Farewell, Number Four....

Brett Favre announced his retirement today. Farewell number four!

Occasions Mini 2008 STARTS TODAY!!!

You will need something to clean up the drool cause this mini is SPECTACULAR!!!! Click on the picture to see what's inside!

Lisa

Blogger's Challenge #36: Layout Challenge

Our challenge this week was to be inspired by the layout on page 44, The Deepest Sympathy card. Usually, layout challenges are my favorite but it was really hard for me this week. This is inspite of the fact that I really like this layout! Wierd!

I wanted to try out a very simple technique called "Chalkboard." You are supposed to use black cardstock and the example I saw used brown. So what did I do? Used Bravo Burgundy! I stamped the cross and floral images from Refuge and Strength in Whisper White Craft Ink and used Q-tips and cotton balls to add color from my Stampin' Pastels. I layered this piece onto Ballet Blue and then onto Always Artichoke cardstock. I tied a piece of 5/8" Brocade Blue Grosgrain Ribbon onto the Antique Brass Hodgepodge piece and attached that to my main piece. I wasn't quite sure if this looked finished yet so at the risk of ruining what I had just done, I pulled out my Crafter's Tool Kit and using the Paper Piercer, Pad and Template, added a few "stitch" holes in three of the corners. I liked it!

I made my own decorative cardstock by stamping off in Ballet Blue and Bravo Burgundy onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. I added the phrase with my Bravo Burgundy classic ink pad and adhered the focal image with Stampin' Dimensionals. Boy! I've been using Stampin' Dimensionals on EVERYTHING lately! I love them!

Thanks for taking time to check out my Blogger's Challenge and remember to click on the link on the sidebar to see what the other BC members were up to this week!

Lisa

Blogger's Challenge #35: Color Challenge!

The color combo for this challenge was Purely Pomegranete, Old Olive and Brilliant Blue...Whoa! That IS a challenge. But, once I sat down, my card came together quite quickly!

I used a set called Bugs and Kisses...I LOVE this set! I stamped three of the bugs in the three colors and punched them out with my 1 1/4 inch square punch, added a little ink around the edges with a sponge dauber and layered them on their respective cardstock colors and punched that out with the 1 3/8 inch square punch. I made a "faux filmstrip" from Brilliant Blue by punching the edge with my Spiral punch. On the background, I used the phrase Cute as a Bug in Old Olive on the Old Olive card and positioned it with my Stamp a Majig. My intent was to do the whole background but I stopped and decided I liked this "strip" look! I added Olive 5/8" ribbon and Double Stitched Purely Pomegranete ribbon and finished off the card by stamping the phrase just one more time with Basic Black. My Brilliant Blue is showing up a little purple. Maybe I can try to take a better pic later today!

Thanks for looking and be sure to check out the link to the other challenges!

Also, Sale a Bration continues! Did you get your Mini Occasions catty from me, yet? IT'S AWESOME!!! Starts March 1st!

Lisa

BRRRRR!

Current Weather conditions in Crookston, MN as of 4:15 pm:

Air temp: -17 degrees F
Windchill: -48 degrees F

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Here's a card to warm you up:





It uses a folding technique called "Shadow Box." If you'd like me to come to your home and show you how to make a card like this with a couple of your friends...and we take a few orders and get you some free stuff at the same time...LMK!!!

Thanks for looking!

Lisa

Your Word is a Light...

I made this card for my friend Lisa S. She's also my upline. God really guided me in the right direction for that decision! I signed up with Lisa...we had never met, just emailed back and forth. She had to be patient, too! I drug her along from March til I finally signed up in August!!!

This card uses the Brayered Sky tech from SCS. Block off a portion of your cardstock with post its and use a brayer with three shades of one color. I chose Barely Banana, Summer Sun and More Mustard. I also used my Christmas present from Lisa...A Light Unto My Path I removed the post its and stamped the Bible verse. Thanks for looking!

Lisa

Blogger's Challenge #34: Layout Challenge!

LOVED this challenge! Layout challenges usually end up being a favorite for me!

