My Stamp Habit

Have you heard??

2011-10-09T11:20:00.004-04:00

Stampin' Up! has really outdone themselves this month! If you've ever thought about becoming a demonstrator, October is the month to do it. When you join the Stampin' Up! family by October 31st, you'll get a FREE BIG SHOT or your choice of $100 worth of Stampin’ Up! products!!

The starter kit is already a great value - you receive more than $345 worth of products and supplies for only $175. And now it's even better!

I love what I do. How about you?

~~Marilyn~~

Glittery Goodness

2011-08-28T11:25:00.004-04:00

I am so glad that Stampin' Up! is offering another color of glimmer paper in the new Holiday Mini Catalog! It's so incredibly sparkling, adding a lot of shimmer to your projects! The photo does not any justice to the glistening of the snowball or the shimmer highlighting Frosty's body but this card is so glittery. Dazzling Details is a new product in the mini catalog too - it's an iridescent glitter glue :-)

Tip: add a little extra dimension to your cards by layering the same color cardstock, raised with stampin' dimensionals, on your cardbase. Simple but effective!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Snow Much Fun
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Stazon Black, Poppy Parade, Basic Grey, Pumpkin Pie
Accesories: aquapainter, Basic Black striped grosgrain ribbon, Silver glimmer paper, Dazzling Details, 1/4" circle punch

Give Thanks

2011-08-28T11:14:00.002-04:00

I have another card to share featuring the new Gently Falling stamp set from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog. I absolutely LOVE this set and will probably be using it alot! It coordinates so well with the new Spice Cake designer series paper, making it easy to create fabulous projects!

I softened the leaf a bit by stamping off once on scrap paper before stamping on the cardstock. This is a great way to get more bang for your buck with a single stamp pad. Sponging around all of the edges of cardstock and designer series paper also softens the look. The sentiment is from a retired stamp set, but I just love it and couldn't resist using it!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Gently Falling, Holiday Best (retired)
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede
Accessories: Spice Cake designer series paper, sponges, stampin' dimensionals

Holiday Mini Sneak Peek

2011-08-25T20:52:00.004-04:00

Stampin' Up! has really stepped it up with the new products in the Holiday Mini Catalog that debuts on September 1st. 40+ pages filled with fun new stamp sets and designer series paper, and lots of fabulous new accessories like buttons, fabrics, ribbon, mini jingle bells, glimmer paper and dazzling details (think stickles).

So let's start with a sneak peek at a Fall-themed stamp set, Gently Falling. The color combination comes from the new Spice Cake designer series paper.

I'll have more samples so be sure to check back. Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Gently Falling, Word Play
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede, Pool Party, More Mustard
Accessories: Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, dotted scallop ribbon punch, color spritzer, stampin' dimensionals

Shoebox Swap Shares

2011-08-24T21:51:00.005-04:00

I have some more projects to share from the shoebox swap this past weekend with my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators. This first card was designed by Kelly Skidmore and the color combination is fabulous - Lucky Limeade (new in-color) and Chocolate Chip.

The new Holiday Mini Catalog that debuts on September 1st has so many fabulous new products. You are going to LOVE the new Stocking Builder punch! Not only does it coordinate with the Stitched Stockings stamp set, it's works wonderfully with the silver glimmer paper! This Christmas card was designed by my upline, Sherrie Thomas.

To show you how fabulously sparkly the glimmer paper is, here's a close-up of the stocking:

You can now see why I love getting together with my stampin' sisters! We all love to share our ideas and I always come away from the meetings re-energized. If you want to be a part of a supportive network of talented paper crafters, consider becoming a demonstrator. I just celebrated my 6th anniversary and still love it as much as I did when I started.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{thank you}}
Stamps: Creative Elements, Perfectly Penned
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, Big Shot, Houndstooth embossing folder, stampin' dimensionals

{{merry christmas}}
Stamps: Stitched Stockings, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Garden Green, Early Espresso, Real Red
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: stocking builder punch, 2-3/8" scallop circle punch, modern label punch, Holly Beery Bouquet designer series paper, stampin' dimensionals

Stamp-a-Thon

2011-08-21T21:49:00.004-04:00

What a fun afternoon! My upline held her annual Stamp-a-Thon for her downline complete with a potluck and a shoebox swap. We were blessed to have some "distant relatives" come from 2 hours away to participate - a shout out to Betty's Kentucky Contingency! :-)

Here is my contribution to the swap featuring new stamp sets, Best Friends Forever (got it free for attending convention!) and Friendly Phrases. I also used the beautiful new designer series paper from the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog called Spice Cake.

For some reason, my camera doesn't want to be truthful with the cardstock colors. The strip of cardstock above the DSP is Early Espresso even though it looks black and the bright blue at the bottom is actually the soft Pool Party in-color.

I'll have some more projects to share from our get together so be sure to check back.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Best Friends Forever, Friendly Phrases
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: scallop border punch, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, Spice Cake designer series paper, stampin' dimensionals

Free DSP!

2011-08-05T22:06:00.003-04:00

Have you heard?? Stampin' Up! is offering a special promotion on designer series paper this month: buy 3 packages of basic DSP and get 1 free - a $10.95 value! Choose from any of the following patterns on pages 184-186 of the Idea Book & Catalog:

122343 Nautical Expedition
122367 Paisley Petals
122357 Beau Château
122354 Pocketful of Posies
122355 Domestic Goddess
124339 Just Add Cake
122351 Frightful Sight
122352 Timeless Portrait
122350 Berry Blossoms
122342 Beyond the Garden
122359 Well Worn
122347 Nursery Nest
122349 Letters to Santa
122348 Big Top Birthday

Stampin' Up! offers a Designer Series Paper for every crafting occasion, every crafting project, and every creative mood so stock up today!

~~Marilyn~~

Punch It Up - Part 2

2011-07-31T11:31:00.002-04:00

More unsanctioned punch usage from my $5 or Free classes this past weekend! Let's start with the fun new Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch (#122464). It's made to make - of course - flowers like this:

But with a few snips, the flower becomes an adorable bow to dress up any present!

Cute huh??

Now what about the extra large tag punch (#119866)?

Think it can only be used for layering tags? No way! Try flipping it upside down, adding a punched handle and you get a stinkin' cute coffee mug!

So have I convinced you to get out your punches and use your creativity? I sure hope so!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{new baby}}
Stamps: Button Buddies, Friendly Phrases
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, stampin' dimensionals

{{just because}}
Stamps: It's Your Day
Cardstock: Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Just Add Cake designer series paper, extra large tag punch, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

{{magnificent}}
Stamps: Bold Blossom, Perfect Words
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch, rhinestones, Daffodil Delight satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

{{happy day}}
Stamps: Perfect Words
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo
Accessories: Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch, Flirtatious designer series paper, Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Punch It Up - Part 1

2011-07-31T11:00:00.005-04:00

Hello! Is anyone still out there visiting my blog? Sorry for the long dry spell, but July was a crazy busy month. Summer camp for Evan, Stampin' Up! convention (my first!) for me, a nasty upper respiratory infection (still not 100% back yet). I also had 2 classes, my Big Shot club meeting and a group Stampin' Up! garage sale. But now I have some great projects to share!

My class this month was all about punches and using them in "unsanctioned" ways. I started with the ornament punch which is used for, you guessed it, ornaments. Like this:

A nice, simple, easy-t0-mass-produce Christmas card. But if you're like me, you want several ways to use a product. So how about turning the ornament into a fish?

Cute, isn't he?? The ornament punch becomes his body. The five petal flower punch becomes his fins, and his eyes are made with layered circles. I don't know if you can really see the bubbles well in the photo, so here's a close up of layered circles for another purpose.How's that for some "thinking outside the box"? So if you didn't buy the ornament punch (#119847) because you thought it was only for Christmas, think again!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for two more "unsanctioned" uses for punches! Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{merry christmas}}
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Real Red
Accessories: ornament punch, stampin' dimensionals

{{thinking of you}}
Stamps: Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point
Accessories: ornament punch, five petal flower punch, 1/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, 2-1/2" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

More class samples

2011-06-30T22:37:00.003-04:00

I have the last two cards from my Stamp-a-Stack classes to share. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{thinking of you}}
Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Best Dad Ever
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: clear embossing powder, heat tool, stampin' dimensionals

{{happy birthday}}
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede
Accessories: Elegant Soiree designer series paper, 1-3/4" circle punch, extra large scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

More last chances

2011-06-28T22:42:00.004-04:00

I'm back with some more cards from my All Occasion Stamp-a-Stacks this month. They showcase some of the soon-to-be retired stamps when the new Idea Book & Catalog debuts later this week.

This first card was inspired by a one I received in a local swap. I switched things up by changing the colors - inspired by the fabulous color coach and done!

And this card is perfect for so many occasions - birthday, good luck, congratulations...
I tried to keep it gender neutral so it's very versatile.

I think this rocker is one stamp that I won't be parting with when it retires on July 1st. It's definitely a keeper so get yours before it's gone!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{rock}}
Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Extreme Elements
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand
Accessories: postage stamp punch, rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals

{{thanks}}
Stamps: Pick a Petal, Thanks Kindly
Cardstock: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso
Accessories: Real Red satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Countdown to the new catalog

2011-06-25T22:47:00.004-04:00

Sorry folks that I've been MIA. What can I say? It's just been busy. But I have some projects to share over the next few days! I had All Occasion Stamp-a-Stack classes this month featuring some of the retiring stamp sets. Don't forget to grab them before they're gone for good! We're only a few days away from the new Idea Book & Catalog and then you'll be able to see all the new goodies that Stampin' Up! has in store!!

The first card is appropriate for a wedding, shower, anniversary or general congratulations. The champagne glasses are nice and sparkly and adds some bling. Stay tuned for more stamp-a-stack cards!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Cheers to You
Cardstock: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Basic Black
Ink: Stazon Black, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, 2-way glue pen, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, heat tool, Basic Black grosgrain ribbon, 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch

Anchors Away!

2011-06-13T22:28:00.004-04:00

Hiddy ho! Once again, I've fallen behind on blogging. It's been a busy month, adjusting to my son's summer schedule, starting up a Big Shot Club and prepping for a class this weekend! But I have a card to share featuring new products from the Summer Mini Catalog.

I hear so many people say that masculine cards are challenging but the "Sail Away" stamp set offers a nice option. I stamped the image with Stazon ink on neutral cardstock and colored it in using a blender pen. Then I tore one corner of the cardstock and sponged the edges. Creating a distressed background was easy with the soon-to-be-retired "Sanded" stamp. A sentiment (from "Best Dad Ever" set) at the bottom and some string tied around the top and done!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Sail Away, Best Dad Ever, Sanded
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Stazon Black, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: blender pen, silver brads, paper piercer, sponges, string

Sail Away

2011-06-05T07:27:00.000-04:00

Today's card was made for a neighbor who graduated high school last weekend. I opted not to go the school colors route (my usual "go to") and opted for a more mature approach.

I stamped the boat image once on Baja Breeze, once on Whisper White and once on Real Red. I trimmed the sails and flag and attached to the Baja Breeze panel. Then I used a Baja Breeze marker on the boat and waves to highlight them a bit. Baker's twine is great for adding some extra dimension to your project without adding bulk. It's a bit hard to tell in the picture, but I sponged all the edges to soften them up.

The inside (which I forgot to photograph) had a sentiment from the Word Play set ("Go confidently in the direction of your dreams") perfect for graduations!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Sail Away
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon black, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Baja Breeze
Accessories: white baker's twine, sponges, stampin' dimensionals

Last minute teacher gifts

2011-06-04T16:08:00.004-04:00

What does one do when one realizes it's the night before the last day of school and nothing has been done about teacher gifts?? Gift cards from Cincinnati's finest, Graeter's ice cream, to the rescue! And when one remembers the awesome ice cream cone creations made with punches, it's a fabulous rescue!

Graeter's, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure to indulge, is known for their Raspberry Chip ice cream. To recreate this notoriously wonderful flavor, I used some Rich Razzleberry cardstock, punched out the scoop of ice cream with the Build a Cupcake punch, stamped some chocolate chips with the retired Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and fashioned a cone with a star punch trimmed and run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder. Looks good enough to eat! Here's a close-up of the ice cream cone:
Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Really Retro
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist, Naturals White
Ink: Basic Black, Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, large star punch, word window punch, 2-3/4" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

Bright and Bold

2011-06-01T18:00:00.001-04:00

Ready for another card made from the fabulous new products in the Summer Mini Catalog?? Pacific Point is a wonderfully bold blue and really packs a punch with the new Fabulous Florets stamp set.

If you like bright and bold, the new Beyond the Garden designer series paper will be right up your alley! The sheet I used was just Pacific Point and Whisper White on it, but the pack includes sheets with Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.

I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but the flower bloom jumps off the card. I stamped the image, cut it out and applied it with dimensionals - a very simple way to add some oomph!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Bold Blossom
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz stitched poly ribbon, word window punch, modern label punch, stampin' dimensionals

Postage Punch

2011-05-31T18:30:00.000-04:00

Have you seen the new postage punch in the Summer Mini Catalog?? I used it with designer series paper to create the background and then again with a stamp to create the main image.

Fun, huh?? If you're wondering about the designer series paper, it's a sneak peek from the new Idea Book & Catalog that debuts on July 1st! Stampin' Up! will release it's list of retiring products tomorrow and then we're on a countdown to the new catalog. So don't miss out on any products that will retire - you can order them through June 30th and then they're gone for good!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Dreams du Jour, A Word for You
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist
Accessories: Paisley Petals designer series paper, postage stamp punch, small oval punch, Marina Mist satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Remember...

2011-05-30T21:11:00.002-04:00

Remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country and our freedom.

Happy Memorial Day!

Here's my son carrying a garrison flag in our town's Memorial Day parade with his Boy Scout troop:

I'll be back tomorrow with a brand new project! :-) Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Birthday presents

2011-05-24T22:55:00.003-04:00

I love the new triple layer punches in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog and so do my customers! They are the most popular new product and everyone wants them. There are three options in one punch - a great investment at $23.95. But if you think the Blossom Bouquet punch only makes flowers, think again! Here's one idea:

How cute are these "bows"?? And the fun color combination came straight from the fabulous Color Coach!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: On Your birthday
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Baja Breeze seam binding, Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch, word window punch, modern label punch, Love Letter designer series paper, stampin' dimensionals

Big Fun with the Big Shot!

2011-05-15T18:52:00.003-04:00

This month, my $5 or Free class focused on the Big Shot. Here are a couple of the projects we did:

Using the Fancy Favor die and designer series paper, we made these cute bags that would be perfect for a baby or bridal shower. For reference: you can make 2 of these per sheet of 12x12 paper.

And then we made this adorable butterfly pin using fun foam with the Big Shot! Just attach them together with a rhinestone brad and a pin-back. How simple is that??

I'll be offering another $5 or Free class in July. Either pay the $5 class fee or place a $30+ order and get the class for free!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stampin' Birthday Party

2011-05-13T22:45:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I did a girls birthday party for a friend's daughter. The birthday girl and her friends wanted to make some stamped goodies and I modeled the projects after some I did a couple years ago. This time, the colors of choice were blue, green and purple so we used Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry - what a fun combination! Here's are the projects that Grace and her friends made:

Sorry for the blurry photo - just couldn't get a nice crisp shot - but it's enough to give you the idea. The girls squealed with each project reveal - they made me smile A LOT! They made their own goody bag and then filled it with party favors they made themselves - 3x3 note cards, tic tac holder, mini picture clip and a composition book.

When they were done, they took a group picture of everyone holding her party favor and wanted me in the picture with them! And all the girls gave me big hugs! I tell you - it just warmed my heart to see how appreciative they were! Thanks to Grace and all her wonderful, sweet friends for making my day :-)

Summer Mini Catalog

2011-05-10T22:37:00.000-04:00

My stamp club members had fun with some new products from the Summer Mini Catalog that debuted this month. Here are two cards they made:

This new embossing folder was one of the first things on my wish list! Adding dimension to your projects is so so simple with embossing folders and the Big Shot.

This card came right out of the mini catalog. I made a few minor adjustments and voila! I loved the color combo and this new triple layer punch is fabulous!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{birthday}}
Stamps: Bold Blossom
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Blossom Bouquet triple layer punch, decorative label punch, eyelet border punch, Big Shot, Flower Garden embossing folder, stampin’ dimensionals

{{thank you}}
Stamps: Something to Celebrate
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Big Shot, Flower Garden embossing folder, scallop edge border punch, Daffodil Delight satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Chocolate Bunnies

2011-04-19T22:19:00.002-04:00

My nieces and nephew are in for a treat when they open their Easter cards this year! I found the cutest bunnies created from punches by fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator Jen Sannes.

I hope they love 'em! :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Something to Celebrate
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: wide oval punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, 2-3/4" circle punch, small oval punch, paper daisies, stampin' dimensionals

Ribbon flowers

2011-04-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

I shared my Father's Day card from a local swap, and now I'd like to share a Mother's Day card from that same swap. It was designed by Kelly Skidmore and was so elegant and beautiful!

Kelly taught us how to make these incredible vintage-y flowers from wide grosgrain ribbon. I bet you'd like to see the flowers up close, right?!

Isn't that beautiful?? And the "leaves" were made from satin ribbon. This card is just breathtaking!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Swap Share

2011-04-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today's card is one that I made for a recent swap. The theme was Mother's/Father's Day. I'm always struggling for masculine cards that aren't hunting or sports related. As a demonstrator, I get to see the new products before they're unveiled to the general public and I was thrilled to find a new masculine stamp set in the upcoming Summer Mini Catalog!

My card came together quite quickly. I used markers to ink the ties (there are actually five ties on the stamp), punched out the image, and stamped the sentiment on a scrap of cardstock. The card still needed a little something more, so I used my beloved Big Shot and the square lattice embossing folder.

I used the "best dad ever" sentiment for my swap card so that people could then choose to use it for Father's Day or they could use it for a birthday card instead.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Best Dad Ever
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy, Wild Wasabi, Naturals White
Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, 2-3/8" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

Easter projects

2011-04-14T22:27:00.003-04:00

Easter cards were the focus in my stamp club this month. The first card featured Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink . With an applicator similar to nail polish, we colored in the blossoms to add some subtle shimmer. A quick and easy card - it's a great one for mass production. And wouldn't this be great for Mother's Day too??

The second card was a big hit with the yummy looking chocolate bunny. Shame on me though! I had forgotten that the stamp was retired so I unnecessarily tempted my club ladies! Sorry everyone :-) The Easter egg was created by using the wide oval punch with designer series paper - easy peasy! And lastly, the "grass" was created using just the top portion of the scallop envelope Big Shot die.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Chocolate Bunny (retired), Something to Celebrate
Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Envelope die, wide oval punch, Playdate designer series paper, clear embossing powder, heat tool, stamping dimensionals

Summer Mini Sneak Peek!

2011-04-09T21:06:00.003-04:00

Stampin' Up!'s Summer Mini Catalog is coming soon! Starting May 1st, you'll be able to enjoy some fabulous new stamps and accessories. Today I have a sneak peek for you :-) It's a card from my all-occasion stamp-a-stack class this weekend.

The beautiful "On the Grow" stamp set has 2 images perfect for watercoloring in addition to 2 sentiments. I chose this glass jar with flowers to make a sympathy card. Watercoloring is easy when you use Stazon ink on watercolor paper. We picked up ink from the lid of a stamp pad and colored the image with an aquapainter.

I'll have some more stamp-a-stack projects to share with you as well as some additional sneak peeks so be sure to check back :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: On the Grow
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, watercolor paper
Ink: Stazon Black, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz poly-stitched ribbon, aquapainter, scallop border punch, stampin' dimensionals

Free MDS Update!

2011-04-02T09:27:00.003-04:00

A FREE update is now available for all My Digital Studio users with the packaged DVD software. The update provides you with new functionality and several new options for print products. Find the free update on MyDigitalStudio.net in the Updates section, and update your software for free today!

You’ll also want to get your hands on the latest downloads of fresh and irresistible digital designs to add to your My Digital Studio collection. Choose from a variety of exclusive artwork and styles for your next project. Order now by visiting my website and clicking on "shop now"!

Blissful Butterfly

2011-03-28T21:15:00.003-04:00

When my design mojo is just not flowing, I cruise the internet looking for inspiration. And thanks to the fabulous Julie Davison, I found a CASE-able perfect for my stamp-a-stack!

Cherry Cobbler is at the top of my list of favorite colors - it's such a rich, deep red. It's so striking with paired with black. Another favorite on this card is the Sale-a-Bration stamp set, Bliss (free with a $50 order placed by March 31st).

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bliss, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Sahara Sand, Basic Black
Accessories: First Edition designer series paper, 1-3/4" circle punch

Daisy Thanks

2011-03-26T22:38:00.004-04:00

I'm back with another card from a stamp-a-stack over the weekend. It's a little hard to tell from the photo, but the color combo is bright and cheerful. I based it on the Ice Cream Parlor designer series paper, another Sale-a-Bration freebie with a $50 order!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Thanks Kindly
Cardstock: Old Olive, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Accessories: Ice Cream Parlor designer series paper, scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals

Birthday Flowers

2011-03-26T16:57:00.002-04:00

I had a great time this morning at a private stamp-a-stack. It's so much fun to see people get excited about my cards, and helping new stampers is especially enjoyable for me! The girls made 10 cards -2 of 5 designs - and personalized their envelopes as well. I'll be sharing my projects over the next few days, so be sure to check back!

The first card features a very girly color combo: Regal Rose and Pear Pizzazz. The floral images are from a Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Sweet Summer (FREE with a $50 order!). Using my favorite embossing folder, Vintage Wallpaper, adds some elegant dimension to the card. While it was designed as a birthday card, it could easily become a thinking of you or get well or thank you card.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Sweet Summer, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Pear Pizzazz stitched-poly ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Being You

2011-03-13T19:53:00.005-04:00

Today's card features a fun color combination straight from the Color Coach (121620, $14.95): Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise. I don't know that I would have put these colors together, but they create such a funky vibe!

The "Bold Blossom" stamp set (123232 wood-mount $12.95 or 122232 clear-mount $9.95) in the Occasions Mini Catalog has nice, simple images. They're perfect for so many occasions...birthday, thanks, thinking of you, get well, etc. So I can see it becoming my "go to" set very often!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bold Blossom
Cardstock: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, rhinestone brads, stampin' dimensionals

Inlaid Embossing

2011-03-09T22:32:00.003-05:00

My stamp club ladies had a ton of fun this month learning the inlaid embossing technique! :-)

Our first card featured the Square Lattice embossing folder which makes your cardstock look almost like fabric!

On our second card, the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder creates a very different look.

Just a quick tip: when you're do this technique, embossing folders with a tight pattern work best.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{thinking of you}}
Stamps: Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Daisies #2 die, word window punch, modern label punch, stampin' dimensionals

{{thank you}}
Stamps: Bold Blossom
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Beautiful Butterfly die, Springtime Vintage designer series paper, Baja Breeze seam binding, wide oval punch

Blissful

2011-03-09T21:46:00.003-05:00

I'm back with another card featuring the fabulous Sale-a-Bration "Bliss" stamp set. The flourish image is perfect for creating a custom background.

I love the clean, fresh color combo of Pear Pizzazz and Tempting Turquoise! To soften the flourish image on the panel, I stamped it off once on scrap paper. Then the sentiment stamped over it didn't compete with the full intensity of the Pear Pizzazz.

I have some fun projects to share from my stamp club, so be sure to check back :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bliss, Because I Care
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz stitched poly ribbon, rhinestone jewels, stampin' dimensionals

C'mon Spring!!

2011-03-07T21:55:00.003-05:00

So, is Spring here yet?? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm about done with Old Man Winter. To try to combat the Spring-will-never-get-here blues, I've created some bright and cheery projects. Here's the first one:

I love the flourish image from the Sale-a-Bration "Bliss" stamp set! It's such a versatile image that can be used for so many occasions. And the best part is that you can earn it for free through the end of March. :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bliss, Because I Care
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: sticky strip, glass glitter, eyelet border punch, stampin' dimensionals

All Things Bling

2011-03-03T19:50:00.003-05:00

Last month I held my first "$5 or Free" class and it was a big hit! The theme for the projects was "All Things Bling" and featured a variety of products that add some sparkle. The first project showcased how fabulous Stampin' Up!'s rhinestone jewels are. This very simple card was jazzed up with some sparkle by using these self-adhesive rhinestones.

One of my favorite new products is the glimmer paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I sure hope that Stampin' Up! adds this super-sparkly stuff in more colors when the big Idea Book & Catalog comes out this summer! What's so fabulous about this product is that it takes just a small bit to add so much to your projects! Unfortunately, the picture does do the sparkling cherry the justice it deserves :-)

And lastly, using shimmer paint directly on a stamp creates a stunning effect. A simple layering of a monogram over the shimmer image and some crochet trim finishes it off perfectly!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{thinking of you}}
Stamps: Bold Blossom, Circle Circus, Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: scallop edge border, rhinestone jewels, stampin' dimensionals

{{cherry on top}}
Stamps: A Word for You
Cardstock: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: build a cupcake punch, scallop circle punch, wide oval punch, glimmer paper, Big Shot, perfect polka dots embossing folder, stampin' dimensionals

{{monogram}}
Stamps: Bliss, Lovely Letters Alphabet
Cardstock: Bashful Blue
Ink: shimmer paint, Night of Navy
Accessories: Chantilly crochet trim, sponge dauber

Digital fun

2011-02-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

For my stamp club this month, we played around with the fun and fabulous My Digital Studio, Stampin' Up!'s digital design software. In addition to creating scrapbooks, cards, calendars and more, it's great for creating hybrid projects. The club projects featured some elements created in My Digital Studio (#118108, $79.95) with some traditional card making supplies.

The images for both cards were created in My Digital studio, cut or punched, and then embellished. Adding ribbon, jewels and punched images help complete the hybrid process.

See all that My Digital Studio can do here.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Remember me?

2011-02-22T20:05:00.004-05:00

This month has been a big 'ol blur for me. My husband and I took our first cruise and thoroughly enjoyed spending what's typically a cold and yucky time of the year in the South Caribbean! Let me tell you, it's an absolutely fabulous place to be in February. But between getting ready for the trip and then jumping back into our crazy day-to-day schedule, I just haven't had the time for posting. But now I have some great projects to share with you!

Today's card reminds me of a warm, comforting quilt. Reminiscent of the 1930s, Springtime Vintage designer series paper (#121782, $9.95) is perfect for all your vintage projects.

Did you also notice the great new embossing folder I used? The Framed Tulips (#121809, $7.95) folder is a simple way to create some wonderful borders for all of your projects!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Thanks Kindly
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Big Shot, framed tulips embossing folder, crochet trim, Springtime Vintage designer series paper

Sweet Sarah

2011-01-29T18:17:00.005-05:00

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!!!

2011-01-25T06:00:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-24T06:45:00.001-05:00

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!

2011-01-23T06:45:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-22T06:45:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-21T06:45:00.000-05:00

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

2011-01-20T13:36:00.004-05:00

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!

2011-01-19T22:18:00.005-05:00

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

2011-01-17T16:22:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-16T21:41:00.005-05:00

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

2011-01-14T22:42:00.004-05:00

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

2011-01-12T22:57:00.007-05:00

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

2011-01-11T22:00:00.002-05:00

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

2011-01-09T22:16:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-09T16:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-01-04T22:18:00.002-05:00

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

2011-01-03T20:23:00.003-05:00

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

2011-01-02T09:35:00.003-05:00

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

Sparkle sparkle!

2010-12-28T21:36:00.002-05:00

Oh how I wish you could see how glittery this card is!! The cupcake wrapper and candle simply sparkle with Dazzling Diamonds! And when paired with a fun and fabulous color combo - Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo - this will be sure to bring a smile to my sister-in-law's face whose birthday is next week! I created some added dimension to the cupcake by stamping the image on Daffodil Delight cardstock, cutting out the icing and attaching it to the original image. The confetti on the has some sparkle as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Crazy for Cupcakes
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Stazon Black
Accessories: glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, stampin' dimensionals

Good Together

2010-12-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Stampin' Up!'s "Filled with Love" promotion is in full swing and, until January 3rd, you can get some FREE buttons when you purchase a bundle that includes the Filled with Love stamp set and Love Patterns designer series paper. You can place your order on my website and start creating beautiful Valentine or anniversary cards right away!

