Christmas Time!

Can you believe it is almost CHRISTMAS! I love creating for Christmas but this time of year is so busy that I don't get to create as much as I would like! Here is the package for my daughter's teacher.

The wrapping paper is from who knows where! I had it left over from last year but the colors in it are Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Real Red, and Whisper White. I LOVE it! I made the paper bow (LOVE making those to match my packages!). However, paper bows are not as easy to make with cardstock as they are with DSP! It turned out alright I guess. The tag was made with Soft Suede and Whisper White. I used a bit of retired, Real Red polka dot ribbon that I had in my stash. I hope she likes it!

It's here!!!!

Stampin Up! has some great deals for you!!! Here is a complete list of what is on sale! Hurry before these great deals are gone! Click here to shop for these great deals on my online store.

Are you ready for this?

I wanted to let you in on some fun news! Stampin' Up! will offer a holiday Extravaganza that begins on Monday!!! WHOOO HOOO!!!! It will only last for a few days next week and there are time sensitive deals for Monday only!!!! I'm sure you won't want to miss out!!!! Don't forget........you can shop my online store anytime. 

I can't wait to see what they have in store for us!

Have a great day!

Look what I made..........

I am SO excited! I have wanted to make these bows for quite some time now and just never knew how to do it. Thanks to Meg McAllister, I figured out how to do it! Yay me! I found Meg's instructions along with a picture on Stampin' Connection. If you would like the directions and are a demo, find Meg on Stampin' Connection. If you're not a demo and would like to know email me at mscooper@bluemarble.net  I will be happy to help!

Here is the bow I made:

I used some retired Christmas DSP to practice with. It is VERY easy! I can't wait to make more! Thanks Meg!

Thanks So Much!

As I have mentioned, my son played youth league football. They had a great season: 9 - 0!! They got to play their championship game on their home field under the lights. They were SO excited! I was glad for a great season, full of fun (and wins!) AND most importantly, no injuries! WHEW! Anyway, there is a family that does SOOOOO much for the youth league that I decided to make them a card thanking them for all of their generosity with both time and money. Here is the card I came up with:

This card uses Basic Black, Whisper White, and retired Crushed Curry card stocks. I used the Tasteful Trim die - I LOVE that thing! I also used the football from the retired Just Football stamp set. TFL!

It's Good........

This awesome SU promotion runs through December 15. If you are a hostess and your workshop totals $350 or more, you earn an extra $35 in free Stampin' Up! merchandise! How cool is that?!?! However, online orders do not qualify. If you are interested in hosting a workshop let me know! I will be more than happy to assist!

Also, the Big Shot promotion has been extended! Exciting right?!?? The promotion has been extended through November 11th. If you're interested in earning this big guy for free, contact me at mscooper@bluemarble.net  Don't wait!





Last Chance!!!!

Today is the last day to earn this super promotion! If you sign up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you will get a FREE big shot! WOW! You already have a big shot? No worries! Stampin' Up! Will let you choose up to $100 in free product. How cool is that?!?! If you would like to know more, email me at: mscooper@bluemarble.net  I will be more than happy to help!

Don't miss this great opporunity!

Birthday Invites

My son's birthday was this past weekend. He loves football and always has a bunch of friends over for his birthday party. Needless to say, all they do is play football. It makes for an easy event for me! Here is the invitation that I created for his party. Since it is a bunch of kids, AND boys, to save a little paper (since you know they just get thrown away) the invitation is sort of a postcard.

I found this idea from Tanya Boser on Stampin' Connection.

