Blowing you a kiss!

I just wanted to share this cute pinwheel I designed for my stamp club members

The tag reads:

Blowing you a kiss this Valentine's day!

I found gumballs that were small enough to fit in the 1" x 8" cello bags from Stampin Up, made a pinwheel from DSP and added a Hershey Kiss to the center.

What do you think? Pretty cute, huh?!!! WAY cuter than those store bought Valentine cards :)

want to see more Valentine ideas???

Click over to www.paperplaydates.com and see what else I've created!

Awesome new blog!

After attending the Stampin Up Leadership convention in San Antonio last week, I decided I needed  a change. We learned all about the company's commitment to change and their eagerness to support us demonstrators as we do business "OUR WAY!" 

"MY WAY" of doing business is focusing on my customers, like you! I always enjoy sharing my creativity with others during a class or a workshop, so why not share it online too? 

I'm so excited to announce my newly created blog called "Paper Playdates!" I decided on that name because, well, let's face it.... whenever you stamp don't you feel like you're playing? And whenever I stamp with friends or my kids, or even when I'm teaching a stamp class or holding a workshop with my customers, it FEELS like a playdate! 

So this year I made a resolution to bring all of YOU to my playdates so that you can join in on the fun. I am even going to try my hand at creating videos and tutorials to share and hopefully you will have some fun learning new techniques. Who knows, maybe you will be inspired to have your friends over for a Paper Playdate too!

Check out my new Paper Playdates blog header:

Pretty Stinkin' cute, huh? And I made it using My Digital Studio! I plan to get to know this product very well over the next few weeks so hopefully I can share ideas with you:)

I have set aside time this weekend to fill the blog with pictures of what I've done in the past 6 months... I know, can you believe I haven't blogged since August???? But that's because I've been so busy making cards and other paper craft items.... I have had a lot of Paper Playdates!!!

Some other exciting news I wanted to share is that my husband is building an app for me and my Paper Playdates website! Pretty soon you will be able to receive my newsletter, get blog updates, participate in challenges and contests, upload your own creations to my gallery, and have techniques and tutorials delivered right to your mobile device!

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!

The app will be FREE of course (because I love to get free stuff, don't you?!) and you can be the first to know about it if you are a member of my new blog "Paper Playdates"

so be sure to CLICK HERE and become a member!

Thanks for stopping by today!

FREE Designer Series Paper

This is one of my favorite promotions that Stampin Up offers. It's so easy to create beautifully coordinated cards when you use our Designer Series Paper! Right now you can order three packages ($10.95 value), and get one for free. Now is the time to stock up, or get those DSP's you need to make your Christmas cards.

We have some beautiful new DSP's this year. Don't forget to order through my online store

I am getting ready to place a "pre-order" from the new holiday mini catalog and I am super excited! It turns out I want everything, scratch that..... NEED everything!!! The catalog doesn't start until September 1st, but one of the perks of being a demonstrator is getting to "pre-order" before everyone else! This gives us an opportunity to test out the new product and make samples for our workshops. During the month of July I got to welcome 11 new demonstrators to my fabulous team of stampers so now they get to have a sneak peak at the new product as well! Please join me in OFFICIALLY welcoming the following demonstrators:
Brian B.
Chris R.
Crissia H.
Christina S.
Laura P.
Jen M.
Porsia T.
Juliet M.
Amanda S.
Michelle M.
Sandra C.

It's not too late to join my team.... if you're interested, email me and I'll explain how you can get started with little to no money out of pocket!

Thanks for stopping by today!

More Christmas in July!

I am so in love with all the new Christmas items in the holiday mini catalog! I WISH I could show you the actual product, but you will have to wait just a little bit longer:) For now, I will show you some of the holiday projects that were on display at convention....