Here's a sample that features the stamp set and buttons:

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Filled with Love
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Basic Black
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Full Heart punch, scallop edge border punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, sponges, Bitty Buttons, linen thread, stampin' dimensionals

Bright Birthday

2010-12-26T10:35:00.000-05:00

As much as I love the holidays, I'm ready to move on to non-Christmas cards. So I'm starting out with a bright beauty created in My Digital Studio...

I'm still have a lot to learn about this fabulous digital paper crafting software but it's fun playing around and seeing everything that can be done! If you'd like to see more, check out MyDigitalStudio.net.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Christmas Wishes

2010-12-25T18:46:00.004-05:00

~~Marilyn~~

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-24T21:34:00.002-05:00

...and I have one more Christmas project to share! This one was a gift I received from my friend and blog-stalker Diana!

Stinkin' adorable, isn't it?!? I love the bright red-stitched and gingerbread ribbons - so festive!

I hope those of you with little ones are enjoying the anticipation of Christmas morning and hope that they will let you sleep in 'til a decent hour!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Season's Greetings

2010-12-23T20:21:00.002-05:00

I have another project to share today...this time it's a Christmas card I received from my friend Alice that features a handmade crocheted wreath!

Isn't it fabulous? :-) It's a little hard to see in the picture, but there are sparkly berries on the wreath and on the sentiment. So beautiful! Tomorrow, I'll be sharing one last Christmas project so please check back!

~~Marilyn~~

Holly Jolly Christmas

2010-12-22T23:35:00.003-05:00

I have received some great Christmas gifts this year and am very excited to show them off!

Isn't this totally FABULOUS?? This was a gift from my wonderful downline Jaime. It looks so beautiful sitting on my mantle. :-)

Stop by tomorrow and I'll have another gift to share...

~~Marilyn~~

Vintage Birthday

2010-12-16T18:33:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned yesterday, Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalog debuts on January 4th and there are so many fun new products! Five new suites - collections of products designed to coordinate together - with very distinctive looks await you. Today's card features designer series paper from the Springtime Vintage Suite...reminiscent of the 1930s.

My color combination came straight from new Springtime Vintage designers series paper...River Rock, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla. Paired with some crochet trim from the Idea Book & Catalog, this card has a very vintage vibe.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Just Believe
Cardstock: River Rock, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Springtime Vintage designer series paper, decorative label punch, crochet trim, eyelet border punch, stampin' dimensionals

Warm my heart

2010-12-16T09:38:00.004-05:00

Did you know that Valentine's Day is the second biggest holiday for sending cards? Stampin' Up! is offering a great promotion starting tomorrow, December 17. When you purchase a special bundle that includes the Filled With Love stamp set (p. 43 of the current Holiday Mini Catalog) and an exclusive package of designer series paper, you will receive a free pack of Bitty Buttons, a $4.95 value! The bundle is $32.90 for wood-mount or $26.90 for the clear-mount option.

Here's a sample I created with this special bundle.

Did you notice that fabulous sparkly heart?! In the new Occasions Mini Catalog that debuts on January 4th, you can get Stampin' Up!'s new Glimmer Paper. The glitter on this paper won't brush off or create a mess so you can add some bling to your projects without any clean-up!

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, Whisper White satin ribbon, heart punch, Red Glimmer Paper, stampin' dimensionals

Occasions Sneak Peek

2010-12-13T21:39:00.003-05:00

And now here's something I hope you'll really like... Ok, you can just ignore my obscure Bullwinkle reference :-) But seriously, who doesn't like a sneak peek at new Stampin' Up! products? In the new Occasions Mini Catalog that debuts on January 4th, there is a fun new stamp set called "Bring on the Cake" and it's perfect for all your birthday card needs. Lots of great options from elegant to whimsical to traditional. Also new in the catalog are seam bindings in new colors..Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz and Rose Red.

There are so many fabulous new products in store, so be sure to check back from some more sneak peeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Lines embossing folder, scallop edge border punch, Baja Breeze seam binding, stampin' dimensionals

Handmade Holiday Gifts

2010-12-12T17:47:00.006-05:00

Today I'm making up for lost time....and a lack of posts. I have three projects to share!

The first one is a gift I made for my fabulous upline. I created the center panel with My Digital Studio using a quote from Gandhi that I love:

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony."

I also used some new designer series paper that will be available starting December 17th as part of a bundle promotion. And then a little satin ribbon and done!

The second project is one that I made for a gift exchange with others in my upline's group. After a nice lunch together, we got to select a handmade gift. I used a fun and whimsical color combination with butterflies from the Beautiful Wings embosslit. In a few cranks of the Big Shot handle, you get five gorgeous butterflies - all embossed and die-cut and ready to use. You can't tell from the photo, but I jazzed up the the butterflies with some smooch spritz and rhinestone jewels.

And this was the gift that I got and WOW is it beautiful! It's a large canvas painted Cherry Cobbler (one of my new favorite colors!) with gorgeous ribbons and brads creating a one-of-a-kind memo board. Am I lucky, or what?? It was created by a super-creative demonstrator, Mary Knabe who, unfortunately for you, doesn't have a blog. She continuously blows me away with her fabulous projects so I'm thrilled to have a Mary-original in my hands!

If you're looking to make a gift this holiday season for someone special, I hope you found some inspiration in today's projects. Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{pink frame}}
Stamps: none
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: none
Accessories: My Digital Studio, Love Patterns designer series paper, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon

{{butterfly frame}}
Stamps: Whimsical Words (retired)
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Pear Pizazz, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo
Accessories: Vanilla Shimmer smooch spritz, basic rhinestones, Big Shot, Scallop Square die, Beautiful Wings embosslit, stampin' dimensionals

Gift Exchange

2010-12-03T22:04:00.004-05:00

Today, I participated in a gift exchange and made the cutest project (so modest, I know!!): a set of cards in a little purse. I'm happy to report that it was a big hit!!

Here's the purse closed:

Inside, I made 6 cards with the same design, but 3 different occasions. I absolutely adore the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - it adds so much elegance to any project!

And here's a close-up so you can see that I also embossed the flaps on the envelopes!

I had to pull out a retired Sale-a-Bration stamp set for the sentiments because I wanted one that had 3 greetings that would all fit in the tag!

Speaking of Sale-a-Bration, next year's promotion will run January 25 through March 31 and you're going to LOVE the free products you can earn! :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Whimsical Words
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Love Letter designer series paper, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Lots of Tags sizzlet, Decorative Label punch, stampin' dimensionals

More Shoebox Share

2010-11-28T21:40:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I have some projects to share from a recent shoebox swap. The first is a card created by Edith Hulsmann that used the Big Shot and an embossing folder to create a one-of-a-kind wreath. Fabulous!!

The next one is a gift card holder created by Susi Brunk. The Cherry Cobbler portion slides out, opens and holds a standard gift card.

And the last one was created by my upline Sherrie Thomas and features the fun treat cups to simulate a snow globe.

I hope you liked the projects as much as I did! Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Shoebox Swap Share

2010-11-22T23:03:00.003-05:00

My upline hosted a shoebox swap on Sunday and I loved all the projects we made! I'll be sharing them over the next few days. To start it off, I'm sharing my project which features new fabric offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog.

And the next card is from fellow demonstrator Charissa May-Riley and features a Level 1 hostess set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

Thanks for stopping by and check back in for some more shares in the coming days!

~~Marilyn~~

Gearing up for the holidays...