The base is Crumb Cake. I used the 'Go Team' image from the retired set Sporting and stamped it in Crumb Cake to create a background. I used the football image from the retired set Just Football. These are two sets that I cannot part with for obvious reasons! I traced around the base and the football with my Basic Black marker. On the back of the card is all the birthday party information. He was pleased.  :)

CASEd

WOW! It sure has been a while since I last posted. Sorry!  :(  This time of year is really busy for my family. My husband coaches 7th and 8th grade football and helps with my son's team also. That means practice for him 4 nights a week with two of those nights lasting until 7:00, unless there is a game which means a MUCH later night! Then, my daughter plays basketball at 2 different places, so that is 2 nights a week of basketball. All of that equals not very much time for me or stamping. {sad face} But....... 7th and 8th grade football is over, my son's football is over, and my daughter is down to basketball one night a week. YAY! That means more family time and hopefully more stamping time!! WHOO HOO!

Anyway, here is a card that I made at an event held a while back by my awesome upline Tiffany Bauer.

I really like this card and decided to use the design and recreate it with different DSP. Here is my version:

I just love the bright, bold colors of this card! I miss this DSP.

The Holiday Mini Is Here!

The holiday mini is here! This is the BEST mini ever! Here is the link. Go and check it out! I cannot wait to show you some of the 'stuff' from this little beauty! If you would like to host a show, let me know! :) If you would like to order anything you can contact me and I will order for you OR you can shop my online store anytime!

Happy I Do Day

I just love the stamp set Word Play! It has so many options! I used it recently on a wedding card. I think this is the first wedding card I have ever had the need to make!

For this card I used the wedding colors dark (Concord Crush) and light (Pale Plum) purple. For the base of the card I used Basic Black. I added a little bit of texture with the Square Lattice embossing folder. No wedding card would be complete without a little bling......rhinestones. I hope the bride and groom liked the card! Congratulations! 

August Promotion

Can you believe it is already August?!?!?!?! Where does the time go? School begins one week from today. WOW!

Anyway, this month Stampin' Up! has a special: buy 3 packages of DSP (not the specialty DSP) and get one free! Who doesn't love their paper? If you're interested in this great deal contact me at mscooper@bluemarble.net or shop my online store and have your goodies shipped right to your door!

ThaNks a MilLioN!

I SO need to get on the ball and get caught up after convention! I have all of these ideas.......just no time!  :(  Where does the summer go?? Anywho, here is a thank you card I made for a lady at church. I love the colors; I'm a warm color kinda girl.

The color combo is Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Very Vanilla. The stamp sets are Word Play and the retired hostess set Apple Blossoms. I also used some linen thread and a retired more mustard button. Yes, I hoarded my buttons too, so now I am trying to use up some of my old product. TFL! Stay cool today! 

Home Decor

I finally redecorated my kids' bathroom. Their bathroom had been the same since we built our house 7 years ago. YIKES! That is a long time for me to have a complete room exactly the same! Since they are growing up and deciding to get ready in their bathroom, instead of mine, I decided it was time. If any of you have ever tried to redo a bathroom for a boy and a girl know how difficult this can be. It is hard to find something for both! Well, I finally found this at Target (LOVE that store!).

The only problem I have is finding pieces to match because I have to have things that match!  ;) Anyway, I remembered that a few years ago, Stampin' Up! had some DSP that was very similar to this design. This is what I came up with for the walls:

I used Jersey Shore (from the 2008 IBC) and my Tasteful Trim die to create these framed pictures for the wall. I can't believe how well it all matches! I guess sometimes it does pay to hoard my paper! ha! Thanks for looking!

Another bag with matching tag

Have I mentioned the fact that I LOVE for things to match?? The ladies that I roomed with in SLC know how much I like for everything to match, right girls? Anyway, here is a bag I bought for a special little boy at church. Of course I had to try to duplicate that adorable little lion and create a matching tag!

Here is a close up of the tag. The colors are Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, and Chocolate Chip. Anyone recognize that orange ric-rac ribbon? Yep, that is from the summer 2009 IBC! YIKES! Yes, I hoard ribbon (along with other SU items)! Oh well, you never know when you're going to need it!  ;) I hope you like this project. It was really fun!

Thanks for looking! Stay cool!

WOW, WOW, WOW!

