My son's graduation is in the pocket!

I have to make this post a quicky.  My oldest son is graduating from high school this afternoon.  My, how time flies! 

I wanted to show you the graduation cards I've been making.  I'm getting lots of mileage out of the Pocketful of Posies DSP.  There are so many gorgeous papers in the pack that are good for all sorts of occasions--both masculine and feminine. 

The stamp is retired from a few minis ago.

Paper/Ink: Pocketful of Posies (RETIRING), Basic Black, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Punches: Crop-A-Dile (RETIRING), 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle

Accessories: Eyelets (retired), Black Satin Ribbon (RETIRING)

It's the same pocket design as yesterday's card, just a little smaller.  I started with a 6" x 10" piece of card stock, scored at 3" & 6".  This size card fits in our Small Open-End Envelopes that are retiring from the current catalog. 

You can check out all the retiring products on my website!  Don't forget, all the retiring accessories and decor elements are only available while supplies last, so get them while you can!

If you're interested in getting a copy of the NEW 2012-2013 Annual Catalog, let me know! I can either have one mailed to you for $5 or you can pick one up from me (in Pensacola) for free!  It goes live at noon on June 1!   

Happy Stampin!

Brenda

850*466*3585

bbstampin.at.yahoo.dot.com

A Pocketful of...

Well, I stamped again yesterday... and the day before that and the day before...  You could say I'm on a roll!  It helps that there are so many card giving occasions in May and that I've scheduled a stampin' farewell party on May 24!  BTW, you're invited!  My house in Pensacola (email me for the addy) between 1-3pm!  The make-n-takes will be featuring some of the retiring Stampin' Up! products.  If you can't make it but would like to place an order, contact me or order online.

I'm not going to show you the make-n-take projects (yet), but I will show you the birthday card I made for my hubby...

Stamp Set: Delightful Dozen

Paper/Ink: Pocketful of Posies (RETIRING), Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Punches: 1 3/4" & 1 1/2" circle, Decorative Label

Accessories: Night of Navy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (RETIRING), Mini Library Clips (RETIRING)

Big Shot Die: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits (RETIRING)

I didn't realize it while I was making it, but it's fitting that I used the paper I did on this card--Pocketful of Posies.  No, my hubby isn't a posy... what is a posy anyway?  No, because inside the card I made a POCKET!  See!

I needed to design the card around being able to fit an 8 1/2" x 11" folded piece of paper.  So I trimmed a 12" x 12" piece of cardstock down to 10" x 8 1/2" and scored it at 4 1/2" 8 1/2".  To create the window, I punched the Decorative Label punch twice, overlapping about 1/2" to create a longer opening.  The pocket edges are secured with eyelets (long retired), set with the Crop-A-Dile (RETIRING).  You could also use brads or staples.

Well, I hope you've been on a roll with stampin' lately too!  If not, come to my party next week and I'll do my best to inspire you!  I have a few other events scheduled for June & July too.  Check MY CALENDER for the details.

Happy Stampin!
Brenda

I STAMPED!

You may have read the title to this post and said "Well, DUH! You're a Stampin' Up! demo, don't you stamp in your sleep?"  Or perhaps you thought "It's about time!"... considering how long it's been since my last blog post. 

I'm going to dispel the myth that us demos stamp in our sleep--well, at least I don't!  I wish I could!  Maybe then when I find myself in a creative rut, I could harness all the creative energy I seem to have while I'm running around in my dreams to actually get some stampin' done! 

Instead, I have to look around in the real world for inspiration. 

Here are the cards I came up with:

Stamp Set: Delightful Dozen

Papers: Pocketful of Posies (retiring), Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Early Espresso, Poppy Parade (retiring), Lucky Limeade and Daffodil Delight

Ink: Whisper White Craft and Night of Navy Classic

Embellishments: Night of Navy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (retiring), Basic Pearls

Punches: Decorative Label, Itty Bitty Shapes, 1-3/8" & 1-3/4" circle

Big Shot Die: Beautiful Wings

Stamp Set: Nature's Nest (retiring), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Papers: Pocketful of Posies (retired), Soft Suede Textured (retiring), Naturals Ivory, Baja Breeze

Ink/Coloring: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Blender Pen

Embellishments: Twill Tape Ribbon (retiring), Hemp Twine (retiring)

Punches: Round Tab (retiring), 1-3/4" & 2-1/2" Circle

I can't say exactly what it was that pulled me out of the creative rut I was in.  Perhaps it was out of necessity... needing to make some cards for Mother's Day and my dad's birthday.  Or perhaps it was working with the gorgeous paper and accessories that I'm going to miss when they retire at the end of May.  Whatever it was, I'm grateful to have spent some zen time stamping again. 

There's a box of goodies from the new catalog (coming out June 1) on the way, so I know I will be happy stampin' again soon!

If you're interested in checking out what's retiring from the current Stampin' Up! catty, you can view the lists on the promotions page of my official Stampin' Up! website HERE.  If you see something(s) you just can't live without, click on the SHOP NOW button to start shopping... NOW!  The retiring accessories and Decor Elements will only be available while supplies last! 

I hope you are HAPPY STAMPIN' too!

Celebrating 5 Years of Happy Stampin!

Look what I've been up to:

Crafting some post-it note projects! 

If you look carefully at the photo, you'll also notice something else...

MY 5-YEAR PIN!!!! 

It arrived in the mail today!  How exciting!  Yesterday (March 21) was the 5th anniversary of me signing up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  I signed up during Sale-A-Bration way back when and have been happy stampin' ever since!  I love sharing my love of crafts with people and being a demo lets me do just that, earning money in the process! 