First, some handmade ornaments:






And handmade garland:




And finally, a beautiful handmade tag:


Don't forget about the $99 Starter Kit promo going on til the end of month! That's right, if you've ever thought about becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator NOW IS THE TIME! When I signed up over 3 years ago I just wanted to be able to get all my stamping supplies at a discount (LOVE that 20% off!!!) But I got so much more than that.... free stamp sets, new friends, an awesome team, and more! I'm confident that you would like all the benefits of being a demonstrator too, and I want to give you a $100 shopping spree as a thank you for joining my team! Just imagine all the new holiday items you could get from the new mini catalog! Be sure to sign up by the end of the month! It's super easy!!! Just click here or on the Stampin Up logo in my side bar and you will be directed to my Stampin Up website! From there, just click on "Join the Fun" and go through the steps of signing up. When you get to the "getting started" page it will mention the kit price of $175, DON'T BE ALARMED... when you click on "continue" a menu will pop up and that is where you select the $99 starter kit option.

If you want to try it, but don't want to spend the $99, I'll pay for your kit instead of giving you the $100 shopping spree! YES, I REALLY AM THAT CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

Send me an email if you have ANY questions. My team is growing and I would LOVE to have you be a part of it! (from anywhere in the United States.... Thanks Crissia in Texas!)

Have a wonderful day!

More Christmas in July

So I'm still sort of on a high from Convention but I promised you Christmas cards in July and July is almost over. I know, It's hard to believe isn't it? Well, I just had to share with you some of the cards that were on display at convention. These cards were made using stamp sets out of the new Holiday Mini Catalog. Once you see them I know you'll want to see the whole set, but unfortunately I can't show the actual product:( Sorry, but it's Stampin Up's policy.

Here is the first card:


Too cute, right? The sentiment is from "Hand Penned Holidays" and the Stockings were stamped using "Stitched Stockings" and then PUNCHED (yes, you read that right, punched) with the new Stocking Builder Punch. I'm way super excited about this new punch... the ideas are just spinning in my head!!!

Here's the next totally cute card:


This set is called "Forest Festivities." It has lots of cute little critters and really lends itself to the watercoloring technique.

And the last one for today:


I think I might be MOST excited about this new set called "Bright Hopes!" It also includes images of a snowflake, wreath, a decorative element and two sentiments. BUT, the BEST part is that it matches our brand new Personalized Name Stamp!!! So now I can be totally coordinated with my Christmas cards this year! I plan on getting the "Bright Hopes" set and also getting the Personalized Name Stamp with our address.... how fancy will I be?!!!

Well, I hope you enjoyed today's "Christmas in July" cards and I hope you come back to see more!
Leave a comment and let me know which one is your favorite!

Thanks for visiting!

More Convention

As promised, here is a picture of Artisan Award Winner Heidi King and her beautiful display:


Check out these close ups of the detail in her work:




Isn't she amazing? I am so lucky to be in her group! Last night she went to a special dinner with Shelli (the founder of Stampin up) & all the other Artisan Award Winners. A perk of being in Heidi's group is that we got to see all the incredible projects she swapped with them:) I am sure she will post pictures on her blog so be sure to check it out!

I'm still in Utah and I don't know what it is but the connection at this hotel is super slow. Perhaps if it were better I would post more of Heidi's projects. But, it's late and I've got to get some sleep... we are going shopping tomorrow before we head to the airport. I WISH I could tell you we were going "shopping" shopping, like for clothes or shoes or something fun like that, but no. We have to go shopping for additional suitcases!!! We got so much free stuff it's ridiculous! I am looking forward to getting home and playing with all my new stamp sets... especially the extra one I got from the Prize Patrol! It's a Christmas set that isn't even available yet! It's Stampin Up's policy that we can't post pictures of products before they are released, so I can't show you what I got. But, I CAN show photos of any projects I make using the set. Hopefully that will be soon as I plan on making more cards for "Christmas in July" when I get home:)

Thanks for stopping by today!