Sorry I have not posted in quite a while. I just returned from my first Stampin' Up! convention and all I can say is, "WOW!" It was amazing! The staff at SU really know how to put on an event! I took some super fun (and informative) classes given by some amazing people. Every presenter was entertaining and knowledgeable! I am so super glad that I am a demonstrator! If you are interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, now is the time! SU is offering the starter kit at only $99 until the end of July. The kit is valued at $345. What a deal!

If you would like to join Stampin' Up! and do so during this special, you will receive the Christmas Keepsake project in the above picture as an added bonus. I saw this box at Convention and it is Beautiful with a capital B! The picture does not do it justice - at all! Anyway, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! I hope to be back tomorrow with a project. 

IT'S HERE!!!

It's here! It's here! The new Stampin' Up! catalog is finally here! I don't know how it happens, but SU outdoes themselves every year! If you have not yet seen the new catalog you HAVE to check it out here! It is amazing! If there is anything that you 'need' please feel free to contact me or you can shop my online store and have it delivered right to your door! 

If you are interested in hosting a show, now is a great time! Stampin' Up! has reorganized the hostess benefits. Qualifying workshops entitle you to hostess dollars that can be spent on exclusive hostess items or other catalog merchandise.

How cool is that? If you're interested in learning more, contact me!

Bag and Card to match!

Ok...........so, I may be a little OCD! I LOVE when things match! That is one of the reasons I love SU! so much, everything coordinates! I found this adorable bag to use for a baby gift.

So, me......being a little OCD, had to make a card to match the bag. Here is the card I made:

This card uses Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, and Certainley Celery and of course my circle punches. I used the retired stamp set Love Bug. TFL!

It's that time of year again....

Stampin' Up! is retiring several items. It is always sad to say good-bye, but......... they have to make room for all of the new goodies! YAY! I hear we won't be disappoined either! (I can't wait!) Below you will find links to check out all of the items that are being discontinued. Don't wait as some of them will sell out quickly, and once they're gone, they're gone! You can shop my online store here or check out the links below.

Happy shopping!!

National Scrapbooking Month

WHEW! Where does the time go? My last post was on the 3rd of this month and I was going to be back with a project for you. OOPS! I guess life has gotten in the way - kind of! Our schedules have been jammed packed lately. Hopefully with school coming to an end (4 more days!!! WHOO HOO!!) I will have more time to craft. YAY!

In the mean time, I do have a project to share with you. May is National Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up! has some great deals for you. HERE are the deals they have for you. My favorite item on this list is the stamp set titled Word Play. This set comes with 12 very versatile images. I have used the 'direction of your dreams' saying and an image from Travel Log from the summer mini. I created this card as a graduation card using our school's school colors. I hope the recipient likes it!

I used Basic Black as the base. The road map image from Travel Log is stamped in Basic Black ink on Whisper White card stock. The yellow is retired Summer Sun (this color was a good fit for our school colors). I textured it using my Lattice emobossing folder - love that thing! I used my SU markers to get the two tone stamped image. Thanks for looking!

Summer Mini is here!!!

The Summer Mini is here!! Just click here or go to my online store to shop! You won't be disappointed! This mini is filled with tons of fun stuff! I will be back later to post a project made with one of the new stamp sets featured in this little lovely.

Out of Commission

Looks like I won't be posting any time soon. On Tuesday we had tornadoes go through our area. My house had some damage: trees down in the woods, one on our dog kennel, and one on my husband's truck. Everyone was okay though. We were without electricity for a couple of days. Then, on Saturday, we had a lightning strike VERY close that ran in our house. Again, everyone was okay, but this time more damage. No phones, no TV, no Internet, etc. So.......looks like I won't be posting any projects for a little while. Hope to be back SOON!

Blog Award

I just realized that I received my first blog award from Margaret at Black Shadow Creations! How exciting! Thanks Margaret!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to bring new blogs to light. It's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen or ones you want to share with others.




As a recipient of this award I must share the love and pay it forward by:



1-Creating a post where I blog about the Liebster award & reveal my 3-5 blog picks

2-Let the honorees know that I selected them

3-Copy & paste the blog award on my blog



Now I have the huge task of narrowing down my favorite blogs that I love to visit and gain inspiration from so I can share them with you.

**These blogs are not new, as in just created, but I get a ton of inspiration from these super talented ladies!



New blogs that you must visit are...

Heather Summers

Kimberly Van Diepen

Robin Merriman

MDS - Finally!

I have been trying to get my MDS pages posted to my blog but have been having problems. UGH! I have done it before, but for some reason, this time has been a challenge. User error no doubt! Anyway, I finally purchased some new digital downloads and I LOVE them! Now, I will never run out of these DSPs! How cool is that? Once you have purchase them, they are yours forever. Let me know if you would like more information on My Digital Studio or you can shop my online store.

On to the page!

This page uses Crumb Cake as the base, Love Letter DSP, and the Winter Post snowflake in Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla. Thanks for looking!

Exciting News!!

While supplies last, Stampin' Up! is offering special 'grab bags' of discontinued product that could include: ribbons, accents & elements, chipboard, Designer Series Papers, and Simply Sent kit components. WHOO HOO! There is no limit to the number of bags a customer may purchase!

Item                       Description


125873                 $5 Grab Bag (containing at least $20 worth of products!)


125874                 $10 Grab Bag (containing at least $40 worth of products!)


125875                 $15 Grab Bag (containing at least $60 worth of products!)

Head on over to my online store and get yours while supplies last!

Clean and Simple

This card is one of my favorites! It is clean and simple and very easy to mass produce. I saw this card somewhere over a year ago, so I don't know who to give credit to. Sorry! I have re-made this card for various occasions. It has been a sympathy card, a manly birthday card, a thank you card, etc. 

The base of the card is Sahara Sand. Layered on top of that is Basic Black and then Very Vanilla. I stamped the Medallion image using Sahara Sand ink. I used a small black brad in the center and the Level 1 Hostess stamp set Afterthoughts. I think this card would be very pretty in many different color combinations also. TFL!

On a side note: Way to go Butler Bulldogs!! Great game tonight!  :)

Posting Problems

I have been wanting to post a couple of MDS pages that I have done, but for some reason, I cannot get them to upload.  :(  I will continue to work on that. Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time indoors again!  :(  We are forecast to get 1 - 3 inches of snow tomorrow night! UGH! Earlier in the week it was sunny and in the upper 70's! I want that weather back! 

Since it is SO cold again, here is a Valentine card that I made.

I used scraps again of Real Red and Pretty In Pink. Most of the paper is from the Filled With Love bundle that was available in February. I also used: Heart to Heart punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Tiny Tags stamp set, hemp twine, and the Tasteful Trim die (was available in the Holiday Mini, but has been carried over!). I LOVE this die!

Stamping 411 Sketches

Happy Tuesday all! My up-up line holds a monthly downline meeting that is always full of fun and information. Every month we are presented with a challenge to help us stretch our creativity and/or promote our business. This month our challenge was to participate in two creative challenges. I just LOVE sketches, so I decided to follow a couple of sketches posted on the Stamping 411 blog.

Here is the first sketch that I used:

And........here is the card I created:

The second sketch I used also came from the Stamping 411 blog. Here is the sketch:

Here is the card I created from this sketch:



I hope you like my interpretation of these sketches! Thanks for looking!

Thank you Coaches!

I posted a couple of days ago that my son had been playing a lot of basketball, which he loves! We are very blessed to have a couple of great coaches, so I wanted to make them a card to thank them for all of their hard work and patience this season.

This card uses Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, and Basic Black. I used the retired stamp set Just Basketball to create the 'background paper'. I used dimensionals to 'pop up' the net. The sentiment was stamped with the So Happy for You stamp set from the SAB catalog.

I hope they like their cards!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

I always think of that song when I hear someone talking about Stampin' Up's Sale-A-Bration! Sorry!! Anyway, this SUPER promotion ends March 31st! You don't want to miss out on this great opportunity to earn FREE product! You earn free products for every $50 you spend. There are tons of awesome items available that are exclusive to S-A-B, but.........if you check out the last page, you'll notice that you can also choose several awesome products from the IBC. Please contact me if you have any questions!

You can click here to see the products available through S-A-B. AND...... you can always shop my online store. I love that I can shop anytime and the stuff comes right to my door! WHOO HOO!

Very Vintage?

Long time no 'see'! I am sorry that it has been so long since I last posted! We have been very busy the past month with basketball. My son has been playing basketball; I think they played 18 games in the month of February. WHEW!

Anywho, here is a card I created for a birthday. It was an attempt at a vintage style card. Not sure if I got there but.........I really like the card!



This card uses the stamp set Notably Ornate; Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, and Perfect Plum cardstock. I also used some Chantilly Crochet Trim and an Antique Brad. Let me know if I 'hit' the vintage look. TFL!

Scraps

Do you have LOTS of scrap DSP lying around? I sure do! I love DSP and hate to throw it away! Here is a card I made using some scraps that I had - most of which are retired.

I used the (current) Tiny Tags stamp set and coordinating punch as well Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, and Real Red ribbon. This card was made as a baby card but could easily be adapted for any occasion. Thanks for looking!

Guest Designers

Today I have a special treat for you! I have two very special guest designers - my kids! ha! They created these cards for their dad

This card was created by my 10 year old son. He designed and created the card all by himself. He used Crumb Cake for the card base, the compass from the Sentimental Journey stamp set stamped with Versa Mark Ink, and the travel stamp (from the same set) stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. I thought he did a great job!

This next card was made by my 7 year old daughter. She LOVES to craft/stamp! Her card base is Basic Gray. She used images from the same stamp set (Sentimental Journey), Whisper White and Basic Black card stock, some scrap of gray pattern paper that she had in her stash, and a pewter brad. She used my white gel pen to write her message on the front. She had a little help getting her card put together (to get everything straight). She also did a great job! I love being able to craft with my kids!

Thanks for checking out their creations! Have a great weekend!

Christmas

Christmas? Yep, that's right! I am just now working on some of our Christmas pictures! Every year I make a scrapbook page of our Christmas tree. Here is this year's page

This is an 8 X 8 page. I am still using the I Wish simply scrappin' kit from I don't even know when! I LOVE this kit! I have been hoarding it! Anyone else out there hoard their paper?? Anyway, the only new product on this page is the little red glitter brad on the ornament and the red zig-zag from the Tasteful Trim die. Thanks for looking!  :)  

More Love Letter DSP

I told you I love this DSP! It's just so classy! Here is a card a made for a friend's birthday.

Again I used Love Letter DSP, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Cherry Cobbler. I also used Beautiful Butterflies die, modern label punch, eyelet border, linen thread and the Notably Ornate stamp set.

It's a Snow Day!

Is it snowing where you are? It sure is here! We have at least 3 inches and it is still snowing! YIKES!

Today's project is a card that I made using my favorite DSPs. I love our Love Letter and Newsprint designer series papers together! 

For this card I used Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Love Letter DSP, Newsprint DSP, the new dotted scallop ribbon border punch, large oval punch, scallop oval extra-large punch, and Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon (LOVE that stuff too!).

I hope you're enjoying your day! TFL!

Time is Ticking

There are only a few days left for you to get a FREE package of Bitty Buttons when you order a Filled with Love bundle or to purchase the exclusive Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack.



When this promotion ends on January 24, the Filled with Love Stamp Set and Love Patterns Designer Series Paper Pack will be gone! Make sure you place your order before it's too late. Contact me or shop my online store now.