Happy New Year!

Get your year off to a great start with specials from Stampin'Up! Sell-a-bration starts next week and there is a new twist this year that I think you will really like. Click the link to the right "Dawn's SU page" and go to the promotions section for a list of all specials. Don't forget you can do all your shopping there too!

I am way behind on posting Christmas cards. This year I am trying very hard to actually mail cards out! Last year I got a call from Aunt Betty saying the last picture she had of the boys was from 2006! I got in trouble! This card is so simple and really pretty. The secret is stamping the swirly and embossing with clear EP. Roll over the embossed image with the brayer. Wipe away the excess ink and trace along the image with a darker marker. It really makes the image pop. I brayered with Bordering Blue then used the same color marker. The ornament is stamped with the Delightful Decorations stamp set and punched with the punch, then attached with dimensionals in the hole on the front of the card- so it kind of pops out of the front! Check back for more cards in the coming days! They are made- just not posted.
Merry Christmas!

Natures Nest

This is a great stamp set from Stampin'Up! if you are looking for a masculine card. This one I made for some college guys. I love the Soft suede, Mellow Moss, and Old Olive together!
Enjoy!

Fun Halloween cards

One of the best things about Halloween (my favorite holiday) is that it is so fun, silly, off the wall...It is a time to let your guard down and go for the gusto. So I did with my cards. I pulled some fun, bright cardstock, used the Twick or Tweet stamp set from the Stampin'Up mini catalog, and went to town. There is nothing super special about either card, but the use of paper piecing (the dog), layering images, (the web and ghost on the yellow circle background), and oversized circles, gives these cards huge personality! Happy Halloween- have some silly fun!

It's almost Halloween

Here is one of the cards we made in the workshop yesterday. We made all cards with the Stampin'Up! Twick or Tweet set. This one uses all Stampin'Up! materials. I went out of my comfort zone and used Always Artichoke card stock- and I like the results. It would be hard to ruin a card with that cute little bird!

August Workshop cards

For my friend Angie who can't make it to the workshops all the way from Nashville, and for all of you who are tempted to come to a workshop but don't know what it is all about...Here are the cards we will stamp this month. These cards feature new materials from Stampin'Up!, and a few new ideas I have learned. If you want to stamp with us, please send me a message so I can add you to the email list. We stamp the last Thursday night and Friday morning of the month. The class is $10.00, and I provide all the supplies. We make between 8 and 12 cards depending on the level of difficulty. I would love for you to join the group- we have lots of fun!

Bring back mulberry paper

I love this set, Nature's Nest. I thought the feather was begging to be done in rich colors, and when I found an old piece of mulberry paper, the plan came together! I ran the Bermuda Bay card stock thru the big shot with a texture plate- it is very subtle- too subtle if you ask me. Then I layered Soft Suede and Very Vanilla. The Thanks is hand written and fits in the word window perfectly! (I have trouble finding stamps that will fit in the word window punch). Thanks for looking, now I am going to work on the turtle in the set which is what I set out to do and got a little distracted!

Love it!

I put this card together super quick. The stamp was something I found in the craft room- not even sure from whence it came! The ink is the new Crushed Curry in the Stampin'Up! in color collection. It is a great color.

The Medallion stamp again

I have been in the craft room all day! I told you I loved this medallion stamp- and here it is featured on a card stamped in Soft Suede on a Cool Caribbean background. The greeting is stamped on Very Vanilla. The finishing touch is the satin ribbon tied in a neat knot! I am really sad that of all the great ribbon Stampin'Up! has, there is no colored satin ribbon. Any one know a good source?

Back to school!

I think I am different from other moms- I like it when my kids go back to school. I don't consider myself a mother that dotes all over my boys. I do think they are great, funny, smart, well behaved kids (most of the time). Summer has been really busy. I made sure the boys were well enough involved that they were not bored and hanging around the house begging for stuff. It was up to me to get them to and from the fun activities which means I spent most of my summer behind the wheel. I think they enjoyed their activities, I know they weren't ready to go back to school, but I sure was. Now I get to do some of the things I enjoy with out leaving in the middle to go pick someone up! Please don't get me wrong, I am not complaining- just stating a fact- boys and their mothers need some time apart! I just got this medallion stamp from Stampin'Up! and I love it! This is simply stamped on the card front and then a second stamped on a scrap of paper in Soft Suede and cut out. The greeting is framed with the top note punch. The satin ribbon is faboo- got to find some more of that!
Now that the guys are back to school, I am looking forward to more stamping- join me!

