Back at it.....

Ahhhh.....it feels so good to spend some time back in the craft room and just create!  Sometimes I think I get so hung up on what I really HAVE to do (even regarding what needs to be crafted for this or for that) that it drags me down and I lose my creative juices.  Once in a while I need to create something just because!  It does help me - and while it's not what I SHOULD be working on, it gives me motivation and inspiration.  

And that's where today's card(s) came from.  I should have been working on some projects that NEED to be done, but I was feeling uninspired, lackluster....you get the drift, right?

This card was pretty simple, and yet I looked at the new pack of Sweet Sorbet DSP (Sale-a-Bration 2014!!!) and thought - 

Yikes!  I can't work with this stuff.  I mean look at that black pattern on the front of the card - WOW!  Vivid, bold - FUN!  In those cases I have to remember that less is more.  Use those bold patterns in small quantities.  That way they won't overwhelm.

For this card I even did some fun stuff on the inside - not very typical for me....but I love it, and will hope to finish off my cards more often!

Because I'm a Libra - and don't like to make decisions - I decided to make the same card using a black card base.  And....I can't decide which one I like better.....they are both good....

Which one do you like better?

I'd love to stick around and chat - but this girl has a new refrigerator coming today!  I'm excited as a new puppy!  I've wanted a new fridge for YEARS!  Finally, I just ordered one.  Here's what's really crazy - we measured our old fridge (a used one we've had for 12+ years!) and it's only about 15cu feet.  That's a small fridge for a family of 5 - that small!  The new one is 22 cu ft.  I'm gonna feel like I could get lost in it....

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

January Hostess Code: COMING SOON!
Learn how to use the code here.

YIKES! It's been a while....

Ahhhh.....I'm back from my hiatus!  I can't believe it's been two months....and I'm terribly sorry to leave you hanging for so long.  From Halloween on, it's just been one thing after another.  I feel like I've been away from my house non-stop.  I do want to THANK YOU for sticking with me for the duration tho - it means a lot to me that so many of you have emailed to be sure I'm ok, and have continued to check back for new content! 

Today, I'm thankful for many things.  It's snowing for one!  I couldn't be happier.  Well - it could snow more....then I'd be happier!  My children have been getting along like a gem the last couple of days - for that I'm super Thankful!  And it may sound bad to say, but I'm actually thankful all of our Christmas Festivities are over.  

We have 6 different family Christmas gatherings to attend, and it gets to be a little much in the end.  While I love all of our extended families, it's the dragging the kids here and there that gets tiresome.  

PLUS - It never fails either - I have a major meltdown every year.  After all of the wrapping of gifts and cooking and outfit selecting, I have a Christmas Cryfest.  Just ask my husband.  I'm a hot mess.  This year it was on Christmas Eve morning.  I knew I was being overly crabby.  I was snapping at my kids, I was snapping at my husband.  Finally around 1pm in the afternoon I caved - 

I poured myself a glass of wine!  

Yep!  

I'm not afraid to admit it.  

Something needed to relax me a bit.  It worked!  I was better by Christmas morning.  Then, this last Saturday, as we were getting ready for yet another Christmas Celebration, my husband started to take over the crabby-pants!  We had Christmas both this last Saturday and Sunday, too. (And both Saturday and Sunday the week before, and Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day!)  He said next year we're gonna have to skip 2 of those!!!  We'll see what next year brings.    (Personally - I'd rather have more Thanksgiving then Christmas - and I think that's mainly because people don't really lose site of it's meaning.  It hasn't completely been commercialized. )

Alright.....So.....I'm sure you are ready to chat about a project today - right? 

YES! 

It's ABOUT TIME!!!!!

You saw the card above... let me tell you how easy it is to whip up:

First off, I sketched the card area on my grid paper, then selected an area for my "vanishing point".  This helps to create the ray effect.  I used a ruler to create lines for my rays, and made sure that the lines extended beyond the card area. (The card area is marked in the corners)

Then I selected the Designer Paper that I wanted to use.  All of these came from the upcoming Occasions Catalog (to be released Jan. 2nd!) - these are Fresh Prints Paper Stack.