2010-11-14T22:25:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm certainly in Christmas mode - at least in my cardmaking, that is! I have vowed to be better prepared this holiday season and not be scrambling to pull together my Christmas cards. I'm happy to report that I'm about half-way done!

I have a new card to share, featuring the wonderful ala carte Dasher stamp. If you haven't heard or seen, Stampin' Up! has a line of single stamps all for under $10 each! There are 16 in the Idea Book & Catalog and 3 in the current Holiday Mini Catalog so check them out!!

To create the scallop flower behind Dasher, I simply used the Fancy Flower punch and trimmed off pairs of petals that are placed around the circle's edge. It's a great way to get more mileage from that punch :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Dasher, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: scallop edge border punch, fancy flower punch, 2-1/2" circle punch, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Jolly Holiday designer series paper, stampin' dimensionals

Friday Frenzy!

2010-11-12T22:04:00.002-05:00

Whew, it's been a while since I've blogged. As much as I love this time of year and the changing of the seasons, my allergies have been in high gear for far too long! I've been chilling out most of the day trying to lay low so I can finally kick these allergies. So since I've been hanging out in the bedroom tonight, I thought I'd take part of a sketch challenge. While blog surfing, I came across the Sketch Frenzy Friday and used My Digital Studio to create my project. Let's see if I can upload it...

Thanks for stopping by! I hope to be back to my normal blogging schedule soon :-)

~~Marilyn~~

Christmas card inspiration, part two

2010-10-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

As promised, I have some more holiday cards! Today I'm sharing two more cards from my stamp-a-stack this weekend.

It's a little hard to tell in the photo but this card is so sparkly! Instead of coloring in the letters, we used a glue pen and dazzling diamonds. And instead of coloring in the Christmas tree, we stamped the image on designer series paper, cut it out and placed it over the stamped panel. Fun, huh??

The second card is pretty rare for me - a one-layer card! I just never get tired of the "Lovely as a Tree" stamp set and it was perfect for this one. The wide striped grosgrain ribbon is so elegant, although it's a bit bulky so this is better as a hand-delivered card vs. one that is mailed.

I still have more Christmas cards to share so check back soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{happy holidays}}
Stamps: Big on Christmas
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Black Stazon
Accessories: Jolly Holiday designer series paper, dotted scallop ribbon punch, glue pen, dazzling diamonds

{{peace on earth}}
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive, Basic Black
Accessories: Old Olive striped grosgrain ribbon

Christmas card inspiration

2010-10-24T16:04:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy weekend...stamp-a-stack class on Friday night and this afternoon and a big group stamp camp yesterday. Lots of Christmas cards have been made over the last few days! I'll be sharing some of the cards over the next few days, so sit back and enjoy. I hope you're inspired!

Today's first card is from my stamp-a-stack and features a non-traditional Christmas color combination - Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery and Early Espresso. I've noticed a lot of brightly colored Christmas decorations hitting the store shelves and thought I'd give it a try for a fun, whimsical holiday card.

My second stamp-a-stack card is pretty basic and very easy for mass production. Dasher is one of Stampin' Up!'s most popular sellers. Part of the ala carte line, this single stamp is quite a deal at only $8.95!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{ornament christmas}}
Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Four the Holidays, Very Vintage jumbo wheel
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso
Accessories: ornament punch, Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, jumbo handle, stampin' dimensionals

{{dasher}}
Stamps: Dasher, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: stampin' dimensionals

Faux paper tearing

2010-10-18T22:20:00.002-04:00

For stamp club this month, my customers learned some "faux" techniques. Today's card is an example of faux paper tearing. To start, we stamped the sentiment on a piece of copy paper. Then you tear around the sentiment and use that piece as a mask. Use some temporary adhesive to attach it to your cardstock. We used a sponge and ink to distress the cardstock and then stamped leaf images. When you remove the mask, you're left with what looks like custom-made designer series paper that's torn. Finally, stamp the sentiment again and finish the card. How easy is that?!

I'll have another "faux" technique tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Autumn Splendor
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Accessories: copy paper, sponges, stampin' dimensionals

Faux Fabric

2010-10-17T22:51:00.004-04:00

Yes, I'm still here and kicking...I just haven't had time for blogging. I've been so busy lately and have lots of projects to share. So I'll start out with a fun card from a workshop on Friday night. It's a CASE of one I found on Splitcoaststampers.com. By stamping first and then running the cardstock through the Big Shot with the square lattice embossing folder, it looks like fabric!

I have some other cards with "faux" techniques to share so be sure to check back tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Falling Leaves
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, square lattice embossing folder, modern label punch, Daffodil Delight satin ribbon, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

Embossed Snowflakes

2010-10-06T07:06:00.000-04:00

I'm back with another holiday card! I've said before how much I love Stampin' Up!'s embossing folders and the new Holiday Mini Catalog has a new one that features beautiful, delicate snowflakes.

I paired Bashful Blue with Night of Navy for this holiday card. A few of Stampin' Up!'s new self-adhesive rhinestone jewels in the snowflake centers and some gorgeous satin ribbon add another splash of elegance.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Snow Swirled
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Whisper White satin ribbon, Basic Rhinestone jewels, stampin' dimensionals

Getting a Head Start

2010-09-30T06:34:00.000-04:00

Are you ready for some Christmas inspiration? I have 2 holiday card events next month so I've dusted off my Christmas stamp sets. In addition to designing cards for the events, I'm also getting a head start on my own holiday cards.

Today's card features a retired hostess stamp set that I just couldn't part with.

I love the new decorative label punch in the Holiday Mini Catalog! I punched the tree image and then some designer series paper and layered them on the new 2-1/2" circle punch. This layering adds some dimension without adding a lot of bulk.

I'll have some more Christmas card designs to share in the next few days so be sure to check back!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Patterned Pines (retired), Christmas Greetings
Cardstock: Real, Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Early Espresso
Accessories: Deck the Halls designer series paper, decorative label punch, 2-1/2" circle punch, dotted scallop ribbon punch, stampin' dimensionals

"C" is for Cookie

2010-09-29T06:52:00.000-04:00

I know a special little boy who turned 1 this month; a shout-out to Master Henry!!! His mom/my friend told me that he likes Cookie Monster so, of course, I just had to make a Cookie Monster card! I've seen punched versions of him floating around the internet for years but since my son outgrew Sesame Street ages ago, I didn't know if I'd get to make one. So thanks Henry for giving me an excuse! ;-)

Isn't he adorable?? I hope the birthday boy likes it!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Crazy for Cupcakes
Cardstock: Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Ink: Pacific Point, Basic Black
Accessories: Play Date designer series paper, 2-3/8" scallop circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, oval punch, stampin' dimensionals

Trendy Thanks

2010-09-28T06:53:00.000-04:00

I LOVE the color combo of today's card. The new Brights Collection is quickly becoming my favorite. It all started with the scrap of Play Date designer series paper that was sitting out on my desk. It turned into such a cheerful card, perfect for making a friend smile! I hope you like it too.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Play Date designer series paper, Daffodil Delight satin ribbon, 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, fancy flower punch, corner rounder punch, stampin' dimensionals

Halloween Treats

2010-09-27T06:45:00.000-04:00

Two years ago, I discovered an adorable Frankenstein creation and wanted to do a little something different with it this year. So here's this year's version as a treat box:

I started with the Top Die and the Big Shot and used textured cardstock this time. I love the result! I also changed some of his features: I used the round tab punch for his nose and the curly label punch for the mouth. All of the Old Olive pieces were sponged on the edges for a little more dimension. The box was also made with the Big Shot and the Fancy Favor die and is perfect for all kind of treats!

