New Catalog is Live!

It's finally here!  You can now order from the brand new 2013-2014 catalog.  AND you can also order from the 2013 Spring Catalog AND you can order from the old 2012-2013 catalog until June 3, 2013 or While Supplies Last.  All three catalogs at once.  I've heard that Stampin' UP! has never done this before.   ***Scroll to the bottom to see MY BONUS for YOU.  :)

On top of that there are a couple of specials for you to jump on that Stampin' UP! is offering.

#1 New Photopolymer Stamp Set - Wanderlust




#2 Grab Your Greetings- 25% off SALE on three different SU greeting sets



Sale: 25 percent off three of our greeