~ Vintage Lamp ~

Occasionally, I enjoy browsing all of the magnificent creations made by my fellow card making, craft enthusiasts on Google Reader. This particular one which I found on Becky Roberts blog caught my eye and I had to stop everything to have one of these for my very own!

The template can be found in the archives of the Papercrafts Magazine if you follow this link: http://www.papercraftsmag.com/articles/January_February_2011_Patterns

The NEW Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper which can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog 2011, page 15 was just perfect for this little pretty :) I also found that the SU Textured Impressions folder Elegant Lines accented the base quite nicely.  The SU very vanilla satin ribbon ruched so well along with a scrunched flower made by cutting three butterfies with SU butterfly punch and topped off with a vintage brad.

Well...there you have it for a while...now to see what I get myself into when Mr. Brown comes to visit tomorrow! LOL!

Happy Stamping!

~ Play Date Medallion Flower Bag ~

Well...the girls wanted a little challenge this month in class and I thought...ok...we can make a flower medallion...anyone whom has ever attempted to make these for the first time knows...much like I do...that if you are a little determined...eventually it will work...well our group seems to have been pretty determined and everyone was successful at having one of these to adorn their little gift bags! I am so proud of all of them!

We used hot glue to hold the medallion to the bag and adhere the button to it!

The ribbon is the 1 1/4" wide grosgrain which can be cut in half lengthwise and trim the outer border and it shirs so nicely! 

Fun Project! All is needs is some sweets and treats!

~ Linda

~ Saturday Morning Stamp Cafe Projects ~ February 2011 ~

More beautiful Sale-A-Bration happy colors! This card is an almost total CASE from the event that I attended hosted by Diana Gibbs and Rhonda Morgan.

Again, I just LOVE all of those bright and beautiful colors int he FREE designer paper pack...melon mambo, daffodil delight, pacific point...and that oh so pretty exclusive SU Pom Pom Trim which can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog 2011 on page 35...it comes in Melon Mambo (featured on the card), Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango...how cute is it!!!

The stamp set used to stamp the owl can be found in the Sale-A-Bration catalog on page 5,  is also FREE with any $50 order.

Happy Stamping!

~ Linda

~ DVD Stationery Case ~

This is a gift that I was inspired to make based on a similar idea that I learned at a SU Event hosted by Diana Gibbs and Rhonda Morgan a few weeks ago!

Since Sale-A-Bration is in full swing...I decided to use some of the happy designer paper that you can earn FREE with any $50 purchase!

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Recipe Swap Card ~ 6 X 6 ~

Lately there have just been a ton of firsts for me in the stamping/papercrafting world. I have seen so many beautiful Recipe Swap Cards both online and in person...well, the opportunity arose when, I was asked to create this lovely card for my monthly weSTAMP meeting! In turn I received nine beautiful recipe cards. Now I need to make a book to hold them all in and hopefully for the ones in the future that I would like to collect!

The strawberry, I have to admit, is my original creation :) I did a little researching online and there just was not a beautiful, lucious strawberry to be found...LOL. Therefore I pulled out my little Stampin' UP!  Sizzlet Embosslits Scalloped Heart of Hearts die and used some real red cs and created the strawberry. And also need to top it off with some greenery which was made with the SU 5 Petal Flower Punch with old olive cs and a little vine using the SU Sizzlet Scribbles Swirls in chocolate chip cs (have to have a little chocolate)!

Oh...by the way...I just LOVE this salad!

There you have it!

~ Linda

~ weSTAMP Make N Take ~

This stamp set is so versatile! We made this card at my monthly weSTAMP meeting earlier this week with excellent instructions from my wonderful upline Lorri Heilling. I have had my brayer for about 3 years and this is probably the first time that I used it for brayering.

Hope that you enjoy this little pretty!

~ Linda

~ Wedding Card for Joseph & Becky ~

This is a one of a kind card made for a once in a lifetime occasion. My son, Joseph and his beautiful fiance were married on January 22 of this year. I created this card especially for them!

