stamp sets from the Idea Book and Catalog. How awesome is that?

Come back here on Saturday and follow the hop through to find out some amazing things to make with these stamp sets.

Stop #20 Stampin' Addicts Blog Hop - Birds Aplenty

I am so excited to be participating in my first Stampin' Addicts blog hop! If you are following through the hop, you just came from Twila's blog (Stamp A Little Longer) where she showcased the new Sweet Pea DSP and matching stitched felt embellishments. Didn't you love what she did?

I have a love affair with chipboard. I love the texture, the thickness, and the dimensionality you get when you use it. I love that you can cover it, stamp it, paint it, decoupage it, or leave it naked (and I love that you can call it naked!). :) When I saw that Stampin' Up is offering new chipboard stuff, I knew I had to have it! There are three new shaped chipboard books - a bird, a flower, and a heart. Everyone makes chipboard books - in fact, I'm in the middle of making the heart one for my husband for a birthday gift in a couple of weeks, but I wanted to do something a little different for the blog hop. Thinking outside the box, you know?

So I decided to make some home decor using the chipboard book. I had a picture of what I wanted in my mind until I asked my daughter which book she wanted me to use since it would hang in her room. She chose the bird book. The book comes with eight pages (each pre-punched to fit the chain that also comes with the set). I altered each side of the birds differently using the Razzledazzle DSP (one of my new favorites!). I painted, stamped, embossed, ruched (had to look that up for spelling!) and paper pieced. I used my Big Shot, shimmer paint, crimper, corduroy buttons, create a brads, (lots of) glitter, and ribbon.

The art mobile is now hanging over her bead and matches perfectly with her bedding and new curtains. Which book will you make first and how will you alter it?

Keep hopping along in order to Melissa's blog (Stamping with Melissa). She is showcasing a new stamp set, Little Angel. Such cute projects! Thanks for stopping by today.

As the Year Draws to an End

I am reminded of all the reasons I am thankful. I have been blessed with a thoughtful and supportive husband, beautiful children, and a healthy family. There is nothing more I could ask for. I'm not one who makes New Year resolutions, but it is my daily endeavor to become a better wife, mother, and friend and to be more Christ-like.

Start the new year out by telling someone how important they are to you. Write a note, make a phone call, send an email.

To my family, friends, and readers: Thank you. I am blessed because you are in my life. Here's to another year.

BOLO - Occasions Blog Hop

Be On the Look Out! I'm participating in a blog hop hosted by Stampin' Addicts. Be sure to come back and see what I create. The hop will run from noon on January 1 through midnight on January 3. You won't believe all of the great things coming!

Ugh!

December was crazy! I'm glad it's almost over. For the family and friends who follow me, my mother is doing much better. She came home from the hospital yesterday. I took a long nap yesterday afternoon and slept well last night. I think I'm back on track.

For everyone else, be sure to stop by later this week. I'm participating in a blog hop on Stampin' Addicts that showcases the newest must-haves from Stampin' Up! The new mini catalog begins next week. My open crafting day (scheduled for Saturday) will go on as planned, so if you want to come, it's not too late to sign up.

Taking a day off...

I had planned to spend the day crafting today but had a few unexpected plans. First, a friend of the family had an emergency appendectomy yesterday and my mother and I went to see her in the hospital this morning. She's in high school and was feeling pretty down. After we left the hospital, we went to Johnny Cace's for lunch. Oh, why did they take Cace's away from Tyler? It leaves me feeling distraught! When I got home I changed into the comfy clothes and planned to craft this evening. As it turned out, I didn't get to do that either. Roy and I went on a date tonight. He got to pick the movie. I really thought that "Have You Heard About the Morgans" opened November 20 (I got it confused with "Blind Side" which I also want to see). Roy picked "Old Dogs" because I really had no interest in "2012". It was funny. I laughed. But I would never pick it on my own and I don't really care to see it again. The next movie is mine. There are a lot coming out soon that I want to see.

That was the long way around to say that I will have some creations tomorrow. I need to make some samples and have just the projects in mind. Until then...

After Thanksgiving Sale!

If you are out fighting the crazy crowd this morning racking up amazing deals, then bless you! I'm not. I tried that one year and it's just not worth it to me! I'm not cut out for it. However, in the back of my mind I always think of the deals I've missed. I want to get the deals, but I don't want to pay the price. If you are like me, I have the perfect deal for you! I'm hosting an After Thanksgiving Sale. It's not like Black Friday because it's good from now until 8:00 Monday night. That way you can combine it with any of the Holiday Extravaganza items. Wait, it's BETTER than Black Friday because I don't have limited supplies! Everyone gets a special goodie! No standing in line and no running out of the good stuff!

Here's the deal:

My Black Friday Email-a-Thon will begin right now and will run until 8:00 on Monday night. (Remember that you can order Holiday Extravaganza until 11:50 p.m. on Monday night via my website, but to participate in my sale and get your extra goodies, you must order through me.) When you email me (heathercarnes@sbcglobal.net) I will email you back with the promotion offer that you received and the total amount due. So please make sure your order is complete when you email it to me. You won't be able to add to your order after you received your promotion. *** Please note that you cannot receive this offer on my Stampin' Up! website or from any other demonstrator. This is my gift to you as a thank you for your support.

***In your email please be sure to include the item number, description, quantity and price. To qualify for the Email-A-Thon, a minimum merchandise total purchase of $30.00 is required. Once we hit 10 orders, I will start from the top of the list again with email 1. All orders will ship to me and payment must be received in order for me to place your individual order.

1st email - FREE Shipping
2nd email - FREE adhesive package (SNAIL refill and dimensionals - value $8.45)
3rd email - FREE Class of your choice - up to $15.00 value
4th email - FREE Classic Ink Pad (value $5.95)
5th email - FREE two markers (any colors) value $6.50
6th email - FREE medium envelopes - value $6.50
7th email - Free level 1 Hostess Set
8th email - FREE 8.5x11 single color paper pack - value $5.50
9th email - FREE Designer brads - value $5.95
10th email - FREE Ribbon - value $6.95 or less

Thanksgiving Blessings

I have so much to be thankful for. I am surrounded by family this Thanksgiving season, God is in control, and God has blessed us so completely this past year. God is good all the time! May your day be filled with conversation, laughter, and memories. Blessings to you.

Don't let the Holiday Extravaganza Pass You By!

There are only five days left to take advantage of the awesome deals in the Holiday Extravaganza. If you haven't had a chance to check out my demonstrator website that details all of the specials, I've converted them into a table for you, but try as I may - I can't make the picture larger than that! If you'd like a copy emailed to you, drop me a line or leave a message and I can send one speeding your way. The deals are amazing with everything 30-50% off! I'll be placing another order, so let me know if you are interested. Don't forget to check back on Friday for my Black Friday specials. They are only available from me.