2ScrappyGirls Blog

Christmas Cards for Halloween!

2011-10-24T06:42:00.003-05:00

The Christmas cards for next weekend are finished! Okay, the cards themselves are finished, but the paper isn't cut yet. I'm working on that tonight. I know it's Haloween weekend and that seems like a strange time to be doing Christmas cards, but that's just how the 4th weekend fell this month. And if I had planned it for this past weekend, I would have had to cancel because they wouldn't have been ready!

Let me know if you want me to save you a seat. There will either be door prizes or table favors, depending on how much time I have this week. And most definitely, there will be fun times with friends! See you this weekend!

September Cards Sneak Peek

2011-09-22T09:50:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak peek of the cards we're making this weekend. I am loving that owl! If you can't make it and want kits, please let me know and I'll get them ready for you as soon as I can. Kits are stamped and ready to assemble with a picture to show you what the finished card will look like. Cost is $25.

I hope to see you this weekend!

Some Personal News -- and a Card

2011-09-17T08:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I have to tell you some things and then I will post a card or two from last months workshop. As a lot of you know, I have been in "job limbo" since my position was eliminated last spring. I sort of randomly filled out some job applications over the summer and had a couple of interviews, but nothing had worked out so I started the school year substitute teaching. I was fine with that -- was actually enjoying it -- but I didn't feel "settled". And then, a couple of weeks ago, I found out that someone had gotten a call asking for a reference for me. Since I'm no dummy, I had listed people who would say awesome things about me -- without being paid -- and the result was a job offer at USI!

On September 26, I will be starting as a full time Administrative Assistant in the Travel Services department at USI! I'm equally excited and frightened -- excited for the job and frightened that I won't be able to keep up with everything in the rest of my life! I will be using my accounting background (that most people don't know I have) and I wilt l be back on the campus I love. So life at my house is about to get even crazier!

That's enough of that -- now I'll show you a card . . .

Sunflower Card

This card is super-simple, but one of my favorites. I used the Daisies Flower #2 and Daffodil Delight cardstock and layered 2 of the largest ones for the big sunflower and 2 of the medium ones for the smaller sunflower. The center circles are punched using the 1 3/4" Circle punch and the 1-3/8 Circle punch embossed with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions folder. The leaves and sentiment are stamped in Old Olive ink.

I'm going to try to get back to posting a card every couple of days, so give me some feedback to let me know you're looking! Have a great Saturday!

July Cards

2011-07-22T13:04:00.002-05:00

My cards for tonight are all ready -- and I still have a few hours to go! I'm really pleased with how they turned out. The get well card is something I CASEd from someone on SplitcoastStampers.com a couple of years ago. I have gotten so many comments on the sample that I decided to change the colors and do it again! I should have a few kits ready by next week if anyone wants one. Have a great weekend!

June Cards

2011-06-22T16:06:00.002-05:00

Although I'm usually all over the map, I tried to keep with a summer theme this month. Of course there has to be one card for July 4th, just because. And flip-flops -- well who doesn't love flip-flops in the summer? The "hello" card is a sneak peak from the new catalog, which I will have available for purchase. (I'll order more if I run out!)

Overall, I am very happy with the way these cards turned out and I hope you are, too! Hope to see you this weekend and if not, I will have some kits available.

Cards from May Workshop

2011-06-08T13:27:00.006-05:00

I owe a huge apology to one of my dear stamping friends! I told her the pictures of the cards were on my blog so she could assemble her kits. I didn't MEAN to lie to her, but they weren't here. So Cyndi, here is a picture for you. Please forgive me and thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Card Organizer Class June 11

2011-06-03T09:19:00.002-05:00

This month I'm adding a card organizer class to calendar. The organizer is spiral-bound using the Bind-it-All binding system and contains 12 pocket pages for holding cards. Each page has a calendar to record birthdays, anniversaries and any other important date you need to remember to send a card for! There will be a variety of color choices.

The class will be June 11 at 12:30 at Noble Roman's on Washington Avenue. We're starting a little earlier than usual because someone else needs the room that evening. Cost is $15.

I do recommend that you bring liquid adhesive for this project, as we will be adhering cardstock to chipboard.

Let me know if you have any questions!

February Cards

2011-02-22T18:20:00.003-06:00

I feel like I'm running further behind than usual this month, but here is a picture of the cards we're making this weekend at Noble Roman's. I wish I could say I came up with all of them, but that would be a downright lie! A couple are based on cards I've seen online, one is based on a sample in the Occasions Mini catalog and one is a shameless copy of a card a dear friend made at her workshop last week! (Thanks, Jeannie!)

There are additional sentiments for some of the cards so you can adapt them to whatever you need this month. For the baby card, you can make one of each or both the same color. Hope to see you all there this weekend! Thanks for looking.

January Cards

2011-01-25T06:38:00.002-06:00

I'm ba-a-a-ck! The holidays and snow days are behind us (well, at least the holidays . . . ) and it's time to restock your card supply for the new year. Here's a picture of what we will be making at my monthly workshop in January at Noble Roman's on Washington Avenue. There is only one that made an "official" Valentine's Day card, but a couple of others could be adapted. I wanted to be flexible so everyone could get what they needed. Let me know -- I still have some spots left -- and come make some cards this weekend!

Here's the Picture!

2010-11-15T06:54:00.006-06:00

I am really flying by the seat of my pants lately! But here is the picture I've been promising for the last 2 weeks. The brown scallop circle gift box has a ribbon bookmark and a gift card holder in the cello bag with some basket filler. So it can be given all together or separated for different people. The other projects are a clear "paint" can an altered composition notebook and a "Santa" notepad.

Thanks for looking!

I Didn't Mean to Lie!

2010-11-14T21:11:00.002-06:00

I meant to post the picture before I sent the e-mail! But I forgot and sent the e-mail and then remembered that all of my stuff is still packed up from the weekend! So-o-o I will go look for the projects and if I can find all of them, I will post them! Have a great evening!

September Cards

2010-09-21T06:18:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! What a crazy week (or month) it has been here at the Higgins house -- from broken bones to crashed cars -- we've been super busy! ( I know you're all shocked to hear that!)

Here are the cards for this weekend -- as of this moment. There is some chance that I will come up with one that is more Thanksgiving-y, but for now, this is what you're getting!

I also will have some door prizes this month and will not forget to give away a free worskshop to someone who eats at Noble Roman's. Hope to see you there!

My First Technique Class!

2010-09-08T11:55:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited -- I have spent this morning preparing for my first technique class -- the shaving cream technique. The class will be this Friday night at Crossroads Christian Church and I am VERY excited!

During the class, which is at 6:30, we will be learning how to do the shaving cream technique and using our results to make a fall-themed box and card, as well as an instruction and example card. The cost for the class is $4! What a bargain!

Please let me know if you plan to come so I can be sure to have enough supplies on hand. See you Friday!

August Cards

2010-08-24T08:07:00.004-05:00

It's only Tuesday and I have a picture of the cards we're making on Friday and Saturday! Yea Me! I'm actually going to start cutting paper today. It's amazing what I can do when I know I have to work the rest of the week and won't have much time!

The cards I made are all stamped with "happy birthday". I designed a variety to have something for everyone and, of course, you don't have to stamp "happy birthday" on all of them. I hope you like them and I'll see some of you this weekend! Have a great week!

Designer Series Paper Club

2010-08-17T12:02:00.004-05:00

If you love Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper, this is the club for you! I'm going to give a quick overview of how the DSP Club works and if you have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail.

The commitment is for 5 months, $30 each month. This is what you get each month:

2 packages of Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper
4 sheets each of 3 different 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock
(12 sheets total)
3 yards of 5/8" satin ribbon
Some sampling of embellishments

In addition to I have listed for each month, you will also receive hostess benefits one of the 5 months. This consists of at least a level 1 hostess set and at least $15 in free merchandise! That can be increased by additional orders from you or your friends. And the best part is that you don't have to host a workshop unless you want to!

I have set up a list of which DSP packages I will order each month, but you can change them if you want something different, as long as you let me know before I place the order. It takes 5 people to make a club, so let me know if you are interested and I will let you know when I have a club ready to go!

Retired Stuff for Sale

2010-08-05T09:36:00.015-05:00

Thanks to those of you who took some of my retired stuff off of my hands and out of my cabinets at my July workshop. For those of you who weren't able to make it, don't worry. . .there's still a lot left! In order to simplify the process and not overwhelm myself, I have priced everything at $5, $7 and $10. All sets are "as is", which could mean there is staining on the wood.

If you click on the name of the stamp set, it will take you to a picture with all of the stamp images form that set. Some of the pictures aren't great, but will at least show you what the stamp set looks like.

Big Flowers $10
A is for Adorable - $7
Fun With Shapes - $7
Seeing Spots - $7
Little Pieces - $5
Polka Dot Punches - (new unmounted ) - $7
It's a Date - $5
Sweet Shapes - $7
Picture This - clear new -- $10
Very Thankful -- clear new unmounted -- $10
Congrats -- new unmounted -- $7
Friendship Blooms -- $7
It's The Thought -- clear new unmounted -- $10

I also have ink pad, marker & ink refill bundles in the following colors for $5 each:

Almost Amethyst
Barely Banana
Mellow Moss

And individual ink pads $2.50 each:

Lovely Lilac
Purely Pomegranate
Cool Caribbean
Soft Sky
Blush Blossom
Glorious Green
Crushed Curry
Really Rust
Green Galore
Bermuda Bay

Let me know if you see something you can't live without and I will save it for you. Everything will be available for pickup at Noble Roman's at my August workshop or you can pick it up at my house if you want it sooner. Thanks a bunch!

Out With the Old -- Kissing the Bird Goodbye

2010-07-12T16:51:00.003-05:00

For some reason, I have a hard time saying goodbye to retiring stamp sets. As a result I have WAY too many that are no longer in the catalog! But this year I acquired this beautiful bird in the Wings of Friendship hostess set -- and fell in love with it! But someone else loved it as much as I did, so I used it at my last two workshops of the Stampin' Up! year and then sold it to her so it wouldn't get stuck in a drawer.

I delivered the beautiful bird to his new home a few days ago and had to give him a kiss goodbye. (Cheri thought I was crazy!) I know he's in a good home and will be taken care of, but I'm still going to miss him.

And then there's the card. It's one of my favorites ever -- and everything on it's retiring! The colors are Brocade Blue and Barely Banana -- the colors of my kitchen. I'm getting over this new color transition and will have fun using the new colors in the next couple of weeks getting ready for my July workshop. But it's not easy saying goodbye to those who have been with me for so long!

