Winner Winner!

Hi all!  Happy Friday!  It's that time to announce July's Winner!  Are you ready?  The lucky winner this month is.....

Lucky #25, who happens to be Nicole Cracco!!!  Congrats, Nicole!!!

Thanks to all of you for playing this month!  It's always fun to read your comments. :)  Hope you guys have a great weekend and I will catch up with you soon.  I'll be posting August's Final Friday Giveaway on Monday, so stay tuned...I think you guys will like it!  Bye for now ;)

Retired Stamp Set Sale!

Hi all!  Just a quick post to let you know I've finally updated my "Stuff for Sale!" tab with a list of retired stamp sets I'm selling!  Please take a look and if you're interested in any, please email me!

Also, I wanted to chime in about the last few days of the $99 Stampin'Up! Starter Kits! 

If you've been thinking about becoming a demonstrator and starting up your own biz, or would simply enjoy getting a discount on your crafting supplies, I would love for you to become part of my team!  There are 2 starter kits you can choose from - either the Standard or Digital, so it's really up to you to decide as to what type of kit would suit your crafting needs.  Either way, it's $99 til the end of July. You can find out more details here or you can always email me, too.  This special goes until this Sunday, so there are only a few days left to take advantage of this great opportunity. :)

{It's a Wrap!} for quick favors

Hi all!  How are you?  Hope you guys are doing well.  Last week was a busy one in the household - my brother and family were in town, so needless to say...I didn't get a chance to post!  Anyway, I did have some quiet time today and played with another fun new clear mount stamp set called It's a Wrap Occasions {#123592, $19.95} and it really makes making favors quick and easy!  Aren't those favors so cute?  The wraps fit perfect on Avery Labels {#5160} which measure 1" x 2 5/8".  They are just the right size to wrap the Hershey Nugget chocolates - now who woudn't want those yummy chocolates as favors, right??  I used the new In Colors again, too.  I can't seem to get enough of those colors!  I really love the Pool Party and Calypso Coral together, but all the colors look really good together, too, as you can see with the multi-color candies :)  Want a closer look at the favors?  Here you go:

For this "Thanks" favor, I used the Flower Folds Bigz XL die to create my flower.  I did 2 flowers and curled the petals on the bottom layer down and the top layer up using a bone folder.  For the center, I used the scallop punch to punch out the Thanks sentiment, which is from the Hostess set called Tagtastic.  Are you wondering how I got the scallop circle punch to look like that?  I notched out a small triangle in each scallop using my paper snips.  It gives it a more petal-y look, don't you think? The leaves are loops of the Lucky Limeade ruffled grosgrain ribbon - so pretty!  I used glue dots to adhere them onto the back of the flower and used dimensionals to pop them up. Oh - and of course, before I forget, the topper itself is made using a Top Note Bigz die folded in half!  I LOVE the Top Note.  It's a favorite die of mine that I keep going back to now and again!

Planning an upcoming shower?  This set has you covered too!  For this Congrats favor, I used the Decorative Label Punch and stamped the "Happy Shower" labels in Calypso Coral and Wisteria Wonder. I just finished it off with a bow using the Wisteria Wonder ribbon.

And lastly - I love these "Happy Cake Day" labels!  The design is so fun in the In Colors!  I also love the Happy Birthday sentiment stamp from Tagtastic.  It is so cute with the polar bear. The sentiment is stamped in Calypso Coral and I also accented the topper with the Calypso Coral ribbon.  It pops so nicely against the Pool Party textured paper!

Here's a look at the full stamp set for It's a Wrap Occasions:

Such a versatile set of sentiments to wrap those yummy nuggets in!  Well, that's it for tonight, folks!  Hope you liked these!  Ciao for now :)

Edited to add the type of bag I used: they are the small flat SU! cello bags (3"x5") and you could probably fit up to 6 nuggets in them if you wanted to!

Here's July's Final Friday Giveaway!!

Hi all!  I know that I missed June's Final Friday giveaway altogether, so for July, I've got something fun!  First, there's the Square Lattice embossing folder pictured above.  Then, I'm also adding the cute little Petite Pockets projects I posted yesterday!!

How about that?  Worth playing for??  Here's what you gotta do to play:

1. Leave me a comment on this post by midnight Pacific Time, Wed, July 27, 2011.

2. On your comment, please make sure to include a valid email or blog address (where I can leave a comment or have a way of contacting you). For those of you that are uncomfortable with leaving an email in a post, you can write your info like this: yourname at emailaccount dot com.

