(You arrived from Denise's Blog) This time of year families and friends gather to celebrate. Many of us send out annual greetings. Nothing says I am thinking of you like a handmade greeting card. I have a few ideas to inspire and get your creative juices flowing to send your own homemade card. The first card I started by using up extra supplies from a previous swap. The card base, burlap ribbon and DSP were the extra items I had. For some reason I was inspired to create folds. And thanks to my daughter who suggested the black strip which ended up looking like Santas belt. The card has a rustic santa feel. Supplies: 135068/135071 Merry Everything Stamps 126966 Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad 101650 Very Vanilla Cardstock 121065 Basic Black Cardstock 135825 Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper 133704 Typeset DSP (thin and amazing paper) 133719 Gold Glimmer Paper 135860 Note Tag Punch  133787 Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack 104294 Sticky Strip

November Diva Blog hop is here! Theme is Fall. If you have arrived at my blog you probably came from Denise's blog and will head to Autumn's blog after mine.  Tis the season to give thanks to friends and family. And I for one will be doing so all month long. With all that has happened and all the changes my family has gone through in the last few months, we are every day thankful for each other. Of course no family gets along 100% of the time, but we are closer than ever because of all that we have been through. This card is my swap from our October 2014 stamp meeting. I thought I would change up the fall colors a bit, even though I love Autumn and its rich, almost fiery colors. With the use of our burlap ribbon and woodgrain TIEF it still achieves that warm rustic look we are accustomed to seeing in the Fall.  Supplies: Stamps - This stamp set pictured is now RETIRED. Tag Talk 134252 uses the same punch and similar greetings Inks - Basic Black 126

   I had a short trip down memory lane today as I bit into an orange flavored Starburst. Had to scrapbook that memory quickly while it was fresh.  Try the Project Life app for iOS and coming soon to Android. Stampin' Up! has some great additional in app paper packs and such for it. Actual app is only $2.99 with most in app options either .99 or $1.99. A real bargain. And it is easy to import into My Digital Studio to print. You can save your Project Life pages as 8x8 or 12x12 and share right to your social media too.  Contact me if you would like help figuring out printing from My Digital Studio your Project Life pages. I would love to say I will have a video out soon but family obligations will prevent that in the near future. It really is easy though.  Update: I felt like the page wasn't complete enough or wasn't me enough. With a few quick clicks and now I feel it is finished and ready for the printer.  Which do you like better? The original or the bottom one with more p

Help me. I've created my own monster.  This is the kind of moments that's perfect for the Project Life app. Mementos to be tossed but not forgotten. Don't need a fancy page. Just a quick click to capture the memories. Done! (PS: I know I could have done this in My Digial Studio but this was just more handy at the time.)

I just downloaded the #projectlifeapp in my iPhone (5). It works beautifully. And it coordinates with my #plxsu Project Life by Stampiin' Up! Items.  I still love, and swear by My Digital Studio for my scrapbooking needs. It's some of those every day moments that don't get scrapped that I will use the Project Life app. While I am waiting for my son or daughter to get out of school or those other, I've got five minutes free what can I do, moments, this is how I will fill the time.  You can choose what size you want to print to later - 12x12 or 8x8. You can share directly to Facebook or Instagram. Yup. Whether you are a social media buff or printed pages scrapbookers they have you covered. Of course there are add on "paper packs" and layouts. But the basics are pretty darn good. Good enough for my purposes.  Hey if you do decide to try it, post in comments or email me you creation and I will post it here. 