New Catalog Pre-Order plus Coupon

2010-06-12T07:58:00.012-05:00

It's almost time for the Stampin' Up! catalog! As many of you know, Stampin' Up! is retiring several old colors and replacing them with new colors. In addition, several of the In Colors from past years are going to gain a permanent place in the new color pallets! This is all in addition to the new clear stamps and all the new designs and accessories that we are all going to "need"!

In order to help you with your "needs", I am offering a catalog pre-order special. From now until June 17 you can pre-order and pre-pay for your catalog for just $5! In addition, your catalog will include a coupon for $5 off of your first $25 order! That makes your catalog FREE! I will notify everyone who has pre-ordered a catalog the day they arrive -- I probably won't know ahead of time -- and you can pick them up at my house or make arrangements for me to meet you somewhere. (If you live out of town, shipping charges will apply.)

Refilling Markers

2010-06-12T07:48:00.003-05:00

I've been asked lately about Stampin' Up! markers drying out on the fine point end. I have to confess, most of mine don't work either, so I decided last night to try something that I had read about a long time ago -- refilling markers. And it worked!! Since so many of my markers are retiring anyway, I decided it wouldn't be a big deal if I tore one up trying, but the marker came out of the process just fine and now it works again.

Here's what you do:

Brush end -- using tweezers, gently pull from the base of the "brush" and the whole thing will come out very easily. There is a sort of wick on the other end that goes down into the barrel of the marker. Put a couple of drops of re-inker into the barrel and replace the tip firmly into the barrel.

Fine tip end -- do this end using the same concept, but I couldn't get my tweezers to work -- the tip was too slick. So I used my teeth! (I know, that may gross some of you out, but it worked. And it's okay Mom, I didn't hurt my teeth!) Anyway, a pair of small pliers would probably do the trick, too. Just put a couple of drops of re-inker into that end and replace the tip.

It will take a little while for the wick to absorb the ink and for the marker to write again, but be patient -- it should work! I also stored my markers fine tip down for a little while since that was the end I was having the most trouble with.

One Last Chance

2010-06-02T05:53:00.003-05:00

The lists of retiring stamp sets and accessories are out! You only have until June 30 to order stamp sets and the accessories are available only while supplies last! Click here to see the retiring stamps list.

Don't miss out on accessories that you love -- once they are gone they're gone! Many of them are being offered at 25% and even 50% off of the catalog price. The list will be updated daily, but in order to be sure you are getting what you want, you may want to visit my Stampin' Up! website -- www.2scrappygirls.stampinup.net -- and place your order there. If you would rather call me, that's okay, too! Click here to see the retiring accessories list.

Be sure to get enough of your favorite retiring color before it's gone forever! And that stamp set you just love!

I'm Back!

2010-05-27T21:04:00.004-05:00

Okay, so it's been a while! In honor of the last day of school and summer starting tomorrow, I thought I'd make a new attempt to get back to blogging on a somewhat regular basis. I have enough experience to know that my life won't really slow down much, but maybe I will at least be at home a little more often than I have been in the last couple of months.

Here is a picture of the cards we're making tomorrow night. It's not a great picture, but I've got to start somewhere! I'm pretty excited -- I really like all of the cards this month. The one with the tree says Happy Father's Day, but I will have other stamps if want to make it something different. I have also made the wedding card so that it can be a last minute graduation card if you need one. I'll post individual pictures with details later.

I will probably have several kits, so if you are one of the lucky people who is going away for the holiday weekend, let me know and I'll get you a kit!

Crop for the Cure Fundraiser

2010-03-01T14:28:00.003-06:00

Although I am not attending Crop for the Cure this year, it has really been on my heart to donate to the cause. Someone very dear to me has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and it seems that everywhere you turn it is affecting someone else. So with that in mind, I have decided to hold a fundraiser for Crop for the Cure. I have designed 3 different cards using the Ribbon of Hope stamp from Stampin' Up! and -- of course -- pretty in pink cardstock, ribbon and ink.

Cards will be packaged in clear boxes with 6 cards and 6 matching envelopes. Each box of 6 will cost $14 with $5 of that going to Crop for the Cure. I plan to take orders through Saturday, March 6 and deliver cards by Friday, March 12. This will enable me to donate to the Crop for the Cure on Saturday March 13.

Send me an e-mail -- stephanie@thehiggins.com -- or call me at 459-0882 if you want to place an order. Thanks!

Holiday Mini Products Still Available

2010-02-23T08:01:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to let you know -- several items from the Holiday Mini are still available. Here is a list of those items and their prices. And Sale-a-bration still applies -- for each $50 you spend, you will get a free Sale-a-Bration set!

Item #	Description	Price
116794	Ornament punch	$15.95
116806	Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint	$5.95
116854	Frost White Shimmer Paint	$5.95
116807	Platinum Shimmer Paint	$5.95
116829	Décor Elements Blocks	$9.95
116824	Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Folder Petals-A-Plenty	$7.95
116821	Stampin' Up! Holiday Windows Magnetic Movers & Shapers	$29.95
116819	Stampin' Up! Table Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95
116820	Stampin' Up! Embosslits Merry die	$11.95
116823	Stampin' Up! Sizzlits Merry Details die	$5.50
116822	Stampin' Up! O Christmas Tree Pop-Up Bigz XL die	$42.95
118140	Stampin' Up! Tree Decorations Sizzlits die	$5.50
118108	My Digital Studio	$79.95
116519	Charming stamp set	$19.95

Stamping Night at Crossroads

2010-02-06T20:55:00.002-06:00

As many of you know, there will be a Stamping Night at Crossroads Christian Church starting next weekend. The second Friday night of each month from 6:30 to 9:30 I am going to host an evening of stamping. The format will be a little different than what I've done before. It will sort of be like a crop where you can bring your own supplies and do your own thing. I will be bringing some stamps and stamp pads and punches to share, but everyone will have to bring their own consumable supplies.

For those who do not have their own stamps or supplies, I will have some kits available for a nominal fee to cover costs. They will mostly be kits from workshops I have had in the past -- some WAY in the past-- and I will charge per card. So there is no charge to be there and work on your own stuff. I won't be selling anything, so if anyone needs to pay for anything or order anything, we will have to talk before or after the event.

I'm really excited to be a part of an awesome fellowship opportunity! The people I'm already met through scrapbooking and stamping are some of the best people I could ever hope to call friends. And this is another adventure where I know I'll meet even more awesome people! I hope to see you there!

Designer Series Paper Club

2010-02-03T20:44:00.004-06:00

These are just a few of the awesome papers you might receive if you decide to join the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper Club! I only need one more person to commit to a $30 order for each of 5 months. In addition to lots of awesome DSP, you will receive cardstock, ribbon and embellishments! PLUS -- you will get to be "hostess" (no, you don't have to have a workshop!) one month and get hostess benefits.

Here's a breakdown of what you will get each month:

2 packages of Designer Series Paper

12 sheets of coordinating cardstock

3 yards of grosgrain ribbon

A variety of embellishments

During your hostess month, you will receive AT LEAST $15 free merchandise and a free level 1 hostess set! Also, since we are in the middle of Sale-a-Bration, each member will get one Sale-a-Bration set!

Let me know if you are interested in joining. I am going to try to place the first order around the middle of February.

Cards for this Weekend

2010-01-29T09:09:00.002-06:00

I know -- it's been forever since I have posted anything! And this is not going to make up for that. I just wanted to post a quick picture of the cards we're making at my workshops this weekend. So, here it is. Let me know if you want to come -- I have just a few seats left.

And now I have to go cut paper!

Projects for Christmas Workshop

2009-11-10T09:03:00.004-06:00

Can you believe it? My Christmas Gifts workshop is still a week and a half away and I have all of the project samples made!! The workshop will be held on November 21 during the day and again on December 4 in the evening.

The projects will include a white short pillar candle stamped with my favorite Christmas tree ever, a spiral bound organizer with pocket pages to keep your lists, coupons and receipts in during the busy holidays, a wall hanging and a frappuccino bottle decorated with a pocket to slide a gift card into -- fill it with candy and it makes a unique way to give money!

Now I'm off to clean up the mess I have created while being creative! I'm going to shift gears and start getting ready for an open house I'm participating in on Thursday. If anyone is interested in coming, there will be several different vendors -- Lia Sophia, Mary Kay, maybe Tastefully Simple -- and ME! I will be doing a small make and take and have various gift items and cards to sell. It is at the home of Lea Deisher on Oriole Drive in Evansville. If you are interested in coming, let me know and I will give you directions.

Have a great day!

Christmas Cards

2009-10-19T06:52:00.012-05:00

Finally -- I'm back! Back from where? I'm not sure! I've been substituting like a mad-woman and have added a 6th grade Bible Study to my volunteer list. Between all that and driving kids life is just flying by! But today I have a sick child. So I get to stay at home and stamp! He's actually feeling better today, so I hope I really do get to stamp. I have a workshop this weekend (Friday and Saturday) and haven't started getting ready for it. I know that doesn't surprise any of you, but it always stresses me out when I don't have even one card created!

I'm going to go ahead and share pictures of the cards from my Christmas card workshop las

t month. What an awesome turnout! I had 40 people join me over 3 workshops to make Christmas cards! That's 400 Christmas cards!!! But -- never fear -- if you didn't make it, there will be kits. I made enough extra to have around 7 kits of each card. They aren't all made yet, but will be in the next week or so. Let me know if you want some.

The first one is a pocket card. The pocket is Bashful Blue with a Night of Navy snowflake made with a Sizzix die. The stamp set is retired, but any snowflake set would work for this card. I used Kraft as the accent color because I wanted to use the designer series paper from the mini catalog. I heat embossed the white snowflakes and punched them with circle punches.

Next is a simple

card made with Sage Shadow and Whisper White. I don't usually like this color, but once in a while it is just the right color. The scroll stamp on the sage is from Baroque Motif -- one of my favorite stamps EVER!! It makes anything look

pretty! The stamp on the ornament is from a hostess set. I punched it out with the ornament punch from the mini catalog and "hung" it from a white ribbon. Then I finished

it with a piece of silver cord. Very simple!

The next card

turned out to be very controversial! The design is based on a piece of scrapbook paper I saw and liked. Since I was using silver embossing powder, I used gray paper. Apparently, gray isn't a Christmas color! And someone thought it didn't have enough snowflakes on it, so they added one to my sample. (Okay, that w

as an accident, but it was very funny!) For the second weekend, I changed the base card and the sentiment to Handsome Hunter. That's more "Christmasy"! I don't have a picture of that one, but it did look nice. The red is Ruby Red.

This next card seemed to be everybody's favorite -- including mine. The card base is Chocolate Chip with layers in Garden Green, Real Red and Sahara Sand. I used the Yuletide Christmas stamp set from the mini catalog and stamped the images on Natural White paper. The DSP down the left edge is also from the mini catalog and is flocked -- LOVE it! Lots of sponging on the layers and a ribbon ('cause you gotta' have ribbon!) and the result is a very pretty card with a nostalgic touch. The stamp set also includes a nutcracker (which I used on the inside) and a horse drawn sleigh. It's an awesome set!

Here is the last card. From the time I saw the new In Colors, I knew that I had to use Rich Razzleberry on a Christmas card. This set is called Christ is Born and pretty much says it all! I used markers to color the poinsettia stamp and -- yes, you have to cut it out -- and then used Stickles or Dazzling Diamonds and glue on the center to add a little sparkle. The card base is Old Olive and the top note die cut is Certainly Celery. A very simple card, but another favorite!

So, there they are. I hope you enjoy them and get some ideas for your own Christmas cards. Consider joining me this weekend when we will do some cards with a fall color scheme. Now, I had better go create those cards!! Have a great day!

2ScrappyGirls Card Shop

2009-09-23T14:33:00.047-05:00

Check out the cards for sale! Cards are priced individually and by the set. Each card comes with a white envelope and sets come packaged in a clear plastic box. If you want something that you don't see, let me know! Or if you see something somewhere else on the site that you would like to buy send me an e-mail!

This page is a work in progress, so visit often!

Daisy Card

Just a Note

Retired Stamp Sets

2009-08-08T10:04:00.005-05:00

Okay -- it's time. Actually it's way past time to clean out my stamps. I'm going to post several retired sets I have for sale today and there may be more to come. The price listed does not include shipping, which will be determined if you need it to be shipped. I hope you find something you "need"! All sets are "as is" -- some may be perfect or never used, some may have staining. I will note if they are unmounted.

Oh So Lovely -- $5 link to photo

Party Punch -- $5 -- SOLD

Fun Filled -- $8 link to photo

Love Without End -- $10 link to photo

Riveting -- $5 link to photo

Springtime Stems -- $5 link to photo

All I Have Seen -- $5 link to photo

Nice and Narrow -- $8 link to photo

Holiday Spirit -- $10 link to photo

The link next to the name should take you to a picture with each image in the set. If it doesn't work, let me know and I will try to get a picture to you.

Thanks for looking!

Long Time No Post

2009-08-06T17:03:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone -- I decided it's time to get back to posting and thinking about stamping after a couple of weeks off. The last time I posted it was the week of Arts Smarts and now that seems like a really long time ago! I've got so many cards that have not yet been posted and now it's time to start on the next workshop.

But first, I have to tell you that my whole family is CRAZY! Here's the story: My daughter's hampster passed away a couple of nights ago : ( and although I was not emotionally attached to the hampster, I was sad for her. I have to tell you that Anna is a very pursuasive child who has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. So when he said she could get another hampster, she immediately put on the sad eyes and said "what about a dog?" You probably know where this is going by now. So my husband and 3 of my children are on their way to Newburgh to "look at" a 12-week-old pom-shitzu puppy. I didn't even go because I can't be a part of it. It's not really that I don't want a dog because I LOVE dogs (another reason I didn't go), but we need another dog like we need . . . okay, we just don't need another dog! I told Anna that I want to go on a really nice trip, but I need HER to talk her daddy into it for me!

Okay, I'm finished ranting -- here's a card for you. I wasn't sure if I would everyone would be thrilled about cutting out butterflies for two different cards on the same night, but everyone was pretty okay about it. I wanted to use the Washington Apple Designer Series Paper (retired), so just used the color scheme from it with a white card base. I really like how it turned out.

The colors are: So Saffron, Pumpking Pie and Riding Hood Red (retired). The butterfly is from Garden Whimsy and is cut out and attached at the body so it is raised a little off the card. I scalloped the edge of the DSP, punched the saying and popped the small oval up on a dimensional, tied on the ribbon and finished the edges with a bit of sponging.

In Color Ribbon Share -- The new In Color ribbon is 1/2" polka dot grosgrain and it's REALLY pretty! If you're interested in getting in on the share, let me know. For $14 you get 3 yards of each color (total of 18 yards). That's a great way to get some ribbon without getting 15 yards of the same color!

That's all for now -- have a great evening!

A Quick Hello

2009-07-15T06:26:00.004-05:00

Good Morning Everyone! I'm having a busy week with Arts Smarts camp, so my stamping life is a little neglected. Here is a quick post to show you another of the cards from last months workshop. This card took me FOREVER to finish, but ended up being my favorite. Isn't that how it always goes?!? I'm going to tell you quickly -- and from memory -- what I used on it. The stamp set is a hostess set from the just-retired catalog called God's Beauty. The colors are Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral and Old Olive. I used a background stamp on the olive (I think it's called Sandpaper). The I random-stamped the leaves in Old Olive and the flowers in Cameo Coral on the scalloped circles. The scalloped circles were cut using my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities. Then I stamped the butterfly in Cameo Coral on Blush Blossom and cut it out, which is not my favorite thing to do, but sometimes you just have to! The ticket corner punch and a little sponging on all of the edges and it finally all came together! Hope you like it.

I must go now and wake up my children. That seems SO wrong on a summer morning, but that's what I have to do! I hope you all have a great day!

Marker Club

2009-07-06T08:32:00.005-05:00

Marker Club I had a conversation last weekend with some ladies about getting a marker club together. I thought it was time to repost the details of what you get. If you love Stampin' Up! markers, this is an awesome way to get them at a discount a little at a time. This is a great time to participate, too, because during your hostess month you will get to choose from the new catalog!

Here's the way it works:

Each club needs 4 members
Cost: $46.50/month for 4 months
What you get: Complete set of Stampin Up! Markers (48 colors)
Carrying case for markers
3 sheets of each color coordinating cardstock (144 sheets)
20 sheets of Naturals White Cardstock
20 sheets of Naturals Ivory Cardstock
20 Naturals White Envelopes
20 Naturals Ivory Envelopes
Plus: 1 month you will be "hostess" (NO WORKSHOP REQUIRED!)

In the month you are hostess, you will get AT LEAST a Level 1 hostess set AND $15 free merchandise from the NEW catalog. (This can be increased with outside orders or, if you want to hold an actual workshop, we can work that out, too.) The bottom line is, what would cost you $219 in merchandise, shipping and tax, you will get for $186 spread out over 4 months!!
Let me know if you're interested!

A New Catalog and New In Colors!

2009-07-05T14:35:00.010-05:00

I hope everyone had a hapy 4th! And thanks to everyone who came to my June workshop last weekend. I had a great turnout and it was a lot of fun. A lot of stuff is happening in the Stampin' Up! world. The new catalogs went into effect on Wednesday. Mine finally arrived on Thursday, so if you want one, give me a call and I'll make arrangements to get it to you. The cost is $10, or you can get one FREE if you host a workshop!

In Colors -- I'm really loving the new In Colors this time. Check out the picture to the left. They have markers this year, too -- woo-hoo!! I haven't really played with them yet, but hope to do that this week to get ready for my next 10 card workshop on July 24 and 25.

Summer Fun Deal of the Week -- Starting with the new catalog, Stampin' Up! is offering a product deal of the week. Each week on Monday, a new deal will be announced. Click here to go the Stampin' Up! promotions page to see what the deal this week is. Send me an e-mail or call me and I will place an order on Friday for the deal.

Here is one of the cards from my June workshop. It was inspired by a card I found on Splitcoaststampers. The background is the polka dot background stamp, heat embossed using Whisper White craft ink and detail white embossing powder. The stars are punched in the white and then layered on the red circles. The way to do this is to punch the star out first and then center the star in the 1 1/4" circle punch and punch the circle. (If you punch the circle first, you can't put it in the star punch!) Then punch 1 3/8" circles out of Real Red cardstock and layer them. The "celebrate" stamp is from a retired set called All About U and the star stamps are from an old shape set (I can't remember the name). I always love 4th of July cards!

I still have some kits left from the June workshop if anyone wants them. I'm going to start today on cards for the workshop at the end of July. In the meantime, I am going to try to post the rest of the cards from June this week. I guess I better get busy! See ya!

Just Some Stuff

2009-06-24T07:06:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all the girls who came to my technique class last night. They got to use several things that I am not able to use in regularly monthly card class. We made a card using chipboard -- we covered one piece with cardstock and stamped on it and sponged the frame with sponge daubers -- and stamped with bleach on a really cute box that is sized to hold cards and envelopes. I also pulled out some of the felt flowers that I've been hoarding! And everyone found my house without too much trouble!

Here is a link to the tutorial for the card box. This has all of the dimensions and score marks. This is one of my new favorite things! What a cute gift idea -- a box filled with coordinating cards. I'm feeling a class idea coming on . . .

I'm having another technique class in July. I'm thinking shaving cream for that one. That's definitely something I would not try at Noble Roman's with 15 people! But I'll figure that out later. Right now I have to come up with the 5 cards for this weekends monthly card class! Between that and getting Anna ready to go to New Orleans, I guess had better get busy!

I have the new catalog in my hands as well as the new In Colors. I'm really loving it all! My first impression of the new colors was a good one -- usually I have to get used to them -- and the catalog has some really cute new stuff in it. Unfortunately, I think I will only have one catalog for everyone to see on Sunday, but you can't order from it until July 1 anyway.

I still have plenty of room left on Sunday, so let me know if you want to bring a friend and make some cards. Have a great day!

2009-06-11T18:24:00.008-05:00

I bet you all think I have fallen off the earth! I am just now getting settled into some sort of routine after trying to play catch up the first part of the week. Last week was VBS -- which was awesome, but wore me out -- and Anna had to sing in church all weekend and leave for church camp on Sunday. I drove some of the worship team to Camp Illiana after church and had to go to Addison's 5th baseball game in 7 days when I got back!! By Sunday night I was tired like I haven't been tired in a LONG time!

I have sort of been "puttering" all week, trying to clean my house a little bit at a time and get some cards and kits done all at the same time. I got the kits finished today, but the house is still not clean! : ) I have 2 extra kits that I will hang on to for a couple of days, so if anyone wants them, let me know. The kits contain the stamped parts to make all 10 of the cards from the last workshop. The cost is $20 and I include a picture so that all you have to do is assemble them.

Since I've been gone so long, I thought I would just share all 5 cards at the same time today. That just means I have to come up with something new really soon! For the sake of length, I will do short descriptions without stating the obvious about each card.

