How I'm Celebrating National Scrapbooking Month

Hello and Happy May!

What a wonderful month - there's a robin singing outside my window, the grass is green, and it's National Scrapbooking Month, how can it get any better!!

Well, there are a couple of ways - there's Stampin' Up!'s 30% Off Selected Items scrapbooking promotion (see right hand column or post below); and every Friday in May I am going to post a brand new scrapbook page for you to enjoy, CASE, or giggle over.

Until then I challenge you to do some scrapping every rainy day in May - we do have to get out and enjoy the sunshine after all! And everyone who can show me they scrapbooked in May will receive a special bonus... :0)

In the meantime here is a link to some mini scrapbooks I made last year:
http://rubberobsession.blogspot.com/2010/10/mini-scrapbooks.html

Thanks for visiting!
Carol

A Book with a Difference

Hello!

I'm a book lover from way back, in fact I had the pleasure of working in a bookstore for two years before I started writing for magazines and newspapers. It was heaven being surrounded by good books all day, and ordering more books, and recommending books, and smelling books (that's just ONE of my idiosyncracies!!).

But this is a different kind of book, and I like it for a whole lot of other reasons:
1. It's easy to make
2. It's beautiful
3. You can fill it with anything you want - I chose cards.
And here it is:

It's hard to tell in the photo but the title is heat embossed with Gold Emboss Powder and spritzed with Gold Smooch Spritz. It's also dry embossed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder and sponged with Soft Suede.

The ribbon is Basic Black 5/8" Satin. The stamp sets used are the Level Three Hostess set Occasional Quotes, and the flower images are from Fabulous Florets in the new Summer Mini... have you checked it out yet???

If you come back tomorrow you will see what's inside....

Thanks for stopping by! If you haven't received a Summer Mini catalogue please let me know and I'll make sure you get one.

The directions for making the book box can be purchased from Butternut Sage Designs
http://www.butternutsagedesigns.blogspot.com
Happy Stamping!
Carol

New Month! New Mini! New Promotion!

So many exciting things to tell you!

First of all there is a new Summer Mini Catalogue and hopefully you've received yours in the mail already, if not be sure to contact me to receive one! I know it's best to hold it in your hot little hands but until then you can check it out on my Stampin' Up! store.

There are super new stamp sets, two new Triple Layer Punches you're gonna love, and lots more.

PLUS

May is National Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up! has a special promotion to celebrate!
30 percent off a wide selection of scrapbooking products including

• Select stamp sets
• Select professional print products for My Digital Studio
• Special digital download bundles for My Digital Studio 

 The list of My Digital Studio specials can be found here.

So many things to check out! I'll be waiting to hear what you like best when you're done!
Just zap me an email or give me a call with your order.

Happy Stamping!
Carol

I Hate Good-Byes

And in just four days we have to say good-bye to many of the items in the 2011 Occasions Mini.

So if you've been thinking of getting things like:

Contact me to place your order before April 30th!

Happy Stamping!

Carol

The End, and the Beginning

Today's card represents both. April 30th is the last day to purchase from the 2011 Occasions Mini (I've used some of the lovely Springtime Vintage DSP), and May 1st is the beginning of the Summer Mini catalogue (there's a sneak peek of a new punch).

It's not a border punch, but you can make borders with it!

The colours used are Pear Pizzazz (it's becoming a passion!) and Baja Breeze. The ribbon is the Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, along with Linen Thread to tie the tags. The tags were punched with Jewellry Tag Medium punch, and the new punch is called Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (doesn't that sound like fun!!) The sentiment is from Tiny Tags Stamp set.

 

Be sure to check through the Occasions Mini to make sure you have everything you want before it's gone! Some things will be carried over in the new IB&C in July (punches, dies, letterpress plates, glimmer paper, spinner hands, crown & key trinkets, fabric, some colours of ribbon). But this gorgeous DSP is going, along with several other items. Contact me if you have any questions.

Happy Stamping!

Carol

Petal Cone Mobile Tutorial is ready!

I've been asked to provide a tutorial for this mobile and you can now purchase it for $1.00 (through paypal) by clicking on the photo on the right hand column.
It is fun and easy to make using the Big Shot and the Petal Cone die, and you can co-ordinate it to any colour scheme!
Thanks for stopping by!
Carol
PS The paypal button has been fixed!

Contemporary Wedding Set

This lovely wedding set was made by Maree, one of our ASI team members. I love the colours, the DSP, the design... and I think you will too!

 

Maree's set includes the wedding favour, a Thank You card (in the back) and the Wedding Invitation and RSVP.

The colours used are Marina Mist, Soft Suede,  and Whisper White. The DSP is Elegant Soiree.

 

The invitation and the RSVP cards are tucked inside the fold of the base card.

And the Thank You card features a Soft Suede heart embossed with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder.

You can see more of Maree's creations on her Inky Moose blog.

It's the Last Week

to participate in the Spring is Blossoming promotion! They are only available until the end of April and then you will have to wait until the new catalogue in July to order them.

Remember with a $25 order you can also purchase the new Four Frames stamp set and/or the Paisley Petals Designer Series paper NOW instead of waiting until July for the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue to be released.

And they are beautiful!

 

If you want to order them before the end of April, contact me!

I love throwing out challenges to the Atlantic Stampers Ink team because they always deliver! Our last monthly swap required the use of Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink, and Certainly Celery, AND a different fold.

Ta Da!

You can see how totally different styles, stamp sets, and folds, can all be tied together with colour.

Sandi's card has the front cover tuck behind the owl for closure.

Maree's card is the same fold theory as Sandi's, but is totally different!

My card (wish I knew the name of the fold) is all about scoring in the right places!!
A tutorial for this fold can be found here: 
http://sweeetdesignsbycheryl.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-believe-in-youvideo-on-funky-fold.html

Linda's card is simple and elegant.

Louise's card has a surprise inside, when you pull the edges a greeting pops up!

Aren't they lovely!

If anyone knows the proper names for these folds please let me know too!

Happy Stamping
Carol

Spreaster? Earing?

Real spring is here at last, my husband and I have been cleaning up our garden beds and raking and re-seeding the lawn, looking forward to the day when our backyard will look like this again:

Which is still almost two months away, but that's what spring and Easter are all about - Hope and Expectation!

So for all of you who are so kind to visit my blog I wish you a very Happy Easter, and a wonderful Happy Spring! Thanks for stopping by.

Sincerely,

Carol

What would you call this?

Grunge?

Distressed?

Inspirational?

I tried to make it all three, sort of a 'come from a hard place but survived and succeeded' type of thing...clear as mud?

Let me try to explain - the colours, Always Artichoke and More Mustard, make me think of rust and dirt with some green trying to grow. The Poppy Parade is the spirit trying to survive. The metal eyelets and brad along with the distressing represent roughness and hard times, while the tree is strength and trusting in yourself is the ticket to get out. Make any sense?

The words on the Always Artichoke DSP represent education, and the 'rope' on the brad and ticket is something to hold on to...

And inside is the inspiration:

 

I hope you can see and feel what I wanted the card to say.

Happy Stamping!

Carol

When I visit I always take

A box of cards as a Thank You for the lovely hospitality. So since we are going to visit friends tomorrow to see their new cottage, I made up this collection of cards today:

I used a selection of different sheets from the Designer Series Paper, Springtime Vintage, found in the Occasions Mini (only one week left!) which co-ordinates with, among other colours, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, and Night of Navy. I made six cards and a matching box.

These are the vertical cards, and you can see a peek of the inside decoration on each.

These are the horizontal cards and you can see the box in the background.

I used a variety of stamp sets including Upsy Daisy, Friends 24/7, Just Believe, Countryside, and Watercolour Trio. The inks are Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, and Night of Navy.

I hope she likes them!  Which one is your favourite?

Happy Stamping,
Carol

Introducing Max

I think it's time you've all met the furry joy AND bane of my life... Max

As you can see by the expression on his face, he has a healthy sense of self esteem! Instinctively knowing that when he found his 'pet person' that the world would unfold as it should - with himself in charge.

Here you see him showing me that instead of listening to a tutorial and taking notes I should be taking him outside - NOW!

 

He likes to supervise and make sure that my cleaning is up to standard...

In every corner....

HIS standard...

But I love the fact that he trusts me and likes to stay close to me wherever I am...

Max is a very special friend, and I love him.

If you are owned by someone furry, tell me about them! Leave a comment below!
Happy Stamping!
Carol

Another Wedding Ensemble

This beautiful wedding ensemble was made by our newest Atlantic Stampers Ink team member, Louise. She blew us all away with this gorgeous set! We could choose any theme and Louise chose an 'outdoor wedding'.
The invitation starts "Come join us under the shade of the old apple tree...". The set also includes the RSVP card, a Thank you card, and a wedding favour that includes two hearts embedded with seeds that you can plant. Adorable!

Here is another shot of the set.

Do you see the lawn chair inside the invitation - isn't that the sweetest! Click on the photos to see a larger image.

You can visit Louise's new blog "Scrappin Barn" to see more of her terrific designs! (And be sure to leave a message!)

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Scrapbooking on the road

On the Road with My Digital Studio

Are you overwhelmed with all of the digital photos stuck on your computer and your camera? Are you eager to enjoy and show off your trip photos? What if you could be showing off your photos soon after you get home? (And showing them off on your camera or your phone does NOT count.) If this appeals to you, then I have your answer - My Digital Studio!

The next time that you pack your bags for a fabulous trip, don’t forget to pack your laptop, too. When you have the My Digital Studio software (#118108) loaded onto your computer, you are ready to scrapbook - anytime, anywhere. Seriously.

Imagine taking time at the end of each day of your trip to load photos onto your computer, create a few pages with My Digital Studio, and add the details of who, what, where, when, and why. And if you find that you don’t have quite the right images for the pages you are creating, you can download new ones into My Digital Studio with the click of a button. At the end of your trip, you will have completely scrapbooked all of your trip photos and captured all of the thoughts and memories with your journaling. (No more trying to remember everything!) All you need to do is upload it to Stampin’ Up!’s printing service and your FINISHED scrapbook will be printed, bound, and sent back to you for you to enjoy.

No paper, no stamps, no albums, no embellishments, no adhesive ... all you need is your computer with the My Digital Studio software loaded on to it. It travels with you everywhere and offers a simple way to creatively document your memories. And best of all, it gets your photos off of your computer, your camera, and even your phone, and into a scrapbook where they will be preserved and enjoyed for years to come.