Leap Year!!!

How is it that we have an extra day this year yet I don't have any extra time??? Now really, that just doesn't make any sense, does it?

So I am a single mom working full-time with two teenage daughters and an extra teenage boy that lives with us. We have 3 dogs and a cat, a big yard, and lots of laundry. (If this sounds like a personal ad, it kinda is, heeheehee). I would REALLY like to be a SAHC - that would be a Stay-At-Home-Crafter since I missed the boat on being a SAHM. So if anyone out there knows a decent guy that would provide the life I would like to become accustomed too, please send me an email!

In the meantime, I'll park myself at my craft table and come up with something fun to post tomorrow!

Coffee lovers!

I rarely use stamps that are not Stampin' Up! probably because that was what I was first acquainted with. However that is starting to change... There are so many incredible designers creating WOW images and products. How does one have time to play with it all????

So this card features the "Thanks a Latte" stamp set from Impression Obsession. I used Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, and Very Vanilla cardstock and ink/markers. The pearls are from the Pretties Kit, the velvet ribbon from the Sorbet Ribbon Originals and of course, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Well, I was not selected for the Craft Warehouse Design Team THIS YEAR.... but I will continue trying out because it challenged me and that was fun. Congratulations to those that were chosen. Check it out here!

I have a date with my craft table this evening. See you soon!

Paris in the Spring

I love Paris... last time I was there it was August and muggy, but I loved it anyway!!! Next time I want to try it in the Spring. My kids and I did take a bike ride up to Giverny and Monet's home and gardens. They were fabulous! It was very moving to see his artwork come to life. We ate at this little restaurant where he often visited. And anyone that knows me knows that bicycling isn't really my gig, but I made it!

This card was a Sketch Challenge of Beate's and a Splitcoast color challenge. I used Kraft, Tempting Turquoise, and Green Galore for the colors, Paris in the Spring and Whimsical Alphabet Lower are the stamp sets and for embellishments I used jumbo eyelets, rhinestone brads, green rick rack. Voila!

Clearly Christmas

Yeah, I know I'm going backwards in time.... I've offered a class using this cool clear 6x6 album and Stampin' Up! DSP, cardstock and embellishments. It turned out super cute. I used the Cerise DSP which is now retired but it wuld look just as good using the Olive Press DSP. I also used Real Red, Old Olive and Very Vanilla papers, inks and ribbons. Very little stamping on this project... a word here or there and a Christmas Tree on one page.

Here is a view of one of the inside pages.

Check out my Web site for a little special I am offering to my 2008 hostesses. It's on "My Specials" page at www.desiree.stampinup.net.

Thanks for visiting!

Valentine's is over...

...however I did say I would post a couple of cards that I made. Two weeks ago I had a class for teens to make 5 Valentine's cards and then I also made a few cards to sell at the office. This first card was made with the Simply Said and All Holidays stamp sets, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, and Chocolate Chip papers and inks. Add a couple of brads and ribbon and viola!

The second card I chose to post is using non-traditional Valentine's colors using Basic Grey papers, laser cut sentiment, SU ribbon originals and scallop punch. Very simple.

I thought I would also post two of the five pieces of my submission packet for the Craft Warehouse Design Team just for fun.

Appealing flowers

I created this card late, late, late while watching a great movie called Frequency with Dennis Quaid. I used Beate's weekend sketch challenge and a color challenge on Splitcoast. I have never used these colors together and I can't even remember the last time I used Apricot Appeal or Ballet Blue. They don't even show up on my radar.

So this color combo is Apricot Appeal, Ballet Blue and Real Red. I used Friendly Flowers (Occasions mini) and Friendship Blooms (Sale-a-Bration) stamp sets. The only non-Stampin' Up items are the red Prima flowers. For the paper peircing I followed the dots on the flower that I stamped in red on the red cardstock. You can see this better in the close up photo. I like seeing the apricot through the holes.

Craft Warehouse, a locally owned craft store (like Michael's or JoAnn's) had a call for their 2008 design team. I've never tried out for anything like that before so I toodled on over there, bought some goodies, and made my submission items. Two cards, two scrapbooking layouts, and a unique photo memory project. I hand delivered my submission packet to their corporate office yesterday, well Friday, morning. Judging starts on Monday. They may even announce the team that evening.... I am waiting on pins and needles! I'll post photos of my projects here tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday.

Well, it's 2:42 am so I better get to bed. Gotta read before I fall asleep too so that'll add another hour before my eyes close.

Western Dahlia

Ok, just one more of these dahlias. Told you I loved making them.... This one has a western feel.

