So where exactly has 2008 gone? It doesn’t even really seem like New Year’s Eve. Maybe because it is a normal workday for Roger and I am at home alone with the boys. I had a few projects I wanted to wrap up before the end of the year and I think I was successful with that. I had swap cards to finish and I got those in the mail today. I also got all of my Thank you cards for Christmas written and addressed. When I finished those tasks I sat down to stamp. I needed to stamp!

Since Jen’s Sketch was still open on my desk I just went with that.  When I start a sketch the first thing I do is draw it to scale in a grid lined notebook.  That way I have them for future reference but I am also saving on paper and printer ink.  I was planning on making a New Year’s card but I couldn’t find any stamps that fit into the idea in my  head.  I went with the next best thing – Valentine’s Day! 

I started with a Riding Hood Red base and layered it with Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow.  The Sage Shadow layer is stamped with the background stamp from Rustic Rooster.  I can’t stop using that stamp.  I then added the paper piercing and distressing before moving onto the hearts.  I stamped the heart twice, once in Pink Pirouette and then again in Riding Hood Red on the matching cardstock.  I cut them out and added them to the card with dimensionals.  From there I added the top and bottom embellishments.  They are pretty simple so I’m sure you’ll figure out what I used on your own.  I really like this color combo.  I think it’s very soothing looking. 

Since it’s the eve of a New Year, I thought I’d jot down what my plans are for this year.  That way since you all know them I’ll have to stick with them.  So without further ado, my New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Submit more (I’ve had several cards published but I want to submit on a regular basis).  2.  Enter more Stampin’ Up! contests (I plan to enter at least one category a month, last year I started and stopped when I won in March).  3.  Enter the Artisan Award contest (I did last year and I’m grateful for the experience).  4.  Plan my class projects sooner (sooner than the week before – my dates are booked 6 months at a time so I have no excuse).  5.  Finish one scrapbook project a month. 

So those are my goals!  If you post yours put a comment here.  I’d love to check them out.

Jenn

I was recently having a discussion with friends about what new crafts we might try to learn in 2009.  I’ve tried a lot.  I have a ball of yarn full of knots from my stint at trying to knit.  I have a half done cross stitch project up on my shelf in my closet because needles and young energetic boys aren’t a good pairing.  My Mom can attest to the amount of times she has had to remove zippers from sewing projects because I put them in the wrong way.  I’m not one who has a talent for drawing something from scratch and latch work rugs simply aren’t in style anymore.  As I thought about the possibilities I realized that I’m going to stick with Stamping.  Why you may ask?  My ribbon stays relatively put on the spools and isn’t tangled in knots I can’t remove.  While my paper piercer is sharp and pointy it has a safe place on my table and is one of my favorite tools.  Paper has two sides so if I mess up on one I can turn it over and use the other.  While I can’t draw, I certainly love to color and I think I do it quite well.  While things may go out of style I can find a new way to use my stamps and switching colors and patterns is easy.  But the number one reason I love stamping is that I can sit down and complete a project in as little as 10 minutes from start to finish.  Sure some may take longer, but they are easy to transport and they don’t take up that much room.  I realized that when I signed up to be a Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator in November of 2006, I picked my perfect craft and I am sticking with it. 

As an added benefit I have made a lot of friends, both in real life and online who share my passion for creating.  I have found Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators to be the most giving and kind people who will bend over backwards to help you out and share ideas and projects with you.  There are more benefits and if you’d like to learn more about them please visit my Join My Team! page.  If you are interested in joining my Team, email me for the password.  You can sign up Online on my Demonstrator Website and have instant access to Stampin’ Up! and it’s benefits.  While you are there check out the informational videos right on the website  You will also gain access to my private Team group and Team Log-In page where we share class ideas, projects and more. 

So where will 2009 take you?  Join my Team and be in for a fun and exciting year!

Jenn

Yesterday the Technique Challenge on SCS was to make a Squash Book, but the twist was to make it as a card. The folding was really easy and you can check this thread for the directions.  I used a 8 X 8″ square of Haiku designer series paper.  I pulled my colors right from the papers. 

After I finished the folds I tied a Tangerine Tango striped ribbon around the squash book part to hold it shut. I then took a piece of So Saffron cardstock and cut it into a 4 1/4″ square and used the scallop edge punch on all 4 sides making sure the corners lined up to make uniform scallops on each corner.  The front is pretty simple, but I didn’t want to take away from the unique fold.  I stamped the beehive from Just Buzzin’ By in Basic Gray ink and colored it in with an AquaPainter and Barely Banana and So saffron ink.  The door plaque is Tangerine Tango and the base Close to Cocoa.  I wanted to add a sentiment but the ones in the set were too long for the front and I didn’t want to break it up, so I added a pull out tag behind the main image.  I used the horizontal slot punch to punch both sizes of the main image panel.  I then cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the sentiment stamped to 3/8″ wide.  I then used my word window punch to round the edges on each end of the strip.  I added silver cording as a pull and then added the little bee over the end. 

Today I have a few swap cards to finish up and hope to get a few other projects done as well.  Poor Evan is sick again with a deep wet cough and is very congested.  I’m hoping we can get him over this at home, but if he gets any worse a trip to the pediatrician will be in order as well. 

Have a great day!

Jenn

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased on my website at http://igotstamps.stampinup.net .  Just Buzzin’ By is a Preview set and will be available on January 19th.

Yesterday was sunny and in the mid 30’s. I took advantage of the weather and took down all of the outside Christmas decorations. I’m not one who likes to pack them all up when spring rolls around and would rather do it sooner than later. I always wait for that first warm day. A lot of my neighbors followed suit and took theirs down as well. After I finished that Roger had brought up the wrong Christmas tree box, so while the box for the large tree was out of the crawl space and upstairs I took that down as well. I was on such a reorganizing kick that I worked on my living room and stamping space as well. It’s amazing how one small project can tumble into bigger ones and by the time you know it the day is gone.

Today I had to stamp. First of all, I had nothing new to post. Second of all I needed to keep my creative juices flowing. I saw Jen’s Sketch this past weekend and knew it would be one that I would immediately like. I also saw the challenge at Our Creative Corner.  Both of the challenges just fell together.  I started with a 4 1/4″ square Close to Cocoa cardstock base and layered it with Riding Hood Red cardstock and Candy Lane designer series paper.  I added paper piercing to my dsp layer.  I then added my main image layer.  The image is stamped in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and is layered on Pink pirouette and Riding Hood Red.  I colored the image in with Pink Pirouette and added some darker Pretty in Pink for contrast.  The heart is stamped in White stazon on a transparency and then cut out.  I attached it with a glue dot and then added the button with linen thread.  I really love how this card just fell into place.  Hopefully I can get back on schedule and get some more stamping in today. 

I also have been meaning to share this adorable Christmas card with you. Tina sent it to me. She is so sweet and very creative. Thanks Tina!

I can’t believe it’s going to be 2009 in a few days!  I hope you have a fantastic week and head into the holidays with a lot of time to stamp and be creative.

Jenn

All supplies besides the transparency are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased on my website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

I’m behind today. I was hoping to have gotten some stamping in this weekend, but today was the first I had a chance to do anything. My excuse to stamp before company arrived was my husband telling me he needed an anniversary card and asked if I had any on hand. I probably do, but it’s always good to have an excuse to escape from cleaning.

I jotted down Jen’s Sketch For You To Try last week and never had a chance to get to it.  Last night I had a dream about using this scallop envelope Big Shot die and the hearts from the Love You Much bundle.  I first saw this idea on Lyssa’s blog and knew I’d have to give it a go.  Hearts floating out of the envelope is such a cute idea.  It’s so easy to do too because the Heart to Heart punch lines up perfectly with the stamped image. 

This card was quick and easy to put together.  I stamped the Pink Pirouette base with the background from Rustic Rooster in Pink Pirouette ink.  I then added the Very Vanilla cardstock with the scalloped and paper pierced edge with Candy Lane designer series paper.  The scallop envelope is die cut out of the same dsp.  I added the sentiment, button and hearts and was finished in under 10 minutes. 

Now I must get back to cleaning, cooking a late lunch and getting stuff in order for company to arrive in a little bit.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Jenn

All Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased Online via my website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  As I type this up the kids are already begging to play their new Wii, and it’s only 8 am.  They’ve been up since 6:30 asking though.  It’s going to be another long day.  I don’t understand why they can’t just sleep in until at least 7. 

I stamped this card a few days ago.  It was for the Color Challenge and even though the colors aren’t ones I’d normally combine I ended up liking this card a lot.  The base is Orchard Opulence and it is layered with So Saffron, Cameo Coral and then Whisper White.  The bottom of the Whisper White layer is scored on both sides of my sentiment to lend visual interest.  It is really hard to tell in the photograph though.  I then added brads on each side of it.  The main image is from Upsy Daisy and it is stamped in So Saffron with the tips of the flowers inked in Cameo Coral.  The hummingbird is from the new Dream a Little Level III hostess stamp set.  It was stamped off once in Cameo Coral and then onto Whisper White cardstock.  I cut the bird out and set it up on dimensionals. 

Hopefully I’ll get some stamping done today.  We have another Christmas celebration tomorrow so I have stuff to get ready for that today.  Have a great Friday!

Jenn

From my family to yours – Merry Christmas!  I hope that no matter what holiday you are celebrating this season you get to do it with the people you love. 

As promised I would share a photo of my tree that is covered in ornaments I made using Stampin’ Up! supplies.  When I made the promise I didn’t realize my kids would creatively rearrange the ornaments on a daily basis.  This picture does not do it justice at all. 

Merry Christmas!

Jenn

The shopping is done, the presents are almost all wrapped, the kids are excited and it’s above freezing out! I’m most excited about the last part. Yesterday was a mix of snow, freezing rain, sleet and not so fun weather. Slowly over the course of the day it warmed up and by 8:30 last night I was out in the rain shoveling snow and it wasn’t too bitterly cold.

I have a quick post for you sharing another Thank you card I made for sending out after the holidays are done and over with. If I have them on hand they get sent much quicker, so that task is complete for now. In about a week they should meet their intended recipients.

I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas!  My blog is going to be running on autopilot as I spend time with family and friends.  Enjoy your holidays!

Jenn

All Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased on my website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Only a few days until Christmas. I’m sure all of you have your cards sent by now, but we’ll be needing some more in the next few days. You can’t forget the Thank You cards and sometimes when you are mass producing simpler is better. For this card I used the sketch from Lauren that I used a few weeks ago as well.  I also combined it with the Try a New Technique challenge which was Faux Silk with a Pop.  It’s done the same way that you do the regular Faux Silk technique but you add another layer of the image behind that has been stamped on Whisper White and cut out.  If you are interested in learning more, check out the challenge thread here. 

It’s sort of hard to tell that I used the technique because it’s on such a small main image layer.  I didn’t think of that when I picked the snowmen from Window Dressing or when I decided to use Lauren’s Sketch again.  Otherwise the card is very straight forward.  I used a Kraft cardstock base and layered with Whisper White, Ski Slope designer series paper and Alpine Originals ribbon with a felt flurry and silver brad. 

I don’t know what today brings for us.  More freezing rain is in the forecast and it makes for a really messy day.  I hoping that no matter what happens that the power stays on.  Tomorrow I will have another wintery Thank You note for you to see. 

Jenn

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased at http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

 What a day yesterday was. We woke up to -3 degrees and decided it wasn’t worth going out for any reason at all. I made pancakes for breakfast and we all settled down to work on addressing Christmas cards and I started on the Featured Stamper’s Challenge. I was 3/4 of the way done with my card when the power went out. Everything is covered in ice and the winds picked up over night. Icy power lines and high winds are not a good combination. At first the sun was shining in and it was still fairly warm in the house. A few hours later the temperature kept dropping and we sat on the couch huddled together to keep warm. We were beginning to decide what our options were when it all finally came back on. You don’t realize how much you depend on electricity until you are without it. The coldest day of the year so far is not a good day to be without heat.

When the power came back on and we all warmed back up I finished the card I had started on earlier in the day. I had chosen this card to CASE from Paula’s gallery.  I kept the layout and changed the colors, stamp sets and a few other elements.  I must say I love this card. 

I used quite a few preview items on this one.  The designer series paper is the new Raspberry Tart paper that will be available on January 19th.  The Dream a Little stamp set is going to be a new Level III hostess stamp set.  Aren’t they just gorgeous? 

I started with a Kiwi Kiss cardstock base and then layered it with Riding Hood Red, Whisper White and then the Raspberry Tart dsp.  I added a scalloped strip of Whisper White and paper pierced the scallops to add dimension.  I then added the ribbon and the main image layer on which I stamped the leaf pattern.  The flower is stamped several times, cut out and layered to add dimension.  I added the dimensional humming bird and then the sentiment tag.  This card took quite a lot of time to make, but I think the results are well worth it.  It probably would have been completed faster had we not had the long outage of power. 

Only a few days left until Christmas! 

Jenn