Card 1

Stamps -- Little pieces, Seeing Spots, Warm Words, Holiday Blitz

Cardstock -- Gable Green, Green Galore, Apricot Appeal, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper white (these colors were taken from the Rainbow Sherbet DSP)

Ink -- Same as cardstock

Accessories -- Circle punches, ribbon, oval punch, cuttlebug, 1/8 inch hole punch, corner rounder

Card 2

Stamps -- Holiday Blits (I also did a version of this card with the windmill from A Scene from the Garden, which I liked better) Non-SU sentiment (which, by the way, was a crummy stamp!)

Cardstock -- Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, whisper white and Baja Breeze DSP

Accessories -- brad, tag punches

Card 3

Stamps -- Pick a Petal, Heard from the Heart

Cardstock -- Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Whisper white, Rose Red DSP

Ink -- Rose Red, Certainly Celery

Accessories -- Sponge daubers, 1/8" hole punch, scallop edge punch, celery ribbon

Card 4

Stamps -- Tart & Tangy, sale-a-bration sentiment (I can't think of name)

Cardstock -- Yo-yo yellow, Only orange, Real red and whisper white

Ink -- Real red

Accessories -- sponge, real red and only orange markers, hole punch, white ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, scissors

Card 5

Stamps -- Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Treat Yourself, So Many Scallops

Cardstock -- Whisper white, Bashful Blue, Old Olive

Ink -- Old Olive, Bashful Blue

Accessories -- markers, circle punches, lace edge punch, 2 way glue pen and glitter (on cupcakes)

I give up on working on this layout. I don't know why I put a picture where I want it and when I post it moves it?!? It drive me crazy and . . . we don't need no crazy today!! So here it is, however it turns out. Have a great day!

Summer Specials

2009-05-26T09:37:00.004-05:00

I've decided to offer some incentives to keep all of you coming to workshops over the summer. At the end of the summer I will be doing a drawing for a $25 gift certificate good for Stampin' Up! merchandise. Here is a list of how you can earn tickets:

Attend a monthly stamp camp: 1 tickets

Attend a technique class: 2 tickets

First time attender: 3 tickets

Bring a friend who has never been: 3 tickets

Place a $50 order: 3 tickets

Place a $75 order: 4 tickets

Place a $100 order: 5 tickets

Host a workshop: 10 tickets

Sign a child up for Kids' Camp: 10 tickets

Here are the descriptions of this summers' classes:

Kids Camp ~ June 16-18 ~ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
I am going to host my first ever Kids' Camp this summer! During this 3 day camp kids ages 8 and up will learn the basics of stamping and also use some fun techniques to make some kid-friendly projects. Craft projects will include a name frame, a journal with a matching pen (sample pictured), a scrapbook with a chipboard cover and cards. Cost includes a stamp set, all materials required to complete projects and an ice cream party on the end. Kids will bring a sack lunch each day. Limited to first 10 paid deposits. Cost $75. ($20 deposit required by June 3. If you pay deposit and cannot attend, you will still receive the stamp set.)

Stampin' 101 ~ June 11, July 9 ~ 6:30 - 8:30 pm
This summer I will be hosting some classes designed to allow more personal attention and instruction to those of you who may be new to stamping. We will make 2 projects using basic stamping techniques. Classes will be held at my house so seating will be limited to the first 10 reservations. Cost $10.

Stampin' Techniques ~ June 23, July 21 ~ 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Easy enough for the beginner, but fun for the more advanced stamper, these classes will focus on a specific stamping technique that I would not normally use in a larger class setting. Each class will feature projects using 2 different technqiues. Cost $10.

I haven't set dates for June and July monthly card workshops, but will let you know as soon as I do.

Dance Card

2009-05-18T08:52:00.004-05:00

This is going to be a VERY busy week at the Higgins' house, so I wanted to quickly show you the card I made for Anna's dance teacher from the class. I loved the way it turned out, although the picture is really bad. I forgot to take a pic before we gave it to her, so I did it quickly in the waiting room at the studio and only took one. But hopefully you can get the idea. The ballet slippers are from Jolee's. I used the swirl stamp from Baroque Motif (love that stamp) and embossed it in white on the black card base. I "cuttlebugged" the top black layer with the swirly embossing folder and layered it on pirouette pink. (I thought that was appropriate for a ballet card!) Then I just stamped "Thank You" and punched it with the middle size oval punch and "hung" the ballet slippers from a black brad to tie it all together. Hope you like it!

This is the last week of school and I have to sub today for field day, which should be interesting. Tomorrow I am going to Holiday World with Anna and the 5th graders and Ian will also be there with the 8th graders. That's exciting for me because very rarely do 2 of my kids go the same place at the same time! Then Wednesday it is 5th grade "graduation" and Friday is 8th grade "graduation" (they are really just awards days) and then it will be OVER!! I'm so excited! God has a way of making me appreciate all of the kids being at home for the summer by making me so busy the last month of school that anything seems better than running around all day every day!

I'll post the summer stamping schedule in the next couple of days. Some of you have already received an e-mail, so it won't be new to you. See you all later ~ have a great day!

Graduation Cards

2009-05-11T18:27:00.011-05:00

I made this graduation card for a very dear friend's daughter this weekend (don't show it to Katie -- she hasn't seen it yet!) It turned out so cute that I thought I should probably not only share it with all of my friends and family, but also offer to make some for them. So I made an order form and a couple of sample cards in our school colors and put them in the teachers' lounge at West Terrace today. I am so excited -- at the end of the day I had orders for 5 of them! Woo-Hoo!! So here it is, and if you need some or know anyone who might, just let me know. Cost is just $3 per card. All I need to know is the name of the school and the colors. I'll even make the envelope to match.

2009-05-06T14:20:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone! What a great day it is in Evansville -- if you're a DUCK!! Yesterday was so beautiful and I was subbing. Today I'm off and had errands to run and the rain is back, apparently for the rest of the week. I don't like to be a complainer but, well, I'm complaining!

Anyway, I just had lunch with some of my best scrapbooking friends. That's always a great way to make a dreary day brighter! Now, if only I could find time to scrapbook with them! But school will be out soon and then I might have some extra time on my hands. Here are the other cards from last month's workshop. The cards from this workshop were some of my favorite overall, as a group, from any workshop. Now, with that said, the pictures are not all that great. I know you've all heard me say it before, but I'm not a good photographer!
I love the colors on this card. The Raspberry
Tart Designer Series paper is one of my favorites. I think it is the only package of DSP that I have ever used up and I just might have to order some more! I copied the layout of this card from somewhere (in a book, I think) but changed everything else about it. Here are the supplies:

Stamp set: Paisley background and Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Pretty in Pink, Whisper white and Raspberry Tart DSP
Accessories: Corner rounder, Boho Blossoms punch, silver brad and dimensionals

The next card was also a copy of another layout. Of course, I have no idea where I got the layout, but just let it be said -- it's not mine!

I don't do very many sympathy cards, but for some reason that's what this one seemed like. Of course, at the workshop I had the whole sentiment set and everyone could choose what they wanted to make it.

Here are the supplies used:
Stamp set: Upsy Daisy
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery and Basic Black
Accessories: Top Note Die, slot punch, certainly celery 5/8" ribbon, scissors

The last card is one that was featured in a Stampin' Success. I used a different stamp set, but I think everything else is the same. I haven't used staples on a card for a long time. I have a friend who used to come to workshops and spend forever trying to figure out how to hide the staples because she didn't like the way they looked! But I say if it is good enough for the Stampin' Success, it's good enough for me!

Here are the supplies:
Stamps: Time Well Spent and Love You Much
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Rose Red, More Mustard, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Boho Blossoms punch, Whisper White grosgrain, crystal clear embossing powder and staples

That's all for now. If anyone wants kits, I still have a few. I will probably go ahead and make most of them into cards next week, and the flower pot cards will have blank cards in the kits for those who don't want it to be a mother's day card.

In the next couple of days I need to make a card for Anna's dance teacher, which I will post (if I remember to take a picture of it!) and I'm also going to make some West Terrace photo albums for some of the 5th grade "graduates". Well, it's time to think about starting my evening taxi service. Talk to you all later!

The Frog and the Flower Pot

2009-05-04T19:32:00.004-05:00

I've finally found a few minutes to share some pictures of the cards from the end of April workshop. I was really pleased with how all of the cards turned out. I did a "fun" card, which I don't usually do and I just love the flower pot card! I wish I could take credit for it, but I got the template and instructions from Splitcoast Stampers. I'm not even sure if the color combo is mine or not.

For those of you who got kits, here are the instructions for the flower pot card:

1. Fold flower pot on score lines and adhere patterned paper to front (under scalloped flap).

2. Tie ribbon around flower pot. This is the only thing holding the "pot" together.

3. Layer the circle on the flower and put that on the scallop circle.

4. Arrange all three flowers and attach to the top of the ivory rectangle. Make sure when you assemble the flowers that you do not make it more than 5 1/2 inches tall or 4 1/4 inches wide. That way it will fit inside a regular envelope.

I love my frog card! I bought this set, which is retired, at the Schmitt Photo rummage sale. I don't usually buy "cute" or "fun" stamps, so I thought I would branch out a little. The frog is stamped with Stazon on Shimmery White cardstock. Everything that is colored is done using ink and a blender pen. The colors are Gable Green and Green Galore.

Tomorrow is a teaching day, so I will try to get the other three posted Thursday. I do still have some kits left if anyone wants them -- 10 card kits for $20, stamped and ready to assemble.

Have a great day!

Getting Ready for the Retreat

2009-04-13T17:04:00.004-05:00

Why did I think it was a good idea to work 3 days this week? I know, I know -- because I need to work! But right now it doesn't seem like a great idea. I am leaving on Friday after school to go to Washington, IN to an SISF retreat where I am teaching a scrapbook page class Friday night. Then I'm coming back to Evansville to do a project at a birthday party (yes, Tiffany, I promise to have it done by Saturday!) and going back to Gasthoff to SCRAPBOOK!!! Anna is going with me for the first time as part of her birthday present. She'll be 11 on the 28th and is SO excited about going with me.

Here is a picture of the page. I'm using the paper from the Sale-A-Bration brochure and the Garden Whimsy stamp set (one of my favorites). I think it's really cute and hope I have time to find some cute pictures from yesterday to add to it.

Next weekend -- April 24 -- will be the next card workshop. Unfortunately, the room was not available for Saturday, so it will just be Friday night. I know that is a disappointment for some of you, but it couldn't be helped. I'm considering the possibility of doing a Sunday afternoon workshop when I can't get the room on Saturday. I need to check on Noble Roman's hours to see how the timing would work, but I'll keep you posted on that.

