Miss me? After taking 3 years off from blogging to start a new job, have a baby, and again become a stay-at-home mom, I'm ready to rock! I can't believe how much I've missed crafting and sharing my passion for it with others. While working at the Scrap Shack, I was doing something creative every day. When the store closed and then I had the baby, I had NO TIME for 'playing' in my craft room. Now that he's almost 2, I find myself with a 'little' extra time and I'm LOVING getting my fingers all inky and glittery again! I've starting a new passion, which is making chipboard albums. While nursing the little guy over a year ago, I would sit and watch YouTube videos on how to make these amazing albums. Although there are some crazy good crafters out there making these things, I thought I would throw myself into the mix and try my hand at it.  My first attempt is what you'll see here. I'm selling my books on ebay, and let me tell you, I loved this one so much I almost couldn't sell it! It's almost like selling a piece of my heart and soul because of the thought and time that I put into it.  Oh well, I'll feel the same way about the next one, and I always have the pictures in case I want to make one for myself in the future.

I learned to make the paper flowers by watching another video, but I changed them up a bit and made them my own. I have to say, I actually love making the flowers, even though it's a little time consuming. It's almost like knitting, or crocheting and once I get into a rhythm, I can do it while watching TV and barely look at my hands while I'm doing it. SOOO relaxing! Hope you love the album as much as I do!

 

A long time coming....

So it's been 2 weeks since I crafted at all.....I just didn't have the time, or the inspiration. Then I got an order from SU! that had the stamp sets 'Peace Within' and 'Twick or Tweet' (new Mini Catalog) in it, and I've been stamping ever since! I just love the new Cottage Wall DSP too, and it looks so good with the new In Color Rich Razzleberry. This is one of 6 cards that I made in the last few days, and it will be one of the cards in my upcoming Stamp Camp. This was a very easy card (except for the watercoloring, and even that is easy, but it just takes time) and I just love the colors! Here's the recipe info: Stamp Sets: Oval All and Peace Within; Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Oppulence, Whisper white; Ink: StazOn Black, and refills in Bermuda Bay, Creamy Caramel, Rich Razzleberry, Close to Cocoa, Apricot Appeal, Orchid Oppulence, Certainly Celery; Accessories: Cottage Wall DSP, Rich Razzleberry Double sided Grosgrain, Scallop Oval and Large Scallop punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Nesties Petite Oval, Blender Pens, Aqua Painter.

Good news, and bad news......

Although this is not the summer that I had invisioned, it's definitely had its high and low points. We just recently had a very low point....My Grandmother, Clara Michels, passed away at the end of July. She was a wonderful woman, and I have so many great memories of her! Some of my favorites are when we visited she would RAKE her shag carpet to keep it looking fluffy; she always had a FULL cookie jar and she made THE BEST oatmeal raisin and gingerbread cookies; she taught me how to fish; and she also taught me how to fold fitted sheets. One of my favorite things about her was that she was always doing something, cooking, crafting, sewing, and while she was doing it she would always TALK to me. I remember her making beautiful Hardanger embroidery and thinking how could she possibly keep up a conversation while carefully snipping individual tiny threads out of the cloth. She was amazing! I think that watching her was where my love of crafting truly began. Thanks Grandma!

As a result of the craziness of this summer, I have barely crafted at all. So much for my vow to post daily!! I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and hopefully I will have something to post for you soon. I miss spending time with my stamps and I definitely could use a break from everything else that is going on, so I will try and get back to my craft room soon. In the meantime, check out my SU! website for some fun project ideas from the wonderful artists at SU!

new products card.......

I had so much fun making this card! The colors are WAY outside of my comfort zone, but I was determined to make something bright and fun using the new Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. The new In-Colors are amazing! They not only look good together, but there are so many combinations that work with Stampin' Up!'s existing colors....which I'll show you some examples of soon! Hope you're all having fun looking through the new catty and making up your Wish Lists!! My list was so long that I had to break it down into 3 smaller ones.....1. things I LOVE and have to have,

2. things that I NEED, and 3. things that are cute, but not absolutely necessary. My first order went in over the weekend and I can't wait to get it!!!

Recipe: Stamp Set: Wings of Friendship (level 2 hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes; Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Whisper White; Ink: Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry; Accessories: 5/16 white jumbo brad, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain, Scallop Edge punch, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week

It's week two of Stampin' Up!'s 'Deal of the Week' promotion, and it's a doozy! Get the Sizzix Big Shot Doctor's Bag for only $49.99 (regular price is $69.95!!). This bag is great for storing and carrying your Big Shot maching and dies, but also great for ANY of your stampin supplies. For more information, check out my website for details and to place your order!

Happy Stampin'!

Judy

Stampin' Up! on YouTube!!

I don't know how I ever came up with a project idea before the internet. We can now access thousands of blogs that give us ideas for cards, scrapbook pages, and so many other projects. One of my favorite things on the internet is YouTube, and Stampin' Up! has a YouTube Channel! Click HERE to access some awesome videos and project ideas....I just love it and I know that you will too! One of my favorites is what they did with the Forget-Me-Not keeper. I just love organization (maybe because I always feel so completely unorganized!), and it's such an easy project to do. Hope you enjoy!

Happy Stampin'!

Judy

Okay, Okay, so I blew it......

I tried so hard to do it.....I really did.....but then life got in the way. I really wanted to post a blog every day, but it's just been too crazy around here lately! For the first time in over a week, I actually got in my stamp room (my oldest son had set up camp in there and was sleeping on the floor...my stamp room has a really great ceiling fan). I spent about 2 hours CLEANING it and then actually pulled out 2 new stamp sets and spent about 20 minutes playing. Then the phone rang and it was back to business. Not only have I not stamped, but my camera DIED....it's no longer doing anything, won't even turn on (sigh). SO, I'm back to borrowing my 9 yr olds camera and the pictures just aren't that great. Hopefully I'll find $600 somewhere and splurge on a new digital SLR.

In the meantime, check out my SU! website and the NEW 09/10 Idea Book/Catalog!!