The second project is my version of a mummy that I've seen all over the internet:

Again, I made a box for this one. It's a smaller box that I made by just playing around with dimensions and creating my own. The finished size of the box is 2-1/4" by 3". I sponged the Very Vanilla strips to create some old bandages for the mummy.

Even if you don't invest in Halloween stamp sets (I only own 1), you can still make some fun Halloween projects with your Big Shot and some punches. Hope you liked these!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{frankenstein}}
Stamps: none
Cardstock: Old Olive, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Fancy Favor die, curly label punch, round tab punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, 1" circle punch, sponges

{{frankenstein}}
Stamps: none
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake
Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, sponges

Hey Rudolph!

2010-09-26T18:55:00.007-04:00

As promised yesterday, I have another Christmas card to share. Today's card features the very popular "Dasher" stamp. Stampin' Up! line of a la carte stamps are individual stamps all under $10!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{reindeer christmas}}
Stamps: Dasher, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: PlayDate designer series paper, Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, modern label punch, corner rounder

Thank a Hero

2010-09-26T10:13:00.005-04:00

Sorry for my absence from posting! Lots of stuff going on...my birthday, my son caught a stomach bug, left town for a work conference, had to prep for an event this weekend... But now I have lots of goodies to share! The event I held was yesterday and the purpose was to create Any Hero cards for the deployed troops. What's an Any Hero card, you ask? Well, I found OperationWriteHome.org last year and sent about 80 cards for distribution to the men and women protecting our freedom. In addition to cards for them to send home to keep in touch with family, they also collect and distribute Any Hero cards - cards of support for the sacrifices made every day by these American heroes. I invited my customers and neighbors to come make cards, and I donated the supplies, envelopes and postage. My goal was to make 50 cards and even though I didn't make my goal, a total of 26 cards were made! Because some of the people I invited aren't papercrafters, I kept the designs very simple:

I'll be shipping these off to OperationWriteHome.org this week and hope they bring a smile to faces half a world away! I invite you to visit their website and encourage you to show your support for our troops!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back for some fun Halloween projects I'll be posting tomorrow!

~~Marilyn~~

Peace on Earth

2010-09-14T21:43:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite places for inspiration is the Clean & Simple blog. While I can appreciate cards with lots of layers and embellishments, I find myself drawn over and over again to simple but elegant cards. Here's the Clean & Simple 107 sketch that I used to create today's card:

And here's my creation:

Hope you like it! :-) Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Angelic Joy, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Ink: Stazon Black, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Blush Blossom, Early Espresso
Accessories: Deck the Halls designer series paper, aquapainter, dotted scallop ribbon punch, stampin' dimensionals

A Fairytale

2010-09-12T22:17:00.003-04:00

One of my husband's cousins is getting married next month and today was her bridal shower. I wasn't sure what her wedding colors are so I opted for an all-white theme for her card. I absolutely LOVE how this card turned out. Unfortunately, the picture I took just does NOT do it justice!

The texture of the embossing folder and the beautiful satin ribbon add just the right amount of elegance! And it got lots of "oohs" and "aahs" at the shower! Made me feel real good :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Full of Life
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, oval scallop frame die, Whisper White satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Color Coach to the Rescue!

2010-09-10T19:03:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, my stamp club is back in session. This month's projects featured color combinations straight from Stampin' Up!'s new Color Coach. I started the first card with Cherry Cobbler and paired it with Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso.

The second card started with a Concord Crush base and really brightens up with In Colors Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait! Notice how the polka dot texture carries through...

And lastly, I have a Fall-ish card with Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze and So Saffron. To layer the wide oval and decorative label punches, you have to snip the tips on the wide sides of the label so they don't peek out from behind.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{happy everything}}
Stamps: Medallion, On a Pedestal
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Dafodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Deck the Halls designer series paper, dotted scallop ribbon punch, corner rounder punch, stampin' dimensionals

{{thanks big time}}
Stamps: A Word For You
Cardstock: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Whisper White
Ink: Concord Crush
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Beautiful Wings embosslit, stampin' dimensionals

{{because i care}}
Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Because I Care
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Naturals White
Ink: Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, So Saffron
Accessories: wide oval punch, decorative label punch, stampin' dimensionals

Stamp Club - Round 4

2010-09-09T22:30:00.005-04:00

After a summer hiatus, my stamp club started back up last night! To thank my stampers for joining the next round of club, I always give them a little handmade goody at the first club meeting. Here's what the ladies received:

It has a magnet on the back so that they can post it on their refrigerator or any metal surface so they have some scratch paper handy! I got the idea from a similar project I found online but I adapted the half-box to fit on the scallop square. Stay tuned and I'll be posting our club projects tomorrow - everything was based on Stampin' Up!'s new Color Coach. If color combinations intimidate you, the Color Coach will be a Godsend!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Very Vintage jumbo wheel, Vintage Vogue
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Big Shot, scallop square die, jumbo wheel handle, Basic Pearls, oval punch, glue dots, chipboard

New Mini Catalog!

2010-09-01T22:36:00.000-04:00

Stampin' Up!'s new Holiday Mini Catalog is here!! And, boy, are you in for a treat! Not only are there great new holiday stamp sets, but the accessories will blow you away:

embossing folders
waffle paper
designer series papers
Big Shot dies
recordable cards
designer fabrics!
punches
glass glitter
tinsel trim
glimmer brads
and more!!

It's still hot outside but the holidays really are not that far away. In an effort to get a head start on my holiday cards and for my upcoming stamp-a-stack classes, I have a Christmas card to share today.

One of my all-time-favorite stamp sets is Lovely As a Tree and I was worried that it would be retired this year. But I'm thrilled that it's still around. I only use a portion of the evergreen image to make it look like the dove is flying over the tree tops!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: A Wish for Peace, Lovely As a Tree
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, Real Red
Accessories: Victoria crochet trim, corner rounder, stampin' dimensionals

Time is running out!

2010-08-29T22:38:00.003-04:00

The Summer Mini Catalog expires on Tuesday, August 31st. All products featured in the mini catalog will be gone on September 1st so be sure to grab them soon! One of my favorite products from the catalog is the Watercolor Trio stamp set. The floral images and beautiful script sentiments are so elegant. Today's card features another autumn-like color combo of Old Olive, Cajun Craze and More Mustard. I'm so done with the summer heat and can't wait for Fall to get here!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Watercolor Trio
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Naturals White
Ink: Old Olive, Cajun Craze, More Mustard
Accessories: sponges, color spritzer tool, stampin' dimensionals

Ready for Fall?

2010-08-26T22:23:00.003-04:00

Is anyone else ready for Fall?! My favorite season is getting closer by the day and I'm thrilled! So I pulled out and dusted off the fabulous Autumn Splendor stamp set for today's card. I created a custom-made background using fun Fall colors Soft Suede, So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie. So are you ready for Fall now too?:-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Trendy Trees
Cardstock: Soft Suede, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: scallop trim border punch, modern label punch, Whisper White satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Success

2010-08-25T21:41:00.003-04:00

I love how bright and cheerful today's card is! The colors came straight from some designer series paper. The layout is based on a SUDSOL sketch challenge. I love layering punches to create flowers, hand-cut the stem and punched the leaves using the technique here. The only thing I would change is to add dimensionals to the stem and leaves so they stand out a little better against the busy background of the designer series paper.

