Virtual Inking

Dressin' Up!

I have 3 girls and it's fun to see their differences and similarities as they go through each stage.  My youngest is 5 (gasp!) and she just discovered dress up!  It was so fun to watch her.  One particular outfit stood out to me because it was the same one my second daughter favored.  I have a picture of her in it when she was 5.  I just HAD to make a scrapbook page to show them both all dressed up.  

I used My Digital Studio to make this page.  With your $50 order through tomorrow, you can get a whole CD of images for FREE!  I used one here (the big flower).  You better hurry up and place your order because at midnight tomorrow, all of the images will be gone!

I have a CROP NIGHT monthly on the first Saturday!  Come for FOUR HOURS of uninterrupted time to work on your projects whether cards, 3D items or scrapbook pages.  Get access to all my tools, my brain, my idea books!  If you are on my newsletter, you get $5 off the regular price.  Not on my list?  Get on it!  

Pay here and if you are on my list, I will give you $5 back at the Crop Night.  

 

Happy Stampin'!

Linda:)

4 Days Left!

Sale-a-bration is almost over for this year.  FYI!  Did you get what you wanted?  If not, there's still time.

I looked at our fabulous Color Coach to find the color combo for this card: Rose Red, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi.  I realized that I only had a Wild Wasabi Marker!  Oh no!  I'll have to rectify that in my next order. It's a pretty green and I think I'll be using it a lot over the Spring months.

I used the Bliss Set from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  It is definitely the favorite of the stamp sets!  You should see all the samples people have made over the 3 months of Sale-a-bration.  One fun thing I did was to layer the Decorative Label Punch with the Curly Label Punch.  I think they look pretty good together.  I did use some retired Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, but you can easily dye the Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon with a Rose Red ink refill  and get the same effect.  

I actually stamped and cut out the butterfly from the Bliss set, but I DID NOT like the way it turned out. I am just not good at cutting.  I don't mind too much because I really like to keep things as simple as possible.

Isn't this fun?  To tell the truth, I fully intended to copy someone else's card because I didn't want to reinvent the wheel.  However, I took some of the basic elements and totally switched it and made this my own.  I hope you like it.  Please let me know if you like it in the comments section.  It's lonely down there.

Tip:  If you are going to use an Embossing Folder that covers a whole panel, use glue dots to adhere it. There's not enough surface area for the double-sided adhesive.

Supplies: Rose Red, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi ink and card stock; Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Whisper White card stock, Bliss Stamp Set, Decorative Label Punch with the Curly Label Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Glue Dots

I THREE SPOTS at my April 2nd crop.  Make sure you are on my mailing list for the reduced price!

Happy Stampin'

Linda:)

Do You Sew?

 

Sadly, I don't.  However, that doesn't mean I don't have something to offer to people who do!  Oh yes, I do!  Here are some wonderful patterns using the very fun fabrics in our Occasions Mini Catalog.  Click here to get your patterns.  Want to order the supplies?  No problem! Click here to go to my Stampin' Up! Website!

Here are two of the projects you will find on your FREE pdf file!  

 

Happy Stampin'

Linda:)

Owl Pop-up Card

Ever see something so cute that you just had to make it?  When you finally do, it's way more complicated, or time consuming or expensive than you thought?  That's what happened to my friend and dowline, Ruth.  This is a totally fun card, just way too time consuming to make.  

Normally, I don't show you these kind of things because I want you to find things you can make easily and quickly, but I think this is so cute, I had to show you.  This way, Ruth gets more mileage out of it.

 

Is this not so, so cute!  Love that this card can stand up by itself!  Again, this is NOT a complicated or even a very expensive card to make.  It IS time consuming, however.  Gluing each of those little pieces on the owls and cutting out the party hats and letters take time, but so, so cute!

The pop-up part IS easy!  Just fold your card in half and cut TWO 3/4" slits at the score line for every image you want to pop up.  For instance, Ruth cut SIX slits.  Poke the part in between the slits through and attach your image to it.  I like to use Mini Glue Dots because they are tiny but mighty!