We were to use the Happy Birthday card on page 32 of the Spring-Summer Collection from Stampin' Up!

My color combo came from a color challenge on SCS. The stamp set I finally decided on (that was the real challenge for me, this week) was Nursery Necessities. I used Kraft, Tempting Turquoise, and Green Galore, colors I wouldn't have thought to put together but I like how they work together. For my star, I used the Rock N Roll technique and used regular White Grosgrain Ribbon and added a little extra to match my card! To make the scallops, I used the corner rounder punch with the guard removed and added white dots with my Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen. I stamped the phrase with White Embossing powder.

Thanks for looking!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, this is the card that I am giving to my dh. I found the pattern on one of the other blogs I read. Email me if you want me to send you the pattern, too!

I used Blush Blossom cardstock and Bali Breeze DSP and River Rock double-stitched ribbon.

Just So You Know

I had a great question at my workshop the other night...Do I need to wait for a workshop or party or open house to place an order?

You can place an order ANYTIME!

Here's the scoop: You can place a Customer Direct Order at any time from me. The only difference is shipping. Shipping is $3.95 for all orders less than $39.50. After that amount, the shipping charge is the same as it is for a workshop: 10%!

So, all of you who are considering a SAB (Sale-a-Bration) order and don't want to wait for a workshop, I can take your individual orders anytime!

But, if you talk to your friends and get the total above $150, it will count as a workshop and you would get HOSTESS BENNIES!!!

So contact me anytime with your orders and I'll be glad to take care of it for you!

Thanks for looking!

Blogger's Challenge #33: Color Challenge!

Our challenge this week was to use the color combination of Taken With Teal, Rose Red, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie. It wasnt' until this morning that it dawned on me that this was almost the same colors I used for a project for my workshop last night! I used Purely Pomegranete on that one and simply switched our Rose Red cardstock in its place! I "CASED" the idea from Heather Summers. Here's a link to her original project. I think you'll see the similarities!

I used Bali Breeze DSP. This piece has all four colors. The old olive is just on the paper but I used the other three colors when I added elements. The DSP actually has Purely Pomegranete but Rose Red looks GREAT, too!!!

I started my CD case with a piece of 10 by 6 inch dsp. I scored the long way at 1/2" and then folded it in half. From the middle fold mark to the end, I cut away a portion of the scored piece and left the other half to add the adhesive.

The stamp sets used were Short and Sweet and All in the Family. I had to use my StampaMajig to get the placement of the girls head as you can mix and match the people in this stamp set. I used my Watercolor Wonder Crayons and my Aquapainter to add color before punching it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch. I layered that onto P Pie cardstock and punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch. I layered yet again onto Taken with Teal Cardstock and used my (new) scallop punch. The message is punched with our two sizes of Oval punches. The last bit of punching came when I used the circle punch to make a place to pull the CD out of the envelope.

This would be a GREAT project for making a mix CD for your Valentine or putting a group of digital photos for a loved one!

Thanks for looking!

Lisa

Blogger's Challenge #32: Layout challenge!

Hello! Our challenge this week was a GREAT layout challenge! It was the Happy Birthday card on the front cover of the SAB (Sale-a-Bration) catalog...You know the one from my post yesterday! Oh, wait, here it is again!

I used the DSP Berry Bliss as my color inspiration. It has Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa and Purely Pomegranate in it. (You can see the cocoa and chocolate in the background piece on this card!) I chose a SAB set called Friendship Blooms! Starting tomorrow, with every $50 in merchandise/stamps/etc...that you order, you can choose it, too!!!


I stamped it in PP (purely pomegranate) onto Whisper White and then blended with my aquapainter. A GREAT tip for looking like you can watercolor! I cut it out and mounted it onto an un-watercolored image. The cardstock curled naturally for me, but you can manipulate it as you need. I added a Build a Brad (but using my Crafter's Tool Kit, I clipped off the backing and adhered it with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The background cardstock is stamped with a NEW background stamp called Twill and just like last week, the phrase comes from my new favorite phrase set, Smarty Pants! I added a touch of extra Pretty in Pink with the 3/8" Pink Grograin ribbon. The scallop on the PP is made with my Corner Rounder Punch! That's a neat trick! Host a workshop, and I'll show you how to do that neat trick!