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Stampin' Up! Sale A Bration ! ~

                              January 25th - March 31, 2011

Did you know that when you schedule a workshop for you and your friends that you can earn all kinds of FREE STUFF? For a workshop with sales of $300 during Sale-A-Bration, you can earn:

1. Any Level 1 or Level 2 Hostess Set FREE
2. FREE merchandise from the catalog $35.00 of ANYTHING!
3. Any item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.

Your friends can choose any item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog for EACH $50 of product they purchase at your party too! EVERYBODY WINS!

You can host your workshop at your house or mine! Just call me at (602) 481-8587or email at Lindam530@cox.net to schedule your own.

Happy Stampin!

~ Linda

~ Branching Out ~

Earrings are another one of my passions...I have admired pretty jewelry from as far back as I can remember...which is quite a while I must admit and no I am not going to tell my age...although some of you know that I am a grandma, a very happy one too!

For the past few weeks, I have been looking for a nice pair of silver swarovski crystal earrings and they are just no where to be found! Okay, I went to Etsy.com and looked there too. I finally ordered a pair through mail order was so excited to get them, tried them on and they just are so heavy on my ears...oh, my, what a dilemma!

Hark! A little voice inside me said why don't you do a little research? Then I procedded to go to You Tube and view some of their videos on how to make chandelier earrings and went to my local craft store, got some supplies and tried my hand at it...and the resulting project is pictured above!

They are exactly what I was looking for!

Hope that you like them...leave me a comment...enjoy your day!

~ Linda

~ Rose Red Valentine & HOT TIP!!! ~

Rose red is one of my favorite SU colors and I was in such a mood when this card was being created.

What began as a simple card, turned into quite a little project. Let me explain...

Naturals Ivory SU cardstock is the base and it looked too plain so I took out my rose red SU marker and used the Color Spritzer Tool, which can be found in the Main IBC, page 195 item #107066. I so wanted this to become somewhat shabby chic and the tool was not getting the ink on the cs like I had envisioned.

Therefore...note this!!! HOT TIP!!! ~ I took out my rose red re-inker and dropped one dot on each side of the marker while it was positioned in the tool...tested it on some scrap cardstock...AND...WHOO HOO!!!

The ink splattered onto the paper just like I wanted!!! I was so excited about this little discovery!!!

Effortlessley, as I worked on each card, the background came to life as I happily splattered each one!!!

I know! I know! It is the little things in life that excite me, what can I say? LOL!

The rest of the card just came together and I thoroughly enjoyed the process...to explain a little futther...

The Top Note was sponged with some champagne shimmer mist to make it a little brighter.

And...there you have it!

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Pretty in Pink Spring ~

Good Happy Stamping Morning Everyone!

This particular card was made for the Dazzling Diva monthly meeting swap. The little girl image is from the Easter Blossoms stamp set which can be found in the SU Occasions Mini Catalog. I stamped her in clear embossing ink and then covered her in SU dazzling diamonds and heat embossed her so that she would be all sparkly and bright! The base cardstock is pretty in pink and the next layer is concord crush on top of which is a very pretty SU designer paper lap of luxury. I also adorned the ribbon and sentiment with some pearls. Hope that you like it! Leave me a comment if you do!

Enjoy!

~ Linda

Love, Love, Love this Card!

Last Thursday, as you know from my previous post, I hosted our monthly Dazzling Divas meeting/party.
It was awesome! Barbara shared so much from her Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference...we could have easily spent several more hours oogling over all of the beautiful pictures that she took of ideas, projects, scenery from Nashville.

The card above was our make-n-take project graciously designed and coordinated by Vikki McClelland.
It is just way too cute!!! Wouldn't you agree? Everyone's swaps were just over-the-top...we were asked to create either a 3-D item or card from the Occasions Mini with the Valentine/Love?Hearts theme.

Well...there you have it! Enjoy your paper crafting and rubber stamping adventures...I would definitely enjoy it if you would email me something of your own creations...I might like to post it here!