Frances does it again!

This is a copy of the beautiful card Frances showed me the other day. The paper is 12x4, and the butterflies are stamped on the crease then cut out on the inside of the crease. You can see how it works on the open to inside shot. The paper on the inside is SU's new decorative paper which leaves a great space for journaling or adding a greeting. I got excited about getting this one in the mail and wrote on it before I took the picture.

10 Years with Stampin'Up!

Today I received my 10 year anniversary pen from Stampin'Up! (complete with two little diamonds!) I knew I had been with them for a long time, but 10 years is huge!

I started doing SU when I went to a demonstration with a friend, and she said "you could do that"- and she was right. Stamping and paper play are my favorite things to do. I started off with a bang and did demonstrations all the time. People loved the product and the concept. After several years, my enthusiasm petered a little, and it became increasingly harder to get out of the house at night with sports, school functions and David traveling. I decided to quit doing demonstrations outside of my home and host a workshop at my house. This was so much easier for me, and I think my customers liked it too. As I celebrate my 10 years selling SU, I reflect on the friend I have made, the things I have learned, and the importance of hanging in there!

If you are a stamping friend of mine, THANK YOU for supporting me in this business. If you are curious about stamping or joining the fun we have at workshops, ( or therapy as some refer to it!) then just let me know and I will get you going!

This card looks a whole lot better in person- but I worked on it, and I am determined to post on my blog, so just use your imagination. I am always stumped when it comes to little stamps and how to make them work without shrinking the paper. I tried going bold with color and size. The Melon Mambo is folded and then cut to form a little ruffle. I punched dots from sticky paper and added glitter for a big sparkle. The tiny stamp is colored and layered on a larger Crushed Curry square then punched with a hole punch. The card background is Confetti White which gives the card just a little more texture. I think the little stamp looks pretty important in the end! Good Job.

Stamping Workshop Sneek Peek

Here is a set of cards that we are going to make at the workshop this week. They are gift card size. I ran the background through the Big Shot (which I love) with the Dotted Swiss embossing plate. The white section is the Top Note die cut, cut in half. The fruit is colored with markers then stamped, and cut out. Then I just added an embellishment to give it a finished look.
I like the finished product, and I never have a card when I need it (don't ask) so these will be nice to have on hand.

Fireballs go to State

We are home from a great vacation. We started out in New Mexico and ended up in Mobile! The boys and I decided to write a trip review because we did a few off the beaten path things and wanted to share. Look for that to come.
My tennis team, the Fireballs, played in the state tennis tournament this past weekend. It was a huge learning experience for me, and I think the rest of the newbies that were on my team. We knew it was going to be hot, but I am not sure any of us were really ready for it. It wasn't even as hot as it usually is in Mobile!
I was so nervous playing the first match. Sometimes I get all jittery before I play. That wasn't even the case this first match. I was zoned out. I think I was so interested in what all was going on around me. The team we played took long breaks, which does nothing for my ADD mind. As a result, Rhonda and I got beat, 6-1, 6-4. This was the team to beat, and afterwards several people congratulated Rhonda and me for putting up such a fight.
Our next match was Friday morning. I took a by and played hostess to my team members who played hard. No one on our team should hang their heads. I hope we all remember this is the best of the teams from each of their cities- there are no easy teams to play!
I played again on Sat. afternoon with EmilyW. We struggle the first match then came back to win in the second 7-5. I think we both petered out in the heat and lost the tie breaker 10-5. I had nothing left at the end of the game! However, I was very pleased with the way we played.
The last match for our team was Sat. morning. The team we played was supposedly the best team at the tourny, and their average age was 20! Rhonda and I played again, and she was looking for a state win! I must admit that I really wanted to win one match, but was not confident. We played well, found our grove late in the first set, and lost the set 6-3. The second set was a different story, and we can from behind to a 7-5 win. The tie break was hard and nerve racking. All the others had finished playing and everyone was watching us battle it out with the cute girls from Tuscaloosa. Rhonda and I got behind, and I thought our nerves were going to get the best of us. We battled- I must say I was playing the best tennis of my life. We came back to win 13-10! A huge victory for the underdogs! I think I will enjoy that win for a long time.
State was a trip. It is hot, intense, nerve racking..., but in the end it is just tennis, and I am at home today with dirty dishes in the sink, laundry, and grass up to my knees (at both houses!). But I know I can tackle all that- cause I beat the youngies on the court and won a match at State!