Thanks for checking out my challenge this week. Lisa, our challenge mom and guru, has come up with a way to see every member of the Blogger's challenge. Leigh O'Brien made a great logo for it. Just click on the logo to the left to see what everyone else was up to this week!

Lisa

Sale-a-Bration is coming!!!!

Have you heard? SU has changed Sell-a-bration to Sale-a-Bration but the deals are still the same!

For every $50 in merchandise, you can choose a limited-edition stamp set OR new this year...a set of RUB-ONSSS!!!!!!

I can't post the link to the SAB (Sale-a-Bration) catty until Friday....

Friday is when you can begin ordering for FREE stamps/Rub-ons! Contact me and we'll get your orders in!!!

Thanks for all that you do!
Lisa

Blogger's Challenge #31: Layout Challenge!

Our challenge this week is to base our card on the layout on the "baby" card on page 141 of the SU Spring-Summer Catalog. I LOVED this layout. So much that the first card I made for the challenge won't be seen here! It's going to the SU Stampin Success contest using glitter! When I win (or lose) I'll share it at that time!

For now, I'll share version #2! This card uses my new Jersey Shore DSP, my new large star punch, and my new FAVORITE stamp set: Smarty Pants..how fitting for it to be my fave!

I have LOVED this phrase but didn't have it as an SU stamp! Now I do!!!! "What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?" As someone who regularly does the Hokey Pokey with her class in PE, I think it may just be true! Hee hee!

Thanks for looking and maybe I'll post in a reasonable amount of time next week! Need more inspiration? Check out the other players! Links to their blogs are on the sidebar of this blog!

Lisa

For all of the moms out there....

What Do You Do All Day?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What
happened here today?'
She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?'
'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.
She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it..'

Blogger's Challenge #30: Real Red, Blue Bayou and River Rock

The challenge for (um...yesterday) was to use the colors Real Red, Blue Bayou and River Rock. At first, I thought I would pull out the new Western Sky paper but upon closer examination (ok, looking at the list someone provided for demos) it's Ruby Red and Rose Red in that DSP so I went with another idea.

I received my Sale-a-Bration sets last Friday. Stampin Up Demos get to preorder them so we can start making samples. You may not know what Sale-a-Bration is (shortened, I call it SAB). During SAB (remember that's Sale-a-Bration!) from February 1st to March 17th, a customer may choose a limited edition stamp set for every $50 in merchandise they purchase (before shipping, handling and tax). IT'S AN AWESOME DEAL!

It's also the BEST time to hostess a workshop....as a hostess, for every $300 in sales, you can pick one of the 5 stamp sets or the AWESOME package of Rub-Ons!!!

If you are on my mailing list, look for your SAB brochure to be arriving soon!



My card uses the SAB set, So Many Scallops and just a phrase from Birthday Whimsy. The So Many Scallops set was designed to go with our scallop punch so that's what I did! I also used the 1 1/4 inch circle punch to add the layer of red...that's actually one stamp but I made it look like two different ones. The background on the top layer is Flannel Plaid. I LOVE this background. It goes with so many different looks. I shabbied up the card a bit with the distressing tool from the Cutter Kit. I sponged a little extra Blue Bayou where it felt right and added the Real Red Striped Grosgrain ribbon, another new item in the Spring-Summer Catalog! It wasn't quite together until I added the dots on the scallop with my Uniball White gel pen.

Thanks for looking!

Lisa

Sharing a project!

I'm actually going to share a project I made this weekend. I was asked to donate to a silent auction. I've made one of these card boxes before and they are so much fun, I thought it would be a perfect project for this. Plus, I had a good repsonse from gals at my workshops when I showed it, I thought it would be a money maker for the auction...here's hoping!



I used some retired paper. I had very little sheets of the DSP paper "Au Chocolat" and thought I shouldn't let it go to waste in my paper keeper. I used chocolate chip satin ribbon from the Theater Ribbon originals and stamped the words with the Big Deal Alphabet...the best!



All of the girls are coming back from SU Leadership with so much GREAT info and MANY changes to SU...GREAT CHANGES! The changes effect the demos the most and will help us so much with our service to our customers!!!! THAT'S AWESOME!!!

Remember SPRING-SUMMER CATTY DEBUT, this Thursday, January 17 at my house from 5-8! I'm working on a great make and take and wait til you see this new catty!!! Honestly one of the BEST ever from SU!

If you live in Crookston, come by my house from 5-8...remember I'll feed you a snack and let you stamp!!!

Lisa

Blogger's Challenge #29: Layout Challenge!

***Edited to add: I thought that I could link you to individual pages of the catalog but I can't! (or don't know how!) So, I've added the page numbers of the products I've talked about in this article! This way, when you get to the catty online, just drag the slide under the catty to the page you want to see!

The challenge for this week was to base our card on the "Save the Date" card on page 37 of the Spring-Summer Collection.



My card is a little different for me. It's slightly shabby chic meets clean and simple. The colors were based on an idea I got from my friend and AWESOME upline...USE THE NEW RUB-ONS STAMPIN UP HAS TO OFFER ON RIBBON!!!! Thank you, Lisa!!!! (Rub-Ons on page 182.) I used an image and words from Eastern Elegance. Each set of Rub-Ons is available for $10.95 and they are VERY cool!

I used Chocolate Chip satin ribbon from the Theater Ribbon Originals, Double-Stitched Soft Sky ribbon, and Blue Bayou and Groovy Guava Cardstock. The only ink used was Chocolate Chip. To finish the look, I stamped the flower image from A Beautiful Thing stamp set. To add a little more depth, I stamped the Paisley background on the Groovy Guava and Blue Bayou pieces.

Thanks for looking!

Lisa B.

Blogger's Challenge #28: Pink and Brown!

This will be the shortest post ever. I finished my card last night and today was supposed to be a normal day: school and the weekend. I ended up calling in sick and have had a couple of naps today, a fever, headache, stomach ache and just plain BLUCK!

Here's my challenge card. Thanks for looking. I do need to mention that I used a sketch from Stampin' Kub. I liked the simplicity of the sketch. It would make a good 6 by 6 layout, too!

It's here!

First! Make sure to check out my post from yesterday that includes a BONUS hostess special from me!!!

Second! The Spring Summer Collection 2008

Third! I will be hosting a Spring-Summer Collection Debut on either January 14 or 17. I'll have a free make and take and you'll be able to see many of the new products. I'll also be parting with some of my retired sets! Be on the lookout for upcoming details!

Fourth! Want to know what SU colors coordinate with the new Designer Series Papers? Click HERE to see those colors!

Lisa

Out With the Old...

In with a NEW STAMPIN' UP CATALOG! For just the rest of today, you can order from the Fall/Winter Collection and then: Beginning at NOON: THE SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION IS UP!

I have two boxes of these babies ready to give away---one catty to anyone who books a workshop or joins a stamp club, that is!!!

The January customer special is the Valentine's Day Bundle For $33.40 you get the Happy Heart Day Stamp Set, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon and Medium Cellophane bags and the Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon is FREE!!!!

Stampin' Up! Hostess special for JANUARY ONLY: Hold a $350 or more workshop and choose any one stamp set from the Spring-Summer Preview Brochure for FREE!!! (up to a $29.95 value!)

My January hostess special: For just the first person to book (and hold) their January workshop: You will receive my discount on up to ANY 3 ITEMS in the Spring/Summer catalog! You will receive this discount only at the close of your workshop and you MUST hold and close the workshop before January 31, 2008! This is a GREAT offer that I will give to only ONE hostess so call me right away! I will go by the time on my answering machine, time on my cell phone or the time on the email received. The three items have to be on a customer order on your workshop which will count toward your workshop sales! You must have a qualifying workshop of $150 or more to receive the discount.

Call or email right away!!!

Lisa