AWASH WITH FLOWERS

Hi Stampers!

Well....we have been battling summer colds around here. What's maddening about this cold is that it makes you feel crummy and tired, but not crummy and tired enough to stay down.....just enough to make you feel like very move is an effort. But, I think we are all on the mend.

Today I wanted to show you a card that we are going to be making at an

upcoming stamp class that I'm doing on

Saturday, August 14th.

See my Stampin' Up! website for complete information...click HERE.

The card's base is Whisper White, topped with Real Red and another piece of Whisper White that I ran through my Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. On top of that I put another piece of Real Red and then stamped on a piece of Whisper White using Real Red, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, and Certainly Celery....all the flower outlines are stamped in Basic Black, along with the sentiment....which is from the Because I Care Level 1 Hostess set.

That's all there is to it!!! This is a great card for beginners and advanced stampers alike.

Well that's it for me today.....

Until next time, find some

time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

HOSTESS BONUS STARTS TODAY!!!!

Hey Stampers!

Here's some GREAT news, especially if you have been thinking about hostessing a workshop!!!

Hostesses will receive an additional $25 in hostess free merchandise dollars when they hold a workshop totaling $350 or more!

Dates of Promotion: July 27-August 31, 2010

Click HERE to download the flyer.

Things to Remember

• Only customer, hostess, and workshop order types qualify for this promotion. Online orders do not qualify.
• Orders must be $350 or more to qualify.
• Hostesses may use their additional $25 in hostess free merchandise on any regular catalog/mini catalog merchandise.
• Orders larger than $350 are not eligible for additional hostess free merchandise dollars. For example, a $700 workshop does not receive $50 in additional dollars. All orders over $350 always receive $25 in additional free hostess dollars.

Until next time, find some

time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

MORE ARTISTIC ETCHINGS

Happy Saturday Stampers!

Boy, have we had a LAZY Saturday!!! The kids have been busy all week helping with our church's Vacation Bible School. They need to be at the church by about 7:50 in the morning and then I pick them up at 5 pm! They were bushed at the end of each day.....and especially after the week.

Their schedule is 8-8:30 devotions, 8-12 noon VBS, and then the church feeds them lunch before they head out to do service projects for folks in the church and other Christian organizations around town.....so they are hoppin' the whole day.

Here is another card that I made with the set Artistic Etchings......the background on this card is the same as on my previous card that I posted on Thursday.

REMEMBER....I AM GIVING AWAY THIS SET ON AUGUST 1....SO, TO ENTER THE DRAWING JUST PLACE AN ONLINE ORDER AND YOUR NAME WILL GET PUT "IN THE POT". YOU COULD BE THE LUCKY WINNER!!!

SEE "FREE STAMP SET" ON MY TOP BANNER FOR DETAILS!!!

The colors I used on this card are all either new core colors or returning In Colors.....I used Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight (these are both brand new colors), Baja Breeze and Soft Suede (these are returning In Colors). The ribbon is the 5/8" Very Vanilla satin ribbon and the pearls are the new ones that Stampin' Up! is now selling (LOVE them!!).

I made this a "Happy Retirement" card.....because I think everybody should see the Eiffel Tower, if not when they're young.....definitely after they retire.....because it is SPECTACULAR....especially the view from the VERY TOP!!! WOW!!! Paris is a beautiful city!!

Maybe I love Paris because I have some GREAT memories of being there.....here's Steve and I when we visited a few years ago.....

Sorry the quality is so poor.....I had to take a picture of a picture.

Well....that's it for me today.....I'm off to make some homemade pizza for dinner!

Until next time, find some

time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

ARTISTIC ETCHINGS

Hi Stampers!

Thanks for taking the time to pop in!

Last night we had almost 30 Jr. High boys here from our church for a "Boys Night Out". They did LOTS of swimming, eating, and just "boy" stuff. Only 1 bloody nose, which considering how rowdy they got is, to me, pretty good! They were a riot to watch.....I think they had a pretty good time.

Well, since I was DEFINITELY outnumbered by all those young men (Madison was at a "Girl's Night Out"), I squirreled away in my stamp room and played with my newest set....Artistic Etchings.

Artistic Etchings is the set that I will be giving away for FREE in a drawing on August 1st. To enter the drawing, just place an online order, no minimum required, through my Stampin' Up! website. Once you place your order....I will put your name "in the pot" and if your name is drawn I will send you either a wood or clear mounted Artistic Etchings stamp set for FREE....Pretty Cool!!!

Well, here is what I came up with......

I also used my new Square Lattice embossing folder and all new colors! The card's base is Soft Suede (not a totally new color....but new to the core color palette), on that I layered a piece of very vanilla that was embossed using the Square Lattice embossing folder. Then I took another piece of Soft Suede and layered that with a piece of textured very vanilla on which I randomly stamped images with the colors Soft Suede, Baja Breeze (a returning In Color), Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight. The ribbon is 5/8" very vanilla satin ribbon. The word is punched using the large oval and the scallop oval punches....VERY EASY!!! I think I had as much fun as those boys!!!

Well, that's it for me today.....don't forget to place your order so that you will be eligible for the FREE STAMP SET DRAWING!!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!!!

Hi Stampers!

Today is Andy's, 14th birthday!!! I can hardly believe it!! Where did the time go?

More about him later....

Below is the card that I made for him.....I used the Extreme Skateboard stamp with Basic Black and Real Red. I sprayed it with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz and added

some Jumbo Eyelets. It's pretty simple....but I thought it looked like a teen card and boyish.

Here's some pictures of him......

This was taken while on our vacation this last June.

I think he is in the "non-smiling" phase in his life.....

Here he is being a ham at the lake.....

And finally, this is my ALL TIME FAVORITE of both him and Madison when they were young....ahhh those were the days!!!

It's funny.....but sometimes I still see him as being this age.....and

I mean that in a sweet way!!

Well.....I better quit before I start crying ;-)

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

ANOTHER CAS BIRTHDAY CARD

CHECK OUT THE FREE STAMP SET OF THE MONTH

Hi Stampers!

Thanks for clickin' in! I thought I would get a quick post in before church this morning.

I've been on a birthday card kick.......our family has quite a few birthdays in July and August, so I need to be ready!

Here is a QUICK birthday card I made using the new Hostess Level 3 set Playful Pieces (this set is FREE with a qualifying workshop or order!!). It has 30 "playful" pieces in it.....so the possibilities are almost endless! I think this is going to be a really fun set!!!

Not much stamping to this card. The sentiment from the now retired set Garden Greetings. The card's base is Real Red, layered with a piece of white that has been run through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. The present is stamped on white with Tempting Turquoise, bow with Real Red.....that is layered on a piece of textured Real Red. The buttons are from the now retired Playground Designer Buttons (I got them free awhile ago from a promotion that Stampin' Up! had).....and they are tied with crochet thread and adhered with Crystal Effects.

Well, cardmaking couldn't get much easier than this!!!!

I better go and get everybody up so we're not late for church!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

CAS BIRTHDAY CARD

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FREE MONTHLY STAMP SET!!!

Hi Stampers!

Today, I'm going to show you a birthday card that I made the other evening.....I had a great time just "playing"!!

The card that I'm going to show you today uses the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set....also a retired set called Wonderful Words. I made it very clean and simple (CAS). I used some card supplies that I already had cut, so that also made it easy....which I always like!!! I then used the new Color Coach to find something that went with the color Tangerine Tango.....I'm glad I did because I'm not sure I would have naturally gone with Tempting Turquoise.

Sorry the picture is a bit too bright.

You can't really tell from the picture but the candle flame has Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds on it. I paper pieced the cupcake and candle......SUPER EASY!!

Well....that's it for me today.

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

COLOR COACH IDEA

Hey Stampers!

Hope this finds your week going well. Today the kids are out waterskiing with some friends of ours.....in case you didn't know.....waterskiing is MAJOR in our home!!! We are members of a private waterski lake where there is a slalom ski course. My husband is a fanatic and, of course, the kids take after their dad! It's great fun and good exercise!!! Never can go waterskiing often enough at our house :-)

Hey! Have you checked out the new Color Coach?? If you haven't....it's WONDERFUL!!! I have already used it a number of times because my strong suit isn't in picking colors. Here is a picture of it from the catalog....

It has a screw thing in the corner to keep it all together and so you can also add new In Colors, etc. Although, I wanted a easy way to store mine....so I changed it just a bit. I took the screw thing out and replaced with it a binder ring (or I think that is what they are called)....now I can hang it on some "S" hooks that I have. Nothing is changed about the Color Coach expect the way it is held together....Lookie......

I think it's pretty cool!!! This also makes it easier for me to see the entire card too.....I LOVE it!!! I know, it hangs upside down....so good thing I can still read upside down ;-) I should add....I saved that screw thing....just in case.

Well, with the kids gone for most of the day, I like to take advantage of the time and get some things done around the house.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE FREE MONTHLY STAMP SET!!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

RECIPES

Hi Stampers!

I finally finished the Recipe "File" that I made for Madison....although, I still need to stamp the actual recipe card....but I thought I would show you how it looks.