Halloween really does bite doesn't it? You bite candy. You bite people if you are a vampire. You bite apples and pumpkin anything (if you are like me)! This months Diva Blog Hop features  Halloween goodness. You have hopefully arrived from Sue  http://stillstampingwithsue.com/  and will head to Pam http://pamskraftykorner.blogspot.com/ right after me.  I almost want to call this a limited supply challenge, as I am living out of two houses right now as we take care of my aging mother, and all my supplies are at the house I seem to be at the least. LOL Happy Halloween card on left: {all supplies in the Annual Catalog unless otherwise noted} Halloween Street stamps 136567 wood - holiday catalog Work of Art stamps 134111 wood  StayzOn ink in Black Tangelo Twist ink 133646 Typset Speciality DSP 133704 Champagne glitter paper 127885 Very Vanilla, Basic Black cardstock Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon 133669 Party Pennants Bigs L die 133732 Last Bite Card Merry Everything stamps 135068

HOLIDAY CATALOG PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA Sunday, September 14, 2014 1-4 pm Medina Entertainment Center 500 Minnesota HWY 55, Medina, MN 55340 Demonstrations * Displays * Make & Take from the Holiday Catalog First 75 people in the door get a select gift. ***Bring Your Camera ***              << >> RSVP needsaribbon@gmail.com See you all Sunday!

Dear Stamper/Scrapper/Crafter friends: No, the earth did not flatten out and I fell off the edge. The last 3-4 months have been devoted to aging ailing family members, in particular, both my husband’s mother and my mother. The circumstances have been entirely unavoidable.   I wish I could say otherwise. I have not even gone shopping myself in the new mini catalog. That makes me kind of sad. On top of that my laptop is on the fritz. Late August I celebrated my ninth year with Stampin’ Up! Wow!!! A lot has changed for me, my business and the company in that time. Other than my recent added family responsibilities, I like where the business is headed. Stampin’ Up! is still offering truly inspiring and creative products in the field of papercrafting.   Please hang tight. My mother is on the move again in 11 days, and hopefully will be situated for a few months, to her remaining years (that’s my plan anyway!).   I miss holding classes, see you, and stamping and laughing with you.

Needing two birthday and two sympathy cards at the same time I thought why not do a one card two ways challenge, twice. First was based on a sample I saw on Pinterest. I liked how the DSP peaks out from behind the top layer. Truly a simple great layout idea.  Making cards for other demonstrators is always challenging as I want something fresh for them. Carrie is such a thoughtful person and always happy, I thought Daffodil Delight fit the occasion. The paper used was Park Lane 133694.  Changing things up just a bit and it's a sympathy card for another demo who lost her grandma. I love this set, Love & Sympathy. I have used it more more than sympathy cards. 122797 c 128652 w.  Do you have a go to set for sympathy?  Love & Sympathy » 3 stamps Wood 128652 $15.95 Clear 122797 $11.95 Available in French Thank you for stopping by, happy stamping, Sandy  

Using the same technique outlined in http://www.needsaribbon.blogspot.com/2014/07/you-best-mustache.html?m=1 i created this heart. Throw in some arrows using punches including the chevron edge punch and stamp up the background using the Work of Art set for a tone on tone look.  Thank you for stopping, happy stamping, Sandy

Using the same coloring/shape technique from http://www.needsaribbon.blogspot.com/2014/07/you-best-mustache.html?m=1 I made the shirt using the Baby's First onsie framelit 133735 and colored using Crushed Curry. I water colored the tie also.   The burlap ribbon and metal buttons finish off a strong masculine look. I even added a diamond tie tack  Colors: island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede and of course Whisper White.  Have you ordered your Baby's First framelit and stamp set yet? So many options in one small package.  Got a cute idea with this Framelit? Share with me and I will post it on my blog.  Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping, Sandy

Using the same watercolor technique explained here http://www.needsaribbon.blogspot.com/2014/07/you-best-mustache.html?m=1 I colored the stars that were cut out using the Stars Framelits 133723.  With the stripes on the banner to the whited dotted TIEF paper it's a richly textured card.  Change the shape of the stars and the greeting and you can keep the same look for a different occasion.  Thank you for stopping by. Happy stamping, Sandy

