An Unfrogettable Birthday!

I thought this was the neatest idea! I made this at my upline's house last week, so if the original idea was yours please let me know so that I can credit you.

I think this makes a terrific kids birthday card, and I am thinking of using it for Colin's birthday invites.

The card used Glorious green, Green Galore and Whisper White cardstock. The image and words are stamped in Basic black ink and crayons are added so kids can color in thier own frogs. A double circle punch was used to thread the Black Gingham ribbon through to tie the crayons to the front of the card. The stamp set is Unfrogettable and it is on the top of my must have list!

I have another workshop tomorrow! I spent last night cutting out cardstock and packing. I am very excited about it. I have 11 guests who have RSVP'd to attend, so it should be a lot of fun. I am going to take a newsletter with my class schedule and hopefully spark some interest. I am also going to take one of my mailboxes that is the focus of my next class and use it as a door prize. I think it turned out really cute but I am still finalizing the finished product.

Have a great weekend! I hope I have time to get a project posted.

Photo Wallet

This is the wallet I got to make the other day. I fell in love with this one on the SU website and I was hoping that the make and take kits would be offered to those of us who were not able to attend Leadership. I love the color combination and I think this would be a really fun stamp camp project. It was made with Doodle This and the Doodle Alphabet. I love these sets and I am sure that they will make some awesome scrapbook pages. I am anxiously counting down the days until February 1st. I have my order all planned out, my swaps lined up and a workshop and some classes planned.

Now for the great news! I got a call back from the Park District today!!! I had sent in an application to try to teach some scrapbooking and card making classes. I know that I will be unable to sell at these events, but I am really hoping that people show interest in the classes and it helps me to get my name out in my community. I have lived here for almost 3 years and I know a fair number of people through my sons, but I don't want to keep hitting up friends to come to classes and have workshops. I won't be able to start until the Summer session because the Spring session classes have already gone to printing, but it is a start. I will meet with a Director on February 8th and take along my samples and some class ideas. Wish me luck!

I sure wish I knew how to add more than one picture to my blog and not have them crowded on top of each other. I am clueless when it comes to formatting my blog.

I've been tagged!

JanTink from Stamps, Paper, Scissors, stopped by this morning and tagged me. I never thought it would happen so quickly.

So here it goes- The ABC's of Jenn D

A - Available or Taken: Taken
B - Best Friend: My husband Roger, and my kids. From college, and we still keep in touch- Rachael and someone I met around the time my oldest was born, and who I have had the pleasure to meet - Miss Becky
C -Cake or Pie: Pie - apple, pumpkin or pecan will do
D - Drink of Choice: Water
F - Favorite Color: I have 2 right now - Chocolate chip and Pretty in Pink
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Worms
H - Hometown: Bourbonnais, IL
I - Indulgence: Stamping time with out kids- sounds selfish . . . but it is so nice to not have to pull prying hands off of my stamp cases and papers
J - January or February: February, because my birthday is then right around the corner.
K - Kids & Names: 2 - Colin (3 3/4 years old) and Evan (14 months)
L - Life is incomplete without? My family
M - Marriage Date: September 22, 2001
N - Number of Siblings: 2 - sister, Michele and brother, Matthew
O - Oranges or Apples: apples
P - Phobias or Fears: spiders or any ugly bugs inside of my house - outside they are okay. Falling on the ice while carrying Evan around in the winter
Q - Fave Quote: "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's whywe call it the present."
R - Reason to Smile: Watching my 2 kids play together.
S - Season: Fall - The leaves changing colors, the sun on my face, it's just a wonderful time of the year
T - Tag 3-4 People: psladybug, debbiemom23cs, mama3boys
U - Unknown fact about me:
V - Vegetable you don't like: There aren't many . . . I hate tamarinds, but I'm not sure if it is a fruit or veggie
W - Worst Habit: Lack of Patience - when I see something I want I prefer to get it now
X - X-rays: Not many actually - my ankle maybe once in high school
Y - Your Fave Food: Indian Food
Z - Zodiac Sign: Pisces

I told you that I got my hands on some of the Make and Take materials from Leadership. This has sealed the deal that I DO NEED Doodle This! This card also uses Canvas Background stamp and Everyday Flexible Phrases stamp sets. The cardstock is Old Olive, Marigold Morning and Tempting Turquoise and the ink colors are the same. The flower is stamped on using Jet Black Stazon and is colored in with my personal favorite - AquaPainter. To make the tab I got to use the new tab punch from the Spring Mini which will be out starting March 1st (what a great birthday present!). Other accessories include, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/8 inch circle punch and Turquoise Ribbon.

Projects Galore!

I had a fabulous day today! I went to my upline's house and we were able to complete some of the projects that they did at Leadership! I got to try out Doodle This and Doodle That, as well as the 2 brand new punches. I also got to hold a

copy of the spring mini catalog in my own grubby hands! I think I know what I want to order on February 1st, but I am sure it will change as the day gets closer. I will share the projects that I completed today as the week goes on. I really have been on a roll!

