My Digital Studio Christmas Tag

Isn't this cute?   I was playing around in My Digital Studio tonight and thought I'd make up a few Christmas tags.   I fell in love with the Holly & Jolly Rub-ons last year and was so happy when they were offered on MDS.   Those trees are just too darn cute!    Having access to retired products is one of the reasons why I love this program so much.   There have been times when I loved a stamp, but it just wasn't in my budget at the time or else I forgot to order it and it retired.   My Digital Studio allows me to get some of those and usually a bit cheaper too!  I was able to go back and buy the Motorcycle stamp that I missed out on a few summers ago and I can print it on some Whisper White and color it in just like a stamped image.

With Christmas coming up, of course we are all starting to think about gifts.  These images are part of a calendar that I made for my brother last year.   He LOVED it and couldn't believe that I made it all by myself.  I bought MDS and  in just 3 days, I taught myself how to use it and made the calendar!   I was able to share all the pictures I'd taken of his dogs in a way that he could enjoy throughout the year.   I was quite proud of my first effort.  :)    I hope to do one for my whole family using pictures from our childhood.   The good thing is that I can make it once, but get it printed as many times as I need!

If you'd like to know more about the program or would like to see it in action, let me know and we'll get together for a little digital stamping.  :)  It is a great program that does so many things including photo books, calendar, greeting cards, blog headers, tags, etc.   My goal is to start using mine more, so be on the lookout for more projects here on my blog.

Friday Mashup: Halloween

I finally found some time to do a challenge today!   I made my next design team card for Freshly Made Sketches (well, I did two because I didn't love the first one) and then I had a bit of time left to do a challenge card!  I decided to try the challenge at The Friday Mashup and really mash it up and do both Halloween and the colors!  

Isn't this fun?   I love the embossed panel and of course my witchy owl.  I couldn't get a good picture where the sentiment didn't look so washed out, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit there.  

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Wicked Cool

Ink:  Staz On Black

Paper:  Concord Crush, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black, Whisper White, Brights DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, Little Leaves sizzlit, Owl builder punch

Simply Sent Special

One of the specials for October is a free coordinating stamp set when you purchase 2 of the Simply Sent Kits.   These kits are great for new stampers and for those times when you need a quick card, but still want something with a handmade look.   I plan to pick up several of them to give as gifts for the holidays.  I think 2 of the kits, the free stamp set, and a marker or ink pad all wrapped up would be a nice gift for both friends and family members.   It's a great way to share your hobby with others and possibly gain some new stampin' buddies. :)

Now the kits themselves are great, but I decided to play around with mine a bit this morning and add in a few extras to dress them up.   :)  Just goes to show how they work for all levels of stampers, even demonstrators! I love that I have a gorgeous card and a matching gift box to give to someone special this Christmas.   (Big thanks to my fellow demonstrators Leena and Lael for the inspiration and box tutorial).   After making these, I decided to get 2 of this kit and add in a spool of ribbon and a package of the basic pearls for that special person on my gift list.  I hope she'll like it.  

If you'd like to order your kits, you can find them in my online store here or you can contact me to place your order.   Remember this special is only good for October, so don't wait too long or you'll miss out.

Club Project #3: Stockings!

Whew....I finally finished preparing for my clubs this week!  I was so used to prepping for 4 or 5 people, so going up to 12 was a wow moment for me.   I hope the ladies will enjoy them all.   I had to pull out my new favorite Stitched Stockings stamp set and its matching punch.    I also got in some fun new designer paper, Frostwood Lodge.  Isn't it cute?!   I can't wait to cut into the woodgrain paper in that one!   :)

Stamps:  Stitched Stockings, Petite Pairs
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Garden Green
Paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Garden Green, Frostwood Lodge designer paper
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Houndstooth embossing folder, Stocking builder punch, Mini Clothespins (TOO CUTE!), Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps are a brand-new product and perfect for crafters and non-crafters, alike--not to mention kids!

The easy-to-use cookie stamp has a solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images: a heart, a jack-o-lantern, and a snowflake.

Just make your favorite shortbread cookie dough (or one of the two included recipes) and stamp away! Create beautiful, hand-stamped cookies in a flash. The stamp images are completely food-safe and child-friendly.

Now I'm not a cookie maker, but the easy recipes that come with the stamps make yummy cookies that work well with the cookie stamps.    I've made both and they received rave reviews from my sweet customers. 

 Assembled ingredients; not too many, right?   Long lists of ingredients scare me, so this was a good start. 

My Kitchenaid mixer whipped up the dough easily and I was ready to start rolling!

Next step, roll in sugar. Mmmm...sugar!  :)   

Now comes the fun part, stamping!   Doesn't this look fun?   You just press down on the balls and lift!  You get a nice flat cookie with a cute image in the middle.  Easy peasy!  

Aren't they pretty?! The heart stamped cookies are the sugared shortbread that I made for my club last month.  Below are the sugar cookies that I made for my class last week.   Both are yummy, so you can't go wrong with whichever one you decide to make!

