Have you got your FREE products yet??

Sale-a-Bration ends March 31st which means you only have 9 more days to get your bonus products while you shop for your regular supplies, or add your "wish list" items to your crafting space.

Take a look at all the wonderful free products available to you and let me know which one you are going to get!!

 

 

 

Click here to check out all the new items added to the FREE list and then shop at my on-line store,  or email me with your order!

And check out this super deal on Paper Pumpkin - I have a monthly subscription and I am going to purchase a three month prepaid subscription which will: #1 SAVE me money, and #2 get me a FREE Sale-a-Bration product of my choice!!! Such a great offer and not just for new subscribers! You can still cancel a month with your prepaid because you will away . . . .  or just too busy with other things going on in our lives (although we need to make sure we put some "me-time" into our planners!)

 

I will be placing an order March 30th after my "Make it Monday" drop in session so why not give me a call, book your spot in my crafting studio, and have a relaxing evening . . . .  sharing time with other crafters. It's a great way to unwind, make a couple of "any occasion" cards to add to your box and get some new ideas. The "Make it Monday" evening is on the LAST Monday of each month (except June/July and August) and is free with any order, or a small $5.00 drop in fee if you only want to make the cards. Time is from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm so I do hope I will see you soon.

 

If you can't make it to my house, then email me your order and I will add it to mine on March 30th. Remember those Paper Pumpkin 3 month pre-paid subscriptions - they are definitely a BEST BUY!! But only until March 31st!!

 

Happy Stampin'

So many ways to colour - what's your favourite??

With Stampin' Up! announcing today that they will no longer carry the Blendabilities markers because of some serious quality issues (more at the end of this post), I realized I should remind you that there are still so many ways to enjoy colouring your stamps or backgrounds on your cards and layouts.

Stampin' Up! has wonderful stamp pad ink colours, and they work so well to "watercolour" with either Aqua Painters or Blender Pens - just a quick press on the closed lid, open the ink pad and you have a small pool of colour on the lid - ready to use with either brush style!

 

Aqua Painters



Blender Pens

You can also get quality Stampin' Write markers in all the colour families, in the two In - Colour series, and in single markers for the most popular colours. These water based markers make it super easy to do multi-colour stamping and the brush ends are perfect for colouring flowers, leaves or words on any of your stamps. So versatile and easy giving you control over each brush stroke. Sponges and sponge daubers are another quick and fun way to get colouring onto your papers . . . .  so let's start colouring!



I saw a post on Facebook yesterday that there are now "adult" colouring books for sale  to help us "de-stress" - at a huge price too - something like $20.00 per book! Instead of buying a colouring book at an outrageous price, why not grab some stamps and paper, and colour up some birthday or other occasion cards and make someone super happy to receive your artwork? Stamps, ink and paper - keep it simple, have fun and create at the same time - a WIN-WIN for you and a great feeling when you pass on your card to someone special!

Ready to colour? Then contact me to play at my "Make it Monday" session on the last Monday of each month where you will go home with tons of ideas and two cards to add to your box for when you absolutely need a card "Now!"  The next drop in session is March 30th at 7:00 pm.

And here are the February Make it Monday samples! So easy and fun to create . . . .  . use up some of those pretty papers in your stash as you make some cards for any event! 



Or maybe you would like to join my monthly stamp club which started in February - I still have one spot left and it is on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm, with an optional time the day after on Friday at 11:00 am. You will get to be "hostess" once in the 8 sessions and have your turn at "free" rewards!! Minimum commitment is only $25.00 per month and you choose what products you need as well as learn new techniques and take home two cards to share or show off your new skills. Last month we did these two cards at Stamp Club, one very girly with the pink butterfly and the other a masculine version of a Valentine's Day or Anniversary card.  

And now for the update on Blendabilities - we will miss having them but do appreciate that Stampin' Up! considers quality of a product above all for you and me to use!

As you may know, there have been some issues with the Blendabilities markers, which resulted in the product not being able to be ordered. Stampin' Up! initially noticed quality issues with this product, but they were within normal industry quality control standards.  Recently the problem has become greater than acceptable standards and unfortunately Stampin' Up! was not able to come to a solution with the manufacturer that meets the standards they demand for their products. The defect relates to the pens arriving with no ink in them or the pens drying out within the first little while. Sadly Stampin' Up! has made the difficult (but correct) decision to withdraw the product from the catalogue effective immediately. 

