A Few of My Favorite Things...

As I said the last time I posted, I was off to play with my new toys... errr... I mean, important business tools that had just arrived. By the way, when I refer to "Mr. Brown's deliveries", I'm talking about the UPS guy... his real name is Carlos, but I figure most of you have heard of the slogan "What can Brown do for you?", thus the nickname Mr. Brown. Well, I can say that "Brown" made me really happy with all the new catty goodies! :) On to my creations!

I have found my new favorite stamp set--Simple Friendship! Here are a couple of cards I've made with it:

Other new stuff used: Texturz Plate (w/Big Shot) & Button Latte

This card's color combination was inspired by a friend's purse--Garden Green, So Saffron & Chocolate Chip. I think the yellow on the purse is actually more like YoYo Yellow, but I liked the softness of So Saffron. Anyway, here's the purse (thanks for letting me take a picture, Sarah!):

Here's another card:

The background is created with the new jumbo wheel, Friendly Words. You are also getting a sneak peek at one of the Sale-A-Bration items--So Saffron grosgrain ribbon. It actually comes bundled with Certainly Celery poly-twill ribbon (10 yds of each). Both are 5/8" wide and gorgeous! By the way, Sale-A-Bration starts on February 1. I will be posting the brochure here on that date. If you'd like to see it now, let me know and I can email you a copy. If you're one of my regular customers, you should be receiving a copy of it in the mail any day now.

If you don't know what Sale-A-Bration is, it's an awesome special that runs from February 1 until March 31. Here's how it works: with every $50 you spend (before s/h & tax), you get to pick one of the wonderful items in the brochure. There are also extra hostess and recruiting specials. This time there are several stamp sets, the ribbon bundle and a pack of designer series papers to choose from.

Back to the card... here's a close up:

Yes, I cut the butterfly out--a little tedious, but sooo worth it! I want to point out how I mounted him on the card. Honey, get your mind out of the gutter ;-) I put a couple pieces of dimensionals on the end of each wing, but used Tombo adhesive on his middle section... making it looks like he's flapping his wings. At least I think so. :)

Thanks for checking out my blog. I really appreciate when you leave me comments! It reassures me that I'm not just "talking to myself". I suppose looking at the number of hits on the counter should give me a clue I'm not alone. :) By the way, I can't believe I'm about to hit the 5000 mark! I'm thinking I should plan some blog candy. Let me think about it and get back to you.

Happy Stampin!

Brenda

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!

With the Super Bowl less than a week away, I thought I'd share a football themed project with you--a gable box. I plan to fill this box with goodies and give it to the hosts of the Super Bowl party we'll be going to on Sunday.

Stamps: Just Football & Sporting
Card Stock & Ink: Sahara Sand, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa and Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Wide Oval and both Tag Punches, Grosgrain Ribbon and Hemp Twine

I found a tutorial for the gable box on Splitcoaststampers.com: HERE.

Sorry to cut this short, but I'm off to play with the new stampin' goodies "Mr. Brown" JUST delivered! I'll post pictures soon!

I'm Happy Stampin! Hope you are too! :)
Brenda

"Thanks a Bunch" for a Successful Open House!

Well, I had an awesome open house yesterday! Many of my usual customers along with some new ones came out to see what's new in the Spring-Summer 09 catalog. Congratulations go out to Genean and Martha for winning door prizes!

As promised, here are the projects I had available for make-n-takes:

Stamp Set: A Little Something (Level 2 Hostess Set) & Baroque Motif
Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette CS
Accessories: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Big Shot & Pennant Die, horizontal punch


Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Naturals White & Riding Hood Red CS
Accessories: Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, heart to heart punch, horizontal punch

RECIPE UPDATE: It was brought to my attention that the links to the catalog project recipes on my blog didn't work. (thanks, sis!) I want you to know that they have been fixed and should be working now. After receiving requests for a picture-less recipe list that would be a smaller document to print, Stampin' Up! created just that! So I have also add the new picture-less recipe list (10 pgs) to my "gadget bar" on the right. BTW, I have tested it out and the new link is working! LOL... I must warn you... in order to create a smaller document, the font has been reduced and you may need a magnified glass to read the list.

Happy Stampin!
Brenda

Recipes for Catalog Projects!

Have you had a chance to browse through the new catalog yet? Did you notice anything missing? Well... while trying to fit all of the wonderful new stuff (including the Big Shot & accessories) into the catalog, Stampin' Up! decided to remove the helpful recipe guide from the back of the book.

