Cards by Friends

I've been meaning to post these sooner but have been so busy each evening I've barely even sat down at the computer.

This first card was made for me by one of my dear friends from work.  I found it on my desk one morning when arriving at work.  I have to say, it really made my day.  I have it hanging on my cubicle at work to remind me every day just how sweet it was for her to make it for me.  Thank you Berta, I love it!!

This card was made by Brittney.  I love the colors she chose for this and how beautiful it turned out.  She made this card for a friend.  I'm sure the recipient will love it!



Tomorrow we have a workshop and I'm really looking forward to it.  It will be so much fun to have a day with the girls stamping and making beautiful things. 

Have a great weekend!

~ Donna

A Great Tip for New Stamps

Whenever I learn something new that makes stamping easier and more beautiful, I can hardly wait to try it and share it with you.  I recently learned a great secret to making new stamps give crisp clear images the first time instead of being frustrated that the ink won't stick to the stamp.

This is particularly noticeable with the solid stamps.  Below is a sample using the Tart and Tangy (111514) stamp set.  When your stamps come from the manufacturer, they have a slight haze or film on them which keeps the ink from "soaking in" to the rubber.  There are several ways to remove this haze, but my favorite one is the easiest one by far. 

Take your StazOn All-Purpose Cleaner and coat the stamp.  Use your Stampin Scrub to clean it off (no need to add any cleaner to the scrubber).  Ink up your stamp and you're all set.  Keep in mind, solid stamps need to be pressed into the ink pad a little longer than line art or greeting stamps so give them time to absorb some of the ink.  It also helps to rub the stamp on the ink pad just once across to get it started.

See what a difference it makes?

Thanks for peeking in and I hope this little tip helps you enjoy your stamps even more.

Have a great day!

~ Donna

Summer Mini - Sneak Peek

I'm totally in love with the new Summer Mini coming May 1st.  One of the bet things of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is being able to pre-order new products and play with them before anyone else.  It's SOOO much fun!!

Inside you will find some beautiful colors in Stampin' Emboss Powders - Melon Mambo (123223), Tangerine Tango (123106) and Wild Wasabi (123224).  These are so pretty and full of color - I just know you'll love them as much as I do.  Below you will find two cards I made this morning using the Emboss Powders, the new Beyond the Garden DSP (122342) and Fabulous Florets stamp set (123025 w / 123027 c) all available beginning May 1st.  The sentiment stamp is from A Word For You (117032 w / 120528 c).

I can't wait for you all to get your copy of the Summer Mini.  It should arrive in your mailboxes as soon as they are released!

Thanks for peeking in.

Happy Stampin'!

Donna

Roses To Go With My Roses

Earlier today, I posted some of my beautiful roses from my garden and when I saw this card on Carroll's Corner - one of the blogs I follow - I just fell in love with it.  So today, between non-stop laundry loads (I'm spring cleaning the linen closet) I made a couple of my own.  

I used Very Vanilla for the base and layered it with Springtime Vintage DSP (121782) available through April 30th.  The stamps are "Four Frames" that you can purchase with a $20.00 purchase this month before it hits the new catty in July and the "thank you" is from "Because I Care", a hostess set.  The bow is made from Rose Red Seam Binding using the "fork method" of tying a bow.  Also used was the Decorative Label (120907) punch that of course matches the "Four Frames" stamp set.

Thank you for looking in.  I hope you had a great weekend!

~Donna

Back Yard is Blossoming

Spring is Blossoming in my back yard as well as at Stampin' Up!  I've had my rose garden 2 years this May and my goodness, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful garden this year.

Here is the first blossom of the year.  Isn't it beautiful?  My Mom loved roses and especially the beautiful red ones, so when I picked this one out - I picked it out for her.  It's only fitting it was the first to blossom.  The name is "Black Cherry" and it is a rose tree.  The 2nd picture shows how much it opened in just one day.

The pretty pink one before is called "Outta the Blue" - not sure why as it has no blue in it... lol.  It was the first rose bush purchased by my youngest son Robert when he decided we would bring Grandma's rose garden back to life. 

 This is what the garden looks like this year.  There are three missing from the original 10 that we had in there.  I may replace one of them, but otherwise, I think it will be too crowded to walk around much since they've grown so full.

This shows how small the plants were when we first started out in 2009.  I'm loving the results more this year than ever.  I'll be sure to post when they are all blossomed and fragrant.

Thank you for peeking in.  Now, off to make some cards and keep the washing machine and dryer going with another project I'm working on... the linen closet!  Yikes!

Happy Sunday!

~Donna

Spring Is Blossoming

Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

•Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.

•Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Be sure to check out the beautiful papers and colors for spring!  I will have these available for you to see at our next workshop and be sure to scroll down to previous posts on the blog for Sneak Peeks of cards I made using these stamps and papers.

Have a Great Friday!



Grab Bag of Stampin' Up! Products!

April 1, 2011


Beginning today, April 1, and continuing while supplies last, you will be able to purchase special "grab bags" in the Online Store. These grab bags will come in three sizes: the $5, the $10, and the $15 grab bag. Each bag will contain a variety of discontinued products that could include a combination of any of the following: ribbons, Accents & Elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. Grab bags will not contain stamp sets or tools.  Click below to go to my website:

•There is no minimum purchase required to participate in the grab bag special offer.



•There is no limit to the number of grab bags a customer may purchase; however, grab bag items are only available while supplies last.


•All grab bag sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.


•Not all grab bags will be unique.


Happy Friday!!!