My Digital Studio Video

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odKn4JvDGyQ

This is a new video on the introduction to My Digital Studio that Stampin' Up! offers for  $79.95.  What is great about this software is that it offers a different aspect of crafting.  Not only does it help you create cards but you can also create calendars, scrapbooks and videos.  Everything that is offered in the catalog (i.e. stamps, embellishments, paper, and colors) are on the software.  Click on the link above and see what My Digital Studio is all about.

Tomorrow is a big day....SU! will be posting the retired list for this year's catalog and be showing a preview of the new catalog which comes out July 1st!!!!  Check back tomorrow for more information.....

Emerging Color Technique

This card was a lot of fun to make.   I had seen a few cards done this way and decided to try  it.  I found the technique under "resources" on the Splitcoast Stampers website.  I started with a piece of very vanilla cardstock and stamped images from elements of style stamp set in tangerine tango and riding hood red classic inks.  I then took the cardstock and ran it through the big shot with the square lattice embossing folder.  I took the flower image from the elements of style and versamarked it and stamped it on the cardstock, put clear embossing powder on the versamark image and heat embossed it.  I then brayered up the card stock with riding hood red classic ink.   I wiped the embossed image with a tissue to get off the ink.   

If you click on the image above you will be able to see the stamped images underneath the embossed image.  Thus the name of the technique "emerging color".  You could really do alot with this technique and I am going to be a class on this soon.  I am so glad that SU! is bringing back some of the previous in colors.  They will be available on July 1st when the new catalog comes out.  I found some old riding hood red satin ribbon and layered it with very vanilla satin ribbon. 

Pals Paper Art Challlenge-PPA 44

This is the first time that I have entered this challenge and I am really excited to show you my card.....

This is the sketch for the sketchy challenge...check it out on Pals Paper Art.  Margaret Moody designed the sketch and I thought I could do this.   I started on a card last night to thank my awesome friend and fellow demonstrator for helping me with the revamping of my craft room.

I am really excited with how the card turned out....I am not the creative type but I thought having a sketch to get me inspired would be helpful.  I am so excited about a few of the colors coming back in the new color renovation....tangerine tango, riding hood red and pink pirouhette.  I wanted to show off these colors by using the baby wipe technique.  To make the background, I took a baby wipe and put it in a foil pan.  I dropped a few drops of each color by using the reinkers and then took the flower stamp from the elements of style stamp set that is featured in the summer mini catalog. You use the baby wipe just like a stamp pad and stamp the image onto it then stamp onto the paper.  Click on the card to get a better view.....the picture doesn't do it justice. 

I then ran the paper through the square lattice embossing folder, again featured in the summer mini catalog.  I distressed the sides with the distressing tool to give it a softer look. 

On the second layer of the card, I cut a piece of the new presto patterns specialty DSP and sponged the 3 colors to bring out the pattern....isn't it soooo cool?  Again, the picture doesn't do it justice....it's layered with pink pirouhette paper, put some organza ribbon around it and then added the sentiment with the tiny tags clear stamp set.  I used the butterfly embosslit to create the butterflies....love it!!!!! Hope you enjoy it!!!

New Stamp Room Complete!!!!!!

I am so excited to say that my craft room is finally finished!!! I am ecstatic about the results.   I would not have been able to do it without the help of my good friends LaMuir and Shalae.  We started digging out last week...sorry I didn't take a picture of the room before but let me just say......DISASTER AREA!!!.  I was using this area as another attic...christmas decorations, old craft products from "other" companies and lots of garbage.....LaMuir and I had a blast tossing garbage out the window down into the garbage can!!!!  LaMuir was precise with every throw...hehe.  It was a miracle that I finally could see enough floor to vacuum.  Drum roll please.........Isn't it great?!  This is the view from coming up the steps.  I cannot believe I haven't used this space all along.   

Here is a few of my workspace area.  The buffet along is brand new!!  There is a great store in Savannah called Nadeau and they have some great replica antique furniture.  The color of the piece is a mellow moss hue and works perfectly for what I need.   The bookcase comes from Walmart.  Not the best but for $15 it works and it will do the trick.  I have all my stamp sets on the bottom two shelves.  I am going to order the stamp pad carousel in my next order (June 1st so I can get a copy of the new catalog).  So for now the stamp pads are on the shelf.  I have already put them in their new families and will be ordering the rest of the new colors when they are available....It's a great time to be a demonstator!!!!  There is alot of buzz about what is in the new catalog and I know one of my fellow demonstrators is getting hers tomorrow because she recruited in the month of March and April.....lucky girl!!!!!

        Here is another view from the other side of the room....I finally have a place to put my big shot.  This is a chest that has draws in it for all of my craft supplies.  The bottom draw is a file drawer that fits my 12x12 DSP and cardstock.   I am really pleased with the way it all came together.  Hope you enjoyed the pix!!!                           

Rasberry Lemonade Purse

My sister's birthday is coming up and I thought I would make her some cards she can use.  When thinking of how I could store the cards I saw a wonderful tutorial on how to make a purse by Becky Roberts.  She has some unbelievable ideas and tutorials.  I love how the purse turned out.  I used the so saffron for the base of the purse and Rasberry Lemonade designer series paper for the outside of the purse.  The pocket on the purse can hold little gift cards and envelopes that I will be making...I will add a pen and some stamps to complete the present...I will show you the completed project when I am done....

Creating your own designer paper

I got this idea from Gretchen Barron's blog...I love her ideas.  I had made this card a while ago and loved it.  The stamp set is Vintage Vogue 118589...I am loving the new clear stamps.  They are easy to see where you are stamping and they are a little less than the wood stamps in price.  I used cameo coral and so saffron ink colors and paper.  The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations and is punched withthe wide oval punch.  I stamped randomly on whisper white with the flowers and vine from vintage vogue.  The border around the "thinking of you" is a strip of 1"x12" so saffron. You want to break down the fibers in the paper so use your desk or bone folder and rub the paper against it to soften the paper up. I used the scallop trim punch to give it the edge and then ran the strip through my crimper. To mount the border around I added sticky strip  around the back of the piece of oval paper and then folded the strip around the back around the oval.  Gretchen Barron has a great tutorial on this technique as well.  Don't you love that you can go to other blogs for ideas?  Thanks Gretchen.  I added another strip of so saffron using the scallop twin punch.  I used pink satin ribbon to make the card come together.  The beauty of the ribbon is that I did a "faux bow"....I wrapped the ribbon around the cameo coral card base and then ame a bow and used a pop up glue dot to secure it to the card.  If you would like to order and of the products to make this card just click on the button to go to my SU! site...Enjoy!!

Proud Mother!!!!

I have to brag a little bit....last night was the awards ceremony at my daughter's middle school.  She just finished her 6th grade year and I am oh so proud of her.  She had straight A's the whole year!!! (She didn't get the smarts from her mom...hehe).  She received an award for making principal's honor roll all 4 semesters, a certificate for Art and a certificate for Health/P.E.   WOW!!!!  I'm so proud of her...congrats Ashlyn!!!!  You are now officially a 7th grader.....SCARY!!!!!

My 10 year old son Trey plays travel baseball and we were up in Summerville, SC for a tournament.....we travel quite a bit every weekend and can play up to 3 games a day during the tournaments....that's alot of baseball for a 10 year old but he loves it.  We won the tournament and it was our first tournament this season to come in first....the boys were so excited...we won every game in the bottom of the 6th inning...that's little league for you :) I was so proud of him...
I love my children and am so proud of their accomplishments!!!

New Facelift!!!

 I am so excited about my new facelift on my blog.  I found this wonderful website...www.shabbycreations.com.  Michelle Baird is the creator and she does beautiful work...hope you like it...thanks Michelle!!!!