What I've been up to

Hello all!  Well obviously I haven't been spending anywhere NEAR enough time on my blog, and definitely not enough time papercrafting.  Here's part of the reason why:

My husband and I just returned from a cruise to Cozumel.  Ya, I know, it's been rough - 80 degree weather in December, shows every night, food that I didn't have to cook...  Honestly, it weirded me out a little hearing Christmas music playing and seeing decorations all over the ship.  It just didn't seem right!  It was wonderful though - very relaxing and nice to be able to spend that one on one time with my husband.

I got home just in time to get ready for family to arrive for Christmas, so it's been a little hectic, but in the best way possible.  I have been doing some crafting though.  Here's one of the presents that I made:

12 Days of Christmas

Hello my bloggy friends!  I hope that you are all feeling the warmth and joy that the holiday season brings.  And since I know that you are all fellow crafters, I hope that you have left yourself enough time to get the projects/gifts done that you need to, and that you're OK with plan B if they don't get done!  LOL!  I really do love to make and give homemade gifts whether it be cards, homemade soap, or baked goods to name a few.  This year has been a little different than in the past because as many of you know I moved and started a job a month ago.  Well, now I'm leaving on a cruise in a couple of days!  Hooray for my wonderful husband and the good job that he did at work that earned him an all expense paid trip!  But needless to say, I'm having to change my expectations this year as far as what I'm going to have time to make.

I have the perfect solution if you're needing a little holiday crafting inspiration:  My Pink Stamper's 12 Days of Christmas!  Check it out:

I'm still here...

Have you been wondering where I've been?  Well, I've been in my new home for a month now and we're starting to feel a little more settled.  It's been a little crazy though!  I started a part-time job the same weekend that I moved - I know, what was I thinking?  I've been looking for a little while and it kind of fell in my lap.  It was the right thing to do, but it hasn't been easy.  Although setting up my craft room was one of the first things I did, most nights I am so exhausted that it is the furthest thing from my mind.  But I know I'm in good company, so who am I to whine?

I have invited some ladies over to my home Saturday night for some crafting time, so I thought I would share one of the cards that I designed for the occasion.

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Christmas Wishes
Cricut Cartridge:  Christmas Solutions
Paper:  DCWV, AC Cardstock, Roberts Crafts, Core'dinations
Border Punch:  Fiskars
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Snow Dots
Embellishments:  blue & white baker's twine

My Pink Stamper Design Team - November!

Welcome!  Are you all eagerly preparing to feed your friends and family on Thanksgiving?  Are you cleaning your home so you'll be ready for company?  Are you absolutely flabbergasted that time has flown by so quickly and that it's that time of year again?  ;-)  Well in the midst of all the chaos don't forget to take a moment for yourself and spend some quality time with your papercrafting supplies - especially your My Pink Stamper stamps and your Cricut!

This month my fellow designers and I were given the challenge to create a card using a non-traditional fold.  I was really excited about this because trying something new really gets my creative juices flowing - just the inspiration I need.  I decided to try the tri-shutter fold.  This is what it looks like flat:

And this is what it looks like open:

Isn't that just so cool?  You can see an excellent tutorial on how to make this type of card here.  And isn't that the most perfect stamp?  This set is called Lunchbox Thoughts and is part of the most recent My Pink Stamper release.  I hope that this has inspired you to go and try something new!

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Lunchbox Thoughts
Cartridges:  Sweet Treats, Once Upon a Princess
Paper:  AC Cardstock, American Crafts, Stampin Up
Embellishments:  Pebbles Inc., Stickles, DCWV

Guess who?

Robyn, aka My Pink Stamper, was here in Utah this weekend helping her sister with a craft fair fundraiser and selling her wonderful stamps.  It was so fun to finally meet her and Karlee!  And yes ladies, they are as sweet and wonderful and fun in person as they seem online.  ;-)  Isn't it just fitting that my girls and I wore pink for the occasion?