This is the inside of my Envelope book. I did find out that the creator of this project is also a SCS member - texasjodylynn. I like to give credit where credit is due, so I want to thank her for a fabulous idea. If anyone needs dimensions please e-mail me.

I have 6 envelopes in my book and it seems to be the perfect amount. The envelopes have the flap folded to the back and it is glued to the envelope behind it. I then decorated a piece of cardstock and I plan on getting some pictures of my kids developed to carry along with me. I am notorious for not having pictures on hand.

I also got started on my mailboxes today! I got my pocket notes from Stampin' Up! and they are the perfect size to fit inside of them. I am still trying to figure out my final design, but I think I narrowed it down to one I like.

Until tomorrow . . .

Envelope Book

I saw this book a few weeks ago and I fell in love with it. I got all of the measurements and could not figure out how to put it all together. I was so upset about that. So I borrowed a book from my upline and it was easier to complete with a sample in front of me. Measurements and written directions can only take you so far.

So I sat on this project for a few weeks, and finally tonight I vowed to complete it. I had so much fun! It is made with the Just Delightful Simply Scrappin' kit that I earned as part of my Sell-A-Bration purchases. It goes along with the Delight in Life stamp set and I used the stamps on the inside to decorate as well as the Big Blossom stamp. I will share photos of the inside tomorrow, so you have to wait in order to see it.

I am so excited about this project that I am going to do an entire class on it. I will let participants pick which kit they want to work with and I think it will be a hit!

I have also decided to photograph my cards instead of scanning them. My scanner will never scan straight no matter how many times I check to make sure everyting is situated perfectly. It also takes away a lot from my projects. So from now on I'm planning on using my Cannon Rebel XT to photograph things. I have a backdrop I set up using an old white pillow case I've had laying around and a Stampin' Up! shipping box that I cut out to hold up the case. I think the setup works very well. Now I just need to get better lighting and I'll be all set.

Celebrate!

I am making a committment! I really need to stop browsing through all of the wonderful cards I see on SCS and start creating my own. I had set a goal for myself to create at least one project a day and I have fallen so far behind. Isn't that always the case? It is in my house.

I did this card for 2 purposes. I want to start completing more card sketch challenges at SCS. I think they are wonderful, so this was the sketch selected for this week. If you want to complete the challenge you can find it here. The most important reason is because my cousin's daughter is celebrating her 3rd birthday today! I refuse to go to the store to buy a card when I have the supplies to make my own.

I used the set Tag Time, and I think it turned out pretty well. The cardstock colors are Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. I used a lot of ink colors along with my Aqua Painter to color in the images. I stamped the images in Jet Black Stazon because I think it works better when coloring images in. I used Pretty in Pink, Vintage Violet, Cranberry Crisp, Almost Amythest, Mellow Moss, Apricot Appeal and Buckaroo Blue. I know I could have simplified the color scheme, but I wanted a nice cheery birthday card for a 3 year old. I popped the gifts up off of the page with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Nothing is better than . . .

I found this card example on the Stampin' Up Demonstrator website and I fell in love with it.

This is made with the Like It a Latte stamp set and it is one of my absolute favorites from the Winter Mini catalog. It uses Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White cardstock. The ink is Whisper White Craft Ink, Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose Classic inks. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to make the chocolate chip cardstock pop and one heart is popped up too.

I am busy trying to get ideas for my class on Friday. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

Delight in Life

This is my first time ever taking place in a card sketch challenge over at SCS. I am trying to come up with ideas for my class on the 19th and I think this is a very good example. I think it is simple enough to put together and yet it looks elegant.

I used my Delight in Life stamp set. The cardstock is Vintage Violet, Mellow Moss, Cranberry Crisp and Whisper White. I used Vintage Violet and Mellow Moss ink.

I really like how the flowers seem to pop off of the page and I set them up a little bit by using the Stampin' Dimensionals.

So 1 card idea down and 4 more to go. Now I must be back to the drawing board *smiles*, okay the stamping table.

Where does time go?

I feel like I have been awake for a week straight and I don't even know where the time has gone. Maybe it has something to do with that "UFO" sighting over O'Hare. *giggles* Okay, probably not, but I've been meaning to check that whole story out.

I spent a lot of time this week getting my cardstock ready for my workshop on Sunday. I have 11 people attending! I was getting worried that more would respond with a "Yes', and I'd run out of cardstock. *Gasp* Actually I only have one full piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock left. I never thought that my first workshop out of my home would be so successful. So keep your fingers crossed for me that everyone is excited about the Sell-A-Bration sets as I am. I still don't have mine in hand. They were supposed to be here on Friday, but somehow UPS has a rescheduled date, after passing them through Salt Lake City 2 times, 3 days apart, for Monday. I can't wait to get them mounted and ink them up.

So here is my card for the day. *Sorry Becky, I still haven't gotten the slider card done.* I saw a similar card in the Winter Mini, but I wanted to make a full sized card out of it. I loved the color scheme and the stamp set so I improvised and made one up on my own. I used Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean and the Loves Me Designer paper that is in the Winter Mini, as well as Very Vanilla. The stamp set is Sweet on You, and the Be Mine is one of the Fancy Flexible Phrases, all stamped with Chocolate Chip ink. I also added some Ivory Grosgrain ribbon to give it an extra touch.

I am also pleased to say that I did a 6 X 6 mini album last night, minus pictures in just under 2 hours time, and it is gorgeous! I have to get my photos loaded off of my digital camera and then I can share. I think I may offer a class for the Simply Scrappin' kits using the map that Sharon G. so graciously shared on SCS. I used the At Home kit and I love it.

On another good note! In the last 2 days two people have contacted me out of the blue that are interested in Stampin' Up in my area. I am so excited about building a local customer base. I really want this to be my full time job when the kids are both in school. So I'm planning on starting now, with a small group of loyal customers and hopefully build up from there. I have 3 more years until Evan can start Preschool due to his mid November birthdate.

I'm off to type up my card directions for my workshop tomorrow, as well as kit ideas to help boost those Sell-A-Bration sales.

A Work In Progress

I started out on my altered tin today. I am happy with the way it is turning out but it is taking me longer than I expected to finish it. The dimensions of my tin were a little smaller than those I have found online so I had to fiddle with them a little bit.

The front of the tin, which is on the right hand side of the picture uses Designer 2 sided paper called Loves Me from the Winter Mini catalog. I also used Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink and Very Vanilla cardstock on the front as well as on the inside. I did use some Cool Caribbean cardstock as my background paper for the inside of the tin. The ink on the outside is chocolate chip in which I stamped the background image from Polka Dots and Paisley set that was a gift from Shelli (CEO at Stampin' Up). I used Bordering blue to stamp the word happy and tied it all together with Ivory Grosgrain ribbon. The inside uses Chocolate Chip as well as Regal Rose, Cameo Coral Ink Pads and Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker.

I have a scrapbooking party on Friday so hopefully I will get a chance to finish my tin. Tomorrow I have to start on cutting out all of my cardstock for my workshop on Sunday, so I'll show a preview of those cards!

It's Sell-A-Bration Time!

"There's a party going on right here

a Sell-A-Bration to last troughout the years.

So bring your good times

and your laughter too

we're gonna Sell-A-Brate

your party with you

Come on now (Sell-A-Bration)"

* adapted lyrics from Kool & the Gang

So here is the set of stamps that started it all! I walked into my parent's house one cold, blistery November day to attend a Stampin' Up workshop that my mom and sister decided to host. They are not new to Stampin' Up by any means and they are probably more seasonsed veterans than I am. I was the one who always took their stamps for the joy ride. *laughs*

Sure, I had attended stamp camps with them, but I was never really the one to invest, but obviously that has changed. Now I'm always telling my husband "Just one more order . . . things will slow down when I have my supplies built up." Honestly, I am not a huge fan of spending money but the Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalog calls to me from across the room and I just have to pick it up and see exactly what I need. So now after spending my Christmas money and then some, I am done ordering. *sigh* That is until next Sunday.

I am having my first Sell-a-Bration workshop of the New Year in the home it all started in. My mom and sister are hosting the workshop for me. I think so far we have 9 attendees, and I know they both have thier orders all ready to go! I am planning 3 hands on projects and I'll share them here throughout the week. I have my samples all made and ready to go, but I have to get my cardstock ready and my supplies packed.

This week I also want to get started on either my mailboxes or my altered Altoids tin. I am not sure which project I want to start on first, but that will depend on how much of my Loves Me Designer paper I use when I cut out my supplies for the workshop on Sunday. I am so happy that I finally got my grubby little hands on the mailboxes, yet I feel compelled to stalk my Target for them. I was there two times today and one time it was my husbands fault. He is the one who planted the seed in my head to go back there this evening. If anyone is watching those in-store video cameras I wonder how many times they will see me walk into the store and walk back out after looking in the empty $1 Spot bin labeled "mailbox". *sighs*

It's getting late and I have a 13 month old refusing to sleep, so I better sign off. My card today is made with Ornamassortment Stamp Set and Twinkle Stampin' Around Wheel. I used Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Ruby Red and Whisper White cardstock. I used the Basic Black stamp pad and colored in my ornaments with Stampin' Pastels. "Holiday" on the little tag used Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker and I had a Brocade Blue Ink Cartridge in my wheel.

My cat Gilbert also helped stamp the card and added two nice little lines of Basic black for me and all he really wanted was my marker.