I used Apple Cider DSP, River Rock and Really Rust cardstock and ink plus Chocolate Chip ink. For embellishments I used a rhinestone brad and jumbo eyelet for the center of the flower and I-Kan-Dee dots along with paper piercing and scoring for a little extra detailing on the card.

This photo shows the scoring detail a lot better. I really enjoyed making the dahlias but now I am on to something new. The rest of the weekend I will be working on a sample for my Holiday Scrapping class on Thursday. I'll be posting that on Sunday (I hope). Still time to sign up for that if you are interested. Visit my SU! web page for details: www.desiree.stampinup.net.

Reminder: Don't wait until the last minute to book your Sale-a-Bration party! You don't want to miss out on all the FREE stuff you will get as a hostess and all the fun your guests will have! Contact me today!

Touch of Nature

Here is card based on Beate John's sketch challenge WSC33. See her blog "Fresh and Fun". It was fun to get out my watercolor crayons and paint brush and paint for a change. I used River Rock and Almost Artichoke cardstock, watercolor paper, and Brocade Backgrounds DSP, Touch of Nature and All Holidays stamp sets, linen thread and you can't really see it but there is Crystal Effects on the three circles.

This weekend I have been up to my elbows in Valentine's supplies. Some of the men at work have asked me to make cards for them to give to their love bugs so I've been doing that. Each one is an original so it takes a little longer then doing mass production. I made a quick trip over to Craft Warehouse and bought some goodies, pulled out stuff from last Valentine's and went to work. I'll share those this week.

Please leave comments when you visit. I would love to know what you think of my blog, my cards, or anything else you'd like to say. My goal is to post every other day so we'll see how that works out.

Speaking of working out... I am joining Body and Soul in Vancouver WA. They have circuit training, belly dancing, weight loss classes, pilates, and more. I'll be meeting my friend Kris at 6:15 am (yes, AM) for pilates. For those that know me, I am NOT a morning person. Yikes!

Garden Dahlia

Here's another dahlia card. I made this one with the Secret Garden DSP, Almost Artichoke, River Rock, Groovy Guava and Whisper White. Added the ribbon and bling to give it a little pizzazz.

Sale-a-Bration is going full swing, just 5 more weeks left. If you haven't contacted me for a party, don't wait! Get the details at www.stampinup.com.

Check out my web site at www.desiree.stampinup.net for an extra special deal I'm giving in honor of Stampin' Up!'s 20th Anniversary.

This weekend I plan on getting lots of crafting done, getting my tax stuff together, and ordering a new mailbox. I've had to pick up my mail at the post office for the last few weeks. My current mailbox was the victim of some vandals and not fit for mail delivery. So that'll fill up my weekend. What are you all up to???

Dahlias - beautiful and fun

Here is my first try at a dahlia fold. It's not tricky, you just need to make sure the folds are precise. I decided to combine two challenges from Splitcoast CC151 and TLC153. The first is a color challenge to use YoYo Yellow, Basic Gray and Going Gray. The the technique challenge was the dahlia fold. Click HERE for instructions. I have a couple more dahlias to show you in the next day or two.

So on this one I also used some designer series paper, white flat pearls from the Pretties kit and basic gray taffeta ribbon. The stamp set is Touch of Nature.

As I check out other blogs the creativity never ceases to amaze me. There are so many truly talented stampers and scappers out there. As I set my goals to get better, let me help you with your stamping goals... do you want to make cards, scrapbooks, or other paper arts? Do you need a jump start or some creative coaching? Contact me and let's get creative!

Sale-a-Bration!

Sale-A-Bration starts today! Check out the mini catalog and start your wish list now.

Every year Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses, and new demonstrators the chance to earn fantastic, FREE, limited-edition stamp sets and rub-ons! The selection is fabulous!

When you spend $50 on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you get to choose a free Sale-A-Bration reward. There's no limit so for every $50 you spend, you get another free item!

Host a party (at your home, a catalog party, or a virtual party) that totals $300 or more and you will also select a free Sale-a-Bration item in addition to the regular hostess benefits you get.

Sign up to be as a demonstrator and you can choose any stamp set(a value of up to $47.95) from the Spring-Summer 2008 Collection ... FREE! Plus, new demonstrator recruits get 20 percent off the Demonstrator Starter Kit--over $350 of Stampin' Up! products and business supplies for only $159! Wow, you can't beat that deal!

The Sale-A-Bration promotion runs through March 17, so don't miss your chance to earn free products! Click here to check out all the cool sets. Then contact me at desdm@msn.com to order, host a party, or to become a demonstrator!