My favorite warehouse sale!

For those of you in Utah, this is my favorite warehouse sale - American Crafts.  They have great cardstock, ribbon, and embellishments at really good prices.

Pinkalicious Blog Hop Friday!

And sheeeeee's back - and just in time for Pinkalicious Blog Hop Friday!  I'm coming to you live (OK, not really) from my very own home that we moved in to two weeks ago.  I'm happy to report that I have unpacked and set up my craft room, and I'm so excited to be able to participate in this month's blog hop!  If you arrived here from Edna's blog then you're in the right place.  If you arrived here on your own tonight, I invite you to head over to My Pink Stamper so you can begin at the beginning and see all the wonderful designers' projects.

The theme for this month's blog hop is scrapbooking, and we are all featuring the wonderful My Pink Stamper stamps that Robyn released in October.  The set that I have chosen to feature is Flowers and Friendship:

I'm so happy because I finally had the opportunity to use my newest Cricut Cartridge: Flower Shoppe!  This is a cartridge that I have been wanting for a long time.  I love the 3-D flowers that you can create.  When I was pondering what I was going to make, my mind kept going to flowers, lace, and quilts.  Here is what I made:

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Flowers and Friendship
Cricut Cartridge:  Flower Shoppe
Paper:  DCWV (Blossom Song Stack), AC Cardstock
Paper Punch:  Martha Stewart, EK Success Doily Petals Dimensional Flower Punch
Embellishments:  American Crafts (ribbon), Doodlebug Design (button), Recollections (pearl)

Thank you so much for stopping by tonight!  Now it's time to hop along to Chelle's blog Paper Krate.  And don't forget to go back to My Pink Stamper after you're through hopping to join us for a challenge!  I've also included the entire blog hop order for you below.  Have fun!

Robyn (My Pink Stamper)

Michelle (Meesh's Pieces)

Agnes (Flowerdisco)

Renee (RockinRenee)

Angela (Simple Creations)

Cristi

Julie (readysetstamp)

Carissa (Sprinkled with Glitter)

June

Shelley

Helen

Edna (Create With Expression)

Andrea

Chelle (Paper Krate)

Missy

Kassidy

Courtney (Court's Crafts)

Sharon

Tracy (CraftJunkieToo)

Roberta

Karlee

Maria

More My Pink Stamper New Release!

I'm taking a minute to sit down and blog one more time before moving day.  Ack - I really hate packing.

Have you been enjoying this new release from My Pink Stamper?  One of the things that I am SO looking forward to about moving is my new craft space.  It's going to be so wonderful to have my own little space again - just in time to start producing for Christmas!

The set that I am featuring today is Lunchbox Thoughts:

Aren't they so fun?  I just love all the fun, tender, thoughtful sentiments that she has in this set.  Here are a couple of little "love notes" that I have made to stash in my daughters' lunches.

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Lunchbox Thoughts
Cricut Cartridge:  Preserves - I used the Gypsy to enlarge the leaf in the lighter green
Paper:  AC Cardstock, Stampin Up
Embellishments:  Offray ribbon

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Lunchbox Thoughts
Cricut Cartridge:  Simply Charmed - I used the hide contour feature on the Gypsy to remove the face
Paper:  AC Cardstock, Stampin Up
Embellishments:  Diamond Glaze

It may be a week or so before I post again with the move, but I promise I'll be back!  See you soon.

My Pink Stamper Design Team - October

Welcome!  I am so excited you have joined me today for the My Pink Stamper Design Team post for the month of October.  If you arrived here on your own today, I invite you to stop by My Pink Stamper so you can see all the wonderful design team submissions.

It's that time of year again!  Here it means that the whether has turned a little cold, the leaves are starting to fall from the trees, and my mind inevitably starts to think of Christmas.  Isn't it wonderful that in the crafting world we have that extra reason to start celebrating early - we need time to prepare after all!  I wish I could say that all of my Christmas cards are done, all of the cards I will be giving as gifts are done, and I'm ready to sit back and have a relaxing holiday season.  Maybe some day!  Some day when I'm not moving in a week...

