Corner Bouquet from Sale-a-bration 2021

 

We recently reorganized our office to make space for a teaching from home.  My husband and I both needed a more functional space to teach from...and a more attractive background for our students to look at!  In the process of doing this, my crafting area got a little smaller, but it also prompted me to sit down and try crafting again.  I am so glad I did!

In a time when everyone in our household has been doing school at home it has become increasingly clear to me that I have to draw a line so that I don’t work all the time.  It is always hard for educators to stop...at least for me it is.  I just can’t leave work at work at the best times let alone when my work and home life collide.

Returning to stamping has helped me to draw this line.   Returning to stamping has reminded me (again) that I need to use my brain differently from time to time so that I can be a better mom and teacher.  

Over the next few days, I hope to post photos of some of the projects I have been working on.  Maybe you’ll be inspired to rediscover a hobby or start a new one!

This project uses a great stamp set that I earned through Sale-a-bration by purchasing $60 of product.  Sale-a-bration has always been my favourite Stampin’Up! promotion.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or would like to earn this stamp set yourself.

Happy Stampin!

 

Hello to Sale-a-bration

Hello!  Welcome to Sale-a-bration 2016!

Sale-a-bration is, hand's down, my FAVOURITE Stampin' Up! promotion!  Before I was a demonstrator I used to save up my purchases until this time so I could get more for my money....who am I kidding....I still do!   Some of my favourite Stampin' Up! stamp sets are Sale-a-bration sets!

Here's one of the best of this year's Sale-a-bration sets...."Hello":

There are so many possibilities!   Here is one design that I used for 2 different cards:

Hello Birthday Day Girl!

Hello My Friend!

 I heat-embossed the "Hello" image using White Emboss Powder and then, using my AquaPainters, watercoloured over top of it.  Then I used paper from the "It's My Party" DSP package (which is HUGE by the way....48 sheets!) for the background.   There is a good mix of really "Birthday-ish" themes and more neutral ones.

Using the "flip" side of the DSP allowed me to make 2 cards, with different messages, really quickly!

Want in on the fun?   Here's how:

Purchase $60 in Stampin' Up! product from the Annual or Occasions Catalogue and you can earn the "Hello" stamp set FREE!   If you purchased the "It's My Party" DSP pack, the Aqua Painters, and some cardstock, you'll have $60 and will be all set to go.

But HURRY....because this set is ONLY available until February 15th!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Stampin'!

Petal Parade

I'll admit that I really didn't like the "Petal Parade" stamp set when I first saw it.  It certainly wasn't on my "must-have" list of Sale-a-bration items that's for sure.  But I decided to give it a chance.  The blogging world and those lovely people who pin their ideas on Pinterest have certainly inspired me so I inked "Petal Parade" for the first this week for 2 challenges:

Colour Q


and Try Stampin' on Tuesday!



I certainly am "dreaming of spring" like so many people and the fun flowers are helping feel a little warmer!

What do you think?

I'm loving the vibrant colour combo and the hint of spring in this card.  I can't wait to do some more stamping with this set!  This is a really easy set to do some masking with because the images are smaller and manageable to cut out.

Stamp Sets:  Petal Parade (Sale-a-bration), Banner Greetings (Hostess)

Card Stock and Ink:  Summer Starfruit, Coastal Cabana, Basic Black, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.

Other:  Lattice TIEF,  Decorative Dots TIEF (Sale-a-bration), Crumb Cake Seam-Binding Ribbon.

Happy Stamping!

Birthday Sale-a-bration!

Woohoo!  3 great things to celebrate in my world.;

1.  It's getting a little warmer...only -19 C with windchill today!  So much better than -35C!!!!

2.  The framing started in our new addition today!  Now we can see the new space we'll have, including an 8 foot coat closet!  So much better than my 2 foot one now : )

3.  SALE-A-BRATION started this week!  WOOHOO!  FREE STUFF!!!!!

Stampin' Up! has done a great job with their Sale-a-bration items this year!  I LOVE them all!  And I also really like how they've made it really easy to coordinate items.  Take the "Birthday Bash Bundle" (on p. 5 of the Sale-a-bration brochure) for example.  The bundle includes the following:  the 2013-2015 In-Colour Markers, Whisper White card stock, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Whisper White envelopes and the Remembering your Birthday stamp set.  Everything you need to make some great birthday cards...all for $69.55 (Clear Mount or $77.55 Wood Mount).  Because you've spent over $60 that means you can choose the Banner Blast Sale-a-bration stamp set for FREE : )   Click on the "Sale-a-bration" icon in the right side-bar to view the entire catalogue!

Check out this example of what you could make with that bundle:

Birthday Sale-a-bration

I totally CASE'd this from the Sale-a-bration catalogue!  It was super simple to make and looks great don't you think?!

Contact me today to order your "Birthday Bash Bundle" and to learn more about how you can earn more FREE product during Sale-a-bration.

Happy Stamping!

Thinking of Spring for JAI

It's a bit of a wild day in my neck of the woods.  Most of the roads are closed and we got quite a bit of snow last night.  It's a bit warmer today though (only -14C with wind chill) so we could actually get outside today to play....yay!  I LOVE winter but it is fun at this time of year to pull out my flowery stamps and butterflies : )

I recently came across a great challenge blog called Just Add Ink and really liked this week's sketch.  The possibilities for creativity are endless and I just had to try my hand at it.

Just Add Ink Challenge 199

For my colour inspiration I turned to a Sale-a-bration freebie that I got last week...the Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack come with 3 colours of twine and adhesive-backed cork embellishments.  Don't forget, Sale-a-bration starts Tuesday!  

A Sale-a-bration FREEBIE!

After playing around with a few different ideas of circles and scallops I changed tack and decided to do a "springy" theme of flowers and butterflies.  Pretty, eh?  There are tons of spring birthdays in my family so I'm getting a head start on my cards : )

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Petite Petals, Papillon Potpourri, Bring on the Cake

Ink and Card Stock:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White

Punches: Blossom Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Petite Petals Punch (Occasions 2014 Catalogue), Elegant Butterfly Punch

Other:  Sweet Sorbet Accessories (SAB 2014),  Fancy Fan TIEF,  Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy Stamping!

Blowing Bubbles

I was doing my Saturday morning blog surf and came across a technique that I'd never seen before.  My friend, Leena at A La Cards designs for The Technique Twist Challenge.  This morning she showcased this week's technique, "bubble backgrounds".  After reading her description I just HAD to try it and my husband off to the dollar store to get me some acrylic paint!

Simply combine some white acrylic paint with any colour of Stampin' Up ink using a re-inker, add a little dish soap and some water and you're all set to begin blowing bubbles.  I combined my paint and ink in an empty accessories container (e.g. brads or buttons, etc.) because I didn't want to use a lot and I need something fairly shallow.  I held my Whisper White card stock over top of the container while I blew bubbles using a drinking straw and as they popped they coloured the paper.  So cool!

"Bubbles" using Island Indigo and Real Red

Then I turned to one of my favourite sketch challenge blogs, Try Stampin' On Tuesday, for some sketch inspiration:

Try Stampin' On Tuesday Sketch #151

I really like how the banners alternate and wanted to capture that with my "Bubble Background"

I LOVE the look that the "bubbles" have on the paper.  I used Stampin' Up's Island Indigo and Real Red to tint my acrylic paint.  It created a lovely, soft background for my "Language of Love" stamps.

I deliberately did not put a specific sentiment on the card.  I thought it could be used for Valentine's Day, a wedding, a baby's arrival, a birthday or just about anything really.  I wanted to leave it open-ended so that when the right occasion comes along I can use it.

Here is a list of all the supplies you'll need to make this card:

Stamps:  Language of Love (item # 133077 CM or #133074 WM, Occasions Catalogue)

Ink:  Island Indigo, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party

Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

Other:  Decorative Dots TIEF (item #133520, Sale-a-bration item), Hearts Framelits (item # 125599), white acrylic paint, dish soap, drinking straws.

Happy Stamping!

Happy Valentine's Day

I have a quick little post for you today to show you what my son and I made as little Valentine's for his preschool class.  I had totally intended on making some lovely cards and 3D projects to give my family members today but I've been out with a nasty bug all week and this is all I've got.....sigh....maybe next year!

When I asked my son what colour he wanted to use for his Valentine's he said, with no hesitation, "Blue!".  Fine, the base of the card can be blue.  What colour would you like the hearts; pink or red?  "Blue".....hmmm, maybe not.  So we made a compromise and made the elephant blue and the hearts red! 

He helped put most of the parts through the Big Shot and punched all of the little sparkly hearts out himself. 

Patterned Occasions Elephant Valentine's



I absolutely LOVE the little elephant from the Sale-a-bration set "Patterned Occasions".  It is so versatile and I've now used it for "Thank you" cards, a baby card and these Valentine's.   I chose to little 3 1/2" x 2 3/4" one-sided cards.  With the heart (from the Hearts Framelits collection) and the elephant on the front and this on the back:



V is for Valentine

His preschool class is beginning "Jolly Phonics" so I thought that this "V is for Valentine" stamp would be really appropriate!

My son had a lot of fun punching out the little hearts....they are now all over the basement : )

Happy Stamping!

Butterfly in the sky

Here is the second of four cards that we did the other night at my "Sale-a-bration Soiree".  I CASE'd this card from one I saw on Pinterest.  You can follow me on Pinterest to see this card....click on the icon on the sidebar to link to my Pinterest page.

I was SO excited when I saw the new "Bitty Butterfly" punch in Stampin' Up's Spring Catalogue.   I already loved the Butterfly punch and Papillion Potpourri stamp set and this, of course, goes perfectly with both. 

The other stamp set I used on this card is another one of my favourites, "Itty Bitty Phrases".  Right now you can get this stamp set FREE through Sale-a-bration.  Contact me for more details or to place an order.

Here are the card details:

Stamp Set:  Papillion Potpourri, Itty Bitty Phrases

Ink:  Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, 

Paper: Midnight Muse, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP

Tools:  Butterfly Punch,  Bitty Butterfly Punch, Dotted Scallop Edge Punch, Simply Scored, Fancy Fan TIEF and Bitty Banners Framelits

Other:  Glue Dots, Basic Pearls

Sale-a-bration card for TSOT

I don't know if I've admitted it before but I have a really bad habit of leaving my stamping projects to the very last minute.  I had a big workshop to put on last night and wanted to show off some of my Sale-a-bration stuff but just couldn't get it "right".  Yet again, Try Stampin' On Tuesday saved the day!!!  They always have great sketches and wonderful examples.  I particularly liked this sketch because it allowed me to show off a whole lot of DSP and other Sale-a-bration items in one card.

Here is the sketch.....be sure to see what the blog contributors and challenge participants have come up with by clicking on the image:

And here is what I came up with:

A Patterned elephant on Sycamore Street

I just LOVE this little elephant from the "Patterned Occasions" Sale-a-bration stamp set.    It's just so cute and can be very versatile.  It lends itself so well to selective colouring with Stampin' Write markers.

I also really like the DSP in the Sale-a-bration brochure....it is called "Sycamore Street".  It's got a great colour combination and is really quite fun....if you can call paper "fun"!  And to make things even better, there is matching ribbon and buttons!!!!  That's why I love Stampin' Up!  Everything matches!  Remember, you too can have these items FREE ....contact me TODAY to learn how.

Here are all of the details of the supplies I used for this card:

Stamp Sets:  Patterned Occasions
Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Sycamore Street DSP (SAB)

Ink:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango....Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Ribbon and Buttons from the "Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack"

Happy Stamping!

CAS Love for the Paper Players

I love Clean and Simple (CAS) cards.  They are the easiest to make and often, in my opinion, the prettiest.  I don't know about you but I often find myself "planning" my cards in my head during the craziness of the day.  Yesterday was no exception, but this time I actually pulled myself off the couch and acted on my ideas : )

I wanted to make something with clean lines and monochromatic and I wanted to use some of my Sale-a-bration stuff.  With Valentine's Day quickly approaching I couldn't resist the little heart stamp in the "Pretty Petites" stamp set.

Pretty "Pretty Petites" monochromatic card

Then I realised that this card fits with this week's Paper Players challenge:

Sweet!  To create the "block" I used Primrose Petals and stamped the image four times before re-inking.  I used stamped images 1, 2 and 4.  I really like stamping off to create monochromatic cards because I know that the colours will match exactly.....because it's all the same palette....that made more sense in my head than in writing, sorry : )

Stampin' Up, of course, has made things even easier by having a coordinating punch, the Petite Curly Label punch, to go with the Pretty Petites stamp set.  The "love" from the "Fabulous Phrases" stamp set fit perfectly between the little brackets and I couldn't resist adding a little bling in the form of a Rhinestone Basic Jewel.

Remember, you can get the Pretty Petites or the Petite Curly Label Punch FREE with a $60 purchase...or get both when you spend $120!

Happy Stamping!

Sale-a-bration is here!

Yay!!!!  I LOVE Sale-a-bration!  Stampin' Up's best promotion of the year!  So great!  And, of course, the artistic staff at Stampin' Up have outdone themselves again with fabulous new (and exclusive) products!

I have to admit, I've been in my post-Christmas slump and have found it very difficult to get back into the swing of things.  But this week I forced myself to clean up my work space and pull out some of the new products that have been sitting begging to be used.  This little elephant has been calling my name and finally saw some ink a couple of days ago.

Patterned Occasions on Sycamore Street DSP

Isn't he (or she) cute?!

So cute! I particularly like the flower he's holding.  And he was FREE!  That's the best part!!!!  There are 3 ways to take advantage of Sale-a-bration:

1. Purchasing power -- for every $60 of Stampin' Up product you purchase you'll get to choose one Sale-a-bration item FREE! There are many exclusive stamp sets, punches, designer series paper packs and more for you to choose from. And the more you purchase the more you get free!!!! Check out the attached brochure or go to http://lauragardiner.stampinup.net for more info.

2. Host a party! Every hostess will receive a package of Silver Glimmer Paper and have a chance to earn an exclusive Sale-a-bration bundle. Contact me to book your workshop!!!!

3. "Join" the Stampin' Up family! Don't worry, you won't be signing your life away....but during Sale-a-bration if you purchase the fully customizable Starter Kit you will get 25% MORE product. That's right, for just $125 (NO SHIPPING OR TAX) you will get $194 in product! Pretty great!!!! Contact me for more details.

 

Here are the products I used for this card:

 

Stamps:  Patterned Occasions (Sale-a-bration)

 

Ink:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit and Tangerine Tango

 

Paper:  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango and Sycamore Street DSP (Sale-a-bration).

 

Other:  Stripes TIEF

 

Happy Stamping!