UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Just in case you ever lose sight of reality, and think you should have smooth sailing:

So, keep on plugging. You'll get there!

Smiles,
Linda

TOMORROW ONLY

Tomorrow only, Stampin' Up! is holding a phenomenal event. They have named it Sell-a-Stamp Spooktacular. On Monday, October 29, ONLY, you can purchase virtually ALL of the current stamps and stamp sets they have at an unheard of 15% off their regular price! Unprecedented,
I know.

The only "stamps" that aren't being included in this special sale are the hostess stamps, bundled stamp sets, and digital stamp brush sets. All others are FAIR GAME! So, that means you can save 15% on even these stamps: background stamps, personalized name stamps, cookie press stamps, and the new single image stamps!

The goal is for Stampin' Up! to sell more stamps in a single day than ever before. Let's help them accomplish this doable goal!

This 15% off event will take place from 12:00 a.m. Mountain Time, and end at 11:50 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday, October 29.

To take advantage of this incredible deal, click on either or both of the catalog links below, do your shopping, and name me as your demonstrator.

REMEMBER: Your order must be in no later than 11:50 p.m. Mountain Time in order to receive the 15% discount!

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/Default.aspx

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=216

Of course, other products can also be added to your order, but it will be only the stamps that will reflect the 15% off.

Have fun!

Smiles.

BIRD IN MAPLE LEAF

Two of the most recent additions to the Stampin' Up! product line thrilled me from the moment I "met" them! They are the stamp, Tweet Leaves, and the newest Bigz die, Autumn Accents. Sigh. Both can be found in the Holiday Catalog.

So, I decided to combine the two into one beautiful fall card, and this is what I came up with:

To recreate this card, here is how to do it:

Supplies:

Tweet Leaves stamp 

Itty Bitty Banners stamp set

Whisper White card stock

Early Espresso card stock

More Mustard card stock

Early Espresso ink

More Mustard ink

Regals Brads

Stamping Sponge

Big Shot

Autumn Accents Bigz Die

Paper Piercing Tool

Piercing Mat

Houndstooth Embossing Folder

Bitty Banner Framelits

Directions:

Fold 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of More Mustard card stock in half, creasing well with bone folder.

Run a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Early Espresso card stock through the Big Shot inside the Houndstooth Embossing Folder. Adhere this to the card front.

Stamp the bird image in the center of a 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Whisper White card stock in Early Espresso ink. Let this dry momentarily so the brown ink doesn't smear too much. 

Use the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to cut a "stencil" of the maple leaf from a scrap of card stock. Lay the stencil of the leaf over the bird image, and secure in place with removable tape. Sponge More Mustard ink through the stencil in a circular motion until you are happy with the darkness of the ink. Carefully remove the taped stencil and set aside.

Sponge the edges of the finished white piece with More Mustard ink. Adhere this to a 3 1/2" x 

3 1/2" piece of More Mustard card stock, then to card front.

On a scrap of Whisper White, stamp Thank You in Early Espresso ink. At the Big Shot, place the appropriate Bitty Banner Framelits die over the sentiment, holding it in place with a piece of sticky note, and run through the Big Shot.

Sponge the edges of the banner in More Mustard ink. Adhere the banner to a 3/4" X 2" piece of Early Espresso card stock. With the piercing tool over the piercing mat, create two holes in the brown, and insert a More Mustard Brad into each hole. Adhere this to the card front.

As always, I would love for you to order your Stampin' Up! supplies naming me as your Demonstrator. 

Smiles.

TRICK OR TREAT GIRL

My only grandchild, Stella, will turn five right after Christmas. I wanted to make her a really special Halloween card this year, so this is what I came up with:

I don't know if you can tell from the photo that it is a tent topper card. The fold of the card only comes to just above the two points on the sides of the girl frame. 

In this card, I used one of my very favorite techniques: paper piecing. Not everyone loves doing this like I do because of the teeny tiny pieces you are dealing with in cutting. 

Anyway, I actually stamped the Trick or Treat Girl from the Greeting Card Kids stamp set five times. The first time, of course, was on the Whisper White card stock, which served as the image base. I then stamped it four more times, on four different Designer Series Papers. The pumpkin was stamped on the orange and white stripe that matches the frame around her. The dress was on another Halloween-y DSP from a few years back. (The dots on the bottom of the card were punched from the dress paper also.) I stamped the cape on the small orange check that holds the sentiment on the bottom of the card. And her hat was stamped on a piece of woodgrain DSP from last year's holiday season. 

Once they are all stamped, you set to cutting out these tiny pieces, and gluing them over their counterpart areas on the white stamped image. 

You can see all the piecing in this closeup of the girl. Do you notice that tiny piece of the cape that is just to the right of the broom handle? Do you have any concept of just how eentsy-weentsy that piece was to work with at actual size? 

I had been planning on making two of these cards so I could keep one for myself. Nope. I was almost blind by the time I finished with Stella's card. That's it. No more of this cute little girl. At least, not paper pieced. So, Stella, I hope you enjoy it! 

Here's another view of the card:

If you have any questions about paper piecing, please let me know. I'd love to help you!

Trick or Treat!

Smiles.

RAINBOW

This quote helps to put things in perspective, especially on your darkest days.

It is something that I constantly need to remind myself of. As the true pessimist I am, I also realize that bright days, as is the rainbow, are fleeting, rare, and to be cherished when they
 do occur.

This card, created in My Digital Studio, features a rainbow I spotted in the sky over our land 

the other day. And, yes, the sky was very weird, forming that whitish line across the bottom 

of the rainbow and the leafless tree. I usually cannot capture the beauty of a rainbow with a camera, but this time, I am pleased. The rainbow was only the brief strip as pictured, not a 

whole rainbow arch. 

Lovely to see, no matter how complete it is. Doesn't spotting a rainbow put a brief thrill into 

your day? It does to mine.

Smiles.