Here's the front.....

Here is the front inside panel.....

Here is the entire inside.....

I used a bunch of different stamp sets that had food items in them and that had images that were the right size.....I must confess.....I'm going to miss my fat little chef now that he is retired :-(

Madison has been baking LOTS of cinnamon bread and rolls......she is getting better with each batch which is making them harder and harder to resist!!!

Here's some pictures of her and her dough and what her dough became....

What lovely dough!!!

Here's what that lovely dough became.....

Here is some cinnamon swirl bread.....Yum!!!

Are you hungry yet???

Well, that's it for me this morning......I think some of that cinnamon swirl bread is calling my name!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

FREE STAMP SET EACH MONTH

Hi Stampers!

This week is zipping by!!! We have had out of town company all this week.....bunches of fun, but it does make life a bit more hectic. Also, Monday evening I had my stamp club .

Although in between all the summer fun I've been having.....I've been working on ideas....and one of those ideas is a MONTHLY FREE STAMP DRAWING. Each month I will be drawing a name and giving away a FREE STAMP SET!

Want to know how to get entered??? All you have to do to qualify for the drawing is place an online order through my Stampin' Up! website.... no minimum order required!

So....all online orders placed between now and JULY 31 will be entered into the drawing. Want to see what you could win for FREE??!!!

Well......here it is.......the Artistic Etchings stamp set!!!! (Winners will have the option of either wood or clear mount.)

OK, well Happy Shopping and Good Luck!!!

We are expecting some friends from Kentucky to drop by any minute now....so I better get some other stuff done!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

BLOG'S NEW LOOK

Hi Stampers!

Today I spent part of the afternoon re-vamping my blog. So, what do you think?

I have added some "tabs" to click that will provide more detailed information.....in fact, if you click on them now you will see that there isn't anything written yet. I will be adding that information in the next couple of days.

Part of the reason I am changing up my blog a bit is because I am going to be working at beefing up my Stampin' Up! business. Some of the things that I've been working on is putting together an online stamp kit club that will have it's own "Members Only" blog where I will post pictures of the project along with instructions and any other information that club members will need to know. Also, locally I am trying to add a couple of more clubs plus I'm on the "prowl" for some eager hostesses!!! So, those of you who are local who read this......how about hosting a FUN party??!!! :-)

Anyways....I'm a bit burnt out on computer work right now or I would show you the recipe file that I've been working on this weekend that I want to offer as a class......but that will now have to wait until tomorrow or the next day ;-) Tomorrow is my Monday night stamp club, so I'm not sure I'll have time to finish it up and post it.

Well, that's it for me today...

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

GETTING ORGANIZED

Hi Stampers!

WOW! My second post today!! Scroll down to see the first one....

Hope you had a WONDERFUL and super RELAXING weekend! I know I had fun this weekend.....I spent it organizing my paper and relabeling everything since the new Color Renovation. I took out all the retired stuff and sorted through my scraps. Then I completely re-did a box that I have that holds 1/4 or 1/2 sheets of card stock.....I think it turned out pretty good.........Here is what I did.....

First, I chose 1 color from each collection and cut 10 small scalloped rectangles from each color using the new Clearlits die that's in the new catalog....so I cut a total of 40. The representative colors I chose were Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, and Certainly Celery.

Then I folded them in half and stapled them to a 1/2 sheet of heavy card stock (my sweet husband use to work for a paper company....so I have a pretty good supply of neutral color card stock). After the tabs were on, I punched out the name of each color with the Word Window punch....I printed this list on a full sheet of label paper, so I was able to just peel and stick!

All that was left was putting them in the box! The box is a CD storage box from Ikea (I LOVE that place!!!)

After that was done, I tackled my scrap bins and sorted my 12x12's.....I haven't yet sorted my DSP scraps since I like to hang on to those babies!

I store all my paper, by collection, in storage boxes from Ikea (did I mention how I LOVE that place?). Each collection has it's own box and it's own box for scraps (the green boxes are scrap boxes). The large black storage boxes hold my DSP, DSP scraps, 12x12's, and then I have one for non-SU card stock scraps.

This system works good for me because my stamp room is on the west side of our home and is very sunny (which is GREAT for me, but not for my paper).....so storing my paper in boxes prevents it from fading. I also like it because of quick clean up and helps to keep my stamping room at least "looking" orderly :-)

Well...that is what I did over the weekend....only those who LOVE paper can understand how something like this is fun :-) I relate it to those pictures you see of somebody throwing money in the air and laughing......well that would be me except, as dangerous as it might sound, I'd be throwing packs of card stock in air and laughing all crazy! Instead of saying, "Money, money, money", I'd be saying, "Paper, paper, paper". What a KOOK I am!!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

MY CLUB SWAP and PIE MAKING

Hey Stampers!

Thanks for poppin' in!!

Here is the swap that I made for my club.....it is very CAS (Clean And Simple). This is because when I tried to add something more, it just didn't look right, so I just left it alone.

The card's base is Certainly Celery and is layered with some now retired DSP. The 5/8" satin Certainly Celery ribbon is from the Summer Mini. I used the Level 2 hostess Set Fast & Fabulous....stamping a couple of the images on the cute little Scallop Rectangle (By the way.....I'm lovin' the little Scallop Rectangle Sizzlit that SU has now!!!). I layered those cuties on some Chocolate Chip bases and popped them up with Dimensionals.....and I was done!

Easy as pie!!

Speaking of pie.....Madison has decided to become a "chef" as her summer project, so the other day she made her first pie ALL BY HERSELF!

This is her finished pie crust.....simply gorgeous!!!

Here she is peeling the apples to fill the wonderful pie crust....

(please ignore the overflowing and never-ending laundry in the background!!)

Here she is learning from Grandma.....the "Pie Master"

Ready for the oven!

The finished product!!!!

YUM!!!! I think I'm going to like her new "hobby"!!!

Well, that's enough for today....

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

BECAUSE I CARE ~ CLUB CARD

Hi Stampers!

Well, as promised, here is the other card that we will be making on Monday evening. I used the new Level 1 hostess set Because I Care.....I'm already in LOVE with this set!!!...and, I used some leftover card supplies from an open house....which made prep easy peasy!!!

The card's base is Old Olive. I used textured vanilla and a panel of Melon Mambo....ink used was also Melon Mambo and Old Olive. I had it made and realized that it just needed that "something", so I paper pierced around the flower. I think it added just the right amount of accent.

I used all four of the stamps in the set. Gosh!! I LOVE this set!!! (Remember....this set is FREE if you host a qualifying workshop or place an order of $150!!!)

Well, that's it for me......I'm still putting together the details for an online card club, so stayed tuned!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

GETTIN' IT TOGETHER & CLUB PREP

Good Morning Stampers!

I have been a busy bee getting ready for my Stamp Club this coming Monday.....and just getting my stamp room straightened up so that it doesn't look like somebody ransacked it :-)

Yesterday I made some BIG progress! I not only completed my club swaps and all the prep for club, but I organized and packaged up some retired stamp sets and color packets (paper, ink, reinkers) to sell.

(FYI: Some of the colors that I'm selling are Summer Sun, Bordering Blue, Ballet Blue, Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue, Lovely Lilac and Kiwi Kiss and a couple of miscellaneous Classic Ink Pads that I don't have reinkers for......if anybody is interested in purchasing a certain color contact me and I will let you know what I have in that color and the price.)

Well.....today's card is one that we will be making on Monday evening. I first made this card at my friend Karen's. I LOVE the design of this card! It looks WOW, but is soooo easy to make.....and versatile!! I used the new Awash with Flowers stamp set. The card's base is So Saffron with a Real Red Panel. The Top Notes are in White. I sponged Soft Suede around the outside and used it to stamp the flower outlines......the flowers are stamped in So Saffron and Real red and leaves are Old Olive. The ribbon is now retired.....but I had almost a whole spool so I thought....what the heck! it's cute.

You can't tell from the picture, but there are dots of Dazzling Diamonds on the the "things" (not sure what they are officially called) coming out of the flowers.....adds just the right amount of WOW!

The Top Notes on the inside of this card finish it off just right!

Well, I am off to my Scrapbooking Club this morning......oh! the rigors of my day ;-) I have already taken pictures of the other card we're making on Monday and the swap that I made.....so, I will be posting those in the next couple of days. I REALLY like the other club card!!! Hope you like it too!!

Well, that's it for me today....

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

HAPPY BELATED 4TH

Hi Stampers,

Well, it seems that I just can't catch up since leaving on vacation in early June. Since then I feel as though we have been gone or having out of town company....ALL of which is SUPER FUN....but makes it hard to buckle down and do "normal" things.

We did have a TREMENDOUS 4th of July!! My sister from San Diego came up for the weekend and we had some other friends over for a BBQ after church. We played frisbee, golf toss and set off some fireworks. Here's just a collage of our day.....

We had also swam and ate and ate and ate some more!!! It was GREAT!!! There's not too many things better than family, friends and good food!!!

Well.....I'll be back hopefully sooner rather than later with a stamping project!!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy