So fun!

The good thing about selling off a bunch of retired stuff is being able to buy new stuff!  I've been having WAY too much fun with my new tools.
I got a brayer... this was my first time using one, and I'm completely hooked!  This is a picture of the first time I made a sky... it's considered "advanced brayering", so I feel pretty good about it! This is using the "Inspired by Nature" set (which totally inspired me!) and then just a brayer and inks:

So fun!
Look for a brayer class coming soon... you will learn to do this technique, and the brayer is included!
Then I needed to make a card for a workshop I did this month, and the hostesses fell in love with two step stamping... which is where you have an outlined image, and then a stamp that fills in the outlines.  So they choose Awash with Flowers, and Short and Sweet.
Here's the card we did for the workshop:

This is probably one of my favorite color combos ever!  This is pretty in pink, tempting turquiose and the new pear pizzazz.  I love this green!  I didn't think anything could take over in my heart wild wasabi.  Enter pear pizzazz!
And then, I was sitting awake feeding my three month old daughter, Addie, and was thinking that the front of the card needed a bit of punch.  So here are two variations I came up with:

The one on the left is using the color spritz tool, which brings me back to my childhood!  You put one of our fabulous stampin' write markers in the tool (the markers match the card stock and ink exactly) and press the puffer... and have a subtle look!  I actually used the new blushing bride, which is a little hard to see... very understated.
The second one is using the vanilla smooch spray... and I am addicted!  So pretty. 
I have several classes coming up you may want to watch for: The brayer class, as mentioned above, a Trendy Trees class, which includes the stamp set Trendy Trees, a Mommy and Me class with my new Build a Bear Dies for the Big Shot and of course the ever popular Christmas Stamp a Stack... I will be offering at least 2 of these classes in the fall, and beware... they fill up fast!                               

Retired Stuff...

Well, my open house for the new catalogue happened, and it was quite a success!  It was the first time I've ever sold retired items, and I must admit, it was very sad!
But, out with the old and in with the new!
Here's a look at the table of stuff I sold:

It was a difficult day!
If you missed it, here's a list of stuff that didn't sell that's still available:

Unfrogettable: $20 (set of 11 stamps) with matching lily pad wheel
Oh, My Word: $12 (set of 6) never used
Polka Dot Punches: $10 (set of 4) never used
A Little Love: $18 (set of 12)
Forever in my Heart: $20 (set of 8)
Good Neighbors: $15 (set of 10) clear stamp set - never used
Vintage Labels: $15 (set of 6) clear stamp set - never used

Standard Wheel "pounce": $2

Gently Used Stamp Pads: $4 each
creamy caramel
crushed curry
summer sun
sage shadow

Double Stitched Ribbon: Blue Bayou (coordinates with wild wasabi) $5 (never used)

Email me at: yummy_starbucks@yahoo.ca to get it while it lasts!

Summer is finally here!

It's over 20 degrees today! Didn't think it would EVER happen... it's supposed to be gorgeous all week... lots of outside time for me and my girls!
The only down side was I planned to scrapbook Audrey's baby album all day tomorrow and thursday... guess I'll have to save it for another rainy day!
Speaking of summer, do you have the Tropical Party stamp set yet?!  What about the Tropical Oasis DSP? 
I just LOVE it... love it, love it, love it.  I want to redo every scrapbook I've ever done and use this set!  I'm going to do a Luau Theme for Audrey's 3rd birthday party, and use it... THAT'S how much I love it!
Here's the scrapbook page we did last month at club: (don't forget, new clubs starting in August... email me at yummy_starbucks@yahoo.ca for more details!

Wasn't the best planning taking a picture of an old olive stamp page on an olive wall... oh well!  Hope you enjoy the summer weather while it lasts!

canada day!