Mother's Day

I have been feeling ceative, and itching to do something in my craft room. Since the boys are making all the meals today, and I am caught up on laundry, I had a little time to play! I whipped this one up in about 3 minutes! I don't even know what the stamp set is, but I loved the shapes of the flowers. I stamped Pixie Pink, Yoyo Yellow, and Green Galore on glossy paper for strong color. Then layered green galore paper with pixie pink after scalloping the edge. A smartly tied bow- and I am done. Quick, simple and multi-purpose! Love it!

Here is my favorite

I really like this card. It is similar to one in the Stampin'Up! catty. I rub-ons, Chocolate chip and Old Olive ink. Then I just stamped and dry embossed circles and flowers. I am going to use this one for a thank you note for my sweet neighbor who brought us a yummy pound cake.

I still got it!

I banned myself to the craft room today to get some cards ready for my workshop (in two days). I am pretty pleased with the results.
This card is stamped on Sahara Sand with clear embossing powder. The squares are punched out of decorative paper and attached to the So Saffron cs which was punched with the scallop punch. The flower was stamped and cut out with my new circle cutter- nice! Since I am having a small group, I am letting them use the fancy brads I have been saving!
This card was a huge stretch for me, but fun. I masked and stamped a bouquet of flowers, then a few extra to cut out and pop up. Then it was a matter of painting the flowers with the aqua painter. I cut everything out and layered with decorative paper on Groovy Guava card stock. The greeting could be changed for any occasion (except Nascar)

Too tired to think straight...

I don't remember moving being this hard. I am all unpacked. I arranged book shelves today. My small group is meeting here this Wed. so I need everything in it's place.

Moving Day

We finally got the CO! The movers are in my house right now- and we are moving! I am excited and nervous all at the same time. The new house looks really good, and I am overwhelmed with how it will all fit toether. Check out the New House link on this page.

Moving on

I have officially broken down my craft room and moved most of the stuff to the new house. David and I moved all the cabinetry last night. I am too anxious to get to work setting up the new craft room, but am the only one. I am trying to learn patience. I feel like I cannot do anything at the old house because it is clean and ready for a Realtor at any moment, and I have nothing to do at the new house because nothing is ready to move into. I am terrible at doing nothing!

Have you ever?...

...seen anything so pathetic looking? Domino was barking his ferocious bark this morning. I went to look and see what the commotion was all about, and this is what I saw in our backyard. Alex snapped some great pictures, and we called Animal Services. Because it is Sunday, the police came (two cars!). He reported that this is a mangy coyote. He also gave us permission to shoot it if we are threatened, but we will not tell Blair that!

I am preparing for another stamping workshop! We are going to make great cards with the idea of getting more than one card from a set. So this time we are using 2 stamp sets and making 4 different cards- plus on St Patrick's day card.
I yhope to post pics soon.

Happy Valentines!

I made a quick card for Crazy Aunt Betty. She won't get it until after Valentines, but she will love the fact that I hand made it! Maybe she will forgive the fact that I haven't sent her a card or picture of the boys since 2005!

Valentines Day is Saturday

Here is a very easy card for your Valentine. The Heart to Heart punch goes with the stamp in the Love You Much stamp set. Just stamp the image and punch it out! It is great! This is Cool Carribean and Red Ridding Hood card stock.

I have great cards for this week. See if you can find them.

Finally

I forced myself to make a card today. It wasn't that I didn't want to, it was more like there hasn't been any ME time in a really long time. Even though I had to totally ignore my family- I think it was worth it. This cute card will be one of the 12 cards we will make at the workshop at the end of the month. I like the simplicity of this one and the colors are great- Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Brocade Blue, and Pretty in Pink.

Happy New Year!

How embarrassing that the last time I posted the title was Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Mine was busy, fun, stressful, too quick. School started back today, but Alex got the tummy bug and had to stay home with me today. He stayed at home and I ran errands!

I am very anxious to do some stamping, but have zero motivation. I did not even send Christmas cards this year! Sorry- If you have a great idea or project to try let me know and maybe I can get motivated again!