Are you ready for the details so you can order yours today?   :)

Item Number  125152  Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps:  Includes solid wood handle with three interchangeable stamp images, two recipes, and tips for use.   $16.95

Don't forget these coordinating products that will help you make some beautiful gifts for the holidays!

19	Simple Snowflake Single Stamp	$8.95
20	Homemade Single Stamp	$9.95
162	Creatively Yours Set	$18.95
194	Baker's Twine	$2.95
224	Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die Set	$21.95
15*	Kraft Gift Box (4)	$2.95

If you'd like to give these a try, come to my Try It Thursday class on November 17th!  The cost is only $10, but I'll waive that if you purchase the featured bundle that day. Either way, you'll go home with a completed project or cards and have a fun time stamping. :)  This event will feature the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps, the Kraft Gift Boxes, and Stampin' Up! fabric.   Please RSVP by the 13th to reserve your spot.

FMS5: Fun Flowers

Time for another sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!   We have two wonderful designers joining us for the next six months and you don't want to miss their gorgeous cards this week.  A big Texas welcome to Jen Timko and Cindy Hall; so glad to have y'all stamping with us!   My fellow transplanted Texan and friend Anne Marie is also joining us this week as our featured designer, so stop by and say howdy and check out her beautiful creation!    (I'm working on my Texas talk, can you tell?  lol)

This one was definitely a challenge for me and I hope my card actually resembles it.   I kept trying different things and finally settled on one that I like. It deviates a bit from the sketch, but I think you can still see it.  (If not, please pretend that you do, okay?) 

I wanted something bright and fun and I think this fits the bill.   I have been making so many fall and Christmas cards that it was nice to take a break and do something with some of my favorite colors.   I am still loving my Fun Flowers die and the font on Perfectly Penned is to die for!  

Stamps:  Perfectly Penned

Ink:  Island Indigo

Paper:  Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry, Brights DSP stack

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Fun Flowers die, Brights buttons, White Baker's Twine

Be sure to stop and say hello to my fellow designers:

Tui Nathan

Lesley Croghan

Linda Callahan

Jen Mitchell

Prepping for Club!

This week I have the pleasure of stamping with my two clubs and I'm so excited!   There is nothing better than getting together with a group of ladies who share your love of paper crafts.   I have been working on some ideas and here are the first two projects that we'll be making.   Aren't they pretty?!   I wanted to make the little sour cream containers and after seeing how darling they were, I had to make a matching card.  

Now I'm no expert, but I think this just might qualify as a vintage card.  I love when the idea I have in my head turns out even better than I thought it would.   :)   I'm going to stand by my statement that you can't make an ugly card with the Spice Cake designer paper.  I'm ordering a second (and maybe even a third) pack of it on my next order!   If you don't have it yet, I'm serious when I say GET IT NOW!    :)    

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude

Ink:  Soft Suede, Pool Party

Paper:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, Spice Cake, Very Vanilla

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, Top Note die, Lots of Tags sizzlit dies, XL oval punch, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, sponges

As a demonstrator, I get an awesome magazine from Stampin' Up! each month called Stampin' Success.  In the September edition, one of the articles featured these adorable sour cream containers.   Sour cream?   There's none in there, but they are shaped like the containers you'd get in some restaurants.   :)    You can add some fun treats or candy and use them as a favor or gift.   Did you see the fabric?!   I bought some AND I used it!   I'm terrified of anything related to sewing, but these were easy and no sewing was required.  

Stamps:  Falling Leaves
Ink:  Soft Suede
Paper:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, Very Vanilla
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice and Stripes embossing folders, tag punch, Spice Cake fabric, Early Espresso Baker's Twine

PP66: The Sound of Music

LeAnne at the Paper Players has a super fun challenge for everyone this week to add music to their project or create something inspired by your favorite song.  Anne Marie was having a busy week, so I have the pleasure of stamping in her place this week.  For my card, I decided to use one of my favorite songs, which was also our wedding song 7 years ago, A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson.    

For my card, I used Elements of Style, a stamp set that I have not been a fan of in the past.   I thought the sentiment really worked for my idea, so I borrowed it from a friend and gave it a shot.    I did have fun coloring it in with my blender pens, so I can say that I like it more now than I did before.  :)   I'm not sure how well you can see the butterfly, but it is gorgeous in real life.  It adds a bit of dimension and interest to the image panel.  Our wedding colors were plum and silver, but seeing as how I don't yet own those, I went with a mix of purples and white.   I wanted a very clean, somewhat simple card that really said "Us".

Stamps:  Elements of Style
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Beautiful Butterflies die, basic pearls, blender pens

Here we are back on March 13, 2004.   We had no idea how much our lives would change or that each "moment" might not always be a happy one.  In spite of those bad moments, we've stuck together and survived the loss of my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, and our only child.  I feel very loved each and every day and I could never find someone who is as perfect for me as my dear Jason.   His support and kindness are never ending and I love him with all my heart and soul.

I hope you enjoyed my card and didn't laugh too much at my old picture.  I'd love for you to play along with us this week!