Happy Canada Day! My sister and I took our kids to Cloverdale to celebrate... we got to see Charlotte Diamond (my daughter loves her!) and get their faces painted... the weather is the absolute pits!
I'm getting all ready for the Open House on Saturday: here's the card you will be making:

You will be able to use some of the new colors: This is Marina Mist and pear pizzazz, there will also be daffodil delight and cherry cobbler available.  It's just a simple thank you card, but sometimes less is more!
Don't forget you still have 2 more days to order something from my website to get an arms length of tickets for saturday's open house (you do not need to be attending to get the tickets and win the door prizes).  My website is:http://fortheheartofstampin.stampinup.net .  I would especially encourage you to order from the clearance rack... retired items for up to 60% off! This is the only way to get retired items.
See you Saturday!
   

sad day...

I'm feeling pretty blue today.  Danny just left for 12 days for a Mexico Missions Trip...a  trip I've gone with him on for the past 2 years.  This is by far the longest we've been apart since we've been married, and on top of that, I'm left with a 3 year old and a 2 month old!
I've got some fun things planned for us to do, and I was left with the van, so that's different... I'm looking forward to being able to get out of the house whenever I want!
The other reason for my sadness is I've been going through my stamp sets for the retirement party on Saturday... and have decided to say goodbye to 17 stamp sets.  This is a REALLY big deal for me, as I tend to have collector instincts... so even if I don't use the stamp sets very often, I have a hard time saying goodbye.  In fact, my shoulders are super tense just thinking about it!  But, I just have to remind myself that I will get to buy new stamp sets... so that's super exciting!
Ahhhh.... it could be a really long week.  If you haven't rsvp'd for saturday, make sure you do it... just remember to take really good care of my stamp sets! *sigh.

summer is...

okay, WHERE exactly is the summer?  By now we've usually had several picnics outside or gone to the waterpark across the street... and nothing!
I did a scratch and sniff card with club in May, thinking that summer would be right around the corner! Well, so much for that.

Now, even as a demonstrator, I get completely stuck on projects.  I knew that I wanted to do the scratch and sniff technique, and I knew that I wanted to use the tart and tangy set... which is the obvious choice for scratch and sniff because it has a citrus stamp, that can be grapefruit, orange, lemon or lime, a strawberry, a cherry and an apple.

So I started making the card, and here's what came out:

I just loved how the scratch and sniff turned out... but hated the color combination!  I was going for a realistic color combo, but it didn't feel right.  So I did everything almost exactly the same, but changed the colors and LOVE the card!

This is the difference color change can make, which is why I bought Stampin' Up's new Color Wheel... it is SO much better than the old one... this one you can pull up the colors that you like, and there is even help with why certain colors go together. 
Then, when I did it with club, they all picked different color combos as well.
Which card do you like better?

The Waiting is over!

So excited I had to pop on and share with you... I got my new catalogue yesterday... jealous?!  It's so unbelievably wonderful, I don't know where to begin.  At first I was devistated by the "color renovation"... but when I got my hands on the catalogue, I just sat in awe!
For starters, prices have gone DOWN, which almost never happens (okay, for Canadians... I heard the prices went up almost 25% for Americans... not quite as fun!  LOVE being Canadian:) ) the new images are amazing, and the layout for the catalogue is just increadible!  All of the stamp images that coordinate with punches are outlined in color, so that you don't have to guess what fits, the punches are all new, and don't even get me started on the DSP (Designer Series Paper...) GORGEOUS!
Do you want to get your hand on this beautiful new catalogue? It's super easy... join a stamp club (New Clubs starting in August!) and get one FREE... or come to my new catalogue Open House on July 3rd... and put in an order for at least $25 to get one free!
There will be TONS of door prizes, a free make and take (a card you will make and take home), demonstrations, and retired stuff for sale! You don't want to miss it, so mark your calenders now!
Open from 1 - 4 (current club members get in at 12:30!)
To be eligible for door prizes:

ONE ticket for rsvp'ing
ONE ticket for bringing a friend
ONE ticket for commenting on this post!
FIVE tickets for EVERY $25 you spend
FIVE tickets for signing up for monthly club
ARMS LENGTH of tickets (your arm or mine!) for putting in an online order between now and the open house (any amount: website is http://fortheheartofstampin.stampinup.net)
you don't want to miss it..rsvp now at yummy_starbucks@yahoo.ca!