Don't despair! They are still providing us with one... just not printed in the catalog. There are now downloadable PDF files of both the Spring-Summer 09 Idea Book & Catalog and Celebrando Creatividad recipe lists. These are not just your plain Jane lists of supplies, they actually include photos of each of the projects with the corresponding recipe... so no more wondering, "which project is that, 65A or 65B or 65C..."

These lists are posted on the promotions page of my website AND I have added links to them on the right-hand side of my blog. If you like having the recipes handy to refer to while browsing your book, you can print them off. But be aware that the Spring-Summer catalog recipe list is 23 pages!

Happy Stampin!
Brenda

Howdy! Y'all come on over for my New Catalog Open House!

Come see what's new in Stampin' Up!'s Spring-Summer '09 Idea Book & Catalog!

Saturday (Jan 23) between 1-3pm @ my house

There will be a free make-n-take project, snacks, door prizes, class & club sign-ups, lots of samples and, of course, THE NEW CATALOG TO BROWSE!

RSVP by Friday so I will have enough project supplies--my contact info is on my website.

Here's a sneak peek at one of the samples you'll see displayed:

New Stamp Set: A Little Something (Level 2 Hostess Set)

New Paper: Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper

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Happy Stampin!

Brenda

Final Farewell to Moose You!

In 2 short days (at the end of the day January 18), the stamps on the retired list will be gone forever... The set I'm most sad to see go is Moose You. Perhaps it's because I'm from the "frozen tundra" (northern Wisconsin... really close to Minnesota) where moose are like a mascot. I'm actually surprised there are no sports teams named after them... ;-)

Well, here's my final farewell Moose You card post:

It's not your typical card. Instead of the usual fold, it has an accordion folded layer that is held closed with some ribbon. Here's what it looks like opened:

If you haven't already ordered your very own Moose You stamp set, hurry to my website right now and place your order!

Happy Stampin!

Fruity Cheers!

Fruity Cheers card
Originally uploaded by bbstampin

Yikes! I can't believe it's been so long since I posted a project! I guess I've been preoccupied with the excitement of a new catalog coming out in the very near future. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the Spring-Summer 09 Idea Book & Catalog will be released on January 19. Demonstrators who went to the Stampin' Up! Leadership conference (that's going on as I type this) received the first copies on Wednesday and a few demos in Canada received them on Thursday... and, well... I've been glued to their blogs! LOL! I'm hoping my boxes of catties arrive sometime next week... so I can drool over my own!

Since we are still in the shadow of New Years Eve and all (hopefully you've recovered from your celebration), I felt sharing a "cheers" card would be in order. This card was made using the Cheers to You stamp set (appropriately named) and the coordinating wheel, Cheers. I also used the Top Note die. If you're wondering "Hey, that doesn't look quite right!", I created a smaller version by cutting off about an inch from each end and sliding those end pieces together. The ribbon covers up the seam.

Anyone interested in coming over for a fruity drink with me?

Happy Stampin!

Retiring Accessories List & Inventory Blowout Sale!

The long awaited Retiring Accessories list has been released! Click HERE to check it out!

And you won't want to miss the Inventory Blowout Sale where you can save upto 50% off of retired, retiring and current products! Click HERE to see the flyer!

WARNING: Once these items are sold out, they are gone! Don't wait to place your order! Either place your order directly through me by emailing or calling me with your order or order online through my website.

Happy Stampin!

Brenda

Pop-Up Gift Card Holder

Happy New Year, Y'all!

Here's a birthday card I made for my nephew:

Sneak Peek at a new Stamp: A Little Somethin' (Rock Star image) a Level 2 Hostess set

I had seen a gift card holder idea using a typical flat store gift card that was held in the middle of the card--slid inside a flap created by an extra fold. I can't recall the first place I saw the idea, but it has been stored in the back of my mind for awhile. That was my original plan when I decided to get a gift card for my nephew.

Well, once at the store, I found this awesome gift card maze game and couldn't pass it up. I still wanted to use the same card concept, so I had to improvise the design. Here's what I came up with:

Here's a close-up:

The maze is held in firmly with the sticky adhesive that originally attached the gift card to the store card--similar to glue dots.

Stamps: A Little Somethin' (Level 2 Hostess set--new in Spring-Summer 09 Catalog)
Seeing Spots
Celebrate Everything
Calendar Alphabet & Numbers
All Holidays
Ink & Card Stock Colors: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss & Naturals White
Accessories: Large Star & Star Punches
My Way Punch
1-1/4" Circle Punch
Crimper


Happy Stampin!
Brenda