If you've ever thought about becoming a demonstrator, now would be a great time!  During Sale-A-Bration, the starter kit is on sale for $125!  That's $50 off the regular price!  AND, new demos will also receive their choice of a pack of designer series paper or a digital download every month for the rest of 2012!  Signing up is easy and can be done online through my website!  Click HERE to see all the details and then click on the JOIN NOW button on the left side of that page to sign up! 

If you're not quite ready to take the plunge but would like to take advantage of the Sale-A-Bration promotion and earn FREE products, you can contact me to place your order or shop online through my website shopping page HERE! 

To celebrate my anniversary, I'm holding a Mystery Hostess event and special drawing for online orders. Here are the details:

• Local orders (Pensacola, FL area): Local orders I receive between now and March 30 will be entered in a drawing to win the hostess benefits. The amount of benefits will depend on the number of combined sales. If sales reach the $400 mark, I will draw 2 names—one person will win the hostess dollars ($65) and the other person will win the SAB Fresh Vintage Hostess Bundle.  Call or email me with your order.
• Online Orders: Those who place an online order with me between now and March 31 will be entered in a separate drawing to win a free stamp set! I will let the winner choose between several new/un-mounted retired hostess sets. Click HERE to start shopping.
• Everyone who places an order will get a little something from me as a party favor of sorts to say thank you for your continued support of my business.

Sale-A-Bration ends March 31!

Happy Stampin!

Brenda

850.466.3585

bbstampin@yahoo.com

I'M BACK with a Simply Enchanted Card

I'm back in business!  It's hard to believe it's been almost 5 months since I last blogged.  Now that I've finished the bulk of my cancer treatment, I'm hoping to post more regularly. 

Last Saturday I held my first stampin' class in 9 months!  Here's one of the projects we did--it's a simple card idea that will help showcase your collection of gorgeous Designer Series Papers!

This particular card features the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (126154) that you can only earn for FREE during Sale-A-Bration!  If you're not familiar with what Sale-A-Bration is, it's the best time of year to stock up on papercrafting supplies because with every $50 you spend (before s/h & tax) you get to choose an item in the Sale-A-Bration brochure for FREE!  Click HERE to view the brochure.

Can you guess how I rounded the bottoms of the strips of DSP?  Here's a clue, I used the 1 1/4" circle punch (119861). 

Still not sure? 

Well, I can't take credit for this technique.  In fact, even after I read the directions on how to do it, I still messed it up.  So, I figured a picture would be a better way for me to show exactly how it's done.

Cool, huh!

Here's a list of the other products I used on this card:
Curly Cute stamp set (117014 wood/120510 clear)
Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die (118138)
Big Shot Die Cut Machine (113439)
Flower punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)
Linen Thread (104199)
Basic Pearls (119247)
Early Espresso Card Stock (119686) & Classic Ink Pad (119670)
Naturals Ivory Card Stock (101849)
Stamping Sponges (101610)

You can place an order anytime on my website.  Click HERE to start shopping!

Happy Stampin!
Brenda

What's the BIG DEAL about the BIG SHOT?

Can you say FREE??!!!! 

Check out this AWESOME October Special:

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator or simply love a GREAT DEAL, you need to click on the LINK to my website for the details of this special offer that's only available during October.  Along with a FREE BIG SHOT (a $99.95 value), you will receive over $345 worth of Stampin' Up! products and business supplies, all for only $175 (plus tax)!  That's a $445 value!

So whether you'd like to be a business-minded demo or a hobby demo, I'd love to help you make your dreams come true!  Contact me today!

Happy Stampin!
Brenda
bbstampin@yahoo.com
850.466.3585

You need Strength & Hope when you're being pelted with lemons!

The saying goes: "When life throws you lemons, make lemonade." 

Soon after my last blog post, I got pelted with what felt like a crate full of lemons... I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Never saw it coming...

But, in true craft-obsessed fashion, when I was going through the cute pink and brown tote bag stuffed with all sorts of breast cancer related items (that the Breast Health Nurse gave me to welcome me to the world of Breast Cancer) and found a simple cardboard notebook... I thought, HEY!  I can alter that with the Strength & Hope stamp set!  It's a stamp set especially designed to support breast cancer research after all!  And so I did:

Here's a close up of the butterfly.  It's hard to tell, but it is heat embossed using Rose Red Craft Ink and Iridescent Ice embossing powder. 

I have to tell you that this has been the most useful notebook! I bring it to all my appointments.  It's great for writing down questions to ask the doctors and taking notes so I can keep it all together in one place. 

My new best friend, Nurse Michelle, made a great point:  "If you have to have breast cancer, you might as well get all the free stuff you can!"  You know, make lemonade out of lemons!  So, I did! 

This would be a great time for me to remind you to do your monthly self breast exam.  GO AHEAD... no one is watching!  :)  Seriously though, having discovered the lump that turned out to be breast cancer myself, I am and will continue to be the posterchild for self breast exams!  I had a routine mammogram back in October (right after my 40th birthday) and this lump did not show up!  As a woman with dense (or lumpy bumpy) breasts, I learned that mammograms alone are not full proof for discovering breast cancer early.  You have to take your health into your own hands... literally! 

In case you'd like to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, consider purchasing either a Strength & Hope stamp set or digital kit.

BCRF receives $2 from every set and kit purchased!  Click HERE to place your order!

Happy Stampin!
Brenda