Seize the Opportunity!

Host a fall workshop with me and choose a free stamp set from my "Bonus Basket" (in addition to the great hostess benefits). Dates are filling fast, so let's plan a fun party for you and your friends (day or evening times available!)

You are invited to attend my Group Gathering on Tuesday, October 5th (7 p.m.) in Spanish Fork, UT to peek into the life of a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator: RSVP by calling 801-376-8685. FREE!

And don't forget New Demonstrators earn the "Tote-ally Awesome" Craft Tote FREE when they join my Stampin' Family by October 18th. Ready to play? Click here and JOIN NOW (my recruiting password is stampwithme).

ROCK the WALK

There are some in every crowd. The people who ROCK to their own beat. The ones who aren't afraid to show some STYLE (even bad style). Those who LEAD the pack...who make a DIFFERENCE. And WE WERE THOSE PEOPLE on Saturday at the Utah County JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes!!!

This boy is one of the main reasons we participate...our "Sexy Diabetic" as he calls himself (though the hair may get in the way of his true beauty):

 

And here is is brother and cousin who came dressed to Kill Support him:

This picture of my sisters (Mindi & Megan) and I would make our Mother Proud (Love you, Mom!):

ALMOST as proud as her son would make her dressed like this (yes, that is my brother Ryan and my son in the background, working the crowd on stage):

We are almost halfway to reaching our goal to raise $2,000 to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes...every dollar counts, so if you can help by donating even $5 or $10 HERE, you can get yourself an AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO of my family ROCKIN' the WALK! This photo is sure to be treasured for generations, so make your donation today :)

If you prefer to mail in a donation, write a check to "JDRF" and mail it to: Spendlove's Stamp Out Diabetes, 860 E 1050 S, Spanish Fork, UT 84660.

Our dream is to make Juvenile Diabetes OBSOLETE and we have chosen JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) as our charity of choice because they are the worldwide leader in research to find a cure. To find out more about JDRF, click here. 

Sew Sweet Apron!

What is sweeter than candy? This adorable ruffled apron made from Stampin' Up! Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric!! But I don't think it looks like Christmas, I think it looks more like Valentines :)

I followed the tutorial by Krista Maurer (found HERE) which she shared a few weeks ago on Good Things Utah. Our 100% cotton Designer Fabric (NEW in the Holiday Mini!) comes with 3 coordinating designs in large fat quarters (each piece measures approx. 28"x18") so I just sewed two 4" x 18" pieces together to get the 4"x36" strips called for, then added another piece of plain red fabric for the waist tie.

I stayed up from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. one night to finish it because it had been on my "to-do" list for 2 weeks, and I really wanted to get it done...for all you seamstresses out there, it would only take you an hour because it is pretty simple to create :) If you like this fabric, it is item #121715 ($9.95) and you can order it from my SU! website. Or try the "Deck the Halls" Designer Fabric assortment for a vintage Christmas look (#121716)

What can YOU create with Stampin' Up! fabric? Share a link to your creations in the comments!

Cards for the Blind

(Sept. 18th: If you are visiting from Clean & Simple Stamping, Welcome! While this card isn't an exact replica of the FTL #108, it was such kismet that I had created it earlier in the week that when I saw the layout, I had to share!)

My friend, Sherrill Graff, asked for donations of birthday cards for the Blind Center in Las Vegas, so I pulled out some of my retired products and started playing. It seemed like a strange request, but when you are making cards for people who can't see (or don't see well), you start thinking with your other senses, like touch and smell.  This is the favorite card I came up with:

I used the Scallop Circle Die and Finial Press embossing folder in the Big Shot to create the shape of the card and the texture on the front. Then I mixed a little orange-flavored Kool-Aid in with some clear embossing powder and embossed the orange image to create a "Scratch-n-Sniff Focal Point"...or would that be a "Fragrance Point"? Want to see more samples I created? "Like" my Facebook page and I've uploaded a few more samples there!

Tote-ally Tess

Sometimes you just need to ignore the housework and do something fun. Which is where I found myself this morning...needing a little creative time. So here is my "Tote-ally Tess"/Poppy Parade version of the Clean & Simple Fall-to Layout #107:

And here is the FTL 107 sketch:

Recipe for my card (all Stampin' Up! Supplies):  Tote-ally Tess stamp set, Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzaz and Shimmery White card stock, Early Espresso Classic Ink Pad, In-Color Markers, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, Pinking Hearts Border punch, Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread

Speaking of "Tote-Ally" cool...you can get a Greenhouse Gala Tote FREE when you join my Stampin' Up! family of demonstrators before October 18th! Click on the "Tote-ally Awesome" button in the right column for more details or call me: 801-376-8685. Want to see what it's like to be a demonstrator? Attend my Stitched Stampers Group Gathering on Tuesday, October 5th in Spanish Fork, Utah. Let me know if you can come!

Videos for My Digital Studio!

If you have purchased (or have *considered* purchasing) the fabulous "My Digital Studio" software from Stampin' Up! then I have GREAT NEWS for you! There are now instructional videos available HERE to help you get the most of YOUR Digital Studio, and more will be added in the future, too! Once there, you will also notice the links on the left for MDS updates, new downloads and more.

Ready to get your own copy? Visit my website and click on "Shop Now"

Give a HOOT!

I've been seeing owls everywhere lately: On jewelry, lunchboxes, t-shirts, grocery totes and even shoes! So it was a delightful surprise to see a new punch from Stampin' Up! in the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog that follows this trendy guy:

As you can see, this amazing tool creates more than owls...if you click on any picture (above) you can go to my SU! website, then click on "SHOP NOW" to order your own Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch! One thing I love about it is how well it uses up all my scraps of card stock :)

Here are a few tips to remember when you are using this punch:

• Hold your punch upside down while using it to ensure that you punch where you want to on your card stock
• Keep your garbage nearby to sweep all the scraps into, but DON'T punch over your garbage or the little pieces are a bother to pick out!
• Use your Paper Snips (catalog pg. 199) to pick up the teensy-tiny pieces with and build your owl: Just open the sharp tips a bit, slide them under the piece and close the tips to pick it up and place it where you want it.
• The Multipurpose Liquid Glue (pg. 197) has a fine point that works best for owl-production :) I put the glue on my owl base and then lay the pieces on top of the glue with the paper snips!

Just to show you how well this punch "dresses up", I created this card with the Owl and Pinking Hearts Border punches, the Elegant Bouquet Big Shot Embossing Folder and the new Word Play stamp set:

Clean & Simple, Revisited

Now that the kids are back in school, I had time to stamp for fun again! It was delightful and I am reminded how much I enjoy being creative.

Here is my creation showcasing some new colors and stamps:

Recipe (all Stampin' Up! supplies, of course):  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black card stock, Basic Black and Versamark ink, Just Believe stamp set,  Scallop Edge Border punch, Marina Mist Taffeta ribbon.

I followed the Clean & Simple Fall-To Layout #105 sketch:

A Mom's Ode to Teachers

In May the teacher's plight was lost 

Amid the joyful day

As children books and pencils tossed

And hurried off to play.

The next three months pass in a haze

While mothers entertain
And sweep and clean for endless days~

Summer days wash down the drain.

Exhausted, August finally comes

And school begins once more!

A smiling teacher now welcomes

Each child at classroom door.

A Mother feels both sad and glad

As she waves her goodbyes.

Grateful and appreciative, Mom knows (and Dad!)

That teachers deserve a PRIZE!

(Sample by Pam Clyde, from the Summer Mini Catalog Swap)

Only 6 days left to order from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog!

Click here to go to my website and choose "Shop Now"

Summer's End

The end of summer is always bittersweet: It's the end of late nights and lazy mornings, but the beginning of preservation season as we can/bottle/dry the fruit of the season and the smell of new school supplies. It's the last chance for summer vacations and the first opportunity to print the pictures from those trips. August is also the last chance to order from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog, and with that said, I wanted to share some summer-themed samples made by talented demonstrators showcasing the Tropical Party and Sentimental Journey stamp sets from the Summer Mini! First from Jennifer Valk, a taste of the tropics:

 "If you like Pina Colada! Getting caught in the rain..." And I do! And how about that totally cool Designer Series Paper? It's called Island Oasis and is so vibrant, it gives your projects POP!

Next up, the perfect stamp set to use for decorating those scrapbook pages after your vacation or to journal your journey of self-discovery: Sentimental Journey by Pam Staples:

All stamp sets in the Summer Mini catalog are available in wood mounted or clear mounted rubber stamp options, and both of these sets have coordinating Designer Printed 6x6 Albums (only $10.95!) and Designer Series Paper to make scrapbooking your summer vacation a SNAP! Consider it your "Passport to Creativity" :) and you can order on my website anytime, just click the "Shop Now" button in the top right.