One of the many perks of attending the annual Stampin' Up! convention is the opportunity to come home with a convention-attendee only stamp set.  This year's set is called I Am...

This is a great set to make fun, uplifting cards or projects for special people in your life. Yesterday I was the recipient of such a card using this limited edition set. My friend and fellow demonstrator, Stacey Cogswell, made me this awesome card:

The Floral District DSP is one of my favorite paper packs in the Stampin' Up! catalog.  Bright, cheery colors with easy-to-use designs makes this DSP pack suitable for so many occasions.  The sentiment came from the I Am Stamp Set.

Interested in attending Convention with me next July so you too can get your own special edition stamp set? Convention is open to any active demonstrator and it is experience you will never forget.  I would love to have you join my Ink Happens! team. And, for the balance of the month, you will receive a FREE gift just for joining the Stampin' UP! family:

Spooktacular Project Kit Offer

No trick-just treats when you join Stampin' Up! in August!

• For just $99, choose up to $125 worth of brand-new products from the annual or holiday catalogs, for your completely customizable Starter Kit!
• Get a FREE Howl-o-ween project kit valued up to $60!

The Howl-o-ween Printer's Tray includes everything you see below*:

*Project kit does not include ink

Plus, when you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator, you gain instant access to dozens of benefits, including

• Sneak peeks of brand new products!
• Access to an exclusive 30,000+ member online stamping community!
• A monthly magazine filled with project ideas and tips for running your business!
• The opportunity to fuel your passion for Stampin' Up! while getting a 20 percent discount on the products you love!
• Opportunities to make new friends who share your same passion!

Join my Team today!

I have a fun card to share today.  It's simple, bright and can be used for nearly any occasion. It was inspired by a card swap I received at the Stampin' Up! convention in July.  The inspiration card was made by Heather Wnek.

The stamp set is called Lacy and Lovely (#122887 Clear-mount, #122885 Wood-mount) and is it ever!  These medallion-like images are so intricate and detailed and stamp beautifully!  My favorite image is the one stamped in Daffodil Delight - swirls, paisley, dots and dashes - it has it all!

The border around the card was created using a Tempting Turquoise marker and a ruler.  No rhyme or reason behind what I did, I just wanted to create some interest.  The card measures 3-3/8 x 6-5/8.  Stampin' Up! used to sell envelopes to accommodate this size, but know I can easily create one with my Simply Scored Tool (#122334).

To finish the card off, I put a few of the medallions on some Stampin' dimensionals(#104430) and topped them off with some bling with the Rinestone Basic Jewels (#119246).  The perfect card for almost any occasion!

To order the Lacy and Lovely set for yourself, click here to go to my On-line store!

Another birthday has come and gone but I have some wonderful cards to treasure long after!  The card I am featuring today came from my good friend and fellow demonstrator, Linda Goldhersz.  Linda and I, along with four other friends/demonstrators, volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Orlando as part of Stampin' Up!'s Making a Difference program. I am so grateful to have Linda in my circle of friends...and she makes beautiful cards too!

She used the Betsys Blossom stamp set, a new set released in the 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! catalog. The colors on this card are awesome!  Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze and the new In Color, Summer Starfruit - they work so well together. I am definitely going to try this color palette on a card myself.

Check out my On-line store to get your Betsy's Blossom's stamp set today!

Enjoy the weekend!

Today is my birthday and as a result, have received some lovely cards and gifts. This unexpected beauty came from my brother and sister-in-law.

I know flowers are so expensive to send and I have frequently told my husband not to send them for the mere fact that the money could be better spent. But, I have to be honest, when these arrived on my doorstep, I felt so special!

This was a perfect opportunity for me to create a thank you card using product from the Holiday catalog. I'm really drawn to the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and the coordinating Orchard Harvest designer series paper.

I love the colors in this new paper!  And, the striped and cross-stitched piece is my favorite. 

I used a number of accessories to add interest to this card including the Cannery set framelits (#127822), Adorning Accents edgelits (#125595) and the dotted scallop ribbon border punch (#119275).  I also added an additional sentiment from the Sweet Essentials stamp set.

So, I am off to enjoy my day with a friend for lunch and then a wonderful Mexican dinner with my husband and daughter. I will be back in the craft room first thing on Thursday getting ready for my Blooming with Kindness card class in Clermont Thursday night.  I can't wait!

Have a great day!

Mary Ann

I have just a quick share for you today.  Kayla had her final chemotherapy treatment on Monday followed by acupuncture today.  "Chemo weeks", as we call them, are the hardest as it takes her several days to return to her normal self.  She definitely turned a corner today and her appetite has dramatically improved.  She is enjoying remission (and so are her humans).  Kayla goes back to the oncologist in 4 weeks for a re-check which I am certain will continue to show her cancer-free.

With so many people involved in her care, we make a lot of thank you cards. We made another one today.  The image is not Stampin' Up! but all of the other products are. This dog image so closely resembles Kayla I couldn't use anything else (I'm sure SU! would understand).

I've received some really awesome emails from some of you expressing your concern and support for Kayla.  I can't tell you what it means to me.  Thank you! 

Have a great weekend!

I received another "Kelley Creation" in the mail today.  Am I lucky or what?  She told me I had something coming in the mail but she never tells me what it is.  Look what the postman delivered to me today:

Isn't this darling?  I'm not sure of the pattern or if she did this on her own, but it is a really great pouch.  And because I'm always looking to repurpose things or find multiple uses for something, it just so happens that this pouch hold 4-6 A2 cards with envelopes perfectly (depending on embellishments). The obvious use is a make-up bag, but I don't know if I would want to risk getting make-up on this awesome fabric.

Do you like the fabric too?  It's in the newly relased Holiday Catalog on page 4 - at the bottom.  Unfortunately it's easy to miss amid all of the other fantastic new products.  It's called Candlelight Christmas Designer Fabric (#126905).  You receive 3 fat quarters (18"x27") each.  What an awesome Christmas gift or stocking stuffer this would be!  It's never too early to get started on those gifts!

Thank you, Kelley, for my beautiful gift!  I'm so proud to showcase your work!  I can hardly wait to see what you come up with next :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Inspired by a swap I received from Paula Reuben at convention, the ladies in my Clermont Stamp Club recently made a mini notebook with a pocket.  I had several packs of mini note pads in my drawer from a previous project a long time ago.  What a perfect time to use up some supplies!

The completed project measures 3-3/4" x 5-1/2".  It's the perfect size for a purse or even in the glove compartment of the car.  The inside even boasts a side pocket to store your notes!

The notepads measure 3-1/2" x 5-1/4".  I've had these awhile, but I probably found them at Walmart.  They came three to a pack and were very inexpensive.

To create the "shell" of the notebook holder, use the following dimensions:

8 x 8-1/2" piece of card stock.

Score along the 8" edge at 2.5".

Score along the 8-1/2" edge at: 3-1/2", 3-3/4", 7-1/2" and 7-3/4"

Once you have scored, you will cut away the small rectangle created by the score lines where the pocket and the flap meet.  This is simply to remove bulk and to create a clean pocket.  Decorate the front as desired.

For the front of my notebook, I used a stamp in the From My Heart stamp set (#126557 C, #126555 W).  This is one of a few stamp sets that are available in multiple languages. Besided English, it is also available in Spanish, French and German.  This 8 piece set not only has great sentiments but some really intricate designs too. In addition, this set also coordinates with the Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (# 126187) and the Labels Collection Framelit Dies (#125598)

Do you like this set as much as I do?  You can order it here in my online store.

Have a GREAT Monday.

During the Stampin' Up! convention, Shelli, Stampin' Up!'s co-founder, presented a card she made with the Friendship Preserves stamp set (#127912 C #127910 W) and Window Frames Framelits (#129021).  What I loved most about the card was the interesting card fold and knew I wanted to re-create it.

Here is Shelli's version:

Here's my version of it:

I love the colors in the new Orchard Harvest designer paper (#126895), especially the striped paper.  The rich colors are so soothing to me!  I used the striped paper as my guide to the colors of the rest of the card.  Never in a million years would I have put Island Indigo and More Mustard together, but paired with that striped paper, it looks great!

Interested in making this card?  Here's how I did it:

The base of the card is a 4 x 5.5" piece of Crumb Cake.  It is specifically cut at 4" because the striped framelit hangs over the card by .25" so you need to make sure it will fit in an A2 envelope.  By reducing the card base, it will fit perfectly.

There are six sizes of Window Frames framelits (#129021) in one pack, ranging from small to large.  The Indigo and Mustard frames were created by using the two largest framelits.  The striped and sentiment were created by using 2nd and 3rd smallest.

On the Indigo and Mustard frame, score at 1".  It's the 1" piece that folds behind the card and is secured in the back.  Once the frames are secured, you will likely want to use either another piece of card stock or something else to cover up the back of the card.

It's a fun and easy card to put together and it's interesting too!  Have questions?  Please contact me.

I realize I've had a number of fabric projects posted lately, but I have one more for you today. This isn't a tote or a bag, but this time I'm using fabric on a card.  Fabric isn't just for sewing machines!

To create the flower, I cut four circles of fabric.  In this case I used the retired Circles #2 scalloped die and the Big Shot. Fold the circle in half and then in half again.  Secure with your favorite adhesive.  I used a glue dot for simplicity.  Once all four "petals" have been formed, I placed them on a 2-3/8" scalloped circle from Pretty in Pink card stock.  Tombow multipurpose glue worked perfectly to secure the petals.  Once the glue was dry, I secured it with a silver brad. 

The fabric to create this flower is the Candy Cane Christmas fabric (#121715). This fabric is discontinued from the Stampin' Up! Catalog, but it is available on the Clearance Rack!  And for a STEAL!  For only .99 you get 3 fat quarters of fabric.  Yep, you read it right, only .99!

Be sure to check out the entire Clearance Rack section for other fabrics on sale too! But hurry, supplies are limited! Once they're gone, they're gone for good.

Shopping has never been easier! Shop now for fantastic savings!

I am really excited to show you my projects today.  I didn't make them, but my friend and fellow demonstrator, Kelley, did. 

The first project is a tote that she gave me and my roommates while at convention.  She had this tote chock full of treats and essentials.  It was really an awesome gift to receive as soon as we arrived.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it while it had all the goodies in it, but I use it now to hold my framelits.  It's a perfect fit!

This tote uses the Summer Smooches fabric (#125411) and the Scallop Square die (#115950).  She folded the fabric to make the tote nearly 7" wide. 

The other tote that I want to show you came as a total surprise.  I love when I get unexpected packages in the mail filled with cute things!  Take a look at this beauty!

Kelley made this from the Orchard Harvest fabric (#126915) in the Holiday Catalog.  I love the colors in this fabric!

She told me that it fits a 5x7 notebook perfectly but guess what else it fits? A STAMP SET!  This would make such a great gift for a hostess or any stamper!

Take a closer look at that beautiful flower!  Somehow she was able to find Island Indigo chiffon at her local fabric store.  It's a perfect match! And while you can't see it, inside the flower is a beautiful antique brad.

The pattern for this notebook tote can be found at www.craftygemini.blogspot.com There are lots of fun tutorials on her site.  Some tutorials are free and some are fee-based.  This particular tote pattern is $8.

Do you have some Stampin' Up! fabric?  I'd love to see what YOU can come up with!

Have a GREAT day!