Have a great week! I don't know if I will end up getting back with another post before I leave on Friday, but I'll try.

Cards for this Weekend

2009-04-02T14:16:00.004-05:00

Oh my goodness! I just looked at my last post to see which side I put the pictures on and saw the goofy way it formatted! I don't know why it can't just look like it's supposed to -- or even better yet, why can't it just look like it does in my mind?! It doesn't matter how much I mess with it, sometimes I just can't get it to look right. Okay, enough of that.

I finally have 5 cards for the weekend. I'm having a really small crowd, so I thought I might entice some of you who visit here regularly to get out this weekend and make some cards with me. The card with the duck on it could possibly the cutest card I've ever made (in my opinion). I don't usually do "cute" cards, but I seem to have 2 of them this time. Unfortunately, I can't take credit for either one of them. Although they aren't exact copies, they are both styled after ideas I saw on Splitcoaststampers. The one with the butterfly is nearly an exact copy of a card in the catalog. But the other two are my very own!

Well, I'm off to cut cardstock! You all have a great day!

Workshop Preview

2009-03-31T10:01:00.007-05:00

I'm doing a quick post today, because I still need to get some cards finished for this weekend. Those of you who know me are shocked right now, that I'm not ready yet -- NOT! I wanted to give you a quick look at the cute Easter card we're doing, though. I have seen several of these on Splitcoaststampers and just thought they were adorable. I took the stuff with me last week so I could make it while I was on vacation and the kids loved it, too! So this is the third one I made because I had to give away the first 2! I apologize for the crummy photos, but I just took a quick picture on my desktop to give you an idea of what it looked like. Let me know if you want to come be a part of the workshop this weekend. Have a great day!

Top Note Die card from Vacation

2009-03-24T10:42:00.006-05:00

Please don't hate me, but I can't resist showing you a couple of beach pictures. We are in Fort Morgan, Alabama, which is at the end of the peninsula west of Gulf Shores. We are in a remote "subdivision" of beach houses and are sharing the beach with about 10 other people (spaced out along a really long stretch of beach)! The kids have been playing outside and digging in the sand and building sand castles the whole time we've been here. It might rain later today and tomorrow, but we are enjoying every minute we can.

Yesterday the adults all went inside for about 30 minutes and when we went back out the kids had dug about a 6 foot deep hole in the sand. Well, needless to say, I freaked out. I did take a picture before I made them fill it partially back in, though. I felt bad because they were so excited, but I really didn't want to be the tragic "sand collapses on small child" vacation story on the 6:00 news!

I did have a small tragedy yesterday -- my cell phone jumped out of my pocket and went for a swim in the ocean. I had it in my jacket pocket and when I leaned over to pick up a shell that phone jumped right into a wave. I reached for it just as the wave went back out so it was REALLY under the water and the sand. I got it all dried out and it works, but it is on constant vibrate. So, I will probably have to bury it when I get home. But hey, what's a vacation without a good "swimming phone" story!?!

Since we have internet access at the beach house we're staying at, I thought I would go ahead and post a card for you! This was one of my favorites from last month's workshop. I used the Top Note die to make a bunch of frames for an event at church last month (I may have shown them to you -- I can't remember). As a result, I had to come up with a card using the red cutout. I just love white embossing on red cardstock, so here it is. The ladybug was the obvious addition to make the card complete.

Since I'm not at home, I can't look at the names of the stamp sets, but I know the little "swirly" is from an older retired set (maybe an SAB set from last year). The ladybug is from a level 1 hostess set in the new catalog -- something dots. If you need to know for sure, I can find out when I get home and let you know. Anyway, I used VersaMark and white embossing powder for the "swirlies" on Real Red cardstock. The ladybug is colored using the Real Red and Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers. I'm not sure what set the sentiment is in. It says "friend to friend". All this is mounted on Whisper White cardstock. It's a really simple card but, like I said, it is one of my favorites. And I guess it's only fair to say that you will be seeing those Top Note die cuts again and again, since I still have about 50 of them! Maybe I could do a post on "30 ways to use a red top note die"!

Have a great week!

2009-03-17T08:36:00.006-05:00

I have several things to tell you today, so bear with me! When I get finished, I promise to show you another card. Here it goes:

March Workshop in April

Due to the last minute vacation that we are being blessed with, the March workshop has been rescheduled for the first weekend in April. The time and place is the same -- Friday at 6:00 and Saturday at 1:30 at Noble Roman's Ross Center (Washington Avenue). I am going start something new this month also. Everyone who eats can write their name on the receipt and put into a special drawing for their next workshop to be FREE!

Ribbon Share

Mr. Brown should be delivering the ribbon (along with some other fun stuff!) this afternoon. My plan is to spend this evening and tomorrow getting it all cut and sorted and bagged (I won't just throw it in a box like mine!) and have it ready for delivery on Thursday. If you have already ordered your share/shares, I will be contacting you tonight or tomorrow to arrange delivery. If you haven't already ordered and want to get in on it, I think I will have 3 or 4 of each color group still available. E-mail and let me know what you want and I will add you to my list to deliver on Thursday. Since I am leaving on Saturday for vacation, if I don't get it to you Thursday, I won't be able to deliver it until I get home. I'm subbing on Friday and leaving EARLY Saturday morning, so you could still come by and get it Friday, but that's it until I get home. If you click on the Ribbon Share link to the left, it will take you to the post that tells the color groups and costs.

Starter Kit Promotion

During Sale-a-Bration, Stampin' Up! is offering several different starter kit promotions all at the same time. The first is that if you order the starter kit before the end of March, you get an extra stamp set of your choice FREE. As if that isn't enough, they are also offering a discount on the starter kit (regular price $199, sale price $169). Now they have added a third opportunity -- the option to pay for it in 3 payments instead of 1. If that sounds interesting to you -- whether you want to just get a lot of stuff for a great price, or if you are interested in being an active demonstrator and holding workshops -- contact me for more details.

Sale-A-Bration

Dont' forget, Sale-a-Bration ends on March 31. That is the last chance to spend $50 and get a free stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration brochure.

Okay, I think that's everything! Here's the card I promised:

This card is sort of a case (copy) of the Sock Monkey card on page 68 of the Spring and Summer catalog. I don't have the Sock Monkey, so I came up with this. It is very different from my usual style and I haven't really decided that I love it, but everyone at the workshop seemed to like it. I do like that it doesn't have any flowers on it, so it could be for a guy's birthday.

Anyway, here are the details:

Stamps: Think Happy Thoughts and Party Hearty
Paper: Basic gray, Real Red, Green Galore, Brilliant Blue and Shimmery white
Ink: Brilliant blue and Basic Gray
Accessories: 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and 1 3/4" Circle punches, buttons, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals and glue dots

Well, now I'm off to get some cards listed on e-bay, run errands and try to get something done so we can really leave early on Saturday! Have a great day!

Finally -- Another Card!

2009-03-13T12:29:00.008-05:00

Hi everyone! I finally have another day at home to say hi and show you a new card. Last weekend I had a sort of "vacation". I didn't have ANYWHERE I had to be on Friday night or all day Saturday, and I even had the morning off at church so I got to just go and sit in the service. With that and the beautiful weather we had last weekend, it really felt like a vacation. I let the kids have everyone in the neighborhood to play, so we had 10 kids in the backyard for about 3 hours! We used to do that all the time, but just haven't had the free time for a while. It was really fun!

I spent some time organizing my stamp/scrappbook room and unpacking all of my stuff and putting it away, one bag at a time. After dragging stuff around for the last 3 weeks or so, I couldn't find anything and had been working on the dining room table because my desk was so covered up there was no room! So I have moved back in and have finishing the kits I had leftover from last month's workshop.

I am going to try to the "card-a-day" thing that I did a couple of weeks ago, so we'll see how many days in a row I can get to it! Anyway, here's the first one.

These are the supplies:

Stamps: Darling Dots (hostess set)
Ink: Rose Red
Paper: Rose Red, Blush Blossom and Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: square punch, cuttlebug, vanilla taffeta ribbon, big bite

This is a really simple card, but I thought it turned out cute. This stamp set is a level 1 hostess set with 8 stamps. The ones on this card as well as a leaf, a gift, a cupcake and a ladybug. (You'll get to see the ladybug on another card later in the weekend.) This is the first time I had used the embossing border strips with the cuttlebug. I really like how it just adds a little something to the blank spot on the card. I used the big bite to punch a hole right behind the large square to loop the ribbon through. That saves a lot of ribbon!

I'm off to call Noble Roman's to try to change the date for my workshop (the one I haven't announced yet!). I was planning to have it the weekend at the end of spring break, but some wonderful friends of ours have invited us to go to Alabama to the beach with them for spring break, so I won't be here! We are all so excited! One thing about having 4 kids -- you don't often get invited to go ANYWHERE with other people, let alone on vacation!! So I will let you all know as soon as I get the date changed.

Have a great weekend!

Candles from an Italian Feast

2009-03-05T13:37:00.003-06:00

I know -- I said I was going to be here every day. I didn't mean to lie, it just hasn't happened this week. I had a great workshop last Friday night. It was small, but I think everyone had a good time. I'll show you those cards in the next few days, but today I want to show you some candles that I made for a luncheon at church. We had an Italian Feast for a lady who is going to Italy with a missionary team start a new church in Verona. So we decorated in an Italian theme and had a pasta and salad meal.

For the candles I used the 3 leaf stamp from Pretty Petals which is retired. (That's why I have such a hard time parting with old stamps. You just never know when you will need that leaf!) I stamped those in Handsome Hunter and then used the little leaf from Itty Bitty Buds and stamped it in Perfect Plum. The ribbon was really more of a wine color, but matched the napkins. They turned out really pretty and the tables looked great. The candles sat in the middle of gold chargers with ivy around them.

At this point some of you are thinking "how did she stamp on those candles?" I didn't exactly stamp ON the candles. The stamping is done on tissue paper. Then you trim closely around the image, lay it on the candle and wrap wax paper tightly around it. Using your heat gun, you heat up the image (through the wax paper) and it melts the tissue paper into the wax on the candle. When you peel the wax paper off, the image will be on the candle! It's a WOW sort of like embossing. I never get tired of seeing the result!

Have a great day!

A Little Late -- But Who's Keeping Track?

