PDF Inserts are now available!!!

Wow, as I looked back on Stampin' Connection (a SU! demo only site), the first time I posted inserts I had made for the markers was July 1, 2011.  Its crazy I've been doing these for 4 years!!!  The first ones were okay, served their purpose.  After some sad news of hearing my files were being altered (removed my name), copied and sold, I decided to re-vamp them.  They look so much better!  I tried to stay consistent with the styling of all inserts.  The only ones with their own design are the markers and ink refills.  I wanted to use colors from their color families instead of the standard green.  I tried to make the framelits and stamp inserts similar to what Stampin' Up! offers.

Here's the reason I started making these.  When I originally ordered the markers, I bought the whole set at once.  They came in this nice box where each marker had a slot.  But trying to find "the one" became an annoyance.  Then Stampin' Up! came out with their clear DVD cases.  Guess what...a color family of markers fit PERFECTLY in them!!  So I moved mine over right away.  But had no way of knowing which case had which family.  After measuring, creating and printing I tried them out.  They didn't fit quite right, the information on the spine wasn't centered.  So back and forth I went until I was satisfied they looked good.
Then came the framelits and edgelits.  They came in an envelope which didn't have an image of what they looked like.  So back to the computer I went!  Most of the framelits fit in the case, and if you buy some of those magnetic vent covers, you can cut them to fit and hold the framelits as well.

Speed ahead 4 years, Stampin' Up! changed the case their stamp sets came in.  They stack wonderfully on a shelf.  So I started the big project of moving all my stamp sets into the new cases.  By this time, Stampin' Up! created their own case inserts you could download and type in the stamp set name, item number and quantity of stamps.  Personally I didn't like how they worked.  It left a white box where my stamp set name was.  And I couldn't add stamp images to the front or spine.  So again, I decided to make my own.
During this process, I decided to purge my supplies.  I found a lot of sets I didn't need anymore, so I sold a lot.  But what I had left were moved to the new cases.  I think my shelves look so nice and organized now!

If you're interested in getting the files I've created, click on the 'PDF Inserts' on the top right side of my blog.  That will give you all the information you need to know and how to get them.  

Thanks for stopping by!  

Happy Fourth of July!!!

It's almost Independence Day!!  I cannot believe that half of 2015 is already gone.  Wow!  I wanted to show off my cute door hanger to you.  Isn't it cute?  I bought the unfinished wood at a store here in Utah last year.  I couldn't decide how I wanted to paint and decorate it.  It was too big to use a sheet of 12x12 for the back star and I really didn't want to cut out paper for all the beadboard on the front star.  So this is what I came up with.

I used acrylic paint on the back star in cherry cobbler.  With the beadboard star, I used some gel stain I had left over from my kitchen cabinets.  Rubbed that all over, set it out on the back patio to dry.  Wait, wait...then I used acrylic paint in white on top of it.  Lightly sand, then used wood glue and some heavy books to let it set overnight.
Embellishing it was an even harder decision than the initial star painting.  But I really like the simplicity of it.  I wanted to add some navy but all I had was that skinny ribbon.  Luckily I also had some burlap ribbon from Stampin' Up!.  I cut enough to wrap the front and used scotch tape to hold it on the back.  That way I didn't waste a bunch wrapping all the way around.  Then I took some navy ribbon, taped one end and looped it around the burlap.  Taping it securely on the other side.  I also used some rusty wire I picked up at a craft store in Salt Lake City to make the hanger portion. Wrapped the ends around a pencil a few times and woo lah!!

Thank You!

I decided to take a much needed vacation in April and since no one could go with me, I went by myself.  Was I nervous about it?  Heck yes!  But I think this will be something I can do more and more in the future.  It was so freeing to only worry about what I wanted to do.  I stayed busy the whole time and enjoyed every second of it!

Since I was taking a super early flight to get outta dodge, I asked a friend, who lived about an hour closer to the airport than myself, if I could crash at her house the night before.  She was soooo sweet!  She left me these adorable little pillow gifts...

Isn't she such a sweetheart?  She does nails part time and the items on the pillow in the middle are nail decals.  They are so stinking cute!  I have just loved using them.  And couldn't appreciate her more for her kindness and hospitality.  So I decided to make her a cute card with a gift card to Kneaders.  I remembered someone posting a picture using the owl punch to make nail polish bottles.  So I set out to find it again.
Dianne Sisneros does some awesome work with punch art!!  Click here to see her sample and other cute punch art cards.  I took her punch art idea and put my own spin on it.  Here is the result!

What do you think?  I think it turned out pretty cute!!  I used mainly retired Stampin' Up! products I had on hand.  But you can easily re-create your own!

Graduation Card

Oh my gosh!  I really fell off the blog bandwagon!!  It has been over 2 years since I posted anything and I'm a bit embarrassed.  *blush*

I've been focusing on family things (my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer), buying my first home by myself, and trying to keep my head above water.
I am trying to learn more about blogging and hopefully will be able to keep up with this more and more.  I will be posting more than just cards in the future.  I work on a lot of different projects, so planning to add a bit of variety here.

But for today, I'm showing you a card I made for my nephew's graduation.  I got the idea from Pinterest, but cannot find that pin to give credit.  So if whoever that was, thank you!  And let me know so I can give credit where its due.  :)  

I love being able to CASE (copy and share everything).  I like to tweak things to match my style and have the tendency to make a mash-up of several cards I see.

Products used from Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Smoky Slate
Tools: Big Shot, Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Labels Framelits
Stamps: Word Play
Ink: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant
Embellishments: Silver Mini Brad, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive
Non-Stampin' Up Product: Black Bakers Twine

My First Ever Workshop!!!

Yep, I've been a demonstrator for a few years now and have never held a workshop for a customer!  I was sooo nervous about doing one!  But the lovely Vicki was so generous in opening up her home and introducing me to her friends.  We had a wonderful time and she earned some really fun goodies!! THANK YOU VICKI!!!  We made a card and a pillow box gift using items from the current catalog, the occasions mini (which ends April 30) and the sale-a-bration (which ends March 31).  So if you see something you like, contact me ASAP so we can get it ordered for you!!

Isn't this pillow box so cute!  We used some of the flirtasious fabric (can earn this item for free thru March 31!!) and the pillow box die.  The stamped image is from a limited stamp set in the sale-a-bration catalog which you can earn for FREE!!  Contact me for details.

I really love how this card turned out!  The designer series paper is from the sale-a-bration catalog, the stamped image and framelits that pop out the image are from the occasions mini catalog.  This was a simple, quick card that you can make and take over to that new neighbor or friend to say hi. 

I hope you enjoyed my latest creations!!  

Skinny treat bags

If you remember my post in December showing the countdown to Christmas gift, it uses these nifty, super cute skinny treat bags.  I'm so glad they are still available!  I made some for Valentine's and this is how they turned out!  I'm looking forward to Easter and putting jelly beans in there with a bunny or flower topper.  Check back for that soon!!

Ah the joys of life!

Hello!  Sorry its been so long since I've posted.  My goal is to post at least once per month.  With the holidays and a few personal speed bumps, I've fallen behind.  But I'm back!!