Fun new technique tonight! Watercolor Framelits.  Supplies:  For watercoloring. I did two re-inker drops per cup and about a teaspoon-tablespoon of water.  Cut the framelit out of watercolor paper first 112959. Using your ink and water and an aqua painter 103954 paint the paper as desired. Create some magic.  I like that it gives variegation and texture to your framelit instead of flat uniform cardstock.  And above is why I recommend watercoloring whole shapes rather than color in areas. There is just not enough control unless you have a very fine aqua painter, which Stampin' Up! Does not carry.  Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping, Sandy

My in-laws 50th anniversary is this week. Of course I couldn't do just ONE card! I had trouble photographing all the shine. Goodness in one of the now deleted photos you could see my reflection and all my splendor. 😳 This card was so front heavy with all the layers it kept tipping over. It weighed quite a bit more than the box card.  And such a simple word that means so much in 50 years of marriage.   Yes I used vellum and the new frames TIEF which I had to hand cut the vellum and the gold layer to get it to work right.  The front layer, the one that looks like gold striped paper? You won't find it in the catalog. In fact, unless I get ambitious, it won't be seen again. I ran Whisper White cardstock using the Stylish Stripes TIEF 132174 through the Big Shot. I then ran a piece of the Gold Foil Sheet 132622 doing the same thing using a bigger piece. I then hand cut the stripe inserts. It was trial and error. I am sure there are easier ways to do it than I did. But this was

(If you are following the blog hop you should have arrived from Denise's  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/denisewilson/blog  and head to Autumns blog  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampingave/blog  after.  You Rock! 134862 You Rock stamp set 130514 w 130517 c Gorgeous Grunge Stamp set 131180 Pear Pizazz Ink pad 131201 Pear Pizazz Cardstock 121045 Basic Black Cardstock 120953 Crumb Cake Cardstock 126975 Crumb Cake Ink pad 102935 Brushed Gold Cardstock 104199 Linen Thread 132140 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon 130011 Pear Pizazz Chevron Ribbon 119246 Rhinestone Basic Jewels 130999 Old Olive Blendabilities Assortment 133787 Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (star) 130916 Alphabet Press TIEF Big Shot 104430 Dimenstionals I am not going to say this is my favorite new stamp set in the catalog, but it definitely ranks up in the top 10. I love the complete versatility and simplicity of the "you rock" saying, it works for birthday, thank you, thinking of you, congrats, retire

The theme for my summer is "The Best Laid Plans.." Lol! Husband out of town for 24/25 days caring for a family member and dealing with all the family drama that comes with that situation. Kids in and out and in and out of house and projects and camps. My mother is falling again and should be moved to an assisted living facility. Summer house projects started and interrupted. Visiting colleges (gasp!) Crafting time that comes in binge modes. It has been crazy I tell ya. I keep saying my schedule is a moving target. It truly has been. Would love to be having more classes, making more youtube videos and more, but things just keep interrupting.  The best part of all this is with the job I have, with the company I have, somehow it all works. Somehow what absolutely needs to get done, gets done. Though I am sad that the Inspire*Create*Share 2014 Convention is happening in days and for the first time since 2010 I am not attending, it is all for the best. (or at least I keep telling

In honor of the public release of Blendabilities I thought I'd share this card with you.  Blendabilities are on page 212 of the catalog. Pages 166-161 have instructions and some great stamps to color. This is not your 1990's line art stamps to color in the lines! The great thing about our Blendabilities is how great they work and how affordable they are. $11.95 for an entire color family of three markers.  The card was an oh-so-simple 4x4 card. One layer of the whisper white (measured at 3.5 x 3.5"). Stamp Blended Bloom 135906 stamp using the Memento Pad ink 132708 and Coastal Cabana Blendabilities set 131000. A little Daffodil Delight Blendabilities 130998 in the flower center for a pop of color.  And the color lifter 129369 to blend and lift the color.  Add the Watercolor Thank You stamp 135377 and a Daffodil Delight bow for some dimension 125583. And voila!  Order Blendabilies today. Fall in love with coloring all over again tomorrow. Thank you for stopping by.  Happy S