Envelope Bag - Gift Card Holder

The countdown is on ... two weeks from tomorrow I will be in my car and headed to Virginia!  I am very fortunate to have a family supportive of my dream of finding a venue to share my card creations and crafts.  I have been busy playing with paper, searching the cyber world for inspiration, and getting inky!  These little bags were made with Stampin' Up envelopes.  I used my favorite stamp set Snow Much Fun and Bashful Blue ink and ribbon.  These can be hung from the tree with a gift card or treat, given to a coworker or used as a Secret Santa gift.  So many ideas!  I made several different designs and played with different colors!  Let me know ... which one is your favorite?

 Happy Stamping!

Hello Friends ... Old and New!

It seems like a lifetime has passed since I visited my blog and shared my love of crafting with the cyber world. So many changes have taken place, not only in my desire to find my niche in the craft business, but in myself as I move forward in life.  Things that used to seem so important to me now seem so trivial.  Much of the change comes from caring for my mom.  She is such an amazing woman.  I watch her struggle daily to remain here with us and I think of what a selfless sacrifice she is making. 

She suffers from chronic COPD and is on oxygen 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  She has not left her home for almost two years (except for medical appointments).  As I witness her daily weakening, a bit of me grows to appreciate life 'in the moment'.  I realize I have wasted valuable time and energy in my yearnings for things I did not have.  I realize that what I have, family and faith, makes me one of the richest and strongest persons in the world.  I am learning to accept my weaknesses, embrace my strengths and yes, I am slowly learning to trust in God again.  Thank you mom ... I Love You!

Lost ...

Hello Blogger Friends,

     It has been forever since I've logged on and shared any inspiration or creativity.  I thought that once I graduated from college I would have plenty of free time ... now I sit back and wonder how in the world I even managed to find time to do homework!  Today, I decided that as messy as my house is (my husband is gutting the attic to insulate) it was important for me to pull a stamp set off the shelf, blow the dust off and and create something!  So after mounting half a dozen sets that have been lying around ... I decided to lift an idea from Regionals in CT (I believe).  Cam Meagher made a similar card with white on white and white ribbon.  Here is my take:

 I used the stamp set Word Play and layered the Card Stock to match the scallop circle.  I played around with colors trying out Elegant Eggplant, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler and Night of Navy.  I used Whisper White ribbon on the Cherry Cobbler card and dies it by just sponging both sides with ink.  

Thanks for taking a peek!
    Samie

Workshop WOW card ...

I CASEd Frenchie

I have been struggling to come up with an idea for an upcoming workshop with a group of ladies who make cards weekly.  What idea could I bring to them that would bring "oohhh's and ahhhh's" from them?  Lacking for mojo, I turned to the cyber world and began searching ideas from the many talented individuals sharing their artwork.  I found this card on a blog by an amazing woman named Frenchie from Wyoming (http://www.frenchiestamps.com/http://www.frenchiestamps.com/).  I thought "why not give it a whirl"?  I love it!  Not only is it gorgeous but my bringing this card to my group it incorporates many of Stampin' Up's amazing products!  It's a Win/Win!  Thank you so much to Frenchie for her tutorial and her inspiration!

Colors:  Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla and Always Artichoke

Stamps:  Blessed Mother

Tools and Accessories:  Stamp-a-Ma Jig, Dimensionals, Bone Folder, 1/2 inch circle punch, Build a Blossom punch, sponge dauber, tulipe embossing folder, crimper

So ... what do you think?  Will the girls drool over this GORGEOUS card?  Let me know what you think?

Happy Crafting,

     Samantha

Hartford Regionals ... here I come!

I can't believe it ... the clock is ticking and I'm starting to get that tingly feeling.  You know, the one you get before you step on the plane for Stampin' Up Convention!!  I decided that since I attended my first Convention in 2010 as a first year demonstrator, i was going to attend Regionals as a second year demonstrator.  I'm so excited.  Now that I'm getting the hang of using the products and playing with the colors ... I'm ready to step on board the +ONE and reach out for some business tips.  I need to recruit and have no idea how to even get started!  They say Regionals are the place to go for support, knowledge and of course ... FUN!

This card was inspired by a card I saw on Ebay of all places.  I just had to take out the Melon Mambo and Pacific Point colors to pop this card right off the page!  What do you think?  So simple yet one of my favorite creations so far.  (I left them blank for regionals but my own stash has the modern label punch layered with whisper white greeting to coordinate to the Melon Mambo and Pacific Point.)  I'm going to have to send in another Sale a Bration order because I want more, more, more of these adorable buttons!

Happy stamping!

Snow, Snow Go Away ....

It just has to be the weather... what else would deter a woman away from her crafting supplies?  We have so much snow that you can only see half of peoples houses when you are driving down the roads as the snow banks are higher than the vehicles on the roads!!  Blast Vermont snowstorms.  The forecast says we are supposed to get another one beginning Thursday.  I just want to hibernate until the flowers start peeping up through some green grass! LOL  I have a tote filled with old card kits from workshops, demo meetings and more.  I have decided that I am going to start mixing and matching and using up the supplies.  My family is always needing more cards.  This lot is one from a woman in Ohio that I played around with and came up with a couple of different ideas.  Do you like the Regal Rose added to the card or just the basic gray?  I would love to know your thoughts.
    As always, thanks for stopping by!
Samantha

Hartford Regionals ... share and update

 

I am so excited that the Hartford Regionals are just around the corner.  I have been looking forward to getting away after much stress and health issues over the past month.  There is nothing to lift one's spirits than being surrounded by an extended Stampin' Up family.  If you are attending ... let me know and we can look each other up!

I've been crazy busy lately.  I was honored to be asked to make wedding cards for a woman  I met through a mutual friend.  How exciting that was.  Then I finished card fronts and some 3d items for Regionals.  Now to come up with an idea for some graduation invitations (anyone want to share some fabulous ideas?), and some Easter gifts!  I am planning a scrapbook night with some girls on April 6th and this will be our first gathering.  I'm a bit nervous but confident that I can put something together.

 Eastern Blossoms Card Recipe

Stamps:  Eastern blossoms

Card stock:  Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla

Ink: Baja Breeze

Accessories:  Polka dots embossing folder, tulipe border embossing folder, SU pearls, SU Ovals Die