A Challenge, a Share and NEW - More Sale a Bration Goodies coming in March!

First the challenge:

I already started on Feb 1st and started sending cards out, and today, I am up to 25, aiming for 1 per day for Lent..... During Lent a whole lots of people give up something, I am challenging you guys to join me in sending cards to people instead of/in addition to giving up something, to give something instead. Send or Give some cards....Now I know Lent has already begun, but start now, today. I know you guys have some cards sitting around.....if not, this will challenge you to make some......it doesn't have to be for a special occasion, even though it can be.  Send out or hand out as many hand made cards and keep track of how many you send out. Report the total number to me either on my fb page - Stampin' with Stampergirl, or here on my blog or email me @ sbjcarol@yahoo.com and the person reporting the most will win a Stampin' UP! prize from me. A second prize for those of you who send or hand out 40 cards.   April 7th is the Deadline!

Second - the Share:    If you need some inspiration on a card to send.....Here is one, I CASEd it from someone on facebook and changed the colors, because I had a piece of Calypso Coral card stock laying around an worked from there.  This was a quick and easy card, one that will go in the mail and not need any extra postage!!!

Third - More Sale a bration Goodies, starts on March 1st:

There's more too!   in addition to this stamp set and the Accessory pack of twine and buttons, there is another stamp set and some GORGEOUS printed vellum paper stack as an additional choice.   Check my website on March 1st where you can check those items out!!!!

ENJOY! and pass the JOY onto others

Creative Blog Hop - Today

I have been invited by Lynne Peters to join in a Monday Creative Blog Hop and am excited to join in and to post on my  blog.  I will share my creation and then show you the steps that will help you create one of your own.   Every one turns out completely different...kinda like snowflakes.....no two alike!

I am using my favorite technique for this card, called Emboss Resist.   I am using mostly favorites for this card.  I am using one of my favorite stamp sets from the Occasions catalog, Sheltering Tree and using some favorite colors too, Pool Party, Soft Sky, Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo.   Some other items you need besides stamps, ink and paper are Embossing powder, versamark or white craft ink and a heat tool.   

     Start with a piece of whisper white card stock, my piece is 5 1/4 x 4.   

First I stamped my bare tree in Early Espresso ink (since this stamp set is a photopolymer set, make sure you use a foam mat under your card stock).   Next I stamped the leaves of the tree in white craft ink, sprinkled clear embossing powder on top and heated until it melted the powder.   You can't really see it that well, but it is stamped there.

Next I sponged the lightest color ink in a swirling motion - Soft Sky

I continued sponging with the following colors:   Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Lost Lagoon and Island Indigo...Don't all those names of the colors sound inviting?   Especially to all my friends getting hit with snow, ice and cold!!!!

• I did another one and sponged the same colors, just some more of the darker colors.

I will finish the one on the right later, I want it more round than oval, just a bit more sponging.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me, leave a comment on this blog, text, email, my contact information is listed in my blog header. 

Along with this blog hop, I need to answer the following 4 questions:

• What are you working on?   I am always working on something.   I have just recently moved 1000 miles from my family, friends, stampin' buddies so I had to change things.   I found it difficult after I first set up my new craft room.  - no stamp club, no classes, nothing to prepare for, so I have started sending out a few cards to my family and friends, each day....  I am having my first class on Tuesday, so I just spent this past week preparing the cards for the class.  
• How does your work differ from others in your genre? This question is hard for me, I think we all differ from one another.   I CASE a lot, see a card or a project and copy it changing colors or stamps or accessories for ones that I have.  Since moving, I have started checking out sketches and doing my own thing..... which is mostly card making, cards that go in the mail, not too many embellishments and ones that are easy for others to make.

• Why do you create what you do? I create what I do, because I cannot draw or paint, or play an instrument or sing!   But I can stamp!!!!  I love love  love showing others they can too and when they get excited after they have made a card and know who they are sending it to, that is when I know that is why....To make a difference, even it is someone else making the difference to someone they know, I helped them....  I just read something recently....Stampin' puts joy in my heart!  The whole process, getting ideas, playing with stamps, inks, papers, stamping, cutting, punching, die cutting, gluing, embossing.   I love it all and it does fill my heart with JOY!

• How does your creative process work? I said that I CASE most of my projects, from all kinds of sources; Pinterest, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website, Splitcoast Stampers, checking others blogs.   and lately checking out a sketch challenge.   I always make 2 cards when I sit down to create, I mean, your cutting the card stock in half, so might as well make 2 cards, only have to clean up your mess once.!

Here are some of the other people who have posted in previous Monday hops.  Hope you enjoy looking at their sites and getting ideas from them also.  I have recruited Frances Wagner to continue the hop for next Monday and I will add her blog info next week for you as a reminder.

Lynne Peters

Deb Paisie

Cindy Fodor

hanniejoy

Anne Matasci

ENJOY!

The Traveler....and a Sketch

Today I am preparing for my first card class here in the Melbourne, Florida area.   I wanted to use a stamp set that I had to have, but really haven't used much.    Then to decide on what to make with it.....Oh my all these decisions.  Sometimes the places to search for ideas have too many ideas and I become overwhelmed and end up  not using what I had started searching ideas for.    I wanted to check my email and saw a post from a blog I get updates from....Sandi MacIver and there was the Sketch #92 , SO  that is what I based my card on.  

Colors used:  Night of Navy, pool party, whisper white.

