WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SUMMER??

Can you believe this weather? I know we shouldn't complain because we have had such a wet summer, but can't we spread it out a little. And now they are saying a low in the 30's tonight. My gosh, I haven't used hardly any of my Soft Subtles cardstock, etc., and Fall is at my back door. Well maybe I will start something new and use my Soft Subtles in the Winter. It will make me feel like Summer anyway.

I thought I would show you one more of my cards from my last card class. At least it does use Blush Blossom from the Soft Subtles color family on the embossed panel (SU's Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder). I put a dab of color on the embossing and sentiment to make them pop a little more; then adhered to Soft Suede cardstock, after applying the knotted ribbon. Another easy-peesy card, as requested by my clients. I hope you like.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

HERE IT IS . . .

Okay ladies, don’t you just love my surprise for you today!! I love, love, love all of these cards. Yes, I made all of them, but sadly I can’t take the credit for any. They were all designed by Ronda Wade, and offered at one of her “Classes to Go” events recently.

Most of you probably know Ronda . If you don’t know her, then you have missed out. She has been awarded #1 SU Demonstrator of the Year for 3 of the past 4 years, was the first demonstrator to ever be picked twice for the SU Advisory Board, and went on Cruise all 8 years she has been a demonstrator. She is the leader of the RubberQueens, who have been in the Top 5 for sales in the company for the last 6 years. She does monthly meetings with all her downline to provide motivation, training, and workshop samples. And I am lucky enough to have her as my upline!! I could go on and on about her achievements, but she would absolutely kill me if she read this.

I have to add, however, Ronda’s forté is training her downline to build their business. The good news is she now offers Personal Training for all demonstrators!! You really need to check out her blog (click here) to find out how you can build your business.  I promise you, what she offers is unique and worth every penny of what she charges. I signed up as a Demonstrator because it was my hobby, and had no intentions of doing more than my minimums – still feel that way. But with Ronda’s guidance, I have sales way over my minimums, classes, and new recruit offers – and I’m not even trying (honest). I am sharing this with you because I read so many forums on SCS about demonstrators struggling to get their business up and running and/or having no upline. One of our company's taglines is to “share,” and this is one of the ways I can share with you by getting the word out that there is a way to build your business.

So my surprise today is twofold: four beautiful cards you can use at your workshops/classes and an option for building your business. And speaking of cards, did you notice all four of these cards were done with our new “Very Thankful,” Ronald McDonald Making a Difference stamp set? I don’t usually share pictures of card classes I attend, but these are so awesome in real life (we all know our pictures don’t do justice to the real thing). I will be doing these at my next card class because my customers love these quick WOW cards (that’s a whole other story) & because they show the versitility of one stamp set. Don’t you just love that turtle, and how about the boy holding the heart?? Sorry, can you tell these are my favorites.

I hope you liked my surprise, leave a comment and let me know what you think. And thanks for stopping by, Sandi

Okay, I am a day late and really didn't want to post my attempt at creating a card inspired by my birthday card posted on Wednesday (see below) -- but I guess I have done worse. Looking at Eva's card inspired me to use my Big Shot Lattice die on the Rose Red cardstock, layered on black, and the base of my card also in Rose Red cardstock. You can't tell by the picture, but I actually used a black "patch" for clothes in the Lattice die that you iron on. I wanted something with a little more texture, and just ironed it on after adding some pieces to enlarge the lattice. That part was easy-peesy!! For the flowers I used my Pretties kit, Daisy #2 die, & flower punch; applied Pretties Pearls and silver brads. Okay, I hear yah -- it's not as pretty as Eva's, but I didn't have a lot of time to fool around ladies!!

Make sure you stop back this weekend as I will have a real treat for you -- it's a surprise so I can't tell you anything more. I can't tell, I can't tell, I can't tell . . .
Geez, I have a hard time keeping things as a surprise,

so I'm OUT OF HERE . . . . . . . . .

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

Birthday's Are So Much Fun!!

Who said getting old is no fun???? Well, take it from me folks, they don't know what they are talking about. Last month was my birthday, but I received an awesome surprise in the mail last week from my very best friend, Eva. We roomed together after both of us graduated, right up until we both got married (yes, we both got married approximately the same time so we would have somebody else to live with -- LOL). We also worked together at MSU. Our desks sat right next to each other until our supervisor separated us because we laughed too much. She is also the Godmother to my girls and loves to scrapbook. She lives in Arizona now, so I hardly ever see her. Boohoo!!