I have a NEW stamp club starting.  Last night we made some fun, fun cards with easy peasy techniques, but my customers loved them.  At least most of them loved them.  Every once in a while I get a moaner who doesn't like one of my fun cards.  That's okay, because they don't moan for long.  When they get a gander at the other projects we make, they shout for joy.  Okay, maybe not shout, but they are excited to make them!

Are you a moaner?  I'm pretty sure you won't be, if you join my club!  Email me today for details!

Time Out! 15 Easy Ways to Save Time in Your Day part 2

by Maria Gracia

8. Delegate Jobs. At home, give the kids age-appropriate chores. Even toddlers can help load the dryer, sort laundry, straighten up toys and magazines, and do some light dusting. At work you can delegate portions of a project to a coworker who isn't quite as busy as you.

9. Screen Your Emails. Don't read every single email you receive. Look at the subject of your emails and delete anything you do not intend on reading, including any junk mail or chain mail. Look at the subjects again and only read those that are important and need to be dealt with today. The others can be saved for when you have more time.

10. Get Things Ready the Night Before. Mornings can be hectic and seem unproductive. Prepare lunches, pack schoolbags and briefcases, plan breakfast, and make your To Do list before going to bed. Your morning will be less stressful and everyone should be able to be a little bit more self-sufficient and organized.

11. Use a Two-Compartment Clothes Hamper. Teach your family to use one side for darks and the other for lights. This should save you the time of sorting all the laundry before throwing it in the washing machine.

12. Start a Dinner Co-op. Get together with a few families in your neighborhood. Each night one family prepares dinner for all the families in the co-op. The other families pick up their meals from the cook's house. This way each family gets a few nights a week off from cooking.

13. Watch Recorded TV. If you can, skip watching TV all together. If you must watch TV, DVR or Tivo your favorite shows and watch them after they've started. You can fast forward through the commercials. You'll be able to finish watching your show in less time and won't be tempted by all the ads.

14. Eliminate Ironing. Buy clothing that doesn't require ironing. Don't let clothes sit in the dryer or laundry basket after they're dry. This can cause them to wrinkle and need ironing. Once they're dry, immediately fold or hang them to prevent this.

15. Create a 'Free Time Bag'. Instead of wasting your free time by running around the house looking for something to do, grab your 'free time bag.' A book you're reading, your crocheting project, magazines, crossword puzzles, and stationery and pens can all be held in a tote bag. Keep the bag in an easily accessible place and you'll always be ready when you have a little free time.

Get Organized Now!
611 Arlington Way
Watertown, WI 53094 

A Die to Die for...

Oh yeah!  The Petal Cone Bigz L Die (121810) is definitely a keeper. And once you buy it, you are only 17 measly dollars away from a FREE SALE-A-BRATION item. How cool is that?

This was another swap from the ladies at my upline's meeting and I was so excited to see it because the possibilities with this die are tremendous.

Don't you love the Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso and Whisper White color combination?  The Fun Flower Bigz L Die #(121812) is ANOTHER die I have seen as a FABULOUS  addition to ANYONE'S Big Shot Die Collection.  The Petite Petals Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel adds a fun, whimsical touch in the background.  This fun project would make a fun Spring time, Mother's Day, or Easter Gift Box.  It would also make a great Wedding Favor or Party Favor.  You can fill it with candy, seed packets, small trinkets and baubles.  

What are some things you might fill it with?  Let me know in the comments section!

Want Some Manly Cards?

One of the fun perks of being a demo is the whole rubber stamping community.  There is a lot of sharing going on.  Jackie B.  shared a whole bunch of masculine cards that I'm going to share with you!  Th

SUPPLIES: Crumb Cake Card Base:  8.5 X 5.5 , scrap for airplane Not Quite Navy:  5 X 3.75 (embossed with Square Lattice embossing folder) Very Vanilla:  2.5 X 3 Early Espresso:  2.75 X 3.25, 2 - 5 X ¼" strips STAMPS: Plane and Simple  INK:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

SUPPLIES: Crumb Cake Card Base:  8.5 X 5.5, ½ X 5.5 Not Quite Navy:  4.25 X 4 (embossed with Polka Dot embossing folder) Very Vanilla:  1.75 X 2.75 Early Espresso:  2 X 3, ¾ X 5.5 STAMPS: Plane and Simple INK: Early Espresso and Not Quite Navy

Want to see more masculine cards, stay tuned for my next post.

Happy Stampin'!

Linda:)

Time Out! 15 Easy Ways to Save Time in Your Day

Time Out! 15 Easy Ways to Save Time in Your Day 
by Maria Gracia

We all have the same 24 hours in a day and it often feels like it's not enough time. With busy schedules and a fast- paced life, many of us would love to have even just a few extra minutes in our day. The good news is that you can reclaim a few minutes just by making minor adjustments to your daily tasks.

1. Subtract Steps. Carry all of your cleaning supplies in a bucket rather than walking back and forth to the cleaning supply area. Fold clothes as you take them out of the dryer. Unload groceries directly into the pantry or fridge rather than putting them on the counter first.

2. Pack a Project. Don't waste your time just standing in line, sitting in the doctor's office, waiting for a friend or client who is meeting you for lunch or sitting in the car to pick up a child or spouse. Spend those few free minutes working on a project. Balance your checkbook, work on cross- stitch craft, write letters, update your planner, catch up on your reading, etc. If you know you'll be waiting, take along something to do.

3. Make Standard Lists. Make standard lists for anything that you rewrite often. This would include grocery lists, instructions for the babysitter, instructions for the house or pet sitter, etc. That way you don't have to completely recreate them each time.

4. Plan Your Meals. Before going to the supermarket, make sure you have planned your meals and have a shopping list. This should eliminate last minute trips across town to the store just to pick up eggs or milk. You'll also save time since you won't be scouring the pantry, fridge, and freezer, wondering what you can put together for dinner.

5. Make a To Do List. To Do Lists let you see the big picture. You get an idea of what has to be done during the day and you can approach the day more systematically.

6. Group Like Tasks. Return phone calls and schedule appointments before moving to another task. Run all your errands at the same time and plan your route to eliminate driving back and forth across town. This will not only save you time, but also money on gas.

7. Put It Away, Now. Whenever you're finished using something, put it away. This will save you time and energy at the end of the day when you tidy the house since things should already be in their proper place. This will also save you time when you need to find something. You won't be late because you were frantically searching the house or your office for a missing item.

The last 8 next Monday!

For Those Who Have Been Waiting....

ORNAMENT PUNCH AVAILABLE FOR ORDERING

March 9, 2011

We're happy to announce the Extra-Large Ornament punch (item 119847) is available to order. The quality problems we were experiencing with the punch have been resolved and our supply is ready to go.

Thank you for your patience as we work to provide you with high-quality products.

Don't wait!  Order it here!

Happy Stampin'!

Linda:)

 

What to Do with the Petal Cone Die?

Make a card!  Oh yes, there's lots to do with this Petal Cone die (121810).  This is a very fun and a little different use by a fabulous side demo.  Unfortunately, I don't know her name, but it was one of the swaps from my upline's meeting.  She used Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzaz and Tangerine Tango for a fresh spring-like color combo.  I have seen the robins flying around and it makes me hopeful that winter is on its way out! However, Colorado's snowiest months tend to be March and April!  

The Tangerine Tango Pompom Trim (123323) is so cute on this!  I must admit the trim and the die were two things that I did not see ever owning.  However, my mind has changed as it is wont to do when I see other amazing demonstrators share their ideas.

Are there any items in the mini that you thought, "No way.  I DO NOT want that,"  but have now changed your mind?  Let me know in the comments section.

Happy Stampin'!

Linda:)