The stamp set that I am featuring today is Winter Treats & Sayings:

I LOVE this set!  I love Christmas, and I especially love to bake at Christmastime.  I love to give treats for Christmas, and it's just so much more fun when there's a cute stamp to tie things all together.  This set is so versatile - perfect for tags, cards, you name it!  If you would like to find out where you can purchase this and other wonderful My Pink Stamper sets, click here.

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Winter Treats & Sayings
Cricut Cartridge:  Christmas Solutions
Paper:  DCWV
Border Punch:  EK Success
Embellishments:  assorted buttons & gems, Stickles, Diamond Glaze

My Pink Stamper Flowers & Friendship

This week at My Pink Stamper we are celebrating a new stamp release!  One of the stamps that is being featured today is Flowers & Friendship:

This is such a fun set with beautiful sentiments.  If you would like to find a retailer so you can purchase some My Pink Stamper stamps of your own, click here.  Here's a little something that I made:

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Flowers & Friendship
Cricut Cartridges:  3 Birds on Parade, Once Upon a Princess
Paper:  Doodlebug Design, Stampin Up
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Embellishments:  twine, Stickles, Doodlebug Design (daisy brad), white gel pen

What an exciting day!

Not only do we have new Cricut cartridges to look at from this month's Hello Thursday release from Provo Craft, but Robyn at My Pink Stamper has also released 8 new stamp sets!




First, the My Pink Stamper release.  What is really exciting is Robyn now has a QR code on the back of each stamp set.  So if you have an iPhone or Smart phone (of which I have neither - so I'll just pretend I know what I am talking about!), download the free app and then you'll be able to watch an exclusive video of Robyn making a project with that stamp set!  Technology is so cool.

Now on to Hello Thursday.  They have released 13 new cartridges this month!  If I had to choose favorites, I'd have to say Ribbons & Rosettes, Sweater Weather, New Testament, and Paper Trimmings.  Although, I'm really excited that they have released a cartridge for Canadians - Go Canada!

Enjoy!

Good memories

Today's post is both sad and happy.  I found out that a dear friend of our family's passed away a couple of days ago.  Although we will miss her, this is not a sad occasion.  She was 92 years old and had lived a meaningful life of love and service.  I firmly believe that there is life after death, and that families can be together forever.  She has been reunited with her husband and I'm sure is ready to begin serving on the other side.

We will miss you Gertrude.

Cricut Cartridges:  Beyond Birthdays, George & Basic Shapes
Paper:  AC Cardstock, Roberts Crafts (silver foil), DCWV Lemon Flower Stack
Embellishments:  ribbon by Offray

Pinkalicious Blog Hop Friday!

Welcome!  I am so glad that you have joined me tonight for My Pink Stamper's Pinkalicious Blog Hop Friday.  If you arrived here from Tracy at Craft Junkie Too then you're in the right place.  If you arrived here on your own tonight, I invite you to hop over to My Pink Stamper so you can begin at the beginning, and then you'll be sure to see Robyn's and all the Pink Designer's wonderful projects.

Tonight is going to be such a fun hop because it is all about goodies!  Goodie bags can be so fun to make, fun to embellish, and of coarse so fun to eat.  We are foodies at my house, and with the holidays right around the corner you can bet that I am trying to think of new and creative ways to deliver my homemade goodies that I give as gifts.  You'll see that tonight's project is more of a goodie box than a goodie bag.  In fact, it's nine boxes - all stacked and ready to fill with various holiday treats.

I made the boxes using Tags, Bags, Boxes & More and my trusty Gypsy, cut at 8.5".  Using glue dots, I stuck all the boxes together so that the flaps would all open down - then whatever I put inside won't just fall out when the boxes are opened.  I used some wire-edged ribbon all around the outside of the boxes for a little extra help keeping them together, and of coarse for a festive touch.  All of the Cricut cuts came from the Winter Woodland cartridge.  What a gem it is!  I love this font, and all the snowflakes and scallops.

No gift is complete without a tag:

This tag was made using the My Pink Stamper set Yummylicious

I love this set!  And I know that I am going to get so much use out of it this holiday season.  If you would like to see the complete collection of My Pink Stamper sets, go here.  If you would like to find out where you can purchase these wonderful stamps, go here.

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Yummylicious
Cricut Cartridge:  Winter Woodland, Tags Bags Boxes & More
Paper:  AC Cardstock, DCWV (red foil)
Embellishments:  ribbon (Costco), candy cane brad (Doodlebug Design)

Thank you for stopping by!  When you're finished hopping, don't forget to head back to My Pink Stamper and join us in a challenge.  Now it's time to hop along to Angela at Simple Creations.  I have also included the entire blog hop order below:

Robyn (My Pink Stamper)

Roberta

 Sharon

 Tracy (CraftJunkieToo)

 Andrea

Angela (Simple Creations)

Renee (RockinRenee) 

 Kassidy

Cristi

 Missy

 Michelle (Meesh's Pieces)

 Carissa (Sprinkled with Glitter)

 Julie (readysetstamp)

 June

 Chelle (Paper Krate)

  Shelley

Edna (Create With Expression)

Helen

 Agnes (Flowerdisco)

Karlee 

Courtney (Court's Crafts)

Maria

Coupon Bonanza at Michaels

Did you get this great email from Michaels?  If I was a little more talented I would figure out how to post the entire ad here, but alas, you'll have to settle with a link that I hope will keep working.  They have got eleven 50% off coupons that can be used on various items today and tomorrow - including 50% off all craft punches, 50% off 3M Advanced Tape Glider (love mine!), 50% off the Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board, and 50% off ENTIRE purchase of DCWV paper pads.  Lots of great papercrafty deals to be had!  Check out the coupons here.

Phew!

I am happy to report that I survived my week of canning last week - barely!  I can't even bring myself to do an inventory this year, but if you want an idea of what I have done in the past check out this link.  I am not doing that much this year though, thank goodness.  I think I am about done with my harvest this year - maybe a few more tomatoes (if any survived the frost), and carrots to be picked.  Then it's time to rip everything out so it will be ready for next year.

Here's another Christmas card for your viewing pleasure!

This is one of my favorite ways to make a simple card, by using a border punch along the bottom, some great cuts with a great sentiment, and embellish!  Although I notice that the sentiment is a little hard to see in this picture.  It says, "Believe," and is from the My Pink Stamper set Christmas Wishes.  Speaking of My Pink Stamper, don't forget that this Friday is Pinkalicious Blog Hop time.  I hope to see you there!

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Christmas Wishes
Cricut Cartridge:  Winter Frolic
Border Punch:  Fiskars
Paper:  AC Cardstock
Embellishments:  Silver cord (Stampin Up)

More Christmas Cards

What a crazy week this is going to be!  I have pears coming out of my ears right now.  Yesterday I canned 7 quarts of pears, and 6 1/2 pints of pear jam.  I swore that I wasn't going to do any canning this year because I knew that we would be busy with preparations for (hopefully) our move.  But pear jam is our family's favorite!  And then yesterday a good friend asked me if I wanted any tomatoes.  Glutton for punishment that I am, I gratefully said yes because my tomato crop has been a little pitiful this year.  And I can't go back to store bought salsa!  So, I have my work cut out for me - especially since it is supposed to snow in a few days.  It's time to bring in the harvest!  Isn't this the most beautiful sight:

It's not a great picture, but I think jars of canned goods are so beautiful!

But enough of that.  I thought I would share another Christmas card with you this morning.

For those of you who know me, you know that I love red.  So of coarse I love poinsettias!

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Christmas Wishes
Cricut Cartridge:  Christmas Solutions, Gypsy
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland set
Paper:  Roberts Crafts (gold foil), AC Cardstock
Embellishments:  red twine, red button

Let the Christmas cards....begin!

I would like to start off today by apologizing for my infrequent posting lately.  I am living in temporary, rather cramped circumstances right now while we go through the process of purchasing a home that is a short sale.  If any of you have been through this, you know that it can take a long time!  Thankfully we are pretty far along and there is an end in sight.  But in the meantime my family and I are rather squashed which makes living, let alone crafting, a rather laborious process.  I miss my craft room!  It makes a big difference in my ability to create when my supplies aren't as accessible and I don't have a clean, quiet space to work in.  Hopefully, in a few weeks we'll be moving into our house and I can get my craft room established - just in time to need to start producing in earnest for the holidays!

Did someone say holidays?  This past weekend I brought out some Christmas card samples and asked my husband which one he liked the best, and he responded, "You're making Christmas cards already?!"  To which I replied, "It is a crafter's prerogative to start start the holidays early!"  Especially when there are classes to teach, deadlines to be met, swaps to complete...

So this week I will be showing some, what I would call, intermediate level cards.  These are pretty simple designs, with some slightly time consuming details.  If you want to make cute Christmas cards my best advice is to invest in some good paper, and add a little bling.  Here is my husband's favorite:

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Christmas Wishes
Cricut Cartridge:  Christmas Solutions
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland set
Paper:  Roberts Crafts (silver), Coredinations Gemstones (Pearl), Stampin' Up! (brocade blue)
Edge Punch:  Fiskars
Embellishments:  Silver cord (Stampin' Up!), gem, Silver embossing powder

For those of you who got all those free cartridges when you registered your Gypsy, if you haven't already, make sure you check out that Christmas Solutions cartridge.  There are some really beautiful designs on there!  I think the best thing I did to prepare for the upcoming Christmas crafting season was spend some quality time with my Gypsy.  Oh the possibilities!

Applicious!

The beginning of autumn arrived with a bang at my house - with 80 degree weather and my oldest daughter and I having a cold.  Isn't that just so wrong!?  No matter, I celebrated the start of my favorite time of the year by creating a card that incorporates some of my favorites things - apples, and the color red.

 

 

 

This is also the time of year that I start to think about which cards I would like to give in the assortment that I give as Christmas gifts.  I think this one's a keeper!  ;-) 

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Everyday Life (also a favorite)
Cricut Cartridge:  Preserves
Paper:  AC Cardstock, Craft Brown cardstock from Roberts Crafts, American Crafts Apple Cider line
Embellishments:  Lace ribbon from Hobby Lobby, assorted buttons tied with linen thread, Close to Cocoa stamp pad for stamping and sponging

Happy Fall Y'all!

My Pink Designer - Spookalicious!

It's that time again!  I am so excited that this month my fellow My Pink Stamper Design Team members and I are featuring one of Robyn's new stamp sets:  Spookalicious!

I LOVE Halloween!  I love the fun of costumes, the nip in the air, and of coarse - the candy!  Don't you just love seeing jars full of brightly colored candies?  It's such a fun and easy way to add a splash of color to your decor.  I picked up this jar at my local craft store and tied some black tulle around the neck in a bow.  Then I got my Mini Monsters cartridge and made the little witch.  For her little trick-or-treating bucket I used the Gypsy so I could hide the contours on the face of the pumpkin.  That way I had a clean slate to use the "Trick or Treat" stamp from Spookalicious.

Stamp:  My Pink Stamper Spookalicious
Cricut Cartridge:  Mini Monsters
Embellishments:  Stickles, Diamond Glaze, Doodlebug Design Boutique Brads, black tulle, white gel pen

Thank you so much for stopping by!  If you haven't already, be sure to head over to My Pink Stamper so you can see all the fun projects from my fellow designers.  If you would like more information on how to purchase your own My Pink Stamper stamps, click here.