A Cup of Thanks

You may have noticed I'm not posting as often. I would really love to post atleast 3 times a week, but with the holidays fast approaching, time is at a serious premium. I'm aiming for 1-2 times a week right now and hope to update my class list for the winter soon, too! Thanks for hanging in there with me :)

Today's Pals Paper Arts Challenge was a sketch challenge ~ my favourite type of challenge! I have been itching to try out my Tea Shoppe stamp set, another sneak peek from the Occasions Mini. I have recently become a very avid tea drinker but what I really loved about this set was the mug - it's so pretty! Look at the little flowers on it, which I strategically adorned with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. :)

I also used a new DSP ~ Sweet Shoppe. It is a specialty DSP with two embossed designs. The Wisteria Wonder Polka Dot paper has debossed polka dots :) It is so cute, so beautiful. A great variety of designs that work so well together and I love the idea of tea and cakes!

Tips & Tricks:

*Sometimes the right DSP can add a lot to your card. Even though the tea cup is the focal point of this card, the cake DSP adds a whole other element to the card.
*Love the ribbon? It's the new Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon.
*The Tea Shoppe stamp set comes with a myriad of lovely greetings, it's a great everyday stamp set :)
*Do you have trouble inking big stamp sets? Usually we put our ink pads on our work surface and ink our stamps by pushing them into the ink. For bigger stamps, try putting the stamp on your work surface upside down and pushing the ink pad down on the stamp.

Hope you've enjoyed this 'tea card'. I know atleast one person who will love it! You know who you are ;) 'Til next time, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!

Sale-a-Bration will be here soon...

With my Occasions Mini Preorder, I was also able to preorder some Sale-a-Bration (SAB) exclusive stamp sets and accessories. How exciting!!! Even more stuff. Even better was I got it all FREE ~ I love being a demonstrator :)

What is SAB? It's the most wonderful time of the year for SU! customers, hostesses and demonstrators, and runs from January 24th to March 31st. As a customer, you get to choose 1 FREE SAB item with every $60 in merchandise you order! What types of free items are we talking about? SAB exclusive stamps, designer papers and accessories, as well as some catalog merchandise such as the Brights Designer Buttons and Stripes Embossing Folder. Wait, it gets better! There's NO LIMIT!!! If you join SU! during SAB, you get your Starter Kit for $150 (tax free in Ontario ~ Canada only) as well as a FREE package of Designer Paper every month 'til December 2012. Do you see a trend? As in FREE???

You can take advantage of this awesome Demo Starter Deal before Sale-a-Bration through me because I'm going to Stampin' Up! Leadership conference. Sign up on December 13th or 14th and get your business off to a great start in the new year, taking advantage of Sale-a-Bration right from the get-go!!! You can sign up easily at www.stampingwithmonica.com ~ but only December 13th and 14th for the $150 + free DSP deal :)

This week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge asked us to dress up our card for a special occasion. I used some new SAB goodies as well as the Labels Framelits to dress up my card:

Tips & Tricks:

*Love the ribbon? So do I! It's the new Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon. Get 10 yards of each PLUS 30 Everyday Enchantment Printed Brads (top left - Pool Party flower brad) in a SAB bundle. The ribbon is nice and narrow, but a good weight. Just gorgeous.

*The DSP is also the SAB Everyday Enchantment DSP and it is beautiful. The snippits in the brochure do NOT do it justice!
*I wasn't sure about the SAB Fresh Vintage stamp set, but it's has definitely grown on me. The larger flower image fits perfectly into a medium Labels Framelit. Because the Framelit has not center (it's a frame - go figure ;) ) you can position it perfectly on your stamped image. The square stamp coordinates perfectly with the 1" Square Punch.
*I love the Framelits. I've never used a similar product. I did, however, learn the hard way that making a frame is a two-step process. First cut out your larger die-cut. Then, position the smaller framelit on your larger die-cut and cut out your frame. DO NOT put both the large and small framelits on at the same time... you run the risk of them shifting in the Big Shot and cuttin into each other ~ been there, done that and even though the framelits are super sturdy, I wouldn't want to do it again ;)

Wow! Long post... That's it for today, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!

Layers Upon Wonderful Layers

It was like Christmas in Stamping Monica's stampin' studio today ~ my Occasions Mini preorder came! I ordered WAAAAAY more than I was planning and also got a ton of FREE loot... just because SU! is such a fantastic company :) :) :) I love love love being a demonstrator!

There were tonnes of awesome new products in the Mini: pleated ribbons, designer buttons, Framelits (Big Shot dies that create shapes in multiple sizes, similar to Spellbinders dies), Edgelits (card stock edge cutters) and coordinating edge embossing folders! Oh and some really great stamp sets. And Designer Papers. Actually everything :) I also got a bunch of Sale-a-bration loot (SAB runs from Jan 24 to March 31).

Gorgeous Pleated Ribbon and Designer Buttons

Today, I had absolutely no idea where to start. None. So many great products, which ones to work with??? I had to make a project for my upcoming stampers group (I promised them a project with new products) as well as some swaps. The swap cards will be a smidge different to make them a bit easier to make, but the idea will be the same.

I also chose to use the new stamp set P.S. I Love You. It is a super Valentine's stamp set, perfect for kids' valentines, as well as adult ones. This super cute sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches. It's a keeper, for sure. I love the Heart Framelits, coordinating hearts, or make a frame! Place it right over an image and cut it out with precision. Totally AWESOME :)

Tips & Tricks:

*My 3D butterfly and ornament have been real hits! So I thought, why not do it with the Heart Punch and coordinating image from P.S. I Love You. Need some details on how to make the 3D heart? Here's a previous Blog Post on 3D Butterflies - different punch, same idea :)

*This card is an angled easel card. I saw this concept at a demo meeting about a month ago and have been making it ever since. Love. It.
*I cut cupid out by hand ~ sometimes doing a bit of cutting has a great effect.
*Like the Designer Paper? It's the new Twitterpated DSP. It coordinates with the Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon and Twitterpated Designer Buttons, both used on this card. Isn't it gorgeous?

I hope you've enjoyed this little Sneak Peek :) I'll be back with more soon because there's just so much awesome stuff! 'Til next time, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Boy

My family lives overseas and my cousin just had her first baby. He came a few weeks earlier than planned and was almost born in their car. Other than being teeny tiny he's doing well. I wish I was closer so that I could give him a little snuggle ~ he's the sweetest little guy ever! (well, except for my own little guy of course ;) ).

I decided to use today's Mojo Monday sketch to make the little guy and his proud mommy and daddy a card. I used a stamp set I haven't used in a while but absolutely love, Baby Bundle. It's got so many cute little baby accessories and is perfect for two step stampin'. If you're feeling like putting in a bit of extra effort, you can cut out some of these accessories for your card, like I did.

Tips & Tricks:

*Want a Designer Series Paper that works for feminine, masculine, kids and baby cards? Look no further than Beau Chateau. I know I've sang the praises of this DSP before, but now I've used it for this baby card... how awesome is that?
*Create and extra special customized card by lining one of our Medium Envelopes with a coordinating Designer Series Paper.
*Once again I'm using the Basic Jewels - Pearls on my card. I love how it adds a bit of special detail to the stroller.
*The Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder is my go-to embossing folder for kids cards.
*I popped my main stroller image on as well as the booties and onesie on Stampin' Dimentionals to make sure they're a focal point on my card.

I hope my cousin and her husband enjoy the card and are enjoying their new little bundle even more! 'Til next tiem, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!