Stampin' Up! is committed to making this right for our customers.  If you have purchased Blendabilities from me, please check them all ASAP.  If you are happy with the product (and mine are just fine), then you can keep the markers and use them.  If you find a defect please contact me and I will report it to Stampin' Up! and let you know on the resolution.

Moving forward Stampin' Up! is committed to finding a solution for this product as the Blendabilities were very popular and the demonstrator base has been asking for a product like this for years.  But they won't do anything until they have a reliable product line that will truly meet our needs and their high level of quality. Thanks Stampin' Up! for continuing to provide us with quality products that we can depend on!

Please email me for any products you need, or to help you with a crafting idea . . . .  you can also shop on-line any time, day or night, in pj's or high heels - it's up to you. Click here and check out the Weekly Deals from my side bar, the clearance rack or any of the new and awesome kits!

Have fun colouring and crafting and hope to see you soon!

Creative Blog Hop - Celebrate Today with Birthday Bash!

Wow - today is my day to carry on the Creative Blog Hop Monday morning tradition!! Thanks so much Karen Gilbert at Simply Said with Karen for nominating me.

This is a great blog hop as you only post one time, answer a few questions to let others know about your work, and then nominate two others to carry on next week. Karen is part of our "Canada Inks Up" team and I met her last summer at convention - she has such a lovely style - did you see her blog hop cards and designs last week? They were gorgeous!

I decided to show you an "easy" card to create that will bring smiles to anyone who is lucky enough to receive your artwork . . . . and that's one of the best benefits of a handmade card - it always comes "packed with love".  And being "easy" means you can make it over and over - no stress, it's done!

I love the Celebrate Today Stamp Set in the 2015 Occasions catalogue and best of all it came with matching Balloon Framelits Dies, making it a snap to "cut out" the balloons, banners and bows!  The Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper is perfect to make a bright, happy card to give someone on their special day - and check out the splashes of gold on this paper I used.  Here's my fun easel card to showcase the papers, colours, stamps and dies. I do like creating a card that has a different fold - so much fun for the person opening it - and adding a matching touch to the envelope starts the "happy" before the card is even  seen!

 

 

Recipe for this card:

 

Supplies:

 

Stamps - Celebrate Today

Inks - Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers - Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay Cardstock, Birthday Bash DSP, Gold Foil Paper

Accessories - Balloon Framelits Dies, Button (from SAB Best Year Ever Pack), snail adhesive, glue dots, dimensionals

 

Cut your cardstock 4 1/4" x 8 1/2", then score at 2" and 4 1/4" on the long side. Cut another piece of cardstock to 4 1/4" square for the card "front". Fold base on score lines using bone folder. Place snail adhesive on the bottom 2" of scored base, and adhere the bottom of the 4 1/4" square (the top of this square is not attached to anything).

 

Decorate as shown or using your choice of papers/embellishments. I stamped the "Happy" Balloon in Crushed Curry, die cut the Bermuda Bay one from cardstock, then added the stamped "birthday", and die cut the background balloon from the Birthday Bash DSP. I also die cut a banner from the same DSP. Add the foil bow die cut, and pop the "Happy" Balloon with dimensionals. Add your button on some more DSP, decorate the envelope and you have a bright HAPPY card to give to a special someone!

The next card was CASE-d from our latest demonstrator magazine and uses the quick and easy Whisper White Note Cards - a best buy from Stampin' Up! that is often overlooked. I LOVE them!!

I used Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Coastal Cabana and Pistachio Pudding inks, as well as a scrap of So Saffron cardstock and ink to stamp/die cut one balloon. These quick cards would make a great gift for a co-worker, or a thank you hostess gift when visiting - tie them with coordinating ribbon and you are ready to go.

As part of the Creative Blog Hop, I was asked to answer four questions, so you would learn a little more about me -

1. What are you working on right now?
I'm currently working with some customers to create the Perpetual Calendar Kits - that is a really fun project. I'm also making samples for my monthly Stamp Club classes and Make-it-Mondays drop in sessions the last Monday of the month. I am also involved in a monthly card swap - a perfect way to get lots of ideas from other demonstrators. Lots of projects on the go - but surprisingly organized for a change!! (Confession time - I still have some Christmas to put away) I am truly lucky to have a studio area that is mainly used for my crafting and can become a guest room with very little notice!

2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?
There are so many wonderful styles in the crafting world, that I am sure I am not unique in my approach. I do try to keep things fairly "clean and simple" so people know they can re-create the card ideas at home without having the exact same supplies. My greatest "happy dance" moment is when I get a text from someone saying "I made those place cards/treat holders you showed us and everyone loved them!" I want to show what you can do at home, with your supplies and tweak it to make it your own. I do like to come up with a 3D project for holidays to share with my crafters.

3. Why do you create like you do?
I have always liked to colour and make things out of paper -  and over the years have created with ceramics, oil paints and other mediums but always went back to paper. Somehow the layers and colours have always appealed and I have tried to turn paper into so many things - from gift cards and very basic scrapbook pages to  more adventurous projects and albums. I will always remember my first scrapbooking classes where I learned that what you write, and the pictures you put into your scrapbook are WAY more important than obsessing over what colour paper to use, or what will match with what . . . . so I try to create without stressing over details and enjoy what I am doing. I have three word plaques over my work tables that say "Relax - Imagine - Create" so there is no place for stress!

4. How does your creativity work?
I quite often get ideas from seeing a stamp set and know I can turn it into so many card ideas. Other times I see a design in the Stampin' Up! catalogue, on Pinterest (love that place!) or at team meetings and know that I am going to take that idea and make it my own. I do love trying a sketch and turning it into a new card - sometimes by turning the sketch which gives me a whole new perspective (kind of like standing on your head to view the world!)

Now it's my turn to nominate two very talented ladies whose work I know you will appreciate - Colleen Vassos at Stamping with Colleen and Melva Peters at Stampin With Melva - I am so happy to have met them through our "Canada Inks Up" community of demonstrators and stampers - they have truly become friends who inspire me with their creativity and shared ideas.

Check out their blogs now and let them know you have visited! And check back next Monday (February 23rd) to see what they have come up with . . . .  happy stampin' and keep creating - your cards do make a difference in someone's day!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - and thanks again Karen for asking me to be part of the Creative Blog Hop. I had fun creating!

Products used today:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

One spot left in Stamp Club starting this week!

I have only ONE spot left in the current Stamp Club - it starts Thursday February 12th at 7:00 pm BUT good news for busy lives - the Club is also carrying over to Friday mornings at 11:00 am starting February 13th!!

So if Thursday evenings aren't good for you - then email or message me to hold your spot on Friday mornings! I will email you all the details.

The main event will be the second Thursday of each month from 7 - 9 pm (Feb, Mar, Apr and May - two month break and then Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov) with the day after for those who prefer the Friday time from 11 am to 1 pm. All orders will be consolidated for the Club totals and as hostess you will still be able to order either Thursday evening or Friday morning - whichever is best for you!

Today a group of us worked on the perpetual calendar kit - lots of fun and too busy to take pictures so here's a couple of the finished product and the products we used - if you haven't ordered your kit there is still time . . . .  . and if you come to Stamp Club this week, you can place your order as your Club commitment for February!

 

Hope to see you soon - meanwhile happy crafting . . . . and watch for my blog update Monday when I am part of the Creative Blog Hop!!

Love, Hearts and Valentines are in the air!

I had so much fun putting together all the treat bags in this month's Paper Pumpkin kit - have you done yours yet??? Can't wait to share the goodies with family and friends!  If you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin then good news - they just released some refill kits so you can get more - now everyone can get a treat bag that says you really care!

 

 

And here's the pictures of this week's Make it Monday  drop in event cards. Aren't they cute? You could have  tried card making for the first time, or just picked up some new ideas . . . .  it's a time for you to visit, create and then share what you did. Next Make it Monday is February 23rd and we'll do two new card ideas. Let me know you are coming so you can be part of the fun!

 

 

Love the new stamps and paper on these cards? I have the new catalogue for you if you haven't got yours yet - or check out the links to my on-line store to see all the new fun products.

 

The Perpetual Calendar Kits were on back-order but have now shipped so the classes will be soon! Watch for an email and check my blog if you ordered so we can set up a new time for you to put your kit together. I'll try to post pictures of my calendar soon - it is still a work in progress!!