get well soon

I'm sorry for the brief hiatus in blogging... my grandfather had a heart 

attack and I haven't been home to "play".  Here's a little MDS card for 

him (he's is getting better!).  I really need to deviate from birds!  

They are my favorite though!

Do you have any requests for something you'd like to see?

Post a comment and tell me!  

new goodies

I came home to a new SU! box!

And, it made my day.

My friend, Lissette, asked me to make her 2 cards...

so I thought I'd share.

The first is a birthday card.  I apologize for the poor 

photography.  Since I made them tonight, I didn't 

really have good enough light to get clear photos.  

You can't really see the color in the first one... 

it has "Cherry Cobbler" cardstock, my favorite!

I got the "Clearly for You" stamp set from the Occasions

catalog... love it!  I also used the "Beveled Windowpanes".

There are so many uses for these!  The colors are a mix of 

Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Kraft, and Very Vanilla.

The best part?  The "Seam Binding Ribbon"... OMG!

I ordered every color and I already know I'm going to want

more!  I am a ribbon freak, and this is 

THE BEST RIBBON EVER!

To "scrunch" it all up, just pulled a couple of threads on

the end and it takes on a whole new look!

I used another set from the mini for this card as well:

"Nature's Walk".  I added the "Glass Glitter" to the 

bird cage for some added bling.  The colors are Marina

Mist, Very Vanilla, and Kraft.  The jewelry tag punch

is another must!  And, there's that ribbon again!

Would you like to make these cards?

Email me!

The first time I looked at the Occasions mini, I didn't

realize how much I would love everything!  I found

my usual things that I "had to have", but as I saw

more and more of what people were doing with the

rest of the great stuff... I had to have it all!

Would you like to order?

www.blinginghomethebacon.stampinup.net

Note to self: Take pictures in the light of day!

Have a fabulous night!

"Pasta for Pennies"

Okay, so this post isn't about crafting... but I need your help!

Instead, it's about donating!  I am a middle school ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher; I teach English to children whose first language is anything other than English.  Right now our school is having a fundraiser for "Pasta for Pennies".  This program is where students bring in spare change and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  In return, the classroom that raises the most money gets a fully catered pasta party from Olive Garden.  

The thing is, my students never win anything!  Since we are one of the smaller classes in the school, we have a disadvantage when it comes to "competitions".  "Pasta for Pennies" started last week and my kids have raised $287.00 so far!  We are currently in first place!  They are so excited and want to win so badly!  We are trying to come up with creative ways to raise money... today we sold roses with handmade tags for Valentine's Day!  And, we only have 2 weeks left!

If you have any spare change you would like to give, ANY amount, would go to a great cause.  100% of the money will go to "Pasta for Pennies" and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  

Will you please help us?

Thank you!

he didn't really make it...

Robert came home and presented me with a card for 

Valentine's Day... he tried to convince me that he made it.  

Before opening it, I did think, for a second, did he?  

Nah!!!

So he didn't really make it, but it could EASILY be cased!

How cute would it be to make the heart out of the new 

"Red Glimmer Paper" in the Occasions Mini Catalog!

Love!

Plus, for the price of this card, you could buy the glimmer paper, 

or ink, or even half of a stamp set... and make even MORE cards!  

You do the math!!!

To sweeten the pot, he also added a gift card 

to one of my favorite stores!

Thanks, honey!  I love you, too!

happy valentine's day, honey!

I made this little box of chocolates for my 

sweet hubby, Robert, for Valentine's Day...

I crumpled up pieces of "Love Letter" DSP and

attached them to a little Chinese takout box.I tied 

bits of ribbon across the handle and added2 tags: 

"Happy Valentine's Day" (from the "Fabulous 

Phrases" stamp set) and a little tag to him from me.  

Then I filled the box with chocolates and put it 

out for him to "find" in the morning.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Oh, and don't forget to check out my mom's blog 

to see her "spinoff" of my "mini pizza box"... another 

way to give chocolate "goodies" for Valentine's Day!

craft "t" crimson

My sister-in-law, Tara, just became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator 

and we came up with a name for her new blog... 

"craft T crimson".  "Craft" stands for, well, the obvious;

"T" is for Tara; "Crimson" is for the University of Alabama

(she lives in Birmingham) and the fact that she has red hair!

So, I made a card for her in MDS (of course!)...

What do you think?

Please visit her new blog and watch her get started!

www.crafttcrimson.blogspot.com

And, here's another to congratulate her!

lil box o' sticky notes

Check out this cute lil box...

With a surprise inside...

I picked up this little cube of 2x2 sticky notes the
last time I was at the big box store.

I figured I could do something with it...

Start with a piece of 5"x5" cardstock (I used Wild Wasabi)

 and score at 1 1/2" and 3 1/2" on both sides.

Snip 2 lines... on 2 opposite sides.

Turn the paper over and stamp with a large background

stamp... I used the "Medallion" stamp.

Use "Snail Adhesive" to glue each of the 4 tabs.

Fold over the tabs and press together, making sure 

the "middle" flap is on the outside.

Next, you need to make your lid.

Cut another piece of coordinating cardstock to 3 1/8 x 3 1/8".

Score at 1/2" around each of the 4 edges.

Flip over the cardstock and stamp with the "Medallion" stamp.

Snip 2 scored lines on 2 opposite sides.

Use "Snail Adhesive" on all 4 tabs, 

fold inward, and press together.

Make a tag... on this one I used the free Sale-a-Bration set

"Sweet Summer" and the "sweet" verbiage came from 

"Fabulous Phrases".  I tied a button with "Linen Thread",

tied the top of the box with "Early Espresso" striped ribbon

and glued the tag to the top.

Voila!

My husband said it would make a cute gift for his 

secretary... I think it just found a new home!

This was so easy to make... try it!

Need any supplies?

Have any questions?

Email me!

Have a great day!

marry me, MDS

Another MDS wedding page to add to the album...

black & white bliss

I like the simplicity of this card.  Black and white cardstock, the Bliss Sale-a-Bration stamp set, white ink and ribbon, and rhinestones.

yeah, tara!

My sister-in-law, Tara, just became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  

I'm so excited!  

She's new to the stamping world but has been an avid papercrafter...

and makes REALLY cute stuff!  If you need invites or decorations

 for a child's birthday, she's your gal!  

If you are interested in hostessing a party and live in Birmingham, 

Alabama area, please email her and let her know!  

crimsontara@yahoo.com

Please leave a comment here to congratulate her and offer words 

of encouragement, as she doesn't have her own blog (YET) 

and reads mine daily!

Congrats, Tara!

good intentions

I had every intention of going to sleep.  I put my laptop to bed and, well, I "attempted" to go to sleep.  Apparently I didn't try hard enough!  Out came my laptop again...and MDS!  So I decided to make ONE more page before REALLY going to bed!

My question to YOU is...
don't you see how much you "need" this program?!

If you purchase "My Digital Studio" through me, I'll walk you through
the ins-and-outs of digital designing.  Upon making the purchase, contact
me for free one-on-one time to"show you the ropes".
Don't live in Cincinnati?  That's ok!
I'd be happy to show you how to use it over the phone!
It's that easy!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Click HERE to purchase My Digital Studio!

can't sleep... thanks, MDS!

I should have been asleep hours ago!  

But, thanks to My Digital Studio, I can't seem to put the computer down!  

It's like a dream come true to be able to lie in bed and "scrap"!  

Who wouldn't want this program?!

Another wedding trip page...

The best part about this program is the immediate availability.
If I'm working on a page, like this one, and I need, say, a
different embellishment (other than the bunch they've already
put in the program), then I can just log onto the Stampin' Up!'
Website and a few minutes later, it's downloaded on my
computer!  I wanted to use something different here, so the
 next thing I know, I was the proud owner of the digital
rhinestones and pearls!  I'm very much a minimalist when it
comes to scrapbooking, and the pearls on this page just added
the right little "something extra".

If I get another page in before my eyes seal shut, I'll be sure to post!

Have a fabulous evening, er, morning!

moving stoves

I just got married in July in the Dominican Republic (if you haven't been, I HIGHLY recommend it!).  We spent 12 days in the D.R. for our wedding and honeymoon with our friends and family.  One day we spent in the city of Higuey...

For some reason, these were two of my favorite pictures I took that day.  The color was amazing... and just something so hypnotic about the "happenings" all around.  

I made this layout using "My Digital Studio", which is an amazing product from Stampin' Up!  I have feared digital crafting for so long and now I wonder why because I am ADDICTED!  I took over 3000 pictures (yes, I have narrowed them down... a bit) on the trip and have been too overwhelmed to do anything with them yet.  MDS makes is so easy.  I put this layout together in about 5 minutes.  REALLY!  The coolest part is that, when I'm finished, I can send off all of my pages to Stampin' Up! and have them bound in an actual book.  Truly a keepsake!

You really do have to try it!  

Off to make more...

shout outs

This is a shout out to Samantha Ovitt from Bakersfield, Vermont!!!

Samantha left me a comment on my "Snail Mail" post and she'll 

be receiving a free card in the mail from me!  I didn't post her
comment because she left her address in the comment box
and I didn't think she'd want me to share that with the world!

She said:

"I love the internet and the ability to stay in touch with my siblings who all live in different states. However, receiving snail mail somehow warms the heart like nothing else ... especially when it is handmade and from the heart. I try to remember that and take a moment to put a smile on someone's face and a little warmth in their heart."

How nice!
Would you like me to send you a free card, too?
Leave me a comment and tell me why, then email me your address
and I'll drop a handmade card in the mail especially for you!

Thanks, Samantha!  Your card will go in the mail on Saturday!

My other shout out is to my awesome upline, Kay...
I loved her tutorials so much, I became a
Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!
She is so sweet and inspiring!

Thanks, Kay!

over 1000!

How exciting!  I've had 1000 visitors!

I know that's not much when a lot of bloggers have MUCH

more than that, but this "newbie" gets excited over the little things!

Please keep coming back! :)  I'll keep posting!

I love all of you crafty people!!!

Heather

shout out to my UPS buddy

Dear Mr. UPS Man,

Thank you for delivering my wonderful Stampin' Up! goodies today! You are always so pleasant and don't really seem to mind that you have to come to my house almost every day AND try to maneuver your truck down our ridiculously long driveway!  You always have a smile on your face when you greet me with my lovely SU! box!  It makes me laugh when you say "See you tomorrow!"

Sincerely,

Heather

I can't wait to play with my new toys!!! 

Until then... here's an MDS scrapbook page I just made!

Until tomorrow, dear blogging friends!

Have a fabulous night!

addicted to snail mail

I'm one of those strange people who just find it so fun to receive snail mail... Especially when it's a card! I think in this age of technology we miss those little personal touches, AND the excitement of getting real mail!

SOOOO....

Would you like to receive snail mail too? Post a comment and tell me why you love snail mail and I'd be happy to send you a handmade card from yours truly! Oh, and don't forget to email me your address! I'll even leave the card blank so you can pay it forward!

Happy mailing!

Have a fabulous night!

duck punch art & a mini pizza box

Look what my mom made!

She used my pizza box tutorial (see my post from 1/31/11).

She made a baby card, the pizza, and made 3x3 notecards 

(thank you cards) to go inside.  Aren't they cute?!

I believe she "cased" the duck and design from misslilstamper.
And, she "cased" the pizza box from me!

www.myjacquelines.blogspot.com

a weekend of "my digital studio"

Question:  Hmmm... do I watch the Super Bowl or do I stamp?

Answer:  That's a no brainer!

Have I mentioned how much I love MDS (My Digital Studio)?

You NEED this!!!

Order NOW!!!

artistic etchings MDS

more fun with MDS

Here's another "play" with "My Digital Studio"...

Love!

I really didn't think I'd love digital 

scrapbooking/cardmaking this much!

Want to join in the fun?!

Order now!!!

i (heart) "my digital studio"

Dear UPS,

Thank you for delivering my "My Digital Studio" software today!

Yippee!!!!

I've made my first scrapbook page... it was so easy!
This page literally took me 5 minutes to make, which
is saying a lot since I have ZERO digital
scrapbooking experience!

You have to try it!
ORDER MDS NOW!!!

And, what a cutie!
He's my brother-in-law's/sister-in-law's little boy!

a little nature walk before bed

Well, not a "real" nature walk.  With this nasty ice storm here in
Cincinnati, this "Nature Walk" stamp set was as close as I could get!

I stamped the bird on Very Vanilla cardstock and stamped it again on acetate...

after layering the two together, the bird appears to be 3-dimensional.

I just love "Nature Walk"!  So many possibilities!

More to come from this set tomorrow!