OUT WITH THE OLD & IN WITH THE NEW!!!

Only six more days, and let the shopping begin!!!  I have so many sticky notes in the new 2014-15 Stampin' Up Catalog marking product for my wish list. It would have been easier to mark the product I have/don't need.  I forgot that the Occasions Mini Catalog was also retiring, so if you haven't purchased that special stamp set or accessary from this mini catalog -- this is your last chance!! 

Today I have a couple of cards using retiring product -- one of them is the En Françoise Background Stamp, my favorite of all background stamps and a "must have" as far as I am concerned.  If you don't have it, I will tell you right now, "I'm not selling it to anybody (including my family)."  Sorry, I just had to get that out there so I won't feel guilty saying "No" when somebody asks.  I also have a few cards I did today using new sneak peek product.

I stamped with the En Françoise Background Stamp (retiring in 6 days) and sponged with Soft Suede Ink on Whisper White Card Stock using a torn piece of scrap paper for a mask over the Whisper White (stamping on the negative space).

I used the Simple Sketched Hostess Stamp Set (retiring in 6 days) stamped on designer paper and cut out to create the flower on this card.  I had stamped it directly on the card base, but messed up when coloring so decided to cover it with designer paper (I hate to throw booboos away).

Wahoo, and lookie what we have coming in the new catalog!!!  This card and the next two were created using the new In This Together Stamp Set and Blendabilities.  I also used the new Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine.

I used the new Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack for this card (along with the other product mentioned above).

As soon as I saw this print in the Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack, I knew I was going to use it with this stamp!

Until next time,
Sandi

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."  --  Matthew 5:5

I'M IN LOVE: SNEAK PEEK!!

Yep, no doubt about it -- I'm in love with the new Stampin' Up products coming June 2nd!!  Due to the holiday coming up and other commitments this month, I had to have an early sneak peak event to show my friends what is in store for them in the new 2014-15 Stampin' Up! Catalog.  Hands down, they loved all the new product -- and the Blendabilities was the top winner!!!  In all honesty, they totally blew me away with the beautiful cards they created using the Blendabilities.  I think everybody was a little intimated before they used them, but after a quick demonstration of the features and use, they jumped right in and totally "got it" and loved how fast and easy they were to use!!  I wish I would have taken pictures of their cards before they left so you could have seen how beautiful they turned out (from now on they are going to be known as my "artist" friends), but you will just have to look at my Blendabilities card below.

Here are the cards they made yesterday:

Supplies:  Something for Baby and Something to Say Stamp Sets; Pistachio Pudding & Coastal Cabana Card Stock; Moonlight Designer Series Paper Pack; Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana, & Soft Suede Ink Pads; Baby's First Framelits; Scalloped Tag Topper Punch; Tea Lace Paper Doilies; & Pistachio Pudding Thick Baker's Twine. 

Supplies:  Work of Art Stamp Set; Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, & Crisp Cantaloupe Card Stock; Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, & Calypso Coral Ink Pads; & Rhinestones Basic Jewels. 

Supplies:  Traveler, Teeny Tiny Wishes, & World Map Stamp Sets; Early Espresso Ink Pad; Lost Lagoon & Very Vanilla Card Stock; Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, & Vintage Trinkets (get these now before they are gone June 1).

Supplies:  Blended Bloom, Label Love, & Springtime Hello (this stamp set on envelope will be gone soon, so get it now!!) Stamp Sets; Hello Honey, Shimmer White, & Old Olive Card Stock; Moonlight Designer Series Paper Pack; Daffodil Delight & Old Olive Blendabilities; Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon; & Artisan Label Punch.

I hope you all agree with me, the sneak peek product above is gorgeous and I'm in love with all of it!

Until next time,
Sandi
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction . . .."

--  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

PROJECT LIFE IS HERE (WITH PAPER PUMPKIN)!!

I have been having so much fun this week with my new Stampin’ Up Project Life products.  My first love, and the reason I joined Stampin’ Up, was to purchase the best, quality-product for my scrapbooking.  However, I still have hundreds of those pictures from trips, events, etc. that would take me forever to get in an album.  The solution:  Project Life!!!  With Project Life, I am able to get the pictures organized; protected; and most important, TELL MY STORY in a quick and simple manner!!  The most important (and I would say “sacred”) part of scrapbooking your life is your story that goes along with your life adventures.  My children, grandchildren, etc. are not going to open that album up if it does not tell my story of how I saw life at that moment.  Think about it, would you want to just sit and look at a pile of pictures without names, places, and thoughts?  Here is what Project Life offers:  It helps busy people (so basically all of us) document life using photos and journaling in a quick, simple, and fabulous way.   

Stampin’ Up has partnered with Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life, to offer a complete line of elite products.  Becky explains, “It's called Project LIFE because it's about YOUR LIFE.  Whatever your life is.  Whatever your stage of life.  Whatever your family circumstances.  Whatever your lifestyle.  Project Life is designed to help anyone and everyone get their pictures into a book.”  In a nutshell, it's all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.  This simple scrapbooking solution appeals to non-crafters and crafters alike.  The product line centers on things that matter most -- weddings, babies, kids, and the everyday moments of getting together with your favorite people (all things that need to be remembered.)  The card collections come packaged in an exclusive storage system that holds all your Project Life supplies on your desk:  cards, journaling pens, photos, accessory packs, stamp sets, and more.  And best of all, everything coordinates with Stampin’ Up products you probably already own (card stock, ink pads, accessories, etc.).   

Today I have 3 album pages that I put together very quickly to give you an idea of what Project Life has to offer.  I didn’t add any “bells and whistles,” just the basic Project Life product – so you could see how beautiful the pages turn out with just Project Life product.  You still have the ability to step-up your pages!!  Along with the stamps offered in the Project Life line, I used a couple of my favorite stamps from My Paper Pumpkin Kit on the pages.

*The "Wahoo" and "Notes" stamps are from My Paper Pumpkin Kits.

 

The Project Life items listed below (except the French stamp version) were used to finish these pages:

If you like my stamps from Paper Pumpkin:

• You can also purchase a subscription to My Paper Pumpkin to complete a unique, surprise kit with project-cards, journals, décor, and more!  (Stampin’ Up has even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories -- everything but adhesive.
• Sign up by the 10th of each month to get that month's kit.  If you sign up after the 10^th, you'll get next month’s kit as your first kit. 

Click on my “Shop Now” button (right margin) to order your Project Life product or a subscription to My Paper Pumpkin.

Until next time,

Sandi

“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”  --  Philippians 4:11

BIRTHDAYS FOR ALL AGES!!

Oh my gosh, this has been such an amazing week!!!  First, I had an awesome time at my card class with all my amazing stampin' friends -- who always bring so much cheer into my life. 

Then I attended Ronda Wade's card class and dinner prior to attending Stampin' Up's! first-ever live 2014 Catalog Premiere with stampers from all over Michigan.  We enjoyed a 2 1/2 hour show, with over 7,600 other U.S. and Canadian demonstrators in 39 theaters, to watch the Simulcast show, hosted by SU Co-Founder and CEO Shelli Gardner, from Long Beach, California.  We saw a sneak peek of the new products coming in June; and Shelli, Carrie Cudney, Shannon West, Bonnie Thurber, and Donna Griffin (LIVE in Long Beach) demonstrated projects using the NEW products coming out in June!  (And of course the ever delightful Brian Pillings, in an awesome tux, also added his 2-cents.)  I'm SOOOO excited about the new product …and those were just the tip of the iceberg!  On our way out, they handed us a NEW 2014-15 Stampin' Up! Catalog and  new stamp set!  How awesome was that!!! 

And then, today, to top my week off -- I put in my sneak-peek order for all NEW product!!!  That means I should have it in my hands by next week to play with and prepare projects for upcoming classes.  In the meantime, don't forget about ordering those stamp sets and accessories that will be gone on June 1.

Here are the cards from my card class:

Here's Elmo for that little guy's birthday!!  Made using the Circles Framelits and Circle Card Thinlits' Dies.

And here he is inside showing his big smile!!

And here's Sweetie Pie for that little girl's birthday!!

And here's to the graduate using the Envelope Punch Board.

And here's the inside showing the gift card holder that pops up.

And here's to the older kids, using all the new Gold Washi Tape, Baker's Twine, and Card Stock.

And here is the inside.

Until next time,
Sandi

"We love Him because he first loved us."  --  1 John 4:19