Convention 2010!

It was awesome.

Have you ever been?  If not, you should immediately join my downline and we can go together next year!!!  No I’m not kidding!!!

I am going to post for a while about some of my favorite things that I was able to see while attending.  I took a few pictures. . .okay, nearly 2000 pictures. . .so as I sort thru them and pick my favorites I will share :)

After all, that was the theme this year. . .Share what you Love!  And I don’t think it would come as a surprise to *anyone* who has ever been to my blog:  I love Stampin’ Up!

Check out my new bag!

Before I share any samples, I want to share about who I was able to go with this year.

I had three downline able to attend!  From the left:

Karen, Miriam, and Jen

Karen and Miriam got their “My first convention” pins :)

 

We all stamp together at home, but hanging out for Convention is something altogether different :)  We had an amazing time!

We got to eat out at yummy restaurants. . .

We had to take the bus tour to Riverton, for those who had never been!

Here we are in front of the fountain. . .a classic “I’ve been there” picture!

 

And if you don’t have a goofy picture of yourself posing here:

 

You have not yet had “the full demonstrator experience”. . .

If you were there, you get that little inside joke :)

Last but not least, this picture is for my upline:

She loves Brent Steele!  Okay, who doesn’t???

I had to give him a hard time. . .he has people hounding him for his autograph all thru convention!  He confided that it is a bit of a reality check when he gets home and no one wants him to sign anything :)

I think that is enough sharing for one day!  I hope you get a chance to go to convention as a Stampin’ Up demonstrator next year.  It is a memorable experience, and a whole lot of good times!  If you are interested in finding out how you can get in on the fun, let me know asap!

Look for some awesome sample photos and more tomfoolery to follow. . .

Happy Freaky Easter

The Freaks are at it again! You probably arrived here via the irreverent and hilarious Brandy Wiggins-Cote (have you seen her scrapbook pages?!?!?)

If you are starting here? Welcome! Forward or backward this tour should give you a ton of Easter project ideas!

My first project was inspired by the uber-talented Gretchen Barron (a freak I might add!) and her mini matchbox drawer set. . . Ever since I saw that cutie I wanted to try it-but it hasn’t happened yet LOL!

Story of my life. . .

Anyhoo, I needed a bigger one so I used our Box #2 to make this dresser card kit for my oldest daughter. She is a crafty girl like her momma tries to be, so I wanted to make her something fun for Easter that she could make things with.

Some punched images, layers for them, ribbon, crayons. . .and an hour or two that mom doesn't have to entertain! Priceless!

I cut off the top of the box flaps, and cut some drawers from our So Saffron paper. I don’t know if you can see them, but I used little bead “spacers” behind our flower brads to give them a little boost! Stole ‘em from my daughter’s bead box. . .don’t tell!

But not every Easter project has to be that involved, right?

Here is a cutsey treat made with our Hugs Notes that can be found in the Occasions Mini catalog:

The super cute bunny is from the hostess set Picnic Parade (Occasions Mini), as are all the punched images from the above kit. He is cut out and layered on a 1in So Saffron circle.

That Satin Ribbon is a favorite right now :)

Inside the treat is a folded glassine envelope, with a few little chocolate eggs inside. Yummy!

Speaking of Hugs Notes. . .I have some folded in half to go with the kit above for making her little notecards. Just the right size for passing around at school!

That's it for this stop, and now you are off to visit Dawn Olchefske (love her!!) and see what she has to WoW you with . . . Have fun, and get stamping!

She's gonna' Freak!

Welcome to the February Controlfreak's blog hop!!

Hope you are having fun making the rounds. . .

Most likely you arrived here via the ridiculously creative Jan Tink over at
Stamps, Paper, Scissors (YSLH!)--who I might add is a tough act to follow!
Hope you like my Mom's day goodies :)

If this is the second time in my mother's life that she is visiting my blog I am going to be super sad!
So Mom-if by some freak accident you are looking at this, close the browser!!!!
If you know my mother, do NOT mention this to her please!!!

That being said, she will probably call me tomorrow and tell me she already saw everything and I can give it to her early :)

This Shades of Spring Designer Series paper was literally screaming my mother's name from the mini catalog page! She is a purple fanatic, so this is going to make her a happy woman :)

I am only going to post one picture of each project today (so I don't go on forever!), but I will revisit these later so you can see them in more detail.

Mom specifically requested birthday cards and thank you's, so that is where I am starting. More Shades of Spring DSP, with some fun bling added (Eggcellent Eggs kit-love it!!) in the pattern. Some lovely Certainly Celery Satin ribbon, and a Flower Trio punched flower laquered with Crystal Effects.

Seriously-this paper! It is so gorgeous! I wanted to show it off a bit, so I went big :)

Sitting there wishing for some Orchid Opulence satin ribbon. . . HOLD THE PHONE! I have Whisper White, so I'm good! A little ribbon dyeing and I am good to go.

I made Mom a tin for cards years ago, but I am hoping to get a bunch made for her this year. . .so I am going larger! If she want's she can use this for something else, but it sure beats conventional packaging. . .I love these forget me not keepers!


Now this evolved a bit.

It started out as something to go on a card, then it just went crazy! I pieced it together from cut and punched images in the same gorgeous paper. Laquered with Crystal Effects and then more bling from that Eggcelent Eggs kit that I love. Stylized Silver hardware Ribbon Slides, and a center from a clear rhinestone brad. Phew!

It actually has a pin backing, but I am maxed out on pictures for this post!! I put it on a ribbon so she can use it for a bookmark, or take it off to put it on something else. . .

Well, that is it for me!! Sorry there aren't more detailed pictures, but I will make up for it later!

Hope you have a great weekend, and get on over to Dawn Olchfeske's blog DOstamping asap! That girl always has the coolest stuff over there!

Happy February!

I thought I would start February off right with a long overdue blog post. . .

Hope this month finds you well and happy!

As for me, I find myself in a new (temporary) home, as I sold my house.
Against all odds, although not so very surprising to me. I adore that house, and there had been so much love and happiness there. . .someone was bound to feel it :)

Speaking of love. . .Valentine's day is right around the corner!

This is one of the projects we are making in my Valentine's Day class this coming Saturday. I am so loving these new toys from the Occasions Mini Catalog!

If you don't have one, contact me IMMEDIATELY and we will fix the problem!

My posterboard didn't survive the move, so until I pick up more you get to see my lovely fingernail in the photo :)

However, the background is the original maple woodwork from when this home was built in 1892, so that is a treat! I will share more about the house in another post. . .

This is an easel card.
I am looking forward to showing my girls how to make this easy and showstopping fold!

If you are looking for a way to make it on your own, the tutorial can be found *here*

Wouldn't it be so much more fun to just come and stamp at my house?!?!

I thought so!

Since my husband is working non-stop (still overseas) and rarely has time for personal "surfing", I can share this with you before valentine's day. . .

The sentiment from the Sale-a-Bration set Whimsical Words is so perfect for the situation. For many situations really, but I thought of him as soon as I read it.

Hope you like! And hope you can come Saturday if you are local.
Email me for class details if you are interested-I am limiting the class to 6 people so let me know as soon as you can!

Card details:

Stamps-Whimsical Words (sab), Well Scripted (occasions mini); Paper-Sending Love Designer Series paper, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla; Ink-Stazon Jet Black; Other "stuff"-Real Red 5/8in satin, small heart/pinking hearts border/pinking hearts corner/wide oval punches; Heart of Hearts embosslit, big shot, dimensionals