25% Off SALE (and more)!!

Oh man, oh man, oh MAN!!

So excited to share this Stampin' Up Birthday SALE with you!
25 stamp sets at 25% off!!

Some of my favorites are in there...oh how I wish I could've got them on sale!! :)  Have you been waiting on getting a certain stamp set?  Be sure to check the list - it could be on there! :)

Click on the picture below and it'll bring you to the list! :)
As always, ONLINE ORDERING AVAILABLE 24/7 HERE
Be sure to look closely for the right one (ie: Language, Clear-mount, Woodmount) :) 

ALSO....
Want to save time making gifts and cards this Holiday Season?
Pop & Place Holiday Gift Tags (amongst the other new arrivals)
NEW Cut & Ready Card bases (cut, scored, ready to go!)

AND...
HERE is this week's Weekly Deals

AND...
Don't forget the Envelope Punch Board for making your OWN custom envelopes!! :)

WHEW!!!!  As you can see...a lot of great stuff going on!
Feel free to contact me with any questions! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma!

As I contemplated my Grandma's 80th birthday, I knew I wanted her card to really focus on that this is a special birthday - her 80th!!  I also really wanted to try to match her party theme too - hues of pink and white. :)

It came to me then, that I should make the same card I made HERE, but in pinks!  Perfect!  Well, not saying the card is perfect, just that I was pretty excited to make the idea of it happen. ;)




















Look familiar? ;)

On the card, I used retired colors Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink (one of my fave combos), also retired designer paper "Berry Bliss" and good ol' Whisper White cardstock as my neutral.

I used the "Memorable Moments" stamp set again, using Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink ink.

After stamping, I cut out those beautiful shapes with the Labels Collections Framelits and the NEW Magnetic Platform - I'll say it again - love it, sooo nice to work with!! The framelits stay in place so nicely - no moving around! :)  Also...(forgot to say this in yesterday's post), I paper pierced around the edge of the Regal Rose Label frame. Just gives it a little somethin' extra. :)

Using my Big Shot, I cut out the Pretty in Pink flowers with the Birds & Blooms sizzlit, and the leaves with "Little Leaves" sizzlit in Wild Wasabi cardstock. The top flower is from the itty bitty punch pack. :)  I sponged the edges of the flowers, and then applied the half-back pearls.

Well, what do you think?  Is it okay to use the same design, or should all special cards be original? :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!
Crystal

Happy 5th Anniversary!

A couple weeks ago, I had a custom request on Etsy for an anniversary card.  Based on the questions I asked and the specifics they gave me, I came up with a couple of choices.

Here's the one they didn't choose. :)

The specifics?
A Soft Suede card base, layer of Baja Breeze cardstock, then the retired Elegant Soiree Designer Paper.

The main image is stamped from the set "Memorable Moments" in Soft Suede and Baja Breeze.

After stamping, I cut out those beautiful shapes with the Labels Collections Framelits and the NEW Magnetic Platform - oh, my goodness!  It is sooo nice to work with!! The framelits stay in place so nicely - no moving around! :)

The flowers are from the Birds & Blooms Sizzlit set, and I cut the leaves in Wild Wasabi cardstock with the "Little Leaves" Sizzlit (and Big Shot). Oh yes...the top flower is from the itty bitty punch pack, actually. :)  I sponged the edges of the flowers, and then applied the half-back pearls.

Well, what do you think?  I think I'll be adding this to my Etsy site for purchase very soon! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Another Thank You

I am such a sucker for thank you stamps.

Probably because I feel pretty strongly in sending a thank you card. I probably err on the side of too much.  I remember a period of time my mom would say, "what are you thanking me for now?"  Ha ha ha...Granted, that doesn't mean I can always get to it right away, but I do try to send one if I can remember. :)

The other day I was able to finally get up to my craft room (yay!) and create a couple thank you cards I'd been wanting to send out for quite some time.

I decided to try a few NEW things! :)  Stampin' Up has joined the photopolymer wagon (totally clear stamps). I wasn't really tempted by this until the "Another Thank You" set came out - cuz you can never have too many "thank you" stamps, right? ;)

I used the large script "Thank You" from this set for my cards. As you'll see, it looks like exactly the same card, twice. But if you look closer, you'll find that because of the technique I used, they will never be exactly the same card. :)



















(I was in a hurry, so the picture isn't that great - so sorry!)