2011 Convention Fun Day One!

Well, it's not ACTUALLY day one..... the convention kicked off with a party Wednesday night, but this was day one of general sessions and breakout classes. The real day one was a little stressful. First off I hadn't finished all my swaps and stayed up all night trying! Staying up all night wasn't too big of a deal though because the plan was to leave the house at 3:30 am to get to the airport in time. It is my opinion that if you need to leave the house at 3:30, you would probably be getting up at 2:30 and if you have to wake up at 2:30 then you may as well stay up all night! Besides, I still had those darn swaps to finish! But I felt really good because at least I got everything stamped and cut out so all I had to do was assemble and surely I could do that on the plane, right?
WRONG! even with my nose to the grindstone I didn't get them finished! But have no fear because I'm traveling with the "Crazy Stamping Ladies" team. Maureen, Heidi, Julie, Maria & Christel.... you guys are lifesavers, thanks for all your help finishing my swaps! I managed to get them done with an hour to spare! The swap was a lot of fun and I met some really wonderful demonstrators from all over the US. Saturday the Crazy Stamping Ladies are getting together to do a shoebox swap of our own and also to take pictures of the swaps we have all received during the convention. After that I will post pictures of my favorites!

But for now, here are a few pictures of the Crazy Stamping Ladies having fun so far at Convention this year:


All the first time attendees got to walk across the stage and here's Christel:


Anyone who recruited also got to walk, and here's Heidi, Maureen, Julie and Maria:


Look how cute Heidi and her mom Maureen are:

This was at awards night. Way to go Heidi.... you so deserve to be an Artisan Award Winner!

Here is Heidi on Main Stage with the other winners.... doesn't she look great up there?!!!

Tomorrow I will get a picture of Heidi's display so you can see her winning entry.

Lastly, a photo of the gifts I made (in the hotel room) for my convention buddies:

Maybe my new nickname should be "last minute girl!"

I can't wait to share more convention highlights with you, but for now I'll say good-bye. It's late and I need my beauty sleep!

Dazzling Dasher

I am so glad "Dasher" got to stick around for another catalog year... he is one of my most favorite single stamps! I'm calling him "Dazzling Dasher" because as you can tell by the photo I took a glitter pen to his antlers.....



I hope you like this first installment of my Christmas in July card posts!

Here's what I used:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Stamp sets: Dasher, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Cherry cobbler
Ribbon: Victoria 5/8"
Other: Retired DSP, Word Window Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Glitter pen (not from Stampin Up)

If you would like to purchase the supplies to make this card, please visit my Stampin Up site HERE and then clicking on the "shop now" button

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back tomorrow for another Christmas card post!

Happy Stamping!

"Almost" Christmas in July...

So I am getting ready to start posting this year's cards for my "Christmas In July" but before I do I wanted to get your opinion... I was thinking about using this photo of my kids for my Christmas card this year, what do you think?



"FELIZ NAVIDAD!"

We just returned from our family vacation in Play Del Carmen, Mexico and this picture shows the kids having fun playing dress up in one of the gift shops!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the REAL start of my "Christmas in July!"

Thanks for stopping by:)

It's here! It's here! Finally, It's here!

Yes, the new catalog is finally here and I am just a little excited. Okay, that's a lie..... I'm SUPER DUPER excited! I received it a while ago, but couldn't order any of the new products until today. I didn't go too crazy though. Just a couple packs of the new Designer Series Paper, a spool or two of the new ribbons, a few single stamps, a couple of new birthday stamp sets, a new sizzix die, a new punch, some new builder wheels, a small assortment of Christmas stamps and accessories..... okay, so maybe I went a little crazier than I thought! I HAD to do it. I am getting set up for this years "Christmas in July" blog posting event AND I need to make my swaps for convention.

Speaking of this year's "Christmas in July," I am planning the first post for Tuesday, July 5th, so stay tuned.....

I'm not sure how many samples I will have time to make but I am hoping for a dozen!

Hey, If you want to check out all the new product, you can do so by clicking on the picture of the catalog to the left (in my sidebar)

Happy 4th of July everyone!