Birthday's On The Brain

By mid-June I always have birthday's on my brain.  Mainly because my birthday is at the end of the month. :)  And this year it coincides with the new SU! catalog release, so guess what is on my birthday list?!?!  Yep, new catty stuff!  But also because some of my good friends have bithday's around this time too, Lindsay, Tod, Deeznuts, Julie and her soon to be baby Alexander...and many more wonderful people after that!

Not to brag, but summer birthday's really are the best.  You have so many options for things to do, and so many of them are free!  Not to mention the sun adds a nice little something, like it is shining just for you.  My birthday present (other than SU! stuff!) will be a visit from my dad and a much needed hair cut.  I think it has been at least a year by now!!! 

Anyway, with all these birthday's on the brain I have been making birthday cards.  More than anything I have been making masculine cards, not sure why, but OK, whatever right.

This first one uses the new SU! color Cherry Cobler.  I have to say, I am really loving it.  Maybe it is just this fresh new color combo for me, but it works.

This second one is masculine right- what do you think????  I actually think it could go either way, but it was originally intended for a man...before I added the rhinestones.  But really, it needs them, they work right?

So what do you think, should I offer a special deal since it is my birthday month?!?!  If you live locally (Seattle Area) and email me the items you are wanting from the new catalog ($50 or more in merchandise) by July 1st- I will give you free shipping.  I know it is hard to know what you want, but that is why I am having an open house on June 30th (aka my birthday celebration)!  I will have the new catty and lots of prizes to be won!  Want to come?  Send me an email and I'll send you the details.  Easy as pie.  :)  For anyone who isn't local or can't come to my b-day party.  Spend $50 and on the week of June 28th- July 1st and I will give you a roll of 1/4" grossgrain ribbon (your color choice)!  This offer can be extended to those at the party as well in exchange for free shipping.

Cheers, enjoy the sun!

A little of this, a little of that

I justwanted to share a few of the things I have made lately with you, which is a little of this and a little of that.  No goal in particular, just creating and using some new things, or things I haven't used in a while.  Just working on a whim when I have time.  Which BTW, I don't have any of!  How is it June already???? 

OK, enough blabbing about stuff you don't care about, here are the creations:

#1 is using my Upsy Daisy stamp set with that Tropical Party DSP.  I can't seem to get enough of that, it is so bright and fun!  I had fun using my markers to make the stamp appear as a rainbow.

#2 is a non SU! stamp.  I have had this image (amuse I think) forever, but never used it.  I stamped on watercolor paper and used my markers and blender pen to color it.  I enjoyed that.  The lilly pads are Green Galore (retiring color) circle punches in various sizes, I used my snips to cut out the centers and make them look like lilly pads.  Just a fun card to do.

#3- last but not least is a card using my newest stamp set Elements of Style. I just had the blue and yellow color combo stuck in my head and started from there with this set. I used Appricot Appeal and Night of Navy as the main colors. This card was pretty simple but fun to make. I had fun creating this layout.

Well, that is about all there is for today.  Oh, I did submit a few other cards to Papercraft Mag. in hopes of being published for the first time, wish me luck! :)

stamping with my mini me :)

Did I ever mention that I love my little girl?  Well I sure do!!!  She is so cute and fun and I love all the little things she says.  Some days are hard of course (welcome to parenthood) but most days I can't get enough of her!

In our house, it is a typicall male female dichotomy, Daddy is better at playing and "rough-housing" and I am better at comforting and quiet time, although we both dabble in a little bit of everything. :)  SBW is just getting to the age that she can do art projects.  She has been coloring for a while, but we are getting closer to something besides scribbles.  She enjoys building things and other art projects.  Although it was not the first time, last weekend we stamped together and it was so fun!  She can actually hold the stamp right and make a clear image on the paper!  Here she is doing just that.  :)

I know some stampers would be appaled at that, getting ink stains on the wood blocks is sacrelig...but I don't care, much rather use them and enjoy with my kid.  Check her out, she'll be the youngest demonstrator SU! has ever seen! HA!

Meanwhile, I am sure you already know about the $99 dolar sign up special to become a demostrator.  It is for the month of June only, so hurry if interested and check out the changes in the starter kit (awesome stuff).  You can find more information here.  I was thinking about signing SBW up, but maybe I'll give her a few more years- wink!

Adios Amigas!  Get stamping or scrapping or whatever you do and remember to have fun!

Searching for Sun

So far, this Seattle summer is turning out to be a dreary thing.  Now, some people tell me that the "summer" here doesn't come until July.  I am not sure I remember that being the case, I mean it was nice here in Feb., so why not now?  I should know since I have lived here for many years, but I just can't remember from year to year.  I am living in the moment! :) 
So as I sit here, gazing at this card I made for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower, I am thinking of sun, tropical weather, beaches, plam trees, a hammock and nice cold drinks.  Doesn't it sound delectable?!  For now I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer.  Meanwhile, I made this card to coordinate with the bridal shower invites I made her.  You can go here to see that post.  The base color is different, Bermuda Bay this time vs. tempting turquoise last, but I think they both work with this tropical paper.
So... I'll be here dreaming of sunny weather and if you have some feel free to send it my way.  Meanwhile, if you want a good laugh, check out some of the other activities I have been pursuing lately http://wienerfest2010.blogspot.com/.
Thanks so much and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Last Chance List

Hi everyone!

Today Stampin' Up! Published their 2010 Last Chance List. This is a list of stamp sets that will retire with the launch of the 2010-11 Idea Book and Catalog on July 1, 2010. This is your last opportunity to purchase some wonderful sets that are destined to be collectors' items in a short time. Click here for the list!

And speaking of opportunity - we also are introducing a great deal in a Mini Starter Kit. Take advantage of this kit worth over $180 for only $99. Included in the kit are new products that are part of our Color Renovation. This is your chance to become a part of the Stampin' Up! Team and get 20% off on all your Stampin' Up! Needs! (30% off your first order totaling $150 or more) Plus, you'll get the new 2010-11 Idea Book and Catalog before any of your friends. Click here for that promotion. And please contact me if you have any questions!

Happy day ahead!