~Linda

~ Fleur de Lis Crystal ~

This post is a sneak peek of a 3D project that I was asked to orchestrate for our monthly Divine Divas meeting.
Initially this beautiful idea of a gift item was shared at my weSTAMP Christmas Party gift exchange.

My dear friend Barbara and I just had to figure out how to make these! While she is traveling right now, visiting her family back in Virginia and previously attended the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference in Tennessee I am joyously going to host our meeting this month at my home. I am so excited to have this wonderful group of ladies Thursday night.

That is all for now...I need to get busy and make some swaps for Thursday...get some Birthday cards in the mail and there is more exciting news but it will have to wait until after the weekend!

Enjoy your time creating...always!

~ Linda

~ Gift Box ~

Back in October at my monthly meeting with the Divine Divas our very own Diane DeChaine was gracious enough to share her rendition of a gift box.

This past Saturday I was delighted to have the ladies in my class each make one of these for themselves.

Inside easily fits up to about eight A2 size cards, depending on how thick each one is. You can easily use it as a gift box for any number of items, for example: chocolates, candy, etc. You get the idea.

Directions:

Gift Box ~ 4 1/4 inch X 5 1/2 inch

Cut two pieces of card stock

1 @ 6 inch X 12 inch piece

! @ 7 1/4 inch X 6 inch piece

Score the 7 1/4 inch X 6 inch piece @ 3/4 inch on all sides.

Trim to make inside box.

Score the 6 inch X 12 inch on 12 inch side:

@ 4 3/4 inches, 5 1/2 inches, 10 1/4 & 11 inches.

Assemble and decorate as desired.

Ribbon wrap around = 23 inches long

And...there you have it!

I would just LOVE to see what you come up with...email me pictures please!!!

Happy Creating!

~ Linda

~ Easter Blossoms ~

Pretty colors, pretty pictures are always calling my attention and this beautiful stamp set entitled Easter Blossoms in the new Occasions Mini Catalog on page 17, item # 122057 is a fine example.

A few other pretty additions that need mentioning are the NEW Framed Tulips Embossing Folder which can also be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog on page 28, item # 121809, our very own Dazzling Diamonds and Victoria 5/8" crochet trim which are available in the Idea Book and Catalog 2010-2011.

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Daffodil Delight! ~

This is another card that we made in my monthly Stamp Cafe Class this past Saturday. Although the weather here is just awesome in the winter, we do enjoy looking forward to springtime and flowers blooming. Daffodil yellow was used in this little pretty! The SU Greenhouse Gala designer paper was placed on the front of the card and highlighting aspects of the flowers was done with our very own Dazzling Diamonds!

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Hugs & Kisses ~

An easy Valentine  made using the Love Impressions Specialty Designer Series Paper from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog item #121780. A few of these will be going out to some family and friends in the next few weeks in celebration of my next favorite holiday St. Valentine's Day.

Happy Stamping Everyone!

~ Linda

~ Wreath ~

Last week I was blog hopping and came across an absolutely beautiful wreath and I had to make one for myself. It was not too difficult but did entail lots of glue and staples.  

The original and a tutorial for this project can be found on http://stampininspirations.blogspot.com/ by Maria Bell. Her work is amazing!!! Please stop by her blog to see some of her other wonderful projects. 

Now the house is somewhat decorated for Valentine's Day and my upcoming class this Saturday, January 15th at 10am ~ 12 noon. We will be making some cute Valentine cards and a gift box.

Happy Stamping!

~ Linda

~ Cow Theme 40th Birthday ~

~ Birthday Card ~

~ Gift Bag ~

~ Gloves with Fabric Flower ~

~ Name Banner ~

Hi Stampers and Paper Lovers!

Last week I was busily working on the above projects for my wonderful friend Anne whose 40th birthday I had the pleasure of celebrating with her yesterday. I had sooooooo much fun making the above items in anticipation of her visit to Phoenix, as she moved to Colorado because of her dear husband's work last year.

As you can tell, she LOVES cows! And, I will admit that I love sheep :)

The gloves were inspired by a lovely Christmas gift given to me by my dear stamping friend Barbara.