I used two of the NEW InColors from this year for my cardbase: The bottom is Pistachio Pudding, the next layer is Coastal Cabana.  It was my first time using those colors together. Actually...the first time using either one, period! lol

What do you think that very top layer is? Why, it's our Watercolor Paper!
How in the world did she get it to look like that??

Here's what I did in 5 easy steps:
1) Embossed the "Thank You" on watercolor paper by stamping the image in Versamark Ink, sprinkling with clear embossing powder, and then heat-setting it with my Stampin' Up heat tool.
2) I then used my aquapainter to "paint" water on the paper.
3) Then, I painted over top of the embossed image with the Pistachio and Cabana inks and my aquapainter, blending the colors together here and there, leaving them their true colors in other places.
4) Wiped away excess color on the embossed image with a tissue.
5) Mounted onto the layers, and voila! :)

Hmmm...I shall call this technique...watercolor emboss resist! :) The emboss resist technique is not a new one to me...but usually I am sponging or rubbing ink over the embossed portions (which resist the ink). This whole watercoloring over the top is new to me. :)

PS - Here's a link to all the Photopolymer stamp sets SU now carries - including the newest one released yesterday (9/24), a Halloween set!  You can order this and any other supplies through me, 24/7! :)

Well, what do you think?
Do you feel the same way about thank you's, or do you feel like a verbal thank you is enough? Maybe you'd rather not answer that, and instead have something to say about the cards?  I'd love to hear from you! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

A NEW Tool!

Last week was SUPER busy, mostly with my daughter's birthday stuff (will share about birthday creations another time), but one thing I cannot wait ANY LONGER to share with you is a NEW tool from Stampin' Up!

I was skeptical, then intrigued, then...taken. :)
We've used it a few times now, and ohhh, how handy dandy!

On Sept 1st, we went to my nephew's 2nd Birthday party, and this little boy loves tractors. Sooo...as dairy farmers, it was a no-brainer - give him tractors! ;)  I picked up some RED ones (cuz those are the best - not the green & yellow kind - wink)....and of course, needed to make him a card to match his gift. :)

Warning: It's not a great card. Keeping in mind it was for a 2 year old, at a birthday party where things can be a little crazy, I didn't spend a lot of time on it. I stamped tractors, colored them in (red, charcoal at bottom, glitter pen on the grill), stamped the sentiment and framed it, and that's it. Glad I didn't spend much longer on it, because I was so right. ;)

So, yes...I made a card. BUT...I also made a matching envelope!!!  SOOO excited. Really wishing I hadn't gotten rid of a TON of older non-SU scrapbook/designer paper at a garage sale a few years ago, because it's perfect for this!!

See - it fits! :)  One of the things I love about this tool is that it creates customizable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes!! How's that for awesome??

Another thing? It's reasonably priced at $19.99!  Oh, and they've guaranteed it's going to be in next year's catalog, that's another great thing....It's super easy to use, it's small and lightweight, it has a slick scoring tool as well as a punch that lets you create rounded corners on your envelopes, and it's easy to keep it all together.

What's not to love? :)

I can't wait to show everyone at my Fall party how this works!

Did you know you can order this directly through me, but have it sent directly to YOU? More awesomeness. :) 

Be sure to check everything out while you're there - I know there's a butterfly bundle going on...save 15%!

Used: Stampin' Up's Sassy Salutations stamp set, Black Stazon ink, Basic Gray & Basic Black cardstock.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

First Day Back...

It's been awhile...let's sit down with a cup of coffee, shall we?

















I see now it's been nearly 8 MONTHS since I last posted!  In some ways, I can't believe it's been that long...in other ways, I totally can. I'll try to share bits and pieces of that time in the days to come...including some crafting! :)

Perhaps one person actually checks this anymore, wondering...did she EVER finish that craft room??  I can say with great excitement...YES - we finished it in April!  I've been able to create here and there, but not a lot, or as often as I'd like to. I'm hoping that will all change, now that school's back in session.

Back to school, I can hardly believe it. My girls started yesterday, as 1st and 4th graders!

Yesterday was such a GREAT first day.

The girls were up and going at a good time...in fact, my 1st grader was up ONE HOUR earlier than my alarm was set for, coming to my room already dressed, asking if she could make her sandwich yet. ;)

I don't know about you, but for us, a new school year comes with traditions. One is this: I HAVE to bring them to school on the first day - poor kiddos. :)  There's just something about bringing them to their classrooms that first day...love it. Yes, I realize this will not last much longer. ;)

After the classroom drop off /picture taking, mom & I walked over to the High School for another first day tradition - Convocation.

As I sit on the bleachers, taking in the buzzing excitement around me, I recall first days of school from my youth...seeing everyone again, feeling excited yet a little nervous....

Years later, as a parent, I see it so differently.

There is still that excitement buzzing all around...but now is that waiting, that craning my neck for a glimpse of my daughters, filing in with their new teachers and classmates. My heart bursts with joy as I see them, and I do that thing...you know...wave like crazy until they see me and wave back with a smile on their face. :)

That excitement and joy is just a small part. As a parent, I appreciate how this tradition starts the year off pointing to the One who makes everything possible, and dedicating each year to Him. It is quite common for tears to gather in my eyes at some point (sometimes more than once) during this hour or so. Whether it's during a speech given by a special speaker, during a time of singing, or during the final prayer (gets me every time). I always leave the grounds with a full and thankful heart.

Post-Convocation, Mom and I chatted over lattes at a local coffeeshop - a treasured time. :)

Next...I went to the grocery store. ALONE.

I found myself in a totally different frame of mind than when my kids are with me.  Now, don't get me wrong. I love them dearly. In fact, they've actually become quite helpful. It's just that this time, there was no fighting over who gets to push the cart (every. single. time), no trying to push with them hanging on or standing in front of me.  Just me, pushing the cart as I please. Stopping for a moment to chat with someone from church, getting to know them better. Walking through the bakery department with no "mom, can we get a donut?" pleading (really the only thing they ask for, cuz they know that once in a great while - IF it's on sale for a good price, I allow it).

I walked right on by those donuts and smiled a bittersweet smile - glad to not have the question asked, yet missing them a little in that moment too. :)

As much as that time alone is appreciated...I am still happy beyond measure to see them return after a day at school.

People often ask me what I'll do with my time, now that I've got both of my kids in school full-time. Believe me, I've got enough to keep me busy!  No, not just crafting and blogging, as nice as that would be, ha ha.

There's still yardwork, housework, Bible Study, more rooms and projects to finish (remember we moved a year ago), etc. One thing (among many) I'd like to accomplish, is keeping up to date with tasks better.  For example - it sure would be nice to balance the checkbook sooner than a couple months behind. :-|  I'm not the only one, am I?

I would love to hear from YOU!

How was your summer?  Do you have any back-to-school traditions?  Do you ever get behind on things like housework, balancing checkbook, etc...or am I the only one? Do you have any goals for this year?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

PS - Yup, there's coffee in that mug - Folgers. ;-)  The mug is from a field trip to Sbux headquarters, and I love the size - it's almost like having two cups of coffee at a time - much needed this week! ;)

2013 Awaits...

Happy New Year to y'all! Yes, I realize it's the 8th...but better late than never, right? ;)

I'd like to show you a picture that makes me smile.
 
Yes, it's a calendar. Look closer.
IT'S EMPTY!!!! :)

Usually, I love filling it in with all the birthdays and anniversaries (seriously - it's the same part of me that likes to fill out forms - wink).

This year, however...it stayed empty for a few days on the wall.  My hubby noticed the other day, and said something. I said, I'm enjoying looking at the NOTHING on there. :)

Since taking this picture, I've added the birthdays and anniversaries, and will update it with everything today, but it sure was nice to look at a clean slate for awhile. :)

The last couple months have been...well, busy. Full. A little stressful at times. I soooooo enjoyed the Christmas break with my kiddos. After the 19th, it was nothing major on the calendar other than the multiple family parties in the evenings. We sooo needed the downtime.  I wasn't even ready to let them go back to school last week! lol

I'm looking forward to the fresh start of 2013. How about you?

Craft Room update (since I know you're wondering): A hole cut in wall, and built-in bookshelves are in. Still have to put the backside of the shelves on. Which means more sanding, priming and painting (ugh). I've done a lot of sanding, priming, and painting...and now comes the next round of priming and painting. :) Some drawers, some trim. Then...the walls!  WOO HOO!! Things move very slowly when you have a dairy farmer husband to wait on and a painful arm to contend with. ;) REALLY hoping to be done by the end of January...because Sale-A-Bration awaits! (Priorities, priorities, I know). It's not just that...I just want to get in there and create! Not just for enjoyment, or to sell in my Etsy shop...there have been many times I've felt prompting to create a card for someone...and can't.

Would love to hear from you - are you looking forward to the new year? Do you have any resolutions you're willing to share?

Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal