Sweet Sarah

In need of some scrapbooking inspiration, I turned to a sketch challenge and My Digital Studio. The result? A fabulous page featuring my sweet and adorable niece !


I used designer series papers in Pretty in Pink and Tempting Turquoise on a Crumb Cake background. One of my favorite things about My Digital Studio is the color match function. When I typed Sarah's name, I matched the font to the brown color of her dress. You never have to work about having colors to match your photos!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

It's Here!!!

It's time for friends, fresh ideas and free products! Stampin' Up!'s annual promotion, Sale-a-Bration, is here!


There are three easy ways to earn free products during Sale-a-Bration:

{SPEND}
Spend $50 before tax and shipping and earn one free product of your choice (for every $50 you spend, you get another free product!). Order now!

{HOST}
Host a party with sales of at least $300 and earn one free product of your choice PLUS hostess benefits. Email me to schedule your party!

{JOIN}
Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator and get 15% off the starter kit (only $148.75) with free shipping PLUS a $50 bundle of free products which includes:

• Color Coach
• a Simply Sent kit
• a Simply Sent stamp set
• any punch valued at $17.95 or less

Call me (513-375-5901) and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about becoming a demonstrator.

When you qualify for a free Sale-a-Bration product, you can choose from 4 stamp sets, 2 accessory packs, a My Digital Studio content CD or chalkboard Decor Elements. And if these options aren't enough, you can also choose any stamp set valued at up to $14.95 (that's over 50 sets!) from the Idea Book & Catalog.

So, the only question left is...are you ready to Sale-a-Brate?!

~~Marilyn~~

Another swap share

I had fun last night with some fellow demonstrators. We did a some stamping, some sharing and some swapping. Our swaps are always a great way to get new samples without breaking the bank, and this month was no exception. Here are a few of the goodies that will be joining my collection...

The awesome shiny embossed background is heavy-duty aluminum foil. How cool is that?!?!


If sewing is in your repertoire, Stampin' Up!'s "Oh Sew" suite in the Occasions Mini Catalog will surely go on your wish list!


Custom-designed for paper crafting and Stampin' Up!'s Simply Adorned jewelry line, trinket keys add some extra pizzazz.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Spoil Yourself!

I thought I'd take a little detour from the Sale-a-Bration projects and show you how get more mileage from the Build a Cupcake punch in the Occasions Mini Catalog.


How about a triple-decker ice cream cone to bring a smile to a friend's face?? Using the icing part of the punch, you can create your own ice cream creations. And Stampin' Up!'s Square Lattice embossing folder is perfect for creating ice cream cones!

As I was looking for a sentiment, I came across "spoil yourself today" from the new Bring on the Cake stamp set. How perfect is that?? I love when a project comes together so easily!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 1-3/4" circle punch, extra large scallop circle punch, build a cupcake punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, filigree brads, stampin' dimensionals

Baja Birthday

Ready for another project featuring Punch Bunch that you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration? You can get a lot of mileage out of this stamp set with the five images.


I love the "rock-n-roll" technique! Start with the lightest color first, completely ink up the stamp and then roll the edges in a darker color. It adds some extra "oomph" to your stamped image. Another simple way to add some texture to your projects is paper tearing. I find that holding the paper with your fingers close together gives you the best control.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Punch Bunch
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Greenhouse Gala designer series paper, scallop square punch, extra large scallop circle punch, Baja Breeze seam binding, stampin' dimensionals

Welcome Baby

4 days and counting! It's time for another project featuring the cute Punch Bunch stamp set that you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration.



The mobile image is a bit tedious to color in with markers, so I opted to heat emboss the image to make it really pop against the cardstock. Pairing the heat embossing with embossing folders adds a lot of dimension. Add a little ribbon and it has just the right amount of texture!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Punch Bunch
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: white embossing powder, heat tool, Peach Parfait stitched poly ribbon, Big shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Elegant Bouquet embossing folde, scallop trim border punch, small tag punch, large tag punch, stampin' dimensionals

Glimmer Owl

As Sale-a-Bration gets closer, I have some more special projects to share that feature one of the FREE stamp sets you can earn called Punch Bunch.


The great thing about this set is that each stamp coordinates with a punch! The coordinating punches are: two-step owl, scallop square, 1-3/4" scallop circle, large tag and 1" circle.

And once again, I reached for the fabulous new glimmer paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I love how sparkly it is :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Punch Bunch, Filled with Love
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit, glimmer paper, two-step owl punch, Whisper White satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Countdown to Sale-a-Bration!

It's almost here...Stampin' Up!'s most popular promotion of the year, Sale-a-Bration! Next Tuesday the 25th, you can earn FREE products by ordering, hosting or signing up with Stampin' Up! To whet your appetite, today's card features one of the stamp sets you can earn, Punch Bunch. It contains 5 images that coordinate with Stampin' Up! punches.


Come back to see more projects with Sale-a-Bration products as the countdown continues!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Punch Bunch
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Marina Mist, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Poppy Parade, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, 1-3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

Mojo Monday 174

I'm working on some ideas for a Valentine card swap with some fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators. To get the ideas flowing, I started with a fun sketch from Mojo Monday.

And here's my interpretation:

I used my favorite ink (Cherry Cobbler) and my favorite embossing folder (Vintage Wallpaper) to make this romantic card. And it could easily be used for an anniversary or wedding card as well. Gotta love flexibility! :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, scallop circle punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, Heart to Heart punch, stampin' dimensionals

A Valentine Alternative

I have another Valentine-y card to share with you today!

If you don't own any Valentine's Day stamps, don't fret! There are other ways to create something appropriate. For today's card, I dusted off my "Season of Friendship" stamp set and punched some hearts from the beautiful new glimmer paper. The "grass" along the bottom was created by simply tearing cardstock. And I left off the sentiment so I can decide later whether to make it a Valentine's Day or an anniversary card.

I hope this inspires you to find alternative ways to create your Valentines this year! Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Season of Friendship
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo
Accessories: glimmer paper, small heart punch, stampin' dimensionals

LOVE

I have another project to share that features products from the Filled With Love bundle available through January 24th. This time I mixed things up a little bit by adding another color to the mix - Basic Gray. I absolutely love the new glimmer paper in the Occasions Mini Catalog and hope that Stampin' Up! offers it in other colors when the new Idea Book & Catalog comes out this summer! It's a great way to add some sparkle to your projects without the glitter rubbing off. And the paper is thin enough that it's perfect for punching! I have another treat holder to share tomorrow so please check back.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Filled With Love
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Love Patterns designer series paper, glimmer paper, Real Red satin ribbon, dotted scallop ribbon, punch, stampin' dimensionals

Valentine Projects

For my stamp club this month, we made some Valentine's Day projects featuring products from the Filled With Love bundle that's available until January 24th. The first project is a treat holder that contains Sweetart conversation hearts.


The second project is a 3x3 notecard. Heat embossing is always a hit! :-)


I have some more projects featuring this bundle so be sure to check back in the coming days.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{treat holder}}
Stamps: Filled with Love
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Love Patterns designer series paper, Big Shot, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, bitty buttons, Heart to Heart punch, sticky strip, glue dots, scallop rectangle clearlit, stampin' dimensionals

{{3x3}}
Stamps: Filled with Love
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Real Red
Ink: Versamark, Real Red
Accessories: Love Patterns designer series paper, white embossing powder, heat tool, Full Heart punch, oval punch

Our visitors

A little non-stamping diversion if you'll humor me...

Last weekend, we spied a deer in our backyard, the first one visiting our yard in the 9 years we've been in our home. I snapped some shots as (s)he looked right at me and our encounter was brief. About 20 minute later, (s)he came back and, this time, brought some friends!



Prancing deer in our own backyard, what a unexpected surprise!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamp-a-Stack Share, part two

Thanks for coming back! As promised yesterday, I have the rest of the cards from my birthday Stamp-a-Stack classes this weekend. The first one features several products from the new Occasions Mini Catalog: Springtime Vintage designer series paper, Bring on the Cake stamp set and Baja Breeze seam binding.


The next card has a bright and cheerful color combination and has some extra zing in the way of a couple self-adhesive rhinestones.


And the last card features one of my favorite stamps ever - Medallion. I love using just a portion of the stamp. For better coverage with a background stamp, I show my customers how to ink and stamp the image in reverse. That is, put the stamp rubber-side up and apply ink with the ink pad. Then place your cardstock on the stamp and use some scrap paper to burnish the image with your hands which helps ensure better ink coverage.


Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{Springtime Vintage}}
Stamps: Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Baja Breeze seam binding, Springtime Vintage designer series paper, stampin' dimensionals

{{Circles}}
Stamps: Circle Circus, Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Concord Crush
Accessories: rhinestones, 1-3/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

{{Medallion}}
Stamps: Medallion
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso
Accessories: distressing tool, stampin' dimensionals

Stamp-a-Stack Share, part one

I had three Stamp-a-Stack classes this weekend so I'll be sharing the projects today and tomorrow. The class featured all birthday cards. The first one is my gender-neutral card - no ribbon, nothing frilly or girly. To get some added "oomph" we embossed a panel with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder. And the sentiment is a sneak peek from the upcoming Sale-a-Bration promotion!


The next card had a very vintage flair. The designer series paper was crumbled and then sponged with Sahara Sand to make it look very old and worn. The vintage simplicity of the Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black color combination works great with this designer series paper. Sorry that the Cherry Cobbler cardstock looks like a brighter red in this picture - it's actually a deep crimson red.


Be sure to check back tomorrow for the remaining projects!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{Happy Happy Birthday}}
Stamps: Punch Bunch
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point, Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, 1" square punch, scallop square punch, stampin' dimensionals

{{Numbers}}
Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Full of Life
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobber, Stazon Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, First Edition designer series paper, sponges, Basic Black grosgrain ribbon, 1-3/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

Be My Valentine

A quick post today... this time a 3x3 card. These are perfect when you need just a little somethin'. ;-) The designer series paper is from the "Filled With Love" bundle promotion that Stampin' Up! is offering until January 24th.

I hope you like it and thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Filled with Love
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Love Patterns designer series paper, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, oval punch, stampin' dimensionals

Catalog Carryover

Stampin' Up! has announced that several products in the Holiday Mini Catalog will carry over and will continue to be available when the catalog expires tonight.

Item #	Description	Price
120890	Candy Wrapper Bigz L Die	$32.95
120903	Scallop Squares Duo Bigz Die	$21.95
120893	Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die	$42.95
120901	Northern Frost Decorative Strip	$21.95
120902	Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$7.95
120889	Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$7.95
120982	Northern Trim Letterpress Plate	$5.95
120980	Trick or Treat Letterpress Plate	$7.95
120908	3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch	$10.95
120984	Waffle Paper (Assortment 1)	$9.95
122124	8" x 8" Page Protectors (20)	$7.95
120981	Joyful Season Letterpress Plate	$5.95
120910	Vintage Frames Décor Stencils	$14.95
122265	Uninked Craft Stampin' Pad	$4.95

I'll be back tomorrow with another project to share, so check back!

~~Marilyn~~

Butterfly Thanks

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope 2011 is off to a great start for you. I'm very excited that my birthday card stamp-a-stack classes this month are sold out! And I'm on a countdown to my big Caribbean cruise in February!

For today's card, I broke out my Big Shot (do you have one yet?!). I absolutely love the Beautiful Wings embosslit. How cool is it that with a few cranks of the handle, you can not only emboss but also die cut 5 fabulous butterflies?! I used the largest butterfly on this card. And I love the warmth of this color pairing - Daffodil Delight and Soft Suede.

I hope you like it and thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslit, stampin' dimensionals