2009-02-26T07:46:00.006-06:00

Okay, I know I'm a little off schedule for this card, but last night I had an incident. Those of you who know me are not surprised. My life is full of "incidents"! So yesterday I subbed and had a great day. I got home and was doing some dishes and cleaning up a little before I took the kids to church for King's Kids (choir). The inside of my mouth started feeling funny on one side and then my cheek started sort of itching. I went to the bathroom to see what it looked like and my cheek was swelling up! Then I realized that my eye had been itching on the way home from school, so I took off my glasses and, sure enough, my eye was swollen on the outside edge. I was having an allergic reaction to something -- I still haven't figured out what -- so I had to take some Benadryl. It was all I could do to get home from church before I fell asleep, so I really just "lost" the whole evening! I think I slept from about 7:30 until 5:30 this morning.

So, now that I have awakened from my long winter's nap, here is the card for today! This is another from my Birthday Bash workshop in early January. (I think it looks better in person, but would probably look better in a photo rather than a scan.)

Here are the details:

Stamps: Party Hearty
Paper: Pink pirouette, Rose red, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate chip and Rose Red
Accessories: Scallop edge, non-SU scallop square, 1/2 inch circle and pink pirouette striped grosgrain ribbon

The party hats have stickles on the tops, but you can't see that in the scan. The ribbon is fed through both holes from the front and the crossed over and fed back through the opposite hole. It seems to lay a little flatter that way than if it is tied in a knot.

Well, I have to go (frantically) get one more card made for my 10 for $15 workshop for tomorrow night and then cut all 5 of them. My friend Kimmay offered to help me cut, but I'm not sure I'm even organized enough to take her up on it. Besides that, she might call the health deparment if she had to come in my house! I'm sure there are laws about children living in these conditions!! But hey, who has time to clean house when you've gotta' stamp?!?

Have a great day!

2009-02-24T18:38:00.004-06:00

Today is "freak out because I'm not ready for my Friday workshop" day! I woke up this morning with NO cards even designed, let alone cut. On some weeks this wouldn't be such a big deal, but this week I am teaching Wednesday and Friday, so today and Thursday are all that are left. I'm thinking that maybe on Thursday I should cut -- just a thought! Well, it's looking better now than it did this morning. I have 4 of the 5 samples almost finished. I just need to fine-tune them a little bit and figure out the 5th.

Anyway, I am sticking to my goal of posting a card each day for 5 days. This picture is really lousy, but it's actually a scan. Part of sticking to my daily goal is to NOT take time out to re-take pictures! So, you'll just have to forgive me!

Here are the details:

Paper: Barely banana, bashful blue, certainly celery, bashful blue DSP and shimmery white

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes

Accessories: markers, ribbon and dimensionals

I LOVE this set! I thought this card turned out really cute and the ladies at the workshop seemed to like it, too.

Well, that's all for today. See you tomorrow!

Today's Birthday Card

2009-02-23T20:27:00.002-06:00

Okay, here I go -- 2 days in a row I'm posting a card! That's a record for me. Here are the details for this birthday card from my Birthday Bash:

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Baja Breeze Designer Series Paper, Whisper White

Stamps: Pick a Petal, Bitty Birthday

Ink: Baja Breeze

Accessories: 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, brad, ticket corner punch, word window punch

This card is really simple, but cute. Stamping the bow is a little tricky, but if you stamp the first two bottom "petals" straight across from each other, then stamp the one straight up and fill in between with the other two, it seems easier to get them spaced evenly. Other than that, everything is pretty straightforward. Of course, as always, the glitter makes the card! I always say that glitter makes everything pretty!

Thanks a lot for looking! I have to go make some cards for my workshop this weekend. But wait -- it's only Monday -- no need to start too soon . . .

Have a great evening!

Another Busy Week

2009-02-22T19:06:00.010-06:00

Where does the time go?!? I can never believe how long it's been since I've posted. The last week has been blur between trying to get gift bags finished for an SISF swap to photo frames for an event at church. All that and throw in a trip to the emergency room (he's fine -- "just" a migraine) and the week is gone and I'm not ready for the one coming up!

I wanted to get something posted (just in case anyone out there is looking) because I'm teaching 3 days this week and have a workshop on Friday, so I'm not going to have much spare time. I was looking back over the last few posts and realized that I didn't post any of my cards from my birthday bash back at the beginning of January. (Yes, I threw myself a party and people paid to come!) I really liked all of the cards, so I think I will (try) to show you one each day for the next 5 days. We'll see at the end of the week how that worked out!

I love the way this card turned out! The colors and supplies are:

Cardstock: Yo-yo Yellow, Pacific Point and Whisper White

Stamps: Bitty Birthday

Accessories: Corner rounder, Scallop punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, whisper white ribbon, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, both tag punches (inside), dimensionals and tissue paper.

I got the adorable idea for the real tissue paper from someone on Splitcoast Stampers -- sorry, I can't remember who. The gift is raised up on dimensionals.

For the inside, I stamped "And many more" from Party Hearty in Pacific Point on white and punched it and layered it on a large Pacific Point tag.

I hope you all have a great week!

Some New Ideas

2009-02-10T12:59:00.007-06:00

Monthly Card Service

So last week I was having a conversation with a friend who said "Tomorrow is my mother-in-law's birthday, so I have to go buy her a card." That got me thinking -- do my friends realize that I sell cards?!? So here's what I'm going to do -- I'm going to offer a monthly card service. For those of you who like to give handmade cards, but either don't like to make them or simply don't have time, I will do it for you. Here's the deal:
Give me your order by the 15th of the month and I will have the cards you need before the 1st of the following month. The cost will be as follows:

Each month I will create 10 unique cards.
Unique cards -- $2.50
Duplicate cards -- $2.00
All orders will include envelopes.
For exampe, if you want 10 different cards, the cost will be $25. If you want 10 cards, but just 5 designs (2 each of 5 unique cards), the cost will be $22.50.

You can specify birthday, thinking of you, sympathy or whatever you want or need for that month. 5 of the 10 cards will be made at my monthly workshop at Noble Roman's.

Monthly Hostess Clubs

This is an idea that I've been thinking about for a while. Here's how it works: 5 people commit to being a part of a monthly group and to spending $30 per month on Stampin' Up! product. Each month, the group will get together for a short time (maybe at my house) and I will provide supplies to make a project. The project will cost a small fee (less than $5) to recover my cost. Each month, one of the members (chosen at random) will be the "hostess". That person will receive AT LEAST $15 in free merchandise and a Level 1 hostess set. Any additional orders can increase those hostess benefits.

What are the benefits, you ask? Besides receiving hostess benefits, with a small group, we will be able to use some accessories that I am not able to use in a large group setting, due to the cost. Each month the project will feature either a Designer Series Paper pack or an accessory. Some of the projects will be similar to the "table favor" gift that I give away at my monthly workshops.
Please note that the number of members does not have to be 5. More members would make the monthly $ commitment less. I also think it would be really fun to do a club focusing on scrapbooking, too. Let me know if you want to be a part of one of the clubs.

February Ribbon Share

I often hear people comment that they love Stampin' Up! ribbon, but they don't need 15 yards of one color -- go figure! So, from now until February 15, I will be taking orders for a ribbon share. I have divided all of the colors of SU 1/4" grosgrain ribbon randomly into groups of 5 colors. (White is duplicated to make it come out even.) I will purchase a spool of each color in a group and cut it into 3 yard lengths, so each participant will recieve 3 yards of each of the 5 colors in that group. The cost to participate is $6 per color grouping. That is the cost of one spool of ribbon (including shipping and tax). For $24, you can have 3 yards of every color (6 yards of white) of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon that Stampin' Up! makes!

Here are the color groupings:

Group 1: Basic Black, Apricot Appeal, Bravo Burgundy, Bashful Blue and Mellow Moss
Group 2: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Elegant Eggplant, Sage Shadow and Always Artichoke
Group 3: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Night of Navy, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip
Group 4: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Whisper White

Send me an e-mail at stephanie@thehiggins.com or leave a comment here to let me know which color groups you want to participate in. If I get 3 or more responses for any color group, I will also participate to make it work. If I don't get at least 3 responses for a color group, I may not be able to order that group.

Let It Snow!

2009-01-26T10:45:00.004-06:00

Hi Everyone! I think this is the calm before the storm, so to speak. After a CRAZY week last week -- busted water pipes and a 5-day sub job -- today I am home alone! WooHoo! But, I think that tomorrow will be back to crazy with the snowstorm that seems to be approaching (if the kids are out of school). Luckily, I got really busy this weekend and have 4 of the 5 cards we will be doing this weekend designed. I have tried to stick close to the Valentine theme without making them ALL so "Valentiney" that you couldn't send them for another occassion. I need to come up with one more -- maybe snowflakes?!? The calendars that you see laying under the cards will be the table favors. They aren't quite finished yet, but will be just about like the one's I made last year.

I forgot to tell you about one of the specials that Stampin' Up! is running from February 1 - April 30 (or until supplies run out). With any order placed at my Stampin' Up! website -- http://www.2scrappygirls.stampinup.net/ -- you will receive a FREE Idea Book and Catalog! One of the awesome things about ordering online is that your order is shipped directly to you.

I still have 4 of the new catalogs available at the discounted price of $8. Let me know if you want one. See you this weekend!

Stampin' Stuff

2009-01-16T20:07:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm back and it's well into the new year. There is a lot going on in the world of Stampin' Up! (as well as in the Higgins' world, but you all don't have time for that!) There only 2 days left to order any retiring sets at a 10% discount. Orders will be taken from the new catalog and the holiday mini until January 18 and you can start ordering from the new catalog on January 19. I will have the new catalogs at my monthly workshops on January 30 and 31 -- for sale at the discounted price of $8. I will limit the discount to the first 8 catalogs sold, so if you want to reserve one, please let me know.

The Love You Much promotion is also going on until January 31. This is an opportunity to order a bundle that includes the Love You Much stamp set, Candy Lane Designer Series Paper and the new Heart to Heart punch for the discounted price of $41.48. That's a 20% discount!
Of course we're all excited for Sale-a-Bration to get here! As always, there are 6 choices of free products with EACH $50 order you place. This year's choices include a ribbon bundle and a double-sided paper pack as well as 4 awesome stamp sets. There's something for everyone, so start deciding what you want to order!

I'm excited about my monthly workshop this month. We will do a Valentine's Day card using the Love You Much bundle and some all occasion cards using some stamps from the new catalog. I hope you can all join me either on Friday night at (January 30) 6:00 or on Saturday (January 31) at 1:00. (Yes, that's earlier than usual because I have to clear out for someone else to use the room by 5:00.)

I will try to post some pictures in the next few days. I was going to post some pics of the cards from my Birthday Bash, but I didn't realize that all I had were scans and they are really bad. So I will take some photos so you can all see them.

Have a great weekend!

The Day After

2008-12-26T10:26:00.004-06:00

Well, we made it! Christmas is over and everyone is happy with their new electronics. We have had a blessed holiday and have enjoyed spending time with lots of family.

I really didn't realize that it had been a whole month since I had posted. Time flies when you're having fun! And what an awesome month it has been. I got to work at West Terrace a lot of days, including the last day before Christmas break. That is such a fun day because the 4th graders always lead an all-school sing along and the kindergarteners have Polar Express day and all wear their jammies -- VERY cute!

This month has been spent making gifts for family members. I made 9 sets of monogram cards for all the women in the family -- whew! That was a lot of cards. It's kind of funny, I counted wrong on some of the monogram circles, so I have an overrun on a couple of letters! Luckily I realized it before I got the cards completely assembled. I also stamped the bags and made ornament tags -- chipboard from Cosmo Cricket with die cut paper to cover them. Add to all that a little Stickles (okay, a lot of Stickles) and the packages turned out very pretty (if I do say so myself!) I will have pictures, I just haven't downloaded them yet.

I wanted to let everyone know that the Birthday Party on my calendar for tomorrow has been postponed. I never really officially announced it, but I have talked about it to some of you. It seemed like such a good idea a month ago, but I have never found the time to get it together. I hope to reschedule for next weekend, but will send out an "official" invitation when I know for sure.

Anna and I are headed to Target to spend her gift card and then to Mt. Carmel to a reception for my cousin who got married recently. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and continue to enjoy your weekend.

Holiday Extravaganza Sale

2008-11-26T15:52:00.002-06:00

What a crazy week! I have been subbing all week -- which I love -- but with something going on every evening and Thanksgiving tomorrow, there just isn't enough time in the week! I know, I'm whining to a lot of people who work all the time and have for years. I don't expect sympathy, but I do appreciate the opportunity to whine a little!

Today is the beginning of a Stampin' Up! Christmas promotion. They have put together several different bundles of products and are offering them at a discount price. What a great gift idea for the crafters on your list! There is a link to the flier on the left that includes the products names, prices and page numbers from the Idea Book and Catalog. If you don't have a catalog, visit my Stampin' Up! website at www.2scrappygirls.stampinup.net to see the products. I haven't had time to sit down and REALLY evaluate the bundles, but at first glance it seems like there are some good deals. You can actually order right from the website to have it delivered directly to you, or contact me and I can order it for you.

I hope all of you have an awesome Thanksgiving!

Just a Quick Hello

2008-11-14T08:16:00.004-06:00

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Where does the time go? This will be the fourth weekend in a row that I've either had workshops or been out of town. On top of that, I've been working at West Terrace subbing in the office and in classrooms. Whew! I don't have any pics today, but hope to have some by early next week. I will be posting instructions for the little Santa notepad cover that I gave out at my Chrismas workshop.

Last weekend was my first ever scrapbook-with-stamps class! I went to the Southen Indiana Scrapbook Friends retreat in Montgomery and taught a class on Saturday morning. I got really great feedback, so I may have to try to incorporate some scrapbook classes into my schedule. Okay, I lied (not intentionally) -- I do have a picture of the layout. Anyway, we had an awesome weekend with tons of fun and laughing and very little sleep! That got my week off to a very tired start and it hasn't slowed down.

Today I'm picking Anna up early from school to go to SuperStart, which is an overnight youth conference in New Albany. I'm sure I'll get some rest while I'm there with -- NOT!! I hope you all have a great weekend.

The Workshop is On!

2008-10-20T07:46:00.003-05:00

Well, I am happy to announce that my surgery went well and they were able to do laproscopy! Yea! That means we are on for Friday night and Saturday! I'm still moving a little slow, but was able to stamp over the weekend and get some kits ready and some cutting done for this weekend.

Overall, Thursday was a great day -- except for the surgery part -- but a couple of really great things happened. First, the nurse AND the doctor said I was skinny! That's right -- SKINNY! When I got there, I asked the nurse if she thought they would have to do "real" surgery. She looked me up and down and said "No, I think you'll be fine because you are skinny." After a little more conversation, she said it again -- "you're skinny". So I looked at her and said, "If you feel the need to say that several more times, go ahead, that will be fine!" Then, after I woke up, my husband told me that the doctor came in after the surgery and told him that everything went great because I was skinny! Can you believe that?!? Now, I know I'm not extremely large or anything, but skinny is a word reserved for people who have no fat between their skin and their bones. That is NOT me! So it is not a word I have thought of using for myself since I was about 20 years old (back then, I was skinny). So that was the first thing that made Thursday a good day. And don't think this is the last you will hear of it!

The other thing that made Thursday a good day was all of the prayers and thoughtfulness from my many wonderful friends. I know the surgery went well because God got an earful at 2:00 pm on Thursday! I had SO many people pulling for me that there was no way it could go bad! And even my Wednesday girls who left for West Virginia on Thursday, left someone in charge of bringing me flowers!! So thanks to all of you who thought about me, prayed for me, sent me cards and brought me flowers to brighten my day!

So now, I must go stamp! Have a great day!

What Season Is It?

2008-10-08T08:49:00.005-05:00

I'm so confused! For the past week I have been frantically working on Christmas cards and projects for the upcoming workshops. But then I look at the calendar and it's early October and I realize that I need to think about halloween treats for my kids to take to school! Yikes!

Here is a picture of the table favors from my last workshop. They have candy corn inside. This may end up being what my kids take for Halloween treats. They are quick and easy and terribly cute! I can say that because they are not my own creation! Some very creative person who posts on Splitcoaststampers.com came up with the idea and I just adapted it for Halloween. It's good to have creative people out there sharing, isn't it?!

On a personal note, the reason I have been frantic about Christmas cards and projects is because I am having gall bladder surgery on October 16. Yes, that is one week and one day away -- and counting. That is only two weeks before my card workshop and three weeks before the gift workshop. I know it should be pretty easy IF they do it laparoscopically, but he's not sure that's going to work since I have had so many previous surgeries (4 c-sections and an appendectomy). So I won't know how long to expect to recover until I wake up. So I am trying to get everything planned and maybe even som cutting done before Thursday.

With that said, here are some of the things I've been working on. The book in the back of the picture is sort of a portfolio I put together with page protectors inside to take orders to sell some Christmas cards. (More on that later in the week.) Some version of the book may show up either at the Christmas gift workshop or at the SISF retreat class I am teaching at the Fall Retreat. I just haven't finalized those projects, yet. The cards are sort of a mixture of new things I have come up with and some old things I have updated with different colors and stamp sets. I am sure that some of them will make an appearance at the October workshop. But, again, I'm just not sure which ones. I will post some individual pictures later in the week and it will be easier to see. I apologize for my lack of photography skills, but the more time I take photographing, the less time I have to stamp!

Have a great day!

September Sneak Peek

2008-09-22T08:18:00.004-05:00

It's Monday!! That is very exciting for me this week, because I don't have to substitute teach or go anywhere, so I get to stay at home and work on the workshop for this weekend. That should be very exciting for all of you who are coming, too, because otherwise, I wouldn't be ready for it! Here is a picture of three of the cards for this weekend. So far I'm going with a fall/Halloween theme, but I still have to come up with 2 more cards, so I may stray from the theme a little for them.

I still have some kits available from last months workshop, so if anyone is interested, just let me know. You can scroll down to a previous post to see three of the cards. As a whole, I think it was one of my favorite groups of cards ever. My kits come cut, stamped and ready to assemble, complete with a color picture of each card. For now, the price is $15, the same as if you came to the workshop. However, in January, I will be raising that to $20 to cover the time I spend stamping them. At $2 per card, that is still a bargain! And you will also get the table favor from the workshop that month.

Keep an eye on the calendar, because I am planning a calendar workshop. (Okay, that was a funny sentence!) There is an awesome calender kit in the Holiday Mini Catalog that is available October 1 (I should have some minis at the workshop this weekend) and I am working on using that kit to make a date book to carry in your purse. I'm also going to work on a scrapbook page for a class that I'm teaching at the Southern Indiana Scrapbook Friends Fall Retreat in November. I've been wanting to do a scrapbook class for a long time and am hoping to "get it together" and come up with one to also share with all of you who won't be at the retreat.

One more thing to share -- this summer I was a counselor for a group of girls from our church at Camp Illiana. I took little photo album "kits" for them to stamp and put together and, then took pictures and printed some them on my Epson 4x6 printer so they would have memories to take home with them. Needless to say, they loved it! So now (months later) I am making them all a disk with ALL of the pictures I took so they can have more printed if they want. It's not finalized yet, but the disk holder on the left is a prototype of what I am going to give them their disk in. It says "Time spent with friends is time well spent." I think they will like it, too.

ENVELOPES

I have ordered some bulk envelopes and have some available to sell. They are non-Stampin' Up! envelopes, but are the ones I use at my workshops. I have them available in the following quantities and prices:

$6.00 for 100

$3.50 for 50

$2.00 for 25

$1.00 for 10

This price includes shipping and tax. I thought this might interest those of you who are making your own Christmas cards and are needing envelopes.

Have a great day!

Bag in a Box and Onine Ordering

2008-09-14T20:50:00.011-05:00

Well, I know some of you have been waiting forever for instructions for the bag in a box that we made at the CJ's Bus crop. I'm SO sorry, but life just seems to be happening and the days are flying by! So, I apologize that this is not going to be an extensive tutorial -- because that would take another 2 weeks -- but I will give you some basic instructions.

What you need:

1 4x4 piece of cardstock A, scored 3/4" from each edge (this will be the bottom of the box)
1 11x1" piece of cardstock B to cut with the scallop edge punch to go around the bottom of bag

1 4 1/4 x 11" piece of ivory (or white) cardstock (patterned paper can be used here, also)

Scrap of cardstock B to punch 2 tab punches

5" of ribbon

1. Cut into the score line once on each corner (create tabs, don't cut off the squares)

2. Put adhesive on each tab and fold into a box.

3. Punch 1" strip of paper using scallop edge punch

4. Punch 2 tabs out of matching cardstock

5. If using plain cardstock, random stamp images to decorate.

6. Put adhesive on all four sides of box and "wrap" patterned sheet around the box. Seal the seam on the back of the bag.

7. Attach tabs to top of bag and embellish as desired.

Here is a picture of the final product. Please note: using these measurements you can get 9 box bottoms out of one 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock and 2 "bags" out of one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11. The bag can be made taller by cutting the ivory cardstock (or designer paper) bigger, such as 11 x 6 or 11 x 8.

Let me know if you have any questions!

ONLINE ORDERING IS HERE!!
Stampin' Up! has just introduced online ordering. If you visit my Stampin' Up! website -- http://www.2scrappygirls.stampinup.net/ -- you can place an online order, complete with qualifying hostess benefits. Please note however, that if you have a small order, there is a minimum shipping charge. Call me first to see if I can add it on to one of my orders (which I usually can) and save you a few dollars.

I have been stamping a lot this weekend to try to get ahead for my upcoming workshops. In the next couple of days I will post some pictures of what I have been working on!

Have a great day!

August Cards Sneak Peek!

2008-08-28T11:40:00.004-05:00

Hi ladies! Some of you have asked for a sneak peek of the cards for tomorrow night and here they are. I'm only showing 3 because the other 2 I copied from ideas I saw online and don't know who to give credit to. One of them features our new Bella Rose patterned paper and the other one is a super cute flower made with the scallop circle punch! That punch has certainly earned it's place on my desk. It seems like I use it all the time!

I hope you all have a great day! See you Friday!

Back to School!

2008-08-19T12:07:00.008-05:00

Things have finally settled into a routine now that school is in full swing. Everyone seems to have settled into their new classes with the exception of little mister "I don't want to get up because I don't even LIKE school!" Okay, so Addison has settled into his 1st grade class, he just hasn't settled into getting up early. I have certainly settled into the home alone routine, but it will probably be short-lived because sooner or later I'm going to have to substitute teach! (I really do have 4 kids, but it seems middle-schoolers are too big to have their pictures taken on the first day of school!)

In the mean time, I have lots of stuff to show you today. First is a picture of Anna and the notebooks that we made for school. (Okay, the picture is mostly of Anna and it's sort of hard to see the notebooks.)But, anyway, she needed 5 composition notebooks and I had a bunch of black and white ones waiting to be altered, so we went to work and this is what we came up with. The paper and embellishments are all non-Stamin' Up! stuff that I had in my stash. She just went through and picked out stuff she liked and then helped me decide what to do with it. Of course one of them had to have Hanna Montana stickers on it. I thought they all turned out cute and she loved them!

This is a picture of the make and take I did at the Southern Indiaian Scrapbook Friends crop this past Saturday. About 17 people made a water bottle hanger and it seemed to be a big hit. It's very simple and a fun way to brighten someone's day! I think I may put together some kits for these. Check back for details. The baby food jar is full of punches in the new "in" colors and the business card holder is something I made Saturday morning because I needed something to put my cards in . . . If only I could get inspired DAYS before I have to be somewhere instead of HOURS before, imagine the possibilities!

I feel the need to say that a lot of my ideas come from a website some of you are familiar with -- Splitcoast Stampers -- and are not necessarily totally original. In fact, some are total copies! But, occasionally I come with an idea of my own, which is the case with the business card holder. That makes me very excited!

For the first 10 people to buy a new catalog, I will include a New Catalog Survival Kit. In the kit you will receive a 10% off coupon good on your first purchase from the catalog along with a wish list, a pen, a color ring with a swatch of each of the new "in" colors and some information on current specials. All of this AND some candy to help you get through the awesome new catalog! So, call me or send me an e-mail and get your copy today! (Catalog cost is $10).

Well, that's about all for today. I need to start trying to figure out what cards we are going to make next weekend at my monthly card workshop. I will post them when I get them made! Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

The New Catalogs Are Here!

2008-08-07T20:04:00.004-05:00

I've been waiting and waiting and FINALLY, last night, Mr. Brown (the UPS man) brought my box of catalogs! I have been through it once, rather quickly, but will be checking it out closer and making some decisions about what to buy on August 11. My first reactions is that I wish it could be Christmas all year! I will have a really hard time deciding which Christmas sets to buy. There are also some silhouette-style sets that I really like and some awesome new paper -- punches, too. Oh, the decisions!

For those of you who want your very own copy, there are several ways to get one. You can (1) Schedule a workshop; (2) Buy one for $10; or (3) Come to a monthly card workshop and maybe win one as a door prize!

Please note the change to the schedule for the month -- there will only be a Friday night workshop, not a Saturday. I'm really sorry, but I double booked myself and I couldn't get my friends to change their wedding date! So, off to Indianapolis we go on Saturday the 30th. Hopefully, I will see some of you at the Crop 4 Kids on September 6.

Acetate Card Tutorial and Marker Club

2008-08-04T06:45:00.005-05:00

For those of you who bought kits from last weekend's workshop, I thought you might like some clarification for assembling the acetate card. Even for those who were at the workshop, it was a little confusing! The pieces will go on in this order --

1. white piece on FRONT;
2. LARGER light blue piece on INSIDE LEFT;
3. Dark blue piece on BACK;
4. SMALLER light blue piece on inside right, centered over the larger dark blue piece.

So try this:

1. Center and attach the white cake to the FRONT of the card.
2. Put adhesive on the INSIDE LEFT behind the white piece. Now, lay the LARGER light blue piece on the table and holding the card open, lay it down so the white piece is centered on the light blue piece.
3. Close the card and put adhesive on the back. Lay the dark blue piece on the table and, with card closed, center the light blue mat on the dark blue piece.
4. Open card and center SMALLER light blue piece on the INSIDE RIGHT.

When you are finished, you will have a piece on the front, inside left, inside right and back. The idea is that you are hiding the adhesive. I hope this all makes sense! If you still have questions, please give me a call.

Marker Club

I am currently looking for a marker club participant. I have a group of 3 ladies who would like to start a marker club, but they need a 4th. If you love Stampin' Up! markers, this is an awesome way to get them at a discount a little at a time. This is a great time to participate, too, because during your hostess month you will get to choose from the new catalog! Here's the way it works:

Cost: $45/month for 4 months

What you get: Complete set of Stampin Up! Markers (48 colors)

Carrying case for markers

3 sheets of each color coordinating cardstock (144 sheets)

20 sheets of Naturals White Cardstock

20 sheets of Naturals Ivory Cardstock

20 Naturals White Envelopes

20 Naturals Ivory Envelopes

Plus: 1 month you will be "hostess" (NO WORKSHOP REQUIRED!)

In the month you are hostess, you will get AT LEAST a Level 1 hostess set AND $15 free merchandise from the NEW catalog. (This can be increased with outside orders or, if you want to hold an actual workshop, we can work that out, too.)

The bottom line is, you get $202.15 in merchandise for $180 spread out over 4 months!!

Let me know if you're interested! Now, I have to go work on some of my upcoming events!

Have a great day!

WRONG DATE!!

2008-07-24T13:59:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I am new to this blogging thing and I went in and edited an entry that I started last week. Therefore, the post I just posted (dated July 18) is supposed to have today's date (July 24) but it doesn't! I hope that makes sense, but just in case it doesn't the workshops are Friday, July 25 and Saturday July 26! Now, keep reading and read the blog with the wrong date!

Workshop Sneak Peek

2008-07-18T06:32:00.005-05:00

This blog was an idea I had at the beginning of the summer to keep in contact with everyone and show everyone what I have been working on. Well, obviously, it hasn't worked out exactly as planned, because this summer has been CRAZY! I decided to try again, though and give you guys a peek at what we're doing tomorrow night at my monthly workshop at Noble Romans. Here are three of the cards:

Since this is the workshop to celebrate retiring stamps sets, we are using some retiring sets on each card. Use these links to see the retiring lists:

Retired Stamps List (Alphabetical)

Retired Stamps List (Numerical)

Also, I will be offering 20% off of retiring sets for those attending the workshop or buying a class kit! So don't miss out, reserve your spot today!

I also wanted to share a fun card that I made yesterday. (I am so easily distracted when I am trying to get ready for a workshop.) I have never done an inspiration challenge, but when I saw the bulletin at church a couple of weeks ago, I immediately thought of it as a scrapbook page or cardfront. So, here is a picture of the bulletin on the right and my card on the left. Do you think the person who designed it actually used Stampin' Up! colors?!? Besides the Tempting Turquoise being a little bit off, they match our colors exactly! Next time I will add some black lines, but I didn't think of that until I already had the front glued down. And, again, this wasn't what I was supposed to be working on!

Here are the dates for the events that I have scheduled for the rest of the summer. I have a plan in the works to add a class to make some of the table favors that I have given at workshops and maybe a scrapbooking class. So keep an eye on the schedule, because after school starts I hope to be adding some fun things. I may send out a e-mail survey to determine what times work best for everyone when I start adding new classes.

Upcoming workshops:

July 25 6:00 pm (Friday)
July 26 1:00 pm (Saturday)

August 23 1:00 - 10:00 pm SISF Crop Make and Take
August 29 6:00 pm (Friday)
August 30 1:00 pm (Saturday)
September 6 -- Crop 4 Kids -- Benefit for CJ's Bus (click here for Flier)
September 26 6:00 pm (Friday)
September 27 1:00 pm (Saturday)

What a Crazy Week!

2008-06-04T21:02:00.008-05:00

Well, summer is in full swing at the Higgins' house. It's VBS week, so the kids and I have to be out of the house by 7:45 each morning. That just doesn't seem quite right the week after school is out, but once we get there, it's awesome! To stir things up just a little more, Andy had surgery on Monday, so he's home this week and maybe next. Hopefully next week will be a little less hectic (I will be saying that every week, all summer!), because I haven't had time for creativity this week. I have gotten the kits finished from the last workshop. I think I still have one left, so if you are interested, let me know. I will make a few more next month.

Here are the pictures I promised of the inside of 2 of the cards. After putting the kits together, I realized that two of them might need a little more information.

The only thing you might need to know about this is how I did the ribbon. It is just tied in a knot and secured on each end to the back of the layer with adhesive, before attaching the layer.

The purple card really doesn't need an explanation at all, I just thought you might wonder what that extra piece was for! So here's a picture of the inside.

Well, gotta get kids in bed and get ready for tomorrow. Hope this helps!

My First Blog Day!

2008-05-28T09:51:00.006-05:00

Well, today is the beginning of summer vacation for the kids, so it seems like a good day for the beginning of my blog. I've been thinking and talking for weeks about setting up a website and blog for my cards and workshop info, so here I go. This past weekend was "workshop weekend" as I call it at my house. This means that I had my monthly workshop at Noble Roman's (a pizza place here in Evansville). It was really small this month (can you say "holiday weekend"?), but I sold several kits and had another workshop last night for someone else, so it has been a good week. Here are a few of the cards we made this week:

Very soon, I will have a website set up with monthly kits from my workshops available to purchase. I am also planning to offer card kits from past workshops and handmade cards "ready-to-send" for the non-crafty people. Eventually, I plan to also sell some scrapbooking products. So, come back often to check and see what is new and happening here at 2ScrappyGirls!