3. One comment per person please. :)
4. Anyone can play - international visitors welcome!

You can leave me a comment about anything, or tell me what your one favorite color is - it can be a Stampin'Up! color {if you have a fave} or any color you choose!  Look forward to reading your comments.

I'll be posting the winner on my blog on Friday, July 29th!  Hope you have a great Friday today and a wonderful weekend!

July Paper Crafters Sampler is now available!

Hi all!  Just wanted to pop in again real quick to let you know that the July Paper Crafters Sampler is now available!  You can check out a sneak peek of this month's issue or subscribe here!  Enjoy! :)

In LOVE with In Colors!

Hi all!  While many Stampin'Up! demonstrators are at convention right now, I sat out this year out to spend time with Denver.  I am happy to say that I'm managing to get a wee bit of a stamping fix by playing with my new catalog goodies in between my little baby's nap time!  It's definitely a juggle, as I'm learning.  I have newfound amazement and respect for all the new moms that could still find time to craft and tend to baby {and other kids, in some cases!}.  Needless to say, I had LOTS of fun crafting with the new Houndstooth and Stripes Embossing folders as well as the brand new Petite Pockets Bigz XL die.  The cute little envelopes were SOO fun to make.  Oh - and I can't forget the stamp sets - I played with Button Buddies and Happiest Birthday Wishes {hostess set}. 

Button Buddies Clear Mount Stamp Set, $21.95:

 Happiest Birthday Wishes Clear Mount Hostess Stamp Set, $15.00 with Hostess Dollars:

It feels good to be stamping!  Here are more pictures for you.

I love the coordinating ruffled ribbon and ink colors!  These look great in monotone colors, or you could definitely have fun mixing and matching.  The flower from the Button Buddies set punches out perfectly with the scallop circle punch - isn't that cool?  How do you like the textures?  I did the Houndstooth on the envelope flap, and the Stripes just on the back bottom panel.  I kept the front side smooth.

And of course, I had to make a little card tag insert for the inside of the envelope.  Those little circle reinforecments are part of the die cut!  Aren't these fun little envelope ensembles?  These would be great little thank you note cards, too, or any sort of gift note cards {baby, wedding, teachers, hostesses, new neighbors...possibilities are endless!}

Hope you got some good ideas!   If you like what you see and want to order some of these goodies, you can always shop 24/7 at my Online Store.  Thanks for popping by today.  Have a good one :)

Getting back into Card Challenges...

Hi all!  I'm so excited to play in a challenge after a long hiatus.  It really feels like forever since I've channeled any stamping mojo, but it felt good to dust off my creative cobwebs and stamp!  This is the card I created for the Taylored Expressions Challenge 142.  I finally got to play with my new Stampin'Up! goodies, too!  I had so much fun!  While Denver and the hubby were napping, I snuck into my craft room and put this together.  Here's the full card for you:

This is a color combo palette that I haven't really used, but I like the cool combination with the Basic Gray and the new SU! Pool Party and Calypso Coral In Color colors.  What do you think?  I also really LOVE the new border punch called Lace Ribbon Border and the Petite Pennants Builder punch is soo fun, too!  Hope you like it!  Here's the recipe for you:

{Pennant Parade Pool Party Birthday!}
All supplies Stampin'Up!
*Stamp Sets: Happiest Birthday Wishes, Pennant Parade
*Cardstock: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Basic Gray, Whisper White
*Inks: Calypso Coral, Pool Party
*Accessories: Petite Pennants Builder Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Itty Bitty Punches, Basic Rhinestones, Boho Blossoms Punch, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, White Twine, Corner Rounder

Hope you like it!  Time for me to hop to bed!  Bye for now :)

Fox and Friends Thank You

Hey blog friends!  Happy July and Happy belated Independence Day! I know it's been a long time since I've last posted, but Denver has kept me and the hubs pretty busy behind the scenes!  We are really enjoying him and can't help but revel in all the new developments that we see every day in our darling little boy!  It's incredible to me that he'll already be a month old tomorrow!!  I truly can't believe how fast time flies!  I know many of you have told me, and I am in fact witnessing it to be all too true.

Believe it or not though, I have a card share today!  It's actually the thank you card I made (and continue to make..heehee) for Denver's Thank Yous.  I love the Fox and Friends set - especially with the tie in to our safari trip, too...I just love the adorable animals and I thought they would be great for these cards. Here's a closer look:

I've also been having fun dabbling with MDS - here's a few simple things I've created:

a little page commemorating my birthday this year with a family photo!

I also made another version of Denver's announcement from the hospital photos we got:

and here's the back side:

Hope you enjoyed these!  Bye for now :)