Then I cut each pattern down to 2-1/2" x 4-1/4" and laid each one onto the diagram I'd drawn.  This is why I wanted those lines to extend beyond my card area.  Now, I traced the lines onto the front of each patterned piece, and cut on the line.

Because I had selected 5 different patterns, I was able to actually make 4 cards with my pattern pieces!  Bonus!  I arranged them into different designs, and then glued them to the bottom front of my card. Once the glue was set and dried (I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue) I erased any pencil marks that remained.

This made for a great card to semi-mass produce!  Hope you like it!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

January Hostess Code: COMING SOON!
Learn how to use the code here.

Terrific Tuesday!

Terrific, Tremendous....it's Tuesday!  There is a lot to celebrate today.....but let's start off with today's card....

No....that's not it.

But it's the beginning of a card.  

I had a card idea in my head with this stamp - Wonderful Wreath.  But once I stamped it (in Always Artichoke), I remembered that I always feel like it's so "flat".  

No offense Wonderful Wreath.  You just don't have a lot of dimension.  I like dimension.

So, I was off to solve that:

Isn't that a TON better?  I simply stamped the wreath again on another piece of Whisper White using Old Olive.  Then I used my exacto knife to cut out the center and to cut some of the leaves, lifting them a bit.  

MUCH BETTER!

Plus the darker Artichoke color underneath adds some more depth, I even offset the wreath a bit and adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.

A word of Note: you do need to be careful when cutting the leaves, you don't want to cut two leaves and accidently cut one completely out.  If you try this, you'll understand what I mean when you start cutting.

Here's the finished card:  

I did spritz some Smooch Spritz over the card when I was done for a bit of sparkle.  

What do YOU think - isn't it much better than a flat wreath?

I'd love to hear your thoughts - be sure to leave me a comment at the bottom of this post.

Now....what's all the great news?

Let's start with this month's Monthly Hostess Winner: 

K'lynn H!  Congrats - you've won $105 in Stampin' Up! product PLUS 2 half priced items!

Don't worry - I'll run this in November too....you'll have your chance (twice!). Stay tuned for those details!!!

Hold on here....let me get my best announcer voice going.....you too....say it with me....

But wait - there's MORE~!

It's Tuesday....and Tuesday's are almost better than Friday's anymore!  Tuesday means lots of new:

New Weekly Deals:

7/8" SCALLOP CIRCLE PUNCH Price: $12.95 $9.71	BLOSSOM PETALS XL PUNCH Price: $6.79 $5.09	ISLAND INDIGO BAKER'S TWINE Price: $2.95 $2.21	KEEP THIS MEMORY PHOTOBOOK TEMPLATE - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $19.95 $9.98
OVALS COLLECTION FRAMELITS DIES Price: $26.95 $20.21	PAPER SNIPS Price: $9.95 $7.46	SECRET GARDEN FRAMELITS DIES Price: $24.95 $18.71	STAMPIN' PIERCE MAT Price: $4.95 $3.71

You can purchase these great deals from my online store  Just remember - prices are only valid for one week!

Whether you're designing Christmas cards, gifts for friends and family, decorations for your home, or your 2013 photobooks-we've got what you need with 30% off of a variety of downloads.

And, once you've designed your projects, don't forget to place your orders before November 30. You can get 30% off photobooks, swatchbooks, cards, tags, and individual pages.

Need a little inspiration? Join us on MyDigitalStudio.net all month long for ideas. Post your samples to the gallery too! But, hurry, the sale ends November 30.

You can find all of the discounted downloads HERE.

Guess what?  More great things today - new package bundles!!

And....NEW downloads for My Digital Studio!

CALM CHRISTMAS STAMP BRUSH SET - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $2.95

FALL MEMORIES NOVEMBER KIT - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $9.95

FALL MEMORIES NOVEMBER WALLPAPER - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $0.00

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

October Hostess Code: CLOSED
Learn how to use the code here.

Silhouette Sunday...a Hybrid Project

Hey there folks...welcome back to Silhouette Sunday!  Today I have a fun project that I created - and it was super easy....thanks to My Digital Studio, and my Silhouette.

I started today with an 11x16 piece of canvas board that I found at Wal-Mart.  I used Multipurpose Glue to adhere designer series paper from Season of Style to the board.  Make sure you get your glue clear to the edges so that the paper doesn't lift.  Then I took my sanding block to sand off any paper that extended past the edge.  That really helped clean it all up. 

Next, I imported the Merry & Bright and Snowflake Woodcuts from My Digital Studio into the Silhouette Design Center, adjusted the size and cut them out: The Merry & Bright from Cherry Cobbler CS and the largest snowflake from Champagne Glimmer Paper.  I glued those down where I wanted them.  

Now, all I needed to do was build up the snowflake.  I used Festive Flurry, stamped the largest and smallest snowflakes with Versamark on Cherry Cobbler then heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  The middle snowflake is Cherry Cobbler embossing powder on Whisper White.  I stacked all of these on top of the glittery snowflake with Stampin' Dimensions.  I love the results and how the red snowflakes appear to be as one - they just melt together...even in person - it's almost an optical illusion!

What do YOU think of today's project?  I'd love to hear from you - be sure to leave a comment.

And don't forget to get yourself added to my mailing list so that you can get more great tips and tricks!  Sign up here:  

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

October Hostess Code: 4CA6KX9D
Learn how to use the code here.

Lidded Gift Boxes from the Envelope Punch Board

Hey there!  Have I mentioned lately that there is a new love in my life???  

No....not Christian Grey.

And no.  Not Jamie Dornan....

It's the Envelope Punch Board.  This thing hasn't left my side in weeks.  I haven't actually made many envelopes with it....boxes are my thing.....

Today's box is a lidded gift box made from Designer Series Paper.

Trying to show you the scale of this in a photo is a little difficult.  But this one will hold 5 Stampin' Up! Ink Pads with ease.  Wouldn't that be great if you've got someone that you want to gift the In Colors to?  I happen to think so.

If you'd like to know how to create this box and 4 others, be sure to attend my online class!  If you aren't subscribed to my mailing list yet, you'll be able to take this class for half off - you'll receive a message once you've completed the sign up process.  The link to join my mailing list is at the upper right corner of my blog.  

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

October Hostess Code: 4CA6KX9D
Learn how to use the code here.

Happy Birthday!!!

It's time to CELEBRATE!!!  Stampin' Up!'s 25th Birthday is this week and what a better way to party than offering 25% off these 25 stamps???  
Be sure to head on over to my Online Store and get yours today!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

October Hostess Code: 4CA6KX9D
Learn how to use the code here.

Manic Monday!

Time for another QUICK card!  Good thing, cuz a Manic Monday it was....

....inside says....I'm so lost without you!  Card for my hubby who is spending all of his days and into the nights in the corn and bean fields!  We don't see much of each other these days.....which is sometimes good....sometimes bad!

October Hostess Code: 4CA6KX9D
Learn how to use the code here.

Envelope Punch Board Online Class

Envelope Punch Board Class

Warning: Prepare yourself to be amazed!!

The Envelope Punch Board is an awesome tool for creating envelopes in 66+ sizes.  
BUT it's even better than that!  You can create several other projects that aren't envelopes at all....
I'm here to show you in this online class!

You'll learn to create 5 boxes in various sizes, great for gift giving - two have lids that coordinate!  Plus, there's a box perfectly sized for gifting your handmade cards!

Follow along, watch in your pj's, stop, rewind....it's yours to watch over and over!

Once you create one of these boxes, you won't be able to stop!  And why would you want to?  Your friends and family will be very impressed at your gift giving style!

Plus, you're going to be ecstatic that you invested in the Envelope Punch Board....or is it a Box Board???

The class features a video - about an hour long - demonstrating how easy these boxes are assembled.  Plus, I'll include a print out that has the dimensions for each box so you can keep for future reference.  

Take this class today!

Envelope Punch Board Class - 12.95 USD

October Hostess Code: 4CA6KX9D
Learn how to use the code here.