HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

It occurred to me earlier in the day that I would like to create a patriotic card for Memorial Day, but I have a very hard time putting together primary colors. So, when I found this card on stampingsherrie's blog, I thought it would be PERFECT to do in Real Red and Night of Navy. And I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Stampin' Up!'s Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware from the Occasions Mini Catalog (star brads). Wouldn't this be a wonderful card to send to a soldier you know? Or even one you don't know! So, even though Memorial Day only has about 2 1/2 hours left, take a moment to pray for our troops in the Middle East and, if you know someone who is serving in the military, make this card right now and send it to them so they will know how much they are loved and appreciated!! Have a great week!!

My First Featured Stamper Challenge

This week's Featured Stamper on SCS is Dawnsing (Dawn McVey) and, since I have never done the Featured Stamper Challenge, I decided to give it a whirl. My stamping buddy, Leigh Ann, has inspired me with her amazing blog (check it out)! So, this is Dawn's card that I reworked. It took me FOREVER to do - I'm not sure why. Oh, well! I LOVE the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, especially the frame and flower brads I used on this card. As always, thanks to all those talented people who post on SCS for their inspiration!!! Have a great holiday weekend!!

If the Halo Fits . . .

This card was totally CASEd from Diane Gilbert's card on SCS. I thought it was such a sweet, Spring-y card! I don't have this set, "If the Halo Fits," but I had stamped the angel image at a demonstrator meeting and just had to use it for this card. Plus, I FINALLY got SU!'s photo corner punch and it's AWESOME, of course! I think I'll send this card to Bailey's first-grade teacher. Bailey had such a great year and we ABSOLUTELY LOVE Mrs. Bilbrey!! Thanks for the inspiration, Diane!

I made this cute composition book for my dear friend, Cele, for her birthday and she LOVED it! Of course, I got the idea from Angie Juda's blog - she has the BEST ideas!! And her video tutorial for this project is so easy to follow - just what I like! The Berry Bliss DSP and Purely Pomegranate satin ribbon are just so delicious!! Thanks for looking!

I LOVE CUPCAKES!!

Tonight was Bailey's soccer party, so I made yummy devil's food cupcakes and cute little picks to go on them! Yes, that's frosting on top - note to self: Fluffy White frosting doesn't spread at all! (Stick to vanilla.) They are super easy to customize and quick as can be! I found the soccer ball in my clip art file and simply sized it to fit my 1 1/4 inch circle punch and layered in on a black scallop circle. Sandwich a toothpick between two scallops using a glue dot or sticky strip and voila! A deliciously fun treat!!

A NEW LOVE . . .

Friends, I have found a new love! No, it's not Jeffrey Donovan (if you don't know who he his, watch "Burn Notice" on USA - YUM!!) or a new flavor of Frappuccino. It's SU's Schoolbook Serif Alphabet, which I just discovered even though the Spring Summer Collection has been out for MONTHS!!!! I used it to do the title for this scrapbook page and it was SO EASY!! Usually, alphabet stamps can be tricky to line up, but this one is a cinch! Also, I found a cool card sketch on Michelle Wooderson's blog (Mish Mash) that is AMAZING on scrapbook pages and, again, SO EASY! I used two patterns of paper and cut them into 3 x 6 inch pieces and lined them up along the bottom of a solid piece of 12 x 12 cardstock. You can use as many patterns as you like - just adjust the sizes accordingly. How neat is that? I may get caught up on my scrapbooking after all . . .

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I'm not sure why I've neglected my cyberpals! This is a fabulous Double-Pocket Card that I found on SCS. Pair this great design with SU!'s beautiful Summer Picnic Paper and gorgeous ribbon and it's a show-stopper! Hope you like! I'll try to do better about posting this week!

At last . . . a scrapbook page!

I am proud to say that I FINALLY created a scrapbook page today! I LOVE this picture of Bailey - such a precious little face. I have found plenty of inspiration on the web lately, but just no motivation on my part . . . UNTIL TODAY!!! I just love the scrapbook page that is on the cover of this month's "Stampin' Success" magazine (for SU! demonstrators). I thought the wavy strips of paper were so pretty, but I wasn't sure how to make them. So, while at JoAnn's the other day, I found a Fiskars Tear Edger-Wave and it worked like a charm! I LOVE IT! And it's very cheap, especially with a coupon - under $5! I even used my stamps on this page, too. Perhaps, I'll scrapbook more later on . . .

TEACHER APPRECIATION Part 2

I found this Teacher Survival Kit idea on SCS (of course) and decided to make one for Bailey's teacher and one for the school fundraiser. It's so easy to do but super cute! You can include any kind of treat you like - I had a couple of 100 Grand bars, because Bailey's teacher is worth at least that much, but I ate them . . . oops! I guess it's better to buy treats that YOU don't like!!

GET ON BOARD CHIPBOARD PROMOTION

This is a great promotion for every crafter because chipboard is so versatile! From May 1 - 31, with a minimum purchase of only $35, you get 25 percent off as many On Board chipboard items as you want. This is a perfect time to stock up on a wide assortment of chipboard products. This is an especially great offer for scrapbookers. You will love chipboard for your pages and keepsakes. There are so many fun ways to use chipboard - you can attach SU! Designer Series paper or card stock to it, stamp on it with Craft Stampin' Pads, or even use it plain!

