The fabulous Sweet & Sour Specialty Designer Series Paper takes center stage with this quick card!  Notice the shiny image at the top?  That's the paper strutting its stuff!  When you order Sweet & Sour, you'll get 2 sheets of each of 6 12"x12" double-sided paper with gloss patterns on one side.  The pretty white border is Whisper White card stock punched with the Eyelet Border Punch.  A piece of Pumpkin Pie 5/8" Satin Ribbon wraps around an additional patterned paper from Sweet & Sour, and the sentiment is from Curvy Verses stamped tone-on-tone with Rose Red Classic Ink on the same color card stock.  The heart image is stamped from Punch Potpourri, the most wonderful Level 1 hostess stamp set we've ever carried!  Each image in the set lines up with one of the Stampin' Up! punches for easy use.  In this case, the heart stamped image lines up with the Full Heart Punch.  I added a few Basic Rhinestone Jewels and backed the heart with Whisper White card stock cut out using the Big Shot and Scalloped Heart of Heart Embosslits Die.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118394 Punch Potpourri wood mount OR
Item No. 120124 Punch Potpourri clear mount
Level 1 hostess stamp set free with $150 or more
Item No. 114948 Curvy Verses $23.95
Item No. 117390 Sweet & Sour Specialty Designer Series Paper $11.95
Item No. 119749 Pumpkin Pie 5/8" Satin Ribbon $8.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 117332 Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 119246 Basic Rhinestones Jewels (150) $4.95
Item No. 119853 Eyelet Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 119883 Full Heart Punch $16.95

Don't Forget!

To sign up for the Stamp Shoppes on Sept. 10th and 11th!  Deadline to register is Sept. 9th!  Click HERE for details.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

This little stamp set is just wonderful for all sorts of different get well wishes!  It's called Wellness Wishes and there are three great stamps to choose from.  I started off with a base of Real Red card stock, then ran a piece of 4"x5-1/4" card stock through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The Newsprint Designer Series Paper is a must from this catalog!  I use it for so many looks!  Here it's riding under a piece of Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon that's been tied with some Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.  I used the Circle Scissor Plus to cut out both the Whisper White and Basic Black card stocks for the main image and used Stampin' Write markers in Real Red and Basic Black to color.  A Real Red Button from the Brights Designer Button pack adds some more interest. 

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 115356 Wellness Wishes $14.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 119976 Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 117166 Newsprint Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 119768 Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon $9.95
Item No. 109027 Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon $4.95
Item No. 119747 Brights Designer Buttons $8.95
Item No. 112530 Circle Scissor Plus $29.95
Item No. 112531 Glass Mat $19.95

Don't Forget!

To sign up for the Stamp Shoppes on Sept. 10th and 11th!  Click HERE for details.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

You know that game where you say "If you were stranded on a desert island . . ."?  Well, this card is my version of "If you could only have one image stamp set and one greeting stamp set from the catalog, which ones would you choose?"  Hands down, I choose Flower Fancy — it's the perfect stamp set!  I love that it's two-step stamping and it's so versatile!  And I'm totally lovin' the font in Curly Cute!  Simply gorgeous!  The color scheme is Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red and Old Olive.  The polka dot designer paper is from Island Oasis Designer Series Paper in the Summer Mini Catalog and is only available through August 31st.  The background gets some added interest using the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder.  And my favorite ribbon?  That would be the 3/8" Taffeta  — on this card Old Olive.  If you're interested in a ribbon that ties PERFECTLY all the time, this is the one to buy!  Try a RIBBON SHARE of the 3/8" Taffeta found HERE!  Old Olive Brads from the Brights Brads collection make the centers of these pretty flowers pop!  And don't forget to use Dimensionals.  Raise the flowers off the front just a tad for added interest.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No.  111578 Flower Fancy $36.95
Item No. 117014 Curly Cute wood mount $19.95 OR
Item No. 120510 Curly Cute clear mount $14.95
Item No. 117173 Island Oasis Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 119740 Bolds Brads $6.95
Item No. 119767 Old Olive 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon $6.95
Item No. 117335 Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Pam Kane
Sheila Edwards
  and
Cheryl Holman

Great job, ladies!

I also sent a copy of the card to Heather Matos, who achieved her first promotion to Sr. Associate in the first full month she was a demonstrator!  Way to go, Heather!

Here's the card I designed especially for them:

Here's a pretty color combination!  It uses Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink and Pear Pizzazz.  Oh, will I ever use Certainly Celery again?!  Pear is just the perfect green for everything!  The Pear Pizzazz card stock strip gets jazzed up a bit with the Scallop Trim Border Punch and a piece of Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon.  Next comes a layer of Early Espresso card stock run through the Big Shot using the new Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Man, do I ever love this look!  The Textured Folders are a must have for all your card making and scrapbooking!  I cut a 2-1/2" circle with Pear Pizzazz card stock and the Circle Scissors Plus then ran Pretty in Pink card stock through the Big Shot with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die.  I stamped the flower image from Elements of Style onto Very Vanilla card stock then punched it out with the Full Heart Punch and popped it up with Dimensionals.  Thanks to my wonderful customer, Jennifer Kay, for asking me if these two products line up to be used together!  It got me thinking about using them on this card.  The saying "From the Heart" is from Watercolor Trio, stamped in Early Espresso Classic Ink and punched out with the Designer Label Punch then placed into a frame from Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118611 Elements of Style wood mount $27.95 OR
Item No. 120045 Elements of Style clear mount $19.95
Item No. 117050 Watercolor Trio wood mount $117050 $22.95 OR
Item No. 120084 Watercolor Trio clear mount $16.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 120175 Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 117332 Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 119862 Designer Label Punch $15.95
Item No. 119883 Full Heart Punch $16.95
Item No. 117291 Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon $8.95
Item No. 112454 Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware $29.95
Item No. 112530 Circle Scissors Plus $29.95

Don't Forget!

• To purchase your RIBBON, ACCESSORY and DESIGNER PAPER SHARES so that you can have a wide variety of elements for your designing needs!  Click HERE for details and to order.
• To purchase your CARD KIT OF THE MONTH!  Click HERE for details and to order.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers, and they're beginning to pop up all over our area.  I used that idea to create this card to celebrate the accomplishments of my team members for the Stampin' Up! year that just came to a close on June 30th.  Congrats go out to Ruth Petrovich, Pam Kane, Lena Thompson and Cheryl Holman for a fabulous year in sales.

This card starts off with a base of More Mustard card stock.  This simple color has taken on new life when paired with some of our great new colors!  Here, it's Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze.  Flowers are cut out using the Big Shot and Flower Daisies #2 Bigz Die, layering two flowers together.  Centers are created by punching Cajun Craze card stock with circle punches then stamping the heart image from Itty Bitty Bits in Early Espresso Classic Ink and punching those out as well.  The Sanded background stamp adds a bit of texture to the Cajun Craze card stock piece, as well as punching with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  I added a piece of In Color Designer Series Paper from the Level 1 Hostess Paper Pack (earn this free for a workshop or order totaling at least $150!) and the Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon coordinates beautifully.  "Celebrate" comes from this year's must-have word stamp called Fabulous Phrases.  You'll be seeing this great set a lot!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117002 Fabulous Phrases wood mount $37.95 OR
Item No. 120501 Fabulous Phrases clear mount $26.95
Item No. 117056 Itty Bitty Bits wood mount $11.95 OR
Item No. 120060 Itty Bitty Bits clear mount $8.95
Item No. 109294 Sanded background stamp $17.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114520 Flower, Daisies #2 Bigz Die $19.95
Item No. 121028 Designer Series Paper Pack – In Color earn FREE!
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 119265 Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon $8.95

Don't Forget!

• To purchase your RIBBON, ACCESSORY and DESIGNER PAPER SHARES so that you can have a wide variety of elements for your designing needs!  Click HERE for details and to order.
• To purchase your CARD KIT OF THE MONTH!  Click HERE for details and to order.

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

By now, I'm sure you've checked out the fabulous job that Stampin' Up! has done with our color renovation.  So it was time to do my own color renovation!  I hope you've noticed that my blog has gotten a face lift thanks to Michelle Laycock of Laycock Designs.  I've kept the same great design that Michelle used back in October, but I've asked her to change the color palette to Pear Pizzaz, Peach Parfait, Crumb Cake and Rich Razzleberry.  Please take a moment and leave me a message to let me know what you think of the changes!

Protecting your Beautiful Wings Die:

Here's a tip for your Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  Be sure to run the die through the Big Shot so that the hinge is opposite the Big Shot handle. This will help protect the hinge. Also, make sure that you're using Tab 1 when you use the Multipurpose Platform. Follow these important steps to prevent your die from breaking.

New Downloads for My Digital Studio:

The latest group of digital downloads for My Digital Studio are now available!

Place your order for these items and more at my Online Store!

Don't Forget!

• To check out all of the great deals on retired stamp sets and accessories.  Click HERE for the list or go to "For Sale" in the navigation bar.

I've been so fortunate to add several terrific women to my From the Heart Stampers team over the past couple of months, and Julia Hill is no exception!  I got to spend some time with Julia at our weekend retreat in April; she had so much fun that she decided to join with Ruth Petrovich in June!  I've made this card to welcome Julia to our team.

This card is an example of accidents being a great part of designing!  I cut the butterflies from the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine and the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die using a piece of Whisper White card stock that was stamped with the Extreme Elements stamp set and Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight Classic Ink.  This piece of paper was a "reject"  lying on my crafting table from another project.  I was going to use it as a background piece but had changed my mind and couldn't bring myself to toss it.  It was the perfect touch for this card!  Next, I wanted to stamp the base of the card stock with a stamp set and found out that I had loaned it to another stamper!  Not to worry!  I hadn't used my brand new Decor Stencils Elegant Trio Set or my Frost White Shimmer Paint!  Just dab on the shimmer paint over the stencil using a Sponge Dauber and in a few seconds, you have a fabulous background!  So when you don't think you have what you want for creating your cards, look around you–you might be really surprised what you come up with!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118262 Elegant Trio Stencil Set $9.95
Item No. 102982 Sponge Daubers (12) $10.95
Item No. 116854 Frost White Shimmer Paint $5.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114507 Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die $21.95
Item No. 115181 Extreme Elements stamp set $26.95
Item No. 119254 Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon $5.95

Don't Forget!

• To spend a minimum of $50 with me and be entered into a drawing to win!  Cick HERE for details!

And here's the card I made for Gladys Garcia, the newest member of the From The Heart Stampers Team!  I kind of liked how the "recruit-er and the recruit-ee" cards coordinate (see blog post HERE)!  Too corny?  Maybe!  The card starts off with Daffodil Delight, then a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock, then a piece of Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper.  The stamp is the Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart, which I love to send to each new person joining because it really embodies why we are so attracted to this business.  This is bordered by Pumpkin Pie card stock, punched on the bottom edge with the Scallop Trim Border Punch and mounted to the card front with Dimensionals.  The flower corner motif is created using the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine with the Simple Flower Embosslits Die and Little Leaves Sizzlits Die.  The center of the flower is Daffodil Delight card stock punched out with 3/4" Circle Punch.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114511 Little Leaves Sizzlits Die $5.50
Item No. 114514 Simple Flower Embosslits Die $11.95
Item No. 118402 Scallop Trim Border Punch $15.95
Item No. 119873 3/4" Circle Medium Punch $10.95
Item No. 117167 Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper $9.95

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the Ribbon Share!  Click HERE for more info!

I've been congratulating Ruth Petrovich a lot lately, and rightly so!  Ruth joined my Stampin' Up! team of demonstrators, the From the Heart Stampers, at the end of February and is going strong!  Ruth just recruited her second person, and I made this card for her.  It's fun, summery look with Daffodil Delight (new Brights Core Color), Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz (new In Color) and some designer paper from Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper.  I used the Eyelet Border Punch to create the sweet white edging and some Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon for a little accent.  The main image is from Charming stamp set stamped in Early Espresso Classic Ink with pieces cut from the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine using Little Leaves Sizzlits Die and Birds &  Blooms Sizzlits 4-Pack Dies for the flower.  A small Clear Rhinestone Brad decorates the center.  Once completed, this card needed a little something in the bottom right corner.   I had planned to stamp a "congrats" greeting but it just didn't fit.  So I accordion folded the corner and added a piece of Whisper White card stock to the back to peek through.  Love this touch!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 116519 Charming $19.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 114511 Little Leaves Sizzlits Die $5.50
Item No. 113485 Birds & Blooms Sizzlits 4-Pack Dies $21.95
Item No. 119254 Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon $5.95
Item No. 117167 Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper $9.95
Item No. 113144 Clear Rhinestone Brads $10.95
Item No. 119853 Eyelet Border Punch $15.95

Don't Forget!. 

• To sign up for the Stampin' Summer Bash!  Just one more day left to register!  Click HERE for more info!

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

Here is a peak at just one of the layouts we completed:

JUST RELEASED! NEW MY DIGITAL STUDIO DOWNLOADS!

Here's a look at the July Fourth stamp brush set:

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 117156 Travel Journal Designer Series Paper
Item No. 118513 Sentimental Journey stamp set wood mount
Item No. 120075 Sentimental Journey stamp set clear mount
Item No. 117237 Cog On Board
Item No 112004 1-3/4" Circle Punch
Item No. 109046 1" Circle Punch
Item No. 109047 Corner Rounder
Item No. 109042 Photo Corners Punch
Item No. 111325 Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Item No. 113429 Big Shot Die Cut Machine
Item No. 113464 Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies
Item No. 114950 Define Your Life stamp set

Don't Forget!

• To sign up for the Stampin' Summer Bash in either of two locations!  Click HERE fore more info and for a registration form.
• To check out the Last Chance Stamp Set List! Click Here to View!
  
• To check out the Last Chance Decor Elements List! Click Here to View!
  
• To purchase the Mini Starter Kit for just $99! CLICK HERE for kit contents. Click HERE to learn more about the From the Heart Stampers Team and The Heartfelt Stampers Team.
• To click for the Updated Last Chance Accessories List.  Items are selling out quickly!

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!