LAST DAY TO SAVE 30%...

Today is the LAST day to of our National Scrapbooking Month promotion!   You will get 30% off a wide selection of scrapbooking products including:

• Select stamp sets
• Select professional print products for My Digital Studio
• Special digital download bundles for My Digital Studio
• Digital+ Starter Kit

The following stamp sets are available for 30% off through today, May 31.  CLICK HERE to order.

The following Digital Download Bundles are 30% off through May 31.  CLICK HERE to order.

CLICK HERE or the picture to the left to see the select My Digital Studio Professional Printing options that are 30% off through today, May 31. 

Contact me for more details on My Digital Studio and the how to order Professional Printing.


Last, but not least, today is the LAST day to become a demonstrator and join my team for 30% OFF the Digital+ Starter Kit.  In addition, new recruits can purchase the Stampin' Memories Add-On for 30% OFF, as well!

Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
Digital+ Starter Kit* (valued at more than $320!)	$175	$122.50
Stampin' Memories Add-On (valued at more than $75!) 1 stamp set 1 card stock pack 1 Designer Series Paper pack 1 Quick Accents pack 1 Designer Printed Album (12" x 12")	$50	$35

Please check out my Join My Group! page for all the details including more information on FAQs, Benefits of Joining My Team and Types of Demonstrators or contact me.

NEW DIGITAL DOWNLOADS ARE HERE...

There are seven new digital downloads for My Digital Studio, including five stamp brush sets, a triple punch, and the adorable Bright Delight Embellishments that are sure to add fun to all your spring and summer projects on the left!  Check out the PDF for more details, and then head over to my Digital Designing Store to get yours today!

As always, you can purchase our digital images and download them for My Digital Studio OR as .jpgs or .pngs to use in any digital graphics/photo/scrapbooking software (ex. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Ulead Photo Impact, Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, etc.).  Check out MyDigitalStudio.net for tips, tutorials, samples and videos!

Check out the complete list of My Digital Studio download offerings in the Digital Designing section of my Online Store.  Remember that if you are purchasing only digital images, there are NO shipping charges!  Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio.  I will be happy to help you!

HOLY COW INVITATION...

Today I have for you the invitations that I made for my husband's surprise 50th Birthday Party next weekend (luckily, he isn't interested in reading my blog!).  I really wanted cows, as the theme is "HOLY COW!  Mike is 50!".  I didn't want to do the traditional black/funeral type of 50 party and for some reason the cows just popped into my head. 

Since we don't have any cow stamps, I turned to punch art - of course!  Don't I always?  The cow's head is the Top Note Die cut down and shaped a bit and the snout is the largest of the ovals on the Ovals Die.  Everything else is punches with all noted in the recipe below.  You could easily adapt this into a horse by taking out the horns and moving the ears to the top corners of the head and changing up the colors.  Hmmm... maybe I'll have to do that in the future...  

It was fun because my youngest daughter, Colleen, even volunteered a few hours to help me on the last day.  And Jenni helped with a bit of the last minute assembly, so it was a family event for Dad!  Hope you enjoyed my fun little invitation!

HOLY COW INVITE SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – On Your Birthday (#111664, $33.95)
• Card Stock – Basic Black, Whisper White, So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Soft Sky Patterns DSP (retired)
• Ink – Basic Gray Classic, Pacific Point & Pear Pizzazz Markers
  
• Punches – 2" x 1-3/8" (Wide) Oval (#119859, $16.95), 1-3/4" x 7/8" (Large) Oval (#119855, $15.95), 1-3/8" x 5/8" (Small) Oval (#119863, $15.95), Scallop Circle (#119854, $16.95), 2-1/2" Circle (#120906, $16.95), 1" Circle (#119868, $10.95), 3/4" Circle (#119873, $10.95)
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Ovals Die (#114525, $15.95), Top Note Die (#113463, $21.95)

CAS FRIDAY, Jungle Pals Birthday...

Today is Logan's first birthday party.  You might remember the alphabet letters I did for his room last year:  L is for Logan.   (do a search of my blog for "Logan" for the other letters).  They are stateside for medical treatment this month, so I get to go to his birthday party tonight.  I can't believe the little guy is already a year old! 

I continued with the Jungle Animal theme for his birthday card, but I made it a quick and easy one.   This is a classic layout that you can use over and over again.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment on the front of the card is from the Grunge Rock stamp set which is on sale for 30% off through May 31.  The sentiment on the inside is from the Word Play stamp set which is also 30% off through May 31.  Enjoy!

JUNGLE PALS BIRTHDAY SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Fox & Friends (W#117020 $18.95 C#118565 , $14.95), Grunge Rock (W#117080  $14.67  C#120555 $11.17 through May 31 only), Word Play (W#120308  $29.37  C#120651 $20.27 through May 31 only)
• Card stock – Chocolate Chip Textured, Whisper White, Real Red Textured, Old Olive Textured, Tall Tales DSP (retired)
• Ink – Chocolate Chip, So Saffron Classic, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Real Red, Pacific Point, Soft Suede Markers
• Ribbon – Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain (#109052, $6.95)
• Punches – Scallop Circle (#119854, $16.95), 1-3/8" Circle (#119860, $15.95), 1-1/4" Circle (#119861, $15.95)
• Accessories –  Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95),
• Tools – Stampin' Sponges

Update:  Guess what?  His birthday party was Jungle Animals, too, so I was right on target!  Here is a pic of the birthday boy:

TECHINQUE THURSDAY, Faux Pressed Flowers Technique...

It's Technique Thursday time again!  This time I used the Faux Pressed Flowers Technique.  In this technique, you take paper flowers and press them into the card stock with an embossing folder to create the look of pressed flowers.  I like to cut and shape the paper flowers to imitate various flowers.  In this case, I was inspired by the Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susans) and Coneflowers coming up in my garden right now.

Be aware that when the flowers are pressed, they "spread" out a bit more.   For this first version, I cut quite a bit off each side of each petal and used only portions of a daisy to look like the coneflowers.

This is another version where I cut the petals down a bit, but not as much as the one above.  Of course, the colors are different for the individual flowers. Another difference is the embossing - with the top one, I used the folder with the crosses "debossed" and with the next one, I used it with the crosses "embossed".  Click the photos to enlarge and see the detail and that way you can decide which side you'd like to use for your project!

PRESSED CONEFLOWERS & BLACK-EYED SUSANS SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Inspired by Nature (#111656, $23.95)
• Card stock – Old Olive, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
• Ink – More Mustard, So Saffron, Peach Parfait, Old Olive, Always Artichoke Classic 
• Punches – 1" Circle (#119868, $10.95), 3/4" Circle (#119873, $10.95), 1/2" Circle (#119869, $5.95)
• Accessories – Paper Daisies Accents (#119243, $6.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Square Scallop Die (#115950, $21.95), Perfect Details Texturz Plate (#115962, $3.95), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (#119976, $7.95), Sponge Daubers

FAUX PRESSED FLOWERS TECHNIQUE DIRECTIONS:

1.  Stamp your image on card stock and color if needed.

2.  Color and shape your paper flowers as desired. Be sure to add layers of color to mimic natural flowers.

3.  Adhere your flowers to your cardstock using a 2-way Glue Pen, Anywhere Glue Stick or Mono Multi (sparingly).

4.  Place the finished card stock into an Embossing Folder—a close, all-over pattern works best.

5.  Run through the Big Shot to emboss.

6.  Add embellishments and assemble into your finished card.

NEW MAY DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE...

There are eight new digital downloads for My Digital Studio, including six stamp brush sets, a Designer Series Paper, and an awesome 46-piece Stitching kit that gives you tons of stitched looks to add a carefully sewn look to your projects PLUS a greeting card designer template!  Check out the PDF for more details, and then head over to my Digital Designing Store to get yours today!

As always, you can purchase our digital images and download them for My Digital Studio OR as .jpgs or .pngs to use in any digital graphics/photo/scrapbooking software (ex. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Ulead Photo Impact, Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, etc.).  Check out MyDigitalStudio.net for tips, tutorials, samples and videos!

Check out the complete list of My Digital Studio download offerings in the Digital Designing section of my Online Store.  Remember that if you are purchasing only digital images, there are NO shipping charges!  Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio.  I will be happy to help you!

TUESDAY TOOL TIP, Color Coach...

Stampin' Up!'s new Color Coach is a wonderful tool!  The Color Coach will assist you in quickly and easily putting together custom color schemes that express your unique creativity.  The color cards are a generous size and  can be moved around and layered on top of each other, so you can get a visual of your card layering.

■ Includes 55 double-sided cards with a removable metal post fastener, so that you can organize your colors however you want
■ Includes all 40 Stampin' Up! Colors plus the 5 In-Colors
■ Includes color theory cards and individual color swatch cards
■ On individual color cards, one side shows color, the other side lists coordinating colors
■ Card size: 2-3/4" x 4-1/2"
■ Item #121620, $14.95

At a quick glance, you can see what color combos work well together.  On the back of each color card there are recommended color combinations - a Creative Combination and a Sweet Set.  Plus, the Dynamic Duo combo is the favorite choice of many stampers that gives you a WOW accent color! 

One of my favorite features is the blank combination cards.  Once you have found a favorite combination, you create your own swatch with a 1/2" circle punch glued on top of the printed circles.   Now, I don't have to remember my favorite color combinations.  I've recorded them all in the back of my Color Coach!

To make the most of Stampin' Up!'s new Color Coach, it helps if you have some basic understanding of color principles.  Download the Color Coach: Color Theory documents to get a greater understanding of how colors work, and how you can create beautiful color combinations with your new Color Coach!

Whether you want a quick reference of all colors in a collection, a card for every color, or blank cards to record your own color combinations, I highly recommend this swatch book - it is perfect for you!

GARDEN PARTY MATCHBOX BUNCO FAVORS...

Tonight is my Bunco group's monthly game and it is my turn to host.  My theme is a garden party and our third table was out on the deck.  So, I spent the past week planting all my containers and getting the deck ready for the season while Michael freshened all the mulch.  Whew!  I'm glad it is done, but I have not been doing my arthritis any favors!

I am debuting my Amaretto Bread Pudding - the first baking recipe I have created entirely on my own.  I am a pattern/recipe girl, so with baking, I have never developed my own recipe before.  Cooking I can do that with, but baking is so precise, that I have never dared.  Stepping outside my box...

These are the little favors I made everyone with our Matchbox Die.  I love this fabulous die - so quick to make cute little favor boxes.  I found these adorable chocolate dice in our local gourmet chocolate shop and they fit perfectly in the matchbox.  I hope everyone likes them!

This is several of the matchboxes I made:

GARDEN PARTY MATCHBOX SUPPLIES:

• Card stock – Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Rose Red, Springtime Vintage DSP (retired)
• Ink – Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Rich Razzleberry
• Ribbon – Baja Breeze 5/8" Striped Grosgrain (retired), Rich Razzleberry 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain, (retired), Rose Red 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain ($2.99 in my Clearance Rack)
• Punches – Fancy Flower (#118073, $16.95)
• Accessories – Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons ($2.99 in my Clearance Rack), Kraft Corduroy Buttons ($2.99 in my Clearance Rack) watercolored with Rose Red, Sending Love Brads (retired)
• Tools – Big Shot, Matchbox Die (#114890, $42.95), Fun Flowers Die (#121812, $32.95), Paper Piercer & Mat, Stampin' Sponges, Aquapainter

For the flower, I punched or die cut the flowers - 3 total.   Then I used the Faux Suede technique on them which resulted in 6 layers for each flower.  Then I put them together with the Crumpled Flowers method.

JAZZING UP MY NEW MAILBOX WITH DECOR ELEMENTS...

This post is all about my new mailbox.  Funny subject for a post on a stamping blog, right?  But when I saw this mailbox I knew I had to have it.  We live on a very busy road and you are taking your life in your hands when you step into the street to check the mail.  So I really wanted to get a mailbox with an access in the rear to get your mail, yet it had to be pretty, too.  Hubby just looked at me like I was crazy and said "you want to spend WHAT on a mailbox?"   My birthday was a couple of weeks ago though and I choose the mailbox over jewelry or anything else!  That way he couldn't complain!

Of course, I had to dress up the mailbox a little more.  It needed the house number, of course.  So I added those with die cuts from the Simple Numbers Dies using our Vinyl Sheets.  And it needed another decorative element - like that finishing touch of jewelry.  There's always room for embellishment in life, right?  I would have loved to use the Fleur-De-Lis Decorative Accent, but even the smallest one was too big.  So I added these lovely Ornate Flowers Decor Elements pieces.  Aren't they just perfect?  Hope you enjoy my little project. 

How will you use Decor Elements to decorate YOUR life?   Send me your pics!

ORNATE FLOWERING MAILBOX SUPPLIES:

• Decor Elements – Ornate Flowers, Small Chocolate (#119563, $9.95)
• Accesories – Chocolate Decor Elements Vinyl Sheets (#114337, $12.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Simple Numbers Dies (#115968, $44.95)

GREAT NEW DIGITAL DOWNLOADS FOR MDS...

There are nine new digital downloads for My Digital Studio, including four stamp brush sets, two kits, a punch, a Designer Series Paper, and an awesome card template for Dad's Day!  Check out the PDF for more details, and then head over to my Digital Designing Store to get yours today!

As always, you can purchase our digital images and download them for My Digital Studio OR as .jpgs or .pngs to use in any digital graphics/photo/scrapbooking software (ex. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Ulead Photo Impact, Microsoft Office programs like Word, Publisher, etc.).  Check out MyDigitalStudio.net for tips, tutorials, samples and videos!

Check out the complete list of My Digital Studio download offerings in the Digital Designing section of my Online Store.  Remember that if you are purchasing only digital images, there are NO shipping charges!  Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio.  I will be happy to help you!

JENNI'S BUTTERFLY MOTHER'S DAY CARD...

I had a lovely Mother's Day yesterday.  Colleen had to work from noon - 8:00, but had gotten up early (for her on a Sunday) at 9:00 to make me breakfast only find that Michael had already made it for me.  :(  She was so disappointed, but will make it another day for me this week, which will be nice.  Jenni came over and made me a nice chicken panini for lunch.  Then we got to work on my Spring planting.  Halfway through I decided I didn't have nearly enough plants, so we went plant shopping.  We will have to finish tomorrow.  Michael cooked out for a late dinner and then we all watched Inception when Colleen got home until quite late.

Jenni made me this lovely card.  She stole my little bag of Beautiful Wings butterflies that I had to come up with this CAS card.  The surface of the card is covered with glitter.  She took a 2-Way Glue Pen and held it up to the Color Spritzer and misted glue on the surface and then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  It came out so pretty - the picture cannot capture the glittering goodness.  Thanks for a beautiful card and day, Jen!

BUTTERFLIES FLY FREE FOR MOTHER'S DAY SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Something to Celebrate (retired)
• Card Stock – Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink,
• Ink – Melon Mambo
• Accessories – Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (#102023, $4.50), 2-Way Glue Pen
• Tools – Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die (#118138, $11.95), Color Spritzer (#107066, $12.95)

SUMMER MINI CATALOG HAS BEGUN!...

Our Summer Mini Catalog is HERE!  This "little" catalog is chock full of fabulous fun and you won't want to miss out on any of it!

Sorry I am a little late posting this.  I was preoccupied with getting out all the information on the National Scrapbooking Month promotions and then I had all the Creative Crew projects to share, so I forgot all about the Summer Mini.  Shame on me!

• Be sure to check out our fabulous new mini catalog by clicking the catalog picture at the left or HERE to download the Summer Mini.
• After checking out the Summer Mini, I know you will want to check out the Stampin' Supplies List, so you can see by page what products were used to create the fantastic samples in the catalog.  
• Check my blog for the sneak peeks of Summer Mini products that I have shown recently and for the projects still to come!
• Place your on-line customer order HERE, call or email me.  Remember to enter THROUGH my direct website rather than choosing me at the end.  That way, you are eligible for lower minimum shipping cost and FREE Stampin' Rewards (free stamp set and $15 free merchandise with orders of $150 or more)

 PREFER A PRINT COPY OF THE SUMMER MINI CATALOG?   Isn't it nice and cozy to have a real, live copy of the catalog to curl up with?  If you do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator that you have a customer relationship with and would like a print copy for FREE, please email me your name and address and I will send you one.  US residents only per Stampin' Up! policy.

Here are a few of my favorite must-have new products you won't want to miss out on:

Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper (#122343, $10.95) - Our Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper features old world maritime imagery. Perfect for travel-themed and masculine projects with classic appeal.  Includes 12 sheets total: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs.  Acid and lignin free.  Created to coordinate with the Nautical Expedition Suite, this Designer Series Paper is a must-have for those who covet the vintage look!

Sail Away (#123013, $9.95) - Pair our new Sail Away stamp with Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper and Baker's Twine for rugged, masculine-themed projects with a bold, vintage look. Perfect for large gift tags, summer-themed scrapbook pages, and birthday cards!

The Open Sea (#123030, $26.95) - One of our most spectacular stamp sets ever, The Open Sea gives you a full range of images for designing masculine or travel-themed projects with old world appeal. Created to coordinate with the Nautical Expedition Suite, this five-piece set is a must-have for those who covet the vintage look!

Strength & Hope (#118100, $17.95) - Offer strength and hope to those dealing with breast cancer by purchasing the Strength & Hope stamp set. Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from this purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide.

Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (#122464, $23.95) - Create three coordinated punch images with just one punch. Images look beautiful layered together or separately -- giving you more creative options! Simply move the easy-to-use front lever to the image you'd like, then punch. Three-images-in-one punch body also saves on storage space. Instructions included. Punched images in this punch layer beautifully with images in the Bold Blossom Set.

Melon Mambo (#123223), Tangerine Tango (#123106) and Wild Wasabi (#123224) Stampin' Emboss Powders - Custom-colored Stampin' Emboss Powder will add pop and pizzazz to your stamped projects. All three coordinate with our sweet and summery Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper. If you’ve ever embossed before, you know what fun it is to see the powder melt into a smooth, shimmery image, right before your eyes. If not, you're in for a real treat!