Birthday Weekend

Hello Everyone,
A quick post tonight, we didn't get home until 8 30., and then I had to make two cards for a triple birthday party we are going to tomorrow.  PRESSURE!  hahaha..  here are the pics.

Here's a little thing I learned tonight... I needed something to catch the extra glass glitter for around my happy birthday frame (adhered using  Crystal Effects)  and I was in too much of a hurry to dig out my powder pals catcher, so I grabbed one of the extra scallop envelopes I had laying on the table.  It worked perfectly and was so cute.  I think my next group of stampers that need a "catcher"  may each get one of these.  fun!

Lollipop Scallop Envelope

Hello Everyone. 
I am starting to think about birthday party favours...Addisyn's birthday is only a couple of weeks away..Yikes :)
There is a new candy store in town, Sugar Connection, and I surprised the kids with a little trip there for being so good while we were downtown.  I eyed up this cute old fashioned Lollipop and NEEDED one to create with.  This is what I came up with.

I ran the scallop envelope die through the Big Shot twice, once with Pacific Point Cardstock, and one with Patterned Paper.  I trimmed the DSP to fit inside the blue one.  I used the Word Window Punch to create the slot for the lollipop to sit in.  The banner is made from the brand new set Pennant Parade. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Brenda

Wedding Shower Thank-you Cards

Hello Everyone,
If you've been following along, you will remember that I am in a wedding this August, and tomorrow night my mother-in-law is hosting a wedding shower for the bride.  The bride is not the type of girl to have trinkets around, so I thought she would appreciate this practical gift.  I am going to include a bottle of wine and some bath goodies so that she can relax after making it through all the wedding thank-yous! 
I CASED this card from my incredibly talented sister, Sheila Batty.  You can find her at  http://www.catnappincreations.blogspot.com/
I made the cards out of Stampin' Up! Natural Ivory paper and used the coordinating envelopes.  The butterflies were cut out using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, but this time I cut them out of the same hand crafted paper that we made her invitations out of.  I hope she likes them!

A close up of the details on the front of the card. 

I made a set of these cards for her.

Then I made a box out of Early Espresso Cardstock and a Window Sheet for the lid.

I still have to decorate the front, but I'm giving my hands a little rest!

Happy Stampin!

Brenda

Start Taking 20% Off Your Orders!

Hello Everyone,

Have you ever seen our amazing Starter Kit?  There is over 450 dollars worth of fantastic supplies in there!  Guess what?  The starter kit is on special for only 119 dollars until the end of July!!!! WOW... thats a whole lot of new stamp sets, inks, papers, scissors, etc.  Also.. add on to that a 50 dollar Christmas keepsake project that is included right now! 
Now... you might be saying to yourself...I don't want to sell the stuff, I just want a discount!  Fair enough, and there are absolutely no obligations.  No one will ever come and pick up your stuff! LOL.. you can simply join now and recieve all the benefits of a demonstrator for 4 months, and then you can decide if you would like to continue or  not!  Of course, I would love to have you join my team in any manner that you choose, and if you decide that you would like to earn some extra cash for Christmas, I can show you just how to do that!  So think about it... you can contact me at 250-597-1183 or you can simply go to my stampin up page  http://www.brendareed.stampinup.net/ and click the JOIN NOW button!  I hope to welcome some of you to our Stampin' Up! family, its so much fun!

http://www.brendareed.stampinup.net/

Brenda

Christmas in July

Hello Everyone,
Our summer has felt alot more like fall this year, I've worn pants most days, haven't even used up one bottle of sunscreen on the kids, and its a oven baked meals most nights!  Maybe thats what got me in the mood for a Christmas card.  Also, this is just a little hint that my Third Annual Cool Yule Christmas Class is only a couple of months away!  I've got to start planning, and I hope you start thinking about attending!
Here is our little Christmas teaser...

This card uses Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, and Baja Breeze cardstock.  All edges are inked in Soft Suede with a dauber.  That great texture is the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, and the ribbon is seam binding, gathered.

Have a great night!
Brenda

Sunflower Card how to

Hello Everyone,
I have been getting requests to share the details of the recent sunflower card that I recently made...
Here is the how to...

• Stamp En Francais background stamp in crumb cake on naturals ivory CS
• Stamp with Versamark  and Clear Emboss the Sunflower background stamp directly in the middle of the En Francais piece.
• Use a sponge (NOT a dauber) and use So Saffron first, around the outer edges, then cajun craze, and finally Early Espresso in the center.
• Decorat as desired

Hope that helps.  Happy Stampin'

Brenda

Creating More Outta Mini Milk Cartons

Hello Everyone,
I have found the perfect party favour for a monkey themed birthday party... sweet treat holders that are created from 2 mini milk cartons.  The colours that I used are Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, and Lucky Limeade.  The stamp set is Fox and Friends.

Can you guess what is inside?  Mini marshmallow bananas (you know the yellow ones that they sold at the corner store when we were  kids.  Super yummy!

To make this cute little box....

• cut out two mini milk carton die cuts using your Big Shot (one more reason you NEED one!)
• trim off one panel from milk carton cut out (not the panel with the tab attached)
• sticky strip together using fold in tabs (tabs to the inside)
• fold up bottoms, sticky strip together.
• Use your crop-a-dile to make the holes for the ribbon around the top.
• Thread with ribbon, and voila.....

Hope you enjoy... Im off to eat marshmallow bananas!

Beautiful Butterflies

I was completely inspired by my sister (Sheila Batty) when she showed me her rainbow butterfly card she had made.  A simple white card front with a tonne of the beautiful wings embosslit butterflies on it.   Such a simple card to make, but so so effective.  I have this one posted on Stampin Connection (a world of samples, discussions, advice, tips, etc.  available only to demonstrators...another reason you should join my team!)  and it has gotten alot of positive feedback, so I hope you like it too.

The colours for this card were choosen straight from the Colour Coach.  Bashful Blue, Real Red, and Crumb Cake.

And another... this one is for a wedding that we area going to in a couple of weeks.  I also added smooch spritz to the entire front of the card for  a little extra elegance.

Life is a Matter of Moments

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by today, I am so excited about all of the new people who are checking in on a regular basis, this blogging thing is really alot of fun.  I love your feedback, so feel free to leave your comments.
Tonights card turned out really pretty, I am really liking the new embossing frames pair, it adds such a nice touch.  The colours of this card are Soft Suede, Ivory Natural, and Baja Breeze.  To get the gather on the tails of the bow, I simply cut my seam binding off the roll, picked away at the threads a little, and pulled up on the lengthwise threads, easy peasy, but o so cute!
Hope you enjoy tonights card!

Brenda

New Hostess Program

Hello Everyone! Has it been awhile since you were a hostess at a workshop?  Do you love getting free Stampin' Up! product simply by stampin with friends?  Then maybe you should check out our new hostess benefits program that was released with the new cattie!  With the previous hostess program, you were locked into choosing from specific stamp sets, and if you already had them, or weren't fond of any, well.. too bad for you :(  NOW, however, you earn hostess dollars which can be used on hostess only products or you may spend your money on regular catalogue merchandise!  also... you can earn 1/2 price items based on your party total.. How cool is that? 
One of my favourite hostess only stamp sets is called Faith in Nature, and is available to hostesses for only 10 hostess dollars! WOW!  Here is a card that I CASEd from my upline and sister, Sheila Batty.  You can check out her original and all kinds of other really creative stuff here....   http://www.catnappincreations.blogspot.com/

here is mine...

Banners Banners Everywhere!

Hello Everyone,
The banner seems to be the "it" thing right now, Stampin' Up! has jumped on board with the pennant parade stamp set, pennant punch, pennant chipboard....  so it seemed fitting tonight to try a banner for myself.
I got the idea to use the jewelery punch for the banner straight out of the catalogue.  I always seem to miss all of the little tips and tricks that are jammed into our fabulous catalogue, but this one caught my eye.  You can see it on page 140 of the 2011/2012 IB&C.  I used my cherry cobbler bakers twine, and simply unwound the cherry cobbler so that I had a clean piece of white threading.  I like how crisp and clean this turned out.  And I LOVE finding something else to do with the tools that I already have!  Hope you have fun trying this one out!
Brenda

Something Old, Something New....

Hello Everyone,  I can hardly believe it.. I made it into the stamp room in the daylight!   My older two children are at Vacation Bible School this week, the youngest is napping, and Daddy is working nights so he's snoring too!   The perfect time to slip quietly into my stamp room... Yahoo.   Can you pick out the four things in this card that match the bridal rhyme?

I will help you out....
Something Old.... Vintage Vogue stamp set that I have had since it came out!   If you've ever stamped with me, you know I love making "friend" cards!
Something New...  New colour  "Wisteria Wonder", and the oval frame using the new embossing folder set.
Something Borrowed..... I was inspired by a card made by a friend, Cristina Findlay....now... my card turned out nothing like hers, but I have to give credit to how she always inspires me with beautiful creations! 
Something Blue.... Bashful Blue cardstock and ink.
Enjoy!  Im off to play some more before everyone wakes up!
Brenda

Scallop Envelope

Hello Everyone,
When I was in my stamp room tonight, I remembered that I had just received a scallop envelope die in the last delivery, and had thrown it into my basket where it has just sat :(   I made a quick and easy little birthday card using the Just Add Cake DSP and the Little Friends stamp set.
  For those of you who were at club last week and didn't get to stamp "happy birthday" on your card, I FOUND the little stamp.  Right there in the Little Friends stamp set where it was supposed to be.  Bring your card by sometime and we can add the greeting!
Here is the card I came up with....

Creating Faux Mirror

Hello Everyone... tonights experiment was playing around with the new Designer Frames Embossing Folder Set (item # 123130   10.95 for two frames!)  I found this really sweet tissue pack at the grocery store today and impulsively bought it.  I decided to give it a little home in case I needed a quick get well gift (there is a nasty flu going around town, yuck)  I ran the oval frame through the big shot using cherry cobbler cardstock, and then I did it again using a pop can.  I cut the little bumps off of the pop can frame, using sticky pages to adhere to the cherry cobbler frame, and voila... a little mirror!  How very vintage looking!

Mini Milk Cartons

Hello Everyone!
Tonights picture is of a little mini milk carton set that I have seen all over the internet in various forms.  I had to come up with a craft for ten children that can be completed in 45 minutes.  With the big shot, this is an easy task.. I ran the milk carton die through my machine, and in 10 minutes, I had enough for the entire group! Yippee... time saved!  Hope you enjoy...

Good Evening!
I have had a very busy weekend (pedicure, makeup party, dancing the night away.... :)  ) and so, no pictures today, sorry.  BUT... if you zip on over to http://www.mycraftyworld.blogspot.com/  you will see one of my latest cards featured as one of the top 25 pics!! I am so honoured and excited.  Go check it out!
Happy Stampin!
Brenda

New Look

Yes, you are still in the right place!!! Hopefully you are finding this new blog layout to be a bit easier to read.  I was finding the old font difficult to read, so I hope you enjoy!
Happy Stampin!
Brenda

Domestic Goddess

I am not a domestic goddess, but I am loving the new DSP by the same name.   I am adding to my display shelf using this paper set with Pool Party and Calypso Coral...think refreshing!
Here is a card that I made using this paper and the Nursery Times stamp set.  The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (a must have!)

oops...here is that card...

Backgrounds stamps...have you got yours?

OK, so my new obsession in the stamp world may be all of the amazing new background stamps in the new catalogue!!!  I like big stamps, less space left over for me to mess up! LOL...  The following card uses both the En Francais and Sunflower background stamp.  Here is the quick version....

• Stamp En Francais using crumb cake on Natural Ivory paper.
• Stamp Sunflower using versamark and emboss using clear embossing powder. 
• Sponge Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and So Saffron from center to edge starting with darker colours first.
• Stamp greeting, punch out, and adhere...

New Colours are Perfect!

Have you got your hands on the new catalogue yet?  It is simply amazing!  I am so happy to put last year's on the shelf and dig in to all the fun new papers, colours, tools!!!   Stampin' Up! must have a new design team, because the samples this year are fabulous! 
I made a birthday card for Bryce's cousin, Ashley, who babysits our kids when Im at work.  She is such a sweet young lady, and its her 19th birthday today... here is what I made...

These great new colours are a part of this years in colour collection... pool party (the lighter colour) and island indigo.. I'm just waiting on my big shipment to arrive on Friday, it has some pool party ruffled ribbon in it that I am dying to use. 

Anyhow... off to the pool for the afternoon!