Check out these great items (page 178-179):
On Board Blossoms & Basics
On Board Ginormous Pieces
On Board Bitty Book
On Board 5" x 5" Art Journal
On Board Art Journal (5-3/4" x 8-3/4")
On Board Accents
On Board Lots of Letters
On Board Simon Upper
On Board Simon Lower
On Board Clipboard (13" x 7-1/2")
On Board Clipboard (9" x 9")
On Board Clipboard (4-1/2" x 9")
On Board Book Basics Large
On Board Book Basics Small

CLOWN CUTIE

I found this little cutie on the SU! Demonstrator web site today and I can't wait to make one! If you've ever considered becoming a demonstrator, the web site, which is available exclusively to demonstrators, is a definite perk! Every day, there are 4-6 new ideas to spark your creativity. Please let me know if you want more info about becoming an SU! demonstrator!

Stamps: Pick a Petal, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Short & Sweet, Happiness

Paper: Glossy White, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Bashful Blue

Inks: So Saffron, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Orchid Opulence Classic Stampin' Pads, and Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue Stampin' Write Markers; Signo Gel Pen

Accessories: Vintage Brads, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Crystal Effects, 1/4-inch Circle Punch, Scallop Punch

Created by:
Shawne Arnold

BIRTHDAY BEAUTY

I shameslessly CASEd this beautiful card from curlyred73 on SCS. She was so nice to send me the instructions and it is super easy. Click here for her original. I didn't have a button so I used SU!'s Build-A-Brad and the same Bali Breeze Designer paper that I used for the rest of the project. How cool is that!! Custom brads!! If you'd like the directions, please send me an e-mail or post a comment. Have a great week!

ZOO FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN (& TIRING!!)

Today's first-grade field trip to the zoo was so much fun!! The weather was wonderful - sunny, breezy, & warm - and the animals were lively. My little group of three ran & ran & ran, tirelessly, for hours. The new frog exhibit was awesome! The Blue Dart frog was a favorite, as was the gecko, the white tiger, and the black bear. We saw it all, and then some, and boy am I pooped! Aren't these the cutest kids, though?

You Can Recycle, Too!

I'm sorry to say that I'm not much of a recycler. I drink several cans of diet Coke every day and we are a garbage intense family, so we should really make more of an effort to recycle. But today, I made a tiny little contribution to the environment when I reused a General Foods International Coffee tin!!! I literally had to gouge out the coffee with a knife because it was so old, but once I cleaned it out, wrapped it in Summer Picnic paper, and added some chocolate (Hershey's Truffle Kisses - YUM!!) - instant gift! I swear you can cover ANYTHING with SU! Designer Paper and it becomes a work of HEART! So what are you waiting for . . .

From the Garden

"From the Garden" is a Level 1 Stampin' Up! Hostess Set. If you've never seen it, it is surprisingly pretty and fun to color. There are some beautiful examples on SCS. Schedule your workshop today and you could be stamping with "From the Garden" soon! Have a great week!

IT'S TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH!

Bailey's teacher, Mrs. Bilbrey, is so sweet and wonderful, and she LOVES dark chocolate so, tomorrow, she is getting a GIANT Hershey Bar, specially wrapped just for her in my favorite Summer Picnic paper! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE making these paper bows! They make any gift extra-special! The tutorial is from Splitcoast Stampers (of course!) - check it out! It's FABULOUS!!

Angie Juda is a GENIUS!!!

Angie Juda is a genius!! I recently discovered her blog has some of the cutest and most creative projects a paper crafter could ask for! I demonstrated her Post-It Note Key Chain at our Shoebox Swap/Demo Meeting last night and it was a hit! They are the cutest things ever!! My mom now wants 10 to give to the ladies who work at the Child Development Center where she volunteers. SHHHH! Don't tell - Mom wants it to be a surprise! I also made several of her Punch Handbag cards and they ROCK, too! Thanks, Angie, for your wonderful inspiration!!

Tart & Tangy is SWEET!

I can't believe I waited so long to buy Stampin' Up!'s TART & TANGY set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. It is so versatile and, with the Summer Picnic Paper, Scallop Circle Punch, & Signo White Gel Pen, it's fresh and fun, too! Items from the Occasions Mini Catalog are only available till May 31 so check out my website for more information: http://www.stampingwithangela.stampinup.net/

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's On Its Way!

I am so in love with the Easter cards I've seen on-line! From the paper punched chicks to the bunny card that uses the new Stampin' Up! scalloped Carousel Notes (amazingly beautiful in every way!). I was inspired by a super-cute paper pieced pick-up truck using Loads of Love that I saw on SCS, so I made it in pink and put Easter eggs in the bed and Voila! Adorable Easter card!

Original Thoughts - They Scare Me

Believe it or not, I had 2 ORIGINAL THOUGHTS this week!!! For those of you who know me, you know I ALWAYS copy my ideas from the Internet, especially my favorite SplitCoast Stampers. But with all the AMAZING INSPIRATION I have seen lately, I actually came up with 2 ideas on my own. One was for a CUTE, CUTE, CUTE Christmas "topiary" for my upline, Andi Apuan, using Dashing DP (my FAVE!!) and a teeny, tiny terra-cotta pot! Too precious! My second original idea was for a fun Christmas card for my Bunko buddies. I made cute pink dice, which I almost flocked, but I have learned that flocking is NOT for me!!!

I have seen some BEAUTIFUL glass ornaments on Splitczoast and I was up till midnight last night making some with glitter, sparkly paint, and re-inkers (not all at once, though!). I think my favorite is the sparkly paint. I added rub-on sentiments to them and they are ready to be packaged for my daughter's teachers. BOO-YA!!! I feel so industrious!!