Stamp sets used:  The Traveler, Petite Pairs

Accessories used: chevron embossing folder, scallop oval punch, oval punch, dimensionals, Maritime DSP

First Class in Melbourne, Florida and Stampin' Up! Deals of the Week and more

YWOOHOO,  I acquired a place to hold small classes, 10 people and under and have scheduled the first class, Mailable Card Class.

My first Class will be held on February 24th 1130- 2pm. New York Pizza & Pasta Cafe 6450 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940...

This class consists of 3 cards that are mailable, they will have layers and embellished, but will not cost more to go thru the mail. The cost is $5 and includes envelopes. You will need to bring your favorite adhesive and scissors. All other supplies will be provided.

You must RSVP so that I will have enough supplies ready for everyone. Contact me by calling or texting me at 410.382.4874 or leave a comment below this post.

Goodies to Share

Bring a friend and get to take 3 cards out of my box of cards.
Place an order of $25 or more that day and choose an item from my Goodie Basket - lots of Stampin' Up! merchandise New, Current and Retired.
Book a Party, Get Extra Hostess $$ when you hold your party.

I am excited to get started sharing what I love in Florida...Want to learn more about Me, about my stampin', Stampin' Up!.....contact me. today.

Weekly Deals

Every week, Stampin' Up! releases their Weekly Deals, products they have chosen to be on sale, but just for one week.    Tuesday morning til the following Monday night only.    

I love the arrow punch and that is one I do not have, YET.   There is something for every crafter here, Designer Series paper, Digital downloads, a fantastic Kit, ribbons and punches.   Don't wait too long to get these deals, they are only here for a week.   If you want to get any of these deals you can go to my website and choose the shop now button and purchase them, anything from the clearance rack and anything from any current catalogs....If your order totals $50 (before shipping and tax), you get to choose a FREE Sale a bration item too!   Your not sure how to order online, just ask, I can walk you thru it.    Use the Hostess Code (only thru this evening, 7pm as I am finalizing the order)...NK6ANNVD

Anyone using that hostess code will receive a Stampin' Up! goodie from me.

Stamp Class in the Mail - Sheltering Tree - update -   Those of you who participated in my first Stamp Class in the Mail, Thanks so much..... Your cards will be going out in the mail Thursday.   Those that missed it, A new class will be announced for March next Monday.  And next Monday, I will be participating in a Blog Hop, so make sure you check it out.

I am sharing one of the cards from the Stamp Class in the Mail

This is actually a bookmark card....hmm, idea for next class - Fun Folding Cards.....Stay tuned.

Stampin' Up! --- Making a difference!

This' past Saturday I drove up to Jacksonville to attend a Demonstrator's Fund Raiser to benefit Community Connections of Jacksonville.  Lee has been doing these events for 5 years!!!   That's a lot of Making a Difference!    Everyone in attendance brought jars of peanut butter and Jelly too, those when to help the homeless kids (another company was donating bread!).   I thoroughly enjoyed my time, stamping with women and men, learning tips and techniques from one another, learning about each other and helping to make a difference.   She holds these fundraisers every other month to benefit a different charity... and in April she is challenging other demonstrators to do the same, all for the same cause....Autism.  I have taken the challenge and am in the process of coordinating this Event.   It will be held April 11th and all the information regarding this event will be updated as soon as I have all the details.  

Here is one of my favorite cards we made!   Isn't it cute.   This stamp set, Cheerful Critters is one of the first stamp sets I purchased from the Occasions catalog.  I have used it for a birthday card and a Baby card.   So many possibilities and with the open space on the sign you can put any greeting in there.

We used reinkers and the aqua painter to color in the little bear, however you could use any coloring tools, Blendabilities, markers, colored pencils. or use your blender pen and inks too.   For young kids you could let them color in the critters!    

Hope you enjoyed this card and hope you can take a few minutes today to create something today.   

Stay tuned for more information for the Stamp out Autism Day, but save the date!  April 11th.   If you are in the Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, Brevard County, Florida area , it will be a treat!   

ENJOY!

I 

Weekly Deals at Stampin' Up!, Great card share from Leadership and more....

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals for this week. 

If you order the Stamp Class in the Mail, you can add anything to that order you want, even these deals, however if you are ordering any deals, you need to put the order thru by Feb 9th to take advantage of the deal price.

Deadline for ordering the February Stamp class in the Mail is Sunday, February 15th. @ 7pm EST.   I will finalize that Hostess Code Order at that time.   You can order anytime thru my website using the Hostess Code NK6ANNVD.

I attended Stampin' Up!'s Leadership in Orlando Florida last week.....I mean, I live an hr away, how could I not go???   Well, with selling our home in Maryland, packing everything up and not having a "home"  for over a month and then having a grandson born on the day we moved into our new home, which was the last day for signing up for the Leadership.....I didn't do it.   I mean, I couldn't sign up not knowing when I would be going back to Maryland to visit with family and meet my new grandson.   SO, when I returned home last week, I asked my AWESOME husband if he would mind if I went for 3 days, he said, no I don't mind, go....So I did.   It was too late to register for Leadership or "fill in" for someone who had to cancel.   BUT I went anyway.   I streamed the general sessions, spent time with friends I have met over the years at Stampin' Up! Conventions and Leaderships.   I met a few new people and had a great time.   Took notes from my roommates and had an awesome time.  

One of my friends, Michelle Deslandes from VT, made some awesome swaps and she gave me one....I love it and it uses Duct tape, embossed!!!

Thanks Michelle for sharing your swaps with me, they were Awesome!

Enjoy!