Wouldn't this make a great back-to-school card for your favorite student?!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Full of Life
Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Sahara Sand
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red
Accessories: Play Date designer series paper, scallop circle punch, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, flower brads, stampin' dimensionals

Color Coaching

2010-08-24T22:05:00.004-04:00

Have you seen Stampin' Up!'s new Color Coach? Picture portable color swatches featuring Stampin' Up!'s exclusive colors. Whether you want a quick reference of all colors in a collection or a card showing combinations that cross color collections, it's invaluable! Today's card features a color combination from the Color Coach: Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise. Now, I don't think I would have put these 3 colors together, but thanks to the Color Coach, I created a card with a fresh color palette.

If you struggle with color combinations, give the Color Coach (#121620) a try! For only $14.95, it's a great investment. Start with the suggested color combinations and then break out and start customizing your OWN custom combos!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Cheep Talk, Elements of Style
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Temtping Turquoise, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: In Color Designer Series Paper Patterns pack, spiral border punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, extra large scallop circle punch, 2" circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

Shoebox Swap, Part 2

2010-08-23T21:12:00.005-04:00

As I promised, I'm back with some fabulous creations from a shoebox swap last weekend. Here are some of my favorites:

The first one was designed by Mary Knabe. I love the simplicity of the globe image on dimensionals - it really makes it stand out. The color combo was Baja Breeze and Soft Suede to coordinate with the Elegant Soiree designer series paper.

The next one was designed by Sheryl Braun and has such a vintage flair! Her sample also had some "scrunched" designer series paper but I need to work on my technique before I get the hang of it. :-)

And this beauty was designed by my upline, Sherrie Thomas. I absolutely love this elegant color combo of Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black. The black panel was embossed with my favorite impressions folder, Vintage Wallpaper - sooo elegant!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Shoebox Swap

2010-08-22T21:46:00.001-04:00

What fun! My upline held a group meeting tonight with a shoebox swap featuring products from the new Idea Book & Catalog. I came home with some fabulous new cards!! I'll be sharing some over the next few days, but I'm going to start with my contribution.

My card features lots of new products - the fun Grunge Rock stamp set, new colors Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush and the sparkly self-adhesive rhinestone jewels! The picture does not do any justice to the jewel - it adds just the right amount of bling to the crown!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Grunge Rock
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush
Accessories: 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, sponges, rhinestone jewels, stampin' dimensionals

Plenty of Punches

2010-08-22T11:08:00.006-04:00

Today's card features only one stamp but has so much pizzazz. Two of my favorite tools for paper crafting are the Big Shot and punches. I adore embossing folders - I love how simply they can add dimension to a project. And punches can be so versatile!

To create the flower, I punched three layers - sponging each layer to add a little more depth - and added a rhinestone brad in the center. The leaves were created with a circle punch. Punch one circle and then slide it back into the punch and punch again making the leaf however large you'd like.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Perfect Plum
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots impressions embossing folder, 1-3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, extra large scallop circle punch, Ice rhinestone brad, sponges, stampin' dimensionals

Happy Anniversary!

2010-08-20T21:50:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite techniques is rock-n-roll. It's very simple but always impresses! On today's card, I inked the flower stamp with Baja Breeze ink and then rolled the edges in Basic Gray. When you stamp the image, it has great dimension. Even with a simple card, this technique can add some pizzazz with very little effort. Try it and I'm sure it will quickly become one of your favorite techniques too!

Tip: Always be sure to ink the stamp with the lightest color first so you don't transfer the darker ink on the light ink pad.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, A Word For You
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla
Ink: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray
Accessories: Elegant Soiree designer series paper, scallop edge border punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, extra large scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals

Delightful Daffodil

2010-08-17T07:17:00.003-04:00

The new Daffodil Delight color in the Brights Collection has really caught my eye. It's a rich, vibrant color without being a neon yellow. Today's card is a monochromatic card that started with a piece of the new Greenhouse Gala designer series paper. I found it hard not to add in another color (other than a neutral). I created a little bit of contrast by doing the rock-n-roll technique using only Daffodil Delight. I inked up the flower stamp, stamped off once on some scrap paper, then rolled the edges of the image in the ink and stamped. The color gradation is subtle but adds some depth to the flower.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Vintage, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla
Ink: Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Greenhouse Gala designer series paper, scallop edge border punch, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Stamp-a-Stack, Part 2

2010-08-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

As promised, I have more cards from my Stamp-a-Stack class this weekend!

I just can't get enough of the new Vintage Wallpaper impressions embossing folder! Using these folders with the Big Shot is always a big hit with my customers! It's amazing how simple it is to get such incredible detail.

And this simple beauty has a vintage feel to it with the color combo and use of Stampin' Up!'s new crochet trim product. I used a small bit of trim tied in a knot to, again, be frugal with my ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{thank you}}
Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper impressions embossing folder, modern label punch, curly label punch, stampin' dimensionals

((happy birthday}}
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bashful Blue
Accessories: Victoria crochet trim, stampin' dimensionals

Stamp-a-Stack samples

2010-08-14T20:21:00.001-04:00

Hey there, I'm back! It's been a busy week so I haven't had time to blog, but today I have two projects to share with you. Both of them are cards from my Stamp-a-Stack class this weekend.

The first one features a girly color combo. Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait and So Saffron. When I designed this card for my class, I realized I was running low on the ribbon I wanted to use. So I attached it to the card with a brad instead of tying it in a knot with a longer length of ribbon.

This card was my attempt at a gender-neutral card - one that could be used for a boy or a girl. I love the new Grunge Rock stamp set. It's great to use with the Extreme Elements stamp set.

Tomorrow, I'll be back with a couple more cards from my Stamp-a-Stack.

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

{{friend}}
Stamps: With All My Heart
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait
Ink: Peach Parfait
Accessories: Peach Parfait stitched-poly ribbon, Play Date designer series paper, antique brads, stampin' dimensionals

{{happy birthday}}
Stamps: Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock, Sanded
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Naturals White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, More Mustard
Accessories: sponges, stampin' dimensionals

More stencils

2010-08-09T07:02:00.001-04:00

As promised yesterday, I have another card to share that features Stampin' Up!'s Decor Stencils.
Today's card was inspired by fellow demonstrator, Emma Fewkes. She expanded the ink stenciling to include heat embossing as well. I used a Versamark ink pad with the stencil, removed the stencil, applied white embossing powder and set with a heat tool. This creates a white-on-white effect that's hard to see...until you add ink on top of it, that is! I used a jumbo wheel to apply a stamped image and then lightly rubbed the cardstock to remove the ink where the embossing resists. Then I added a little more ink with a sponge over the image panel to provide more contrast for the embossed image.

So I challenge you to try these stencils. I promise they're a lot of fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

~~Marilyn~~

Stamps: Because I Care, Very Vintage
Cardstock: Bashful Blue Whisper White
Ink: Bashful Blue
Accessories: Elegant Trio stencil, white embossing powder, heat tool, sponge, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, stampin' dimensionals