Hope that you like today's share as I have another project that I am very excited about...right now the glue is drying and it will be ready to post either later today or sometime tomorrow!

Happy Stamping!!!

~ Linda



~ Christmas at Our Home ~

This is the very table that I hold my monthly Stamp Cafe classes on and as you can see it is decorated for our Annual Christmas Dinner! I took the two leaves out, so that the pretty tablecloth fit...LOL...Ken made a delicious rib roast with all of the trimmings and we had leftovers to last the entire week! Lucky for us, because we were both exhausted...but it was worth all of the effort indeed!

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Christmas Gift ~

This was a Christmas gift given to me by one of my favorite stamping friends, Carrie. She borrowed one of my Rag Bag purses to make some Christmas gifts for her sisters. One day she called to say that she was bringing back the borrowed bag and much to my surprise had this beautiful wine carrier rag bag for me with, of course a nice bottle of wine and some little goodies!

It is one of many wonderful Christmas gifts that I received from several terrific family and friends.

Enjoy!

~ Linda

~ Birthday Gift & Happy New Year! ~

Welcome to a New Year of stamping, paper crafting and creative FUN! I hope that you all enjoyed your festivities throughout the Christmas season as much as I did.

This little happy trio of gifts went to a very dear friend of mine whose birthday is on Christmas day. Myself, along with some of my church going girlfriends helped to celebrate her special day at one of the ladies' lovely home for lunch. It was a very relaxing afternoon and my friend enjoyed her hand made items along with many other thought filled gifts.

The box with the punched flower was made to hold about 10 A2 cards inside. At my next monthly class, which will be held Saturday, January 15th we will be making a version of this item.

The flower brooch was made using the BigShot Big XL flower folds die with some ivoy fabric scraps and a pretty button to top it off.  The little notebook was covered with some non SU dsp and there you have it!

I am very excited at the thought of all of the fun stamping, paper crafting and creative adventures that this year has in store...meetings, classes, workshops and of course, the 2011 Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, UT this July!

Happy Stamping!

~ Linda

~ Merry Christmas House ~

This Merry Christmas House was made at my weSTAMP Christmas Party! Isn't it darling? Our gracious make and take hostess Rachele Sanclemente organized this project for twenty-five ladies at my upline, Lorri Heilling's home. It was awesome to get to put this oh so cute project together!

From my home to yours...a very Merry Christmas with Peace and Love being the theme throughout the Holiday Season.

Happy Stamping!

~ Linda

~ HOME weSTAMP Gift ~

There are so many wonderful, creative gift ideas out there in blogland that it was almost impossible to narrow it down to one to pull together for my weSTAMP Christmas party this year. When I finally decided, it all came down to creating something that I truly LOVE...and for me, my home is my sanctuary.

The frame was purchased at a local craft store and the papers are all SU...early espresso, crumbcake and very vanilla along with some of our beautiful Jewels Basic Rhinestones.

The flowers were inspired by Diane Dechaine, I learned how to create them at a Dazzling Diva meeting with her assistance, she is the Flower Queen!

Well, that is all for now...I must away and work on a few more gifts and begin decorating my house for Christmas.

Hope that each and every one of you has a Blessed, Joy-Filled and Happy Christmas...until next time...

~ Linda

~ JOY Banner ~

After having created a couple of banners earlier this year, one being a Baby Boy and another one for my darling grandaughters, Keira and Kaely's 2nd  birthday celebration...I needed to come up with a total of 7 gift items to swap at my Dazzling Divas downline Christmas party earlier this month and as you can see, I have been quite busy working my little fingers to the bone...LOL...literally...yes...but I thoroughly enjoyed making each and every one for all of the special ladies in this wonderful group of happy stampers!

Since we have 16 days left before Christmas, I might have to make some more banners...using other words such as LOVE...PEACE...CHIC...well, you know where this is going...all over the place!!!

If anyone has any ideas, I welcome them...simply send me an email to: Lindam530@cox.net

Happy Christmas & Holiday Stamping!

~ Linda