this weekend was a busy one.  I was working on my goody bag items for a retreat I am going on this coming weekend-which I can not share yet-as it's a surprise...so I'll post it over the weekend.

but then I was also working on a "thank you" card order for a friend of mine.  She wanted something with a rubber ducky -to go along with the quote she picked out.  so here is the beginning of the card

I have the text printed out now, so will print it onto card stock then punch it out and put it in the upper right hand corner.  I think they came out well :)

As I continue working on some orders, I had to make a few birthday cards for someone at work.  I needed some 'generic' ones.  and believe it or not, I found it a little stumping.  But I managed :)  There are great ideas out there on the web!

 this one I made following the colours from Stampin UP! Colour Coach.  I like how it came together, yet it's simple.

 this one was cased-with a couple differences.  I love this (retired) paper from SU.  the colours work well and it's just fun.

but this one is my favourite of the bunch!  I will have to make more of these!  It uses DSP that was a free gift during Stampin UP! Sale-A-Bration.  I got a few packs of this, and the ribbon too!!  I love them.  The stamp set was a gift during SAB as well.  It just works!  I cased this off my upline.  it's too stinking cute!!!

another card I made was a little note card for a friend of mine.  She's been a rock for me the last couple weeks, and I know she loves and appreciates my cards.  it's a little 3x3 note card, and coordinating envelope.  I decorated the envelope with a little punch and brad.

as I said, I needed a distraction this weekend...so on Sunday I attended another class at my SU Upline's house.  This time it focused on the SU Simply Scored and new diagonal plate.  OMG I love how easy it is to make envelopes and boxes!

 the first one, is a standard card and envelope.  using SU DSP, it glides like butter on the diagonal plate!

 the second one is a cute little 3x3 card and envelope.  It makes for a great gift tag.

 this little cutie is a post it note holder.  It fits a 3x3 pack of post its.  It will fit nicely in a purse and will be a great gift idea for a few co-workers. 

and lastly is a box. it'll hold at least 6 cards depending on the embellishments. (possibly more if no embellishments)  this would make a nice holder for gift giving of a set of cards. 

there were 6 of us in the class, and it took me about an hour and a half to complete everything.  I know I'd get them done faster working alone, so these are simple projects to do.

This weekend I needed a distraction, and luckily I had a few things to keep me busy.  First, I kept working on the favours and banner for the baby shower this coming weekend.  Saturday was spent melting chocolate and pouring molds for a variety of candy for the favours.  I am pleased with how they came out-even after issues with the microwave sparking while melting the chocolates in pyrex bowls!  That was crazy!  I had to resort to the double boiler method.  It took longer, but I got almost all of it done.  I have a few more bottle chocolate pops to make. 

I don't have a pic of them yet, but I'll take one, and post them.

The other stuff I was working on was the banner.
I love how they came out.  There are 2 banners- one says "WELCOME BABY" the other says "KASHMIR" I separated the name, so it can be hung in the nursery after the shower.

Here's the name:

each pennant measures about 5 1/4" high.  I used SU pear pizzazz, so saffron, and whisper white papers.  I am really pleased with how it came out.  The pennant and letters are from my Cricut.  I used the Baby Shower and Storybook cartridges. 

it's been a few days since I've been in the Igloo.... but I was down there yesterday, as one of my friends from work and good customer needed a card.  And I had to make a card for another co-worker for her birthday to pass around today.  So the card created needed a horse theme.  I of course had no horse stamps LOL, but I remember seeing this idea with the SU stocking punch.  I am so glad I ordered it!!

the other day, I also continued work on a customer order for her daughter's baby shower.  I made 30 cupcake toppers.  They came out so cute!!!

see the full list of retiring stamps here:  LAST CHANCE 

April 15- May 31!  get them before they're gone! 

visit: My Site

after a relaxing weekend-mainly sleep. I did manage a few things this weekend.

Friday night I went to a class.  I love this set and box.  It's so easy and quick, so it's great for beginners.

 the box that the 4 cards are stored in is adorable!  it makes for a great gift - or keep it for yourself :)

card 1: super simple and super cute :) 

 card 2: love the purple ribbon!

 card 3: this is cute and the cupcake popped up is yummy!

card 4: I love the framelits!  they really add something to a card.

















On Sunday I managed to get 2 sympathy cards done for a co-worker

 the first one is kind of simple, but classy.  I like how it turned out.

the 2nd one I used a few techniques-embossing powder, embossing folder and ribbon accent. 

I must get some more phrases-I can't wait for the new catalogue to come out!!!

Yesterday at work, I was asked by 2 fellow co-workers for some cards needed by Friday.  And of course I can't say no lol after all, making my cards is what I live for :)  LOL   so I needed 3 Communion cards (2 girls, 1 boy) and a masculine birthday card...no problem.

I love doing this card for a masculine card.  this stamp set is so versatile.  And you can put just about anything in the bed of the pick up truck!

 I love this technique using the Stampin Up! top note die, and cutting the "scored" edges and making a shadow of a brighter colour.  It really gives it a punch.  The truck and present are water coloured, and the grass and clouds are stamped with ink and a sponge. 



Now for the Communion cards, I had a bit more of a moment with them.  I wasn't sure how formal I wanted to take it, but I think it works.

here are the girl and boy versions.  I made 2 girls, so they're the same.  The cross is made with the Stampin Up! lattice die (a pretty neat technique) and I added the matching ribbon to make the gold embossed area stand out. I like how they came out. 

girl version

boy version

 

So this Easter weekend, since I didn't have my son, it was pretty much a normal weekend for me.  So I spent it working on some other parts of a custom order I have.  I worked on the banners and party hats for a friend's son's 4th birthday.  Of course I forgot to take a pic of the party hat...but here are a couple shots of the banner.  I just need to add the ribbon/string to them

Each cape measures approx 10 inches long.  So the letters measure about 5 inches.  I love how they came out, especially when I did the black shadow on the letters...

I took a pic of just the "happy" part, it also says "birthday" but it's kind of hard to do the whole thing on the cell phone lo.  but you get the idea...

I think my friend will be very happy with how they're turning out.  The party hats are cute too...I'll add them later.


after finishing all the party hats last night, I took a picture of it,  I think they came out cute!  there is elastic
string on the sides so the kids can wear them

and the final part of this event...
t-shirts for the goody bags.  the icons cut out on my cricut (this is the first time I ever used fabric in my cricut-and probably the last) LOL  it was a nightmare!  I won't post pix of the disaster, but filigree and cricut do not mix!

the boys got a blue shirt with the superman icon. and the girls got a white shirt with the super (girl) icon, and then there were 2 adult female shirts with the same icon.  Originally there was supposed to be a filigree heart around the super(girl) icon, but that wouldn't cut properly, so I had to leave it off.

I am pleased with the end result though,and I hope my customer is too.

Thursday I decided to try my hand at a 3x3 card.  It's a little different, but cool.  I recently got the retired SU chocolate bunny from another demonstrator.  I love it!  It stamps an image that's good enough to eat. LOL

A while back I saw an idea used with it, and I knew I could do that.  I kept some of the idea, but other parts of it were changed up.

I made this for a friend at work, as she appreciates my cards.

so I decided after seeing these on another site that they would be *perfect* to put on the desks at work.  Just a little something for my department.  I had so many comments and compliments on them

a little chocolate in the morning can't hurt...right?

Just playing with another stamp set: Language of Friendship. It was a Sale A Bration choice. I also mixed some embossing folders (both of which were SAB items as well) Gotta love FREE :) but now this card will be headed EAST and a bit North of me....I love sending cards to friends and brightening their day!

NEW CATALOG IS COMING:

As you may have heard, Stampin' Up! will be changing the release date of their upcoming catalog to JUNE 1ST!  That means the current 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog will end May 31st.  8 weeks away!

There will be name change as well, to Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Annual Catalog.  Guess what else is changing?  The Definitely Decorative line and the Simply Adorned line will be discontinued and there will no longer be a Summer Mini Catalog.  (insert sad face)  NO WORRIES!!!  There will still be a Holiday and Occasions Mini catalogs and they will be BIGGER & BETTER to offer you more seasonal products!!

 Because of this change, Stampin' Up! has announced...

Starter Kit Substitution Item
March 20, 2012
The Definitely Decorative line will be discontinued with the 2012-2013 Annual Catalog. Because the Starter Kit currently includes the Always Bird Décor Elements, new demonstrators have the opportunity to select a substitute item (valued at $9.95 or less) that can be used to promote their new business beyond June.  When filling out the Independent Demonstrator Application--whether online or paper--new recruits can simply select any catalog item of $9.95 or less in place of the Always Bird Décor Elements.
___________________________________________________________________________________

RETIREMENT DATES:

The Retired Stamp List will be released on April 15, 2012.

The Retired Accessories/Décor Elements Lists will be released on April 25, 2012.

2010-2012 In Colors will also be retiring.  Stock up now before they Sell out!!!!

  

 CONCORD CRUSH                 PEAR PIZZAZ                PEACH PARFAIT

                              BLUSHING BRIDE                 POPPY PARADE

This weekend was a busy one.  Friday I was at a class at my upline's house.  We made these adorable 10 count note cards and decorated tin to hold them all.  

Then after spending 5 hrs at the dealer with my car, I seriously needed some time in my room.

since I've moved from Scrapbooking to Card making (as a business) I need to come up with a new name for my room.... 

I needed to make more birthday cards, so after finding some inspiration from one of my favourite sites: splitcoaststampers, I played with some new stamps...

this one used the Hostess special Fresh Vintage.  I also added a birthday oval from another stamp set (I think it's Perfect Punches or punch bunch).  I think this makes it look classy.  the blue is from the In Colour 2012-2013 Pool Party (card stock and ribbon)  the card is mounted on black card stock.

another Sale-a-Bration reward.  Everyday Elegance.  I did it in the In-colour  Calypso Coral.  I used the matching baker's twine as well.  Simple, but nice.

I played around with the Lattice die again-making a bday card this time (kept the same colours as I did for the bridal shower card I had made. I love the way this comes out.

So as you can see...it was a pretty busy weekend.  I had also worked on the 15 birthday invites for a friend's son's birthday.  These were done from the Cricut.

they came out great :) and my friend is pleased with them!  so that makes me a happy stamper :)