A "Wheely" Quick Card

Card Recipe (All supplies from my Stampin' Up! store)
Stamps: Bombs Away Birthday (a clear Photopolymer set!) Item# 133441, Birthday Candles jumbo Stampin' Around wheel (130111)
Ink: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Jumbo Stampin' Around Handle (103661), Jumbo Triple Cell cartridge (121206), Hardware Clips Essentials (129964)

Now Serving Leftovers: Card Candy!

Why is it that the word "leftovers" has a negative connotation? This is a thought I'm pondering this morning because I am believe that so many things are BETTER the second time. Seriously: Spaghetti is soooo much tastier when left overnight (or two) and the flavors meld together! Even though the number of people in my household is dwindling as the kids grow up and move out, I continue to cook for an army JUST SO I can "cook once, eat twice". At this moment, there is leftover chicken & rice in the fridge for dinner tonight and a sausage/vegetable skillet ready to reheat for tomorrow's supper! It makes me happy knowing I just have to push the button on the microwave and have a meal ready to serve :)

So when I had "leftover" 2" squares from the Sampler Swap, I thought about the term "Card Candy" instead of leftovers: Many stampers create Card Candy as little focal points that can be created ahead of time and stuck on a card whenever they are needed. And what a fitting term, as they create SWEET little morsels:

They were super easy and quick to put together with a little card stock and DSP (Designer Series Paper). Looking at them now, I doubt you would think of them poorly as "leftovers", huh?

So maybe we need to coin a new term for food: I'm thinking "Supper Starters", "Meal Marzipan" or "Sweet Seconds". What do you think?

Candy Corn & Paper Piecing Mashup

A sure sign of fall isn't the falling leaves or cooler temperatures...it's the CANDY! Remember when you could ONLY get candy corn in Autumn and Peeps at Easter? That was before they started making pastel corn for Easter and Peeps ghosts for Halloween...ah, the good old days...

I've been thinking about tags lately, so this popped into my head when I saw the Friday Mashup challenge (mashing up a fall food theme and paper piercing, FM128) and the Freshly Made Sketch (FMS104) this week:

The paper piercing was inspired by Patty B (but on a smaller version of hers). Here's how I made the candy corn:

So there's a sweet treat double whammy (or is it a triple?) for you today! 

Project Recipe (all supplies from Stampin' Up! unless noted):

Stamps: Sweets for the Sweet stamp set 

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry

Paper: Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (132184), card stock: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

Accessories: Stampin' Sponge, Crushed Curry 3/4" Chevron Ribbon (130019),  Early Espresso Baker's Twine (123124),  4x6 Cellophane bag (102757).  Punches: 1/2" circle (119869), 1" circle (119868), 1-3/8" circle (119860), Artisan Label (130920). OTHER: CANDY CORN

Update 9/30/13: My project was voted as ROCKSTAR at the Friday Mashup! Wahoo!

A Card for a Special Occasion

Today I made a card for my dear friend and downline, Sally Hadley, who just passed $100,000 in career sales with Stampin' Up! It had to be SPECIAL to celebrate such an awesome accomplishment, so I combined it with Connie & Mary's color challenge and spent a happy hour crafting this masterpiece:

 To make it even more exciting, the inside slides out and the balloon floats up:

I was surprised at how much I thought about Sally as I created this card for her: She has been a friend for 14 years and I love visiting with her. We share the same faith, struggles and goals, and talking to her is easy. She is thoughtful and kind, sarcastic (in a good way), easy-going, dependable, loyal, tenacious, hard working and fun to be with.  She likes simple, quick crafting and you can see her artwork over on SallyStamper, Ink FB page. Yesterday was her birthday, too, so wish her a HBD if you stop by! That's one of the benefits of stamping something specifically for a friend, I guess ~an opportunity to reflect on what they mean to you and the satisfaction of creating something special, just for them. 

Sadly, I don't have a picture of us together (an error I intend to correct the next time I see her), but this is her doing what she loves best: Stamping!

Way to go, Sally! I'm proud of you and know this is going to be your best year ever :)

Sensational Seasonal Samplers

My Stitched Stamper family of SU! demonstrators held a "Sampler Square" Swap for the upcoming holidays. Each of us created a 2" square to trade using a set color palette and here are the finished projects, mounted on Designer Series Paper for a 12x12 frame.

Halloween (using Witches' Brew DSP from the Holiday Catalog):

Fall/Thanksgiving (using Sweater Weather DSP from the Holiday Catalog):

Christmas (using Season of Style DSP from the Holiday Catalog): 

Wouldn't this be fun to do with your friends? To order supplies to make your own, visit my Stampin' Up! store!

If you are swapping with friends, invite everyone to participate, because it's great to have "leftover" squares...see what I did with them here :)

Send a Card, Send a Hug

"A card is a hug with a fold in the middle"

When you send a hand-stamped Thank You card, the sentiment carries an invisible hug...what a sweet way to recognize the kindness of someone who has touched your life! At one of my stamp clubs this month, they swapped Thank You cards:

Then we created a "File Folder" card using the new Envelope Punch Board (#133774):

Want to learn how to make this cute card? Schedule a Stampin' Up! party for October and I'll show you how!

Employees, Envelopes, Autumn & Miracles

When there is a holiday at the beginning of the month, I seem to start off slower than usual! It was a lovely Labor Day, and it got me thinking about workers that often go unthanked...so here's a shout out to a few of the people who keep things running smoothly so my life is easier: To those who work in Utilities (including waste management, keeping us clean) THANK YOU! People who keep my lights and internet working, WAHOO! And those unsung heroes that plant, weed and harvest so I can eat, YOU ROCK! Seriously, my life would suck without you (hmmm..that could make a great song...)

On to September Stampin' New & Noteworthy!




And here is the "Best Of" Autumn stamp set available now:

You may have heard that our beloved CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up! Shelli Gardner was in an accident last week. I am so grateful that it wasn't worse and that she is on the road to recovery! Her husband has "hacked" into her blog and you can follow the story HERE (starting on August 31, 2013)
It always amazes me how small miracles add up and reveal the arm of the Lord in our lives. As a whole SU! community, we are appreciative that her life has been spared and pray for her speedy healing.

September Stamp Soiree: St. George, Utah

Get your fingers inky, Southern Utah! Come get crafty for the holidays on Saturday, September 28th at the clubhouse on Lion's Head Drive in Washington (near Green Springs Golf Course). We have TWO fun events you won't want to miss~together we are calling it a "Stampin' Soiree"~and I'm sharing a few samples!

Card Buffet (10 a.m.): Create 8 gorgeous greeting cards (2 each of birthday and thank you and 4 christmas) Bring your scissors and adhesive, everything else is provided for you, including envelopes. Cost: $15

Holiday Stamp Camp (1:30 p.m.):  Make a Halloween Sampler to frame as well as Christmas boxes, bags and tags for dressing up the perfect gift! As always, bring scissors and adhesives. Cost: $25

BEST VALUE: Attend BOTH events for just $35 (save $5). You can leave for lunch or stay and visit over a Durango's Salad (optional). 

REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 23rd by selecting Paypal Options below or call me at 801.376.8685 to register by phone! It's going to be a fun day of papercrafting nirvana!

Stamp Soiree Options

Card Buffet Class 10 a.m. $15.00 USD Holiday Stamp Camp 1:30 p.m. $25.00 USD All Day (both events~Save $5!) $35.00 USD +Lunch (Durango's Salad + drink) $8.00 USD