Anyway, today I am doing something that I never, ever do -- displaying a card that does not use Stampin' Up product. Please forgive me Shelli -- it will never happen again! Eva made this card for me (as she has done for years), and I just had to show it off because I loved it so much. Not only because it is beautiful, but because SHE made it just for me. And yes, this will go in my scrap book, as it needs to be enjoyed for many more years by my children, grandchildren, and future generations. Just like I do when I look at my mother's pictures and clippings that she preserved. So the moral of this story is that everybody loves to receive a hand-made card (and yes, I'm sending her one in the mail tomorrow)!

I have no idea how to describe the card, but I'll try my best. The base is black, with pink layers on outside and inside. The design is all one piece of black embroidered flowers and leaves adhered to pink cardstock. She attached white flower brads on this, with little silver beads and added pearls in the middle of black flowers. Tomorrow I am going to make a card based on this card for my inspiration. I hope it turns out so I can post. WARNING: Usually my interpretations don't turn out, and I get this look from my sister like, "Oh my gosh, what were you thinking!" So can't promise anything for sure.

Thanks for stopping by! Brighten someones day by sending them a card made by you!!
Sandi

Sugar & Spice . . .

And everything nice!! This is a first for me, as I don't think I have ever posted a baby card before. Yes, I'm stepping out of my box! But who can resist this darling Animal Stories stamp set, along with the Tall Tales Designer Series Paper.

I embossed the So Saffron cardstock panel with the polka dot Big Shot Texture plate and then stamped the elephant over it in Chocolate Chip ink, used the Scallop punch, and layered on a thin strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock to make my pocket. The So Saffron cardstock tag uses the Everything Nice stamp set, with the Bermuda Bay polka dot ribbon. The Bermuda Bay cardstock tag uses a button from the Button Latte Designer Buttons, with some embroidery thread.

I was going to post another card with this, but I have to stop procrastinating and get some "office" work done. Ugh!! I hate this part of my business, but I have 20 new stamp sets to type labels for, a supply list to prepare for my Christmas Card stamp-a-stack class, and phone calls to make so I can work on a team challenge my upline gave to all of us at our last meeting. I can't believe I waited until a FRIDAY to do this -- Friday is my DO NOTHING day!! Shhhh, don't tell my husband!

It's going to be a hot/humid weekend, so everybody keep cool, and I'll be back soon!!
Sandi

Christmas in August???

Does this make 3 postings in one week?!? Just don't get used to it, it just so happens I've been doing a lot of projects lately due to classes and events.

Tonight I'm going to switch things up a bit by showing you my swap card from last night's RubberQueen meeting, using my Delightful Decorations stamp set I also got yesterday (yah, I had to put these together really quick). I used the Packing Tape Technique in the Glorious Green stamped ornament (i.e., after punching the image out with the new Ornament Punch, I applied packing tape to back, and Dazzling Diamonds glitter; I then reattached the punched image on the back layer). I also used the beautiful new Sleigh Bells cotton ribbon -- which I love, love, love!! Cardstock: Glorious Green, Real Red, Crushed Curry, & Whisper White. I loved making this card and bought this set specifically so I could use it with this technique. Sorry the sparkles don't show up real well, but if you right-click on the image, you can open a larger picture in a new window to see the sparkle and the texture of the ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

Butterflies and More

Here are a few more pictures of cards I made up for my Dry Debossing technique presentation. They are pretty basic -- can you tell I like butterflies?

My Fabulous Friend card was inspired by another card I saw done by "Bitsyboo." I used the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP for my background layer; and Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, & Whisper White for layers, etc. The circle was Whisper White embossed with Shelli's Backgrounds I Texture Plate then turned over to the debossed side and brayed with Crushed Curry ink. Used the Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot die with the same DSP and added a couple of Square Ice rhinestones. I loved the colors and how happy this card looks.

The Friend card was embossed using my SU light table and the Priceless brass template, turned over on debossed side to use the Upsy Daisy stamp with VersaMark ink to Clear emboss. Then I brayed the whole panel with Bermuda Bay ink. I embossed the Vellum card stock with the Backgrounds I Texture Plate and then cut with the Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot Die. I little ribbon and brad to finish it off.

The Thank You card was a mistake/boo-boo card. I did the debossed panel again with the new Perfect Details Texture Plate, brayed on the Crushed Curry ink on debossed side, and used the Bella Toille background stamped in Rose Red. A little Garden Green ink was applied around the edges of the layer before applying to the Whisper White card base and stamped with the sentiment. I really didn't like it that well but decided to finish it off and put it on the card base. I was surprised when one of my clients at yesterday's class said she really liked it and wanted to know if I would do it for my nest class.

My classes went very well on Saturday and I already have my class just about full for next month when I will be starting my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack classes. Everybody loved the Christmas samples I had on display Saturday. I decided today that I offer a class during the week to accommodate some new clients that would like to attend during the day. We will see how it goes.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

What can I say????

Boy, I could just kick myself for not going to convention this year. I tell yah, once you go you can't stand being at home when you know how much fun everybody is having. All I can do is visit all the blogs and live through them. Oh well, next year will get here sooner than I think, and I won't make the same mistake again -- I WILL BE GOING!!






















So instead of mooping around, here are some pictures from last Saturday's RubberQueen meeting featuring the Big Shot, and designed & demonstrated by my sideline Sandy Haynes. She has been designated our official Big Shot master demonstrator to make presentations at our meetings. She always does such an awesome job. I particularly loved these jackpot boxes because I grew up playing cards and board games with my siblings. Aren't they just the cutest!!

The other box uses the new petals die, with one of the Corduroy Buttons inside a large grommet. This picture does not really do justice to how pretty it is in person.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

Dry Debossing Technique

Hello again everybody! I know, you didn't even get a chance to see my last posting and here I am back again. Well, just make sure you scroll down the page so you don't miss anything. Today I am posting a few more pictures of the card samples I did for my presentation last Saturday on Dry Debossing.

The "Live, Laugh, & Love" card was debossed using my SU Light Table and Priceless Classy Brass Template and then stamping over the debossed side with Chocolate Chip brayered on the Sanded background stamp.

The "Note of Thanks" card uses the SU Backgrounds 1 Floral Texturz Plate, with Brilliant Blue ink brayered over the debossed side, and layered with Tall Tales DSP.

And last, but not least, is the "Grandpa" card using the back of the same Texturz Plate, with Chocolate Chip ink brayered over, layered with Top Note die, Chocolate Chip Button Latte with twine, and stamped with "Autumn Days" and "Let the Fun Begin."

I still have lots more using this technique, but to give you a break; I will post some of the other techniques created by RubberQueens in my next posting! I'm telling yah, these ladies are talented, so stay tuned for more.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

I'm Back Ladies!!

Well I am so excited because I have lots of new projects to show you for at least the next couple of weeks. First let me tell you, I had a wonderful time at the RubberQueen meeting yesterday. Ronda, Queen of the RubberQueens, had one of her all-day affairs that was jam-packed with presentations, swaps, and displays. We had presentations on ten different techniques, and then we all made a technique book after the presentations. I did a presentation on the Dry Debossing Technique. I won't even go into how flustered I was and confirmed in front of everybody why I am ---- a hobbyist and do not do workshops (even tho I know Ronda is trying to teach me, she just doesn't realize what she has to work with yet -- or maybe after yesterday she does). But Ronda has the greatest group of ladies on her team, so they just laughed with me and I got through the dreaded ordeal. And I still had a great day, because I love it when I learn something new (which just about all the techniques were new for me yesterday).

Above are my album pages showcasing the Dry Debossing technique.

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: Sanded Background
INK: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, StazOn Brown
CARDSTOCK/PAPER: Cottage Wall DSP and Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, and Whisper White Cardstock
ACCESSORIES: Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, On Board Essentials, On Board Simon Lower (discontinued), Rub-Ons, Ribbon, Jumbo Eyelet, Jumbo Brad, Pop can (cut), Clear Embossing Powder, and Punches.

This was the first time I had used metal (cut from a used pop can) to run through my Big Shot. I was so surprised how easy and smooth it went through the Big Shot. Excellent for using in the Embossing Folder because it is a very thin metal. After embossing, I turned it over to the "debossed" side and rubbed on some StazOn Brown ink and then some Clear Embossing Powder while still wet, then heat set and applied some rub-ons. I used SU Sticky Tape to apply it to the chipboard tag. And yes, I now have 2 more pages done for my Heritage Album!!

Thanks for stopping by and stop back tomorrow for more samples!!
Sandi