Postponed We Create Blog Hop

We will be posting our We Create Blog Hop post on Monday, June 2 instead of our regular first of the month because of the new 2014-2015 Stampin' Up! catalog release.  You will see some exciting new stamps and accessories that will be available to purchase after 11am Pacific Time on June 2nd. The catalog will also be available to view online as well.  Make sure you check back on Monday!

Julie

Project Life by Stampin' Up! Card

Did you hear the news? Stampin' Up! teamed up with Becky Higgins to bring us Project Life by Stampin' Up!  A super combination of Stampin' Up! artwork with the genius of Becky's Project Life memory keeping system.  It is a much simpler way to add photos and memories to a book without all the work of traditional scrapbooking.  But, just so you know, you can use the products for more than scrapbooking!

Can you see all the pieces that are just perfect for cards and tags and so many other paper crafting projects?  Here is my try at a card with the new Everyday Adventure Project Life card collection:

This card seriously took me a couple minutes!  Really! I punched out a few little circles from our silver glimmer paper and added the baker's twine and stuck it all together--done! The colors are fun and festive for any day or celebration.  I'm sure that more of these cards are in my future (I always seem to need a last minute card) and since these new kits coordinate with all of our Stampin' Up! colors, adding any of our embellishments or stamps will tie it all together. This kit is also available in digital so you can use it in MDS. There are several new Project LIfe kits in the brand new 2014-2015 Stampin' Up! catalog--get yours today!!
One more thing...if you have ever thought about signing up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator now is the time!  You can become a demonstrator for just $50!  That's right, $50!  I won't even tell you how much I paid for my starter kit--but it sure wasn't $50!  Not only that, but if you sign up now,  the fee for our annual convention in Salt Lake City is FREE!!! That is such an amazing offer!  That is a $295 value!  Take advantage of this wonderful promotion!

I'm getting so excited for this move!  I hate to pack, but I'm ready for this new adventure! Just about 2 weeks now!

Julie

Work of Art

The new 2014-2015 Stampin' Up! catalog is just one week from going live--have you seen any sneak peaks yet?  Would you like a catalog of your very own?  Contact me and I can get one in your hands, but I have to warn you, you might want to arrange for take-out, because you are not gonna wanna put it down!  The layout is new this year with many step-it-up instructions for super cute projects. My wish list grows each time a look at it!  I will share a card that I made with the new Work of Art stamp set.  This set is going to go next to Gorgeous Grunge on my desk--definitely a "go to" stamp set.  I'm loving Coastal Cabana and gold together (with a touch of Bermuda Bay).

I have a couple new projects to share with you this week and then I will be taking a break for a few weeks while we move in and get settled.  I'll be back for the MDS blog hop on June 26th, so stay tuned!

Julie

Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?

Busy, busy, busy around here!  We closed on our home here in Vegas last week and the next day put an offer on a home in Utah...yep, we are under contract!  We've experienced miracle after miracle in this process of moving our family back to where we started, we know that we have been guided through this whole journey. We know it is time for us to return, but that doesn't really make it easier to leave.  If I pretend I'm not leaving for a little while longer, maybe I'll be able to focus on the job at hand, the job I hate--packing!!  I can see why people just hire movers to do it all, I'm getting to that point.  Sometimes, I've got to ignore all the boxes and take an MDS break!
Several years ago, I made this fun card with my Stampin' Up! punches and an idea from all over the web, a cute baby card with the guys from the "Street", you know the ones; Oscar, Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie!

Anyway, as I often do, I looked at that card and said to myself, "Hey, I can create that in MDS!" So that's what I did.

It's pretty simple with different punches and a couple of stamps and embellishments. I cropped a few of the punches as well.  If you would like to see how this is done, check out this video (it's a different project, but same steps):

This card could be perfect for babies through elementary school (ok, maybe the older kids wouldn't admit to watching Sesame Street, but I know they do!!) If you have questions regarding any of the punch shapes, leave a comment and I will let you know which ones they are.
Time to move along to the next blogger, Julie L., she's always got something fun to share!

I hope you will stick with me through this move.  I may not be posting very much for the next 3 to 4 weeks, but once I get settled in, I will get right back to creating!!

Julie

Graduation Announcements...The Winner!

On the last MDS Blog Hop I posted samples of my daughter's graduation announcement and asked my followers which one of the three I created they thought she would pick.  Well, most of you guessed right!  While she loved all of them, Kylie chose the long one--#2!

4 x 9 1/4 postcard

And honestly, since we loved them all, we went ahead and had a few of the other two printed  and will be sending those out as well!! Why not, right?

5 x 7 postcard

Trifold card

Have you seen all of the print products Stampin' Up! has?  From beautifully bound photo books to small gift tags, they have many options for your digital gifting needs at very competitive prices and the quality is excellent!!  There's still a little time to have your graduation announcements printed, contact me for more information, I would be happy to help you put something together.

Our title papers are ready to sign today!!  We officially close on this home Thursday! I sure hope we can find something to move into! Yikes!

Julie

MDS Blog Hop--Hooray for Mom!

It's hard to believe this will be my 22nd Mother's Day! My children are my greatest creation and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for them!  It's also my mom's 45th Mother's Day and I am also truly grateful for her love and encouragement!  I decided to make her a fun tote bag for all stuff she has to carry to her many women's Relief Society meetings. Did you know that the Relief Society (organized in 1842) is one of the largest and oldest women's organizations in the United States as well as the world? As the President over all the women in her stake (similar to a diocese) she gets to visit many different congregations and gets to know so many wonderful, loving Relief Society sisters and often she gets to speak to them and give them an inspired gospel message.  I just felt that this saying was perfect for her as she spends so much time caring and praying for all of the women that she has stewardship over.

And for one more project that always has to do with moms...babies!!  My best friend's two daughters both gave birth to their 3rd sons 2 days apart.  I decided to make some onesies for them!  I also am in charge of preparing a small gift for the ladies of our congregation who have babies, so I started by making a cute baby girl onesie.

Iron-on paper is easy to use (make sure to follow the directions on the package).  As you create in MDS, just remember that when you are printing on iron-on transfer paper, your image needs to be mirrored.  For most stamps, that's not an issue, but if you are using words or text just make sure you select "mirror" option and it will flip backwards.

I know the other moms on our blog hop will have wonderful projects for you to re-create or even just spark your imagination for you to come up with your own creations!  If you create something with MDS or any other Stampin' Up! products for Mother's Day, use the hashtag MadeForMom and post them all over social media...let get it trending!

I received my daughter's graduation announcements yesterday, I'll post photos of the winner...and the runner(s)-up tomorrow!

Julie

We Create Blog Hop--See Ya Later...

Well, it's that time again!  The retired list is out for the 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! catalog. Although I'm a little bit sad to see some of the items go (some more than others!!) I get excited to see what Stampin' Up! has come up with next!  They are known around the paper crafting world for their creativity and style and have won many awards for their designs.  So as we say "adios" to the stamps and accessories that will no longer grace the pages of the catalog, we can still enjoy and create with them for many years to come.

I used 4 of the 5 retiring In Colors for this card (sniff, sniff Summer Starfruit!), as well as the houndstooth embossing folder; the Summer Starfruit stitched ribbon; Crazy, Mixed-up Love; and the flower punch from the punch pack all which are on the retired list.  I added Crystal Effects on the lava lamp and a few spatters from Gorgeous Grunge. The Crystal Effects made the ink bleed a bit, but it goes well with the "lava" look.  Shout out to my lovely, talented friend, Cindy Schuster for her cute card idea.

Now, on to Michelle for her "final farewell" project!

I can't believe it's already May!  I have so much to do this month that I can barely even think!  We close on this house in 15 days--Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!  If anyone is interested in a brand-spankin' new 2014-2015 Stampin' Up! catalog, we will be able to pre order them in a few weeks, make sure I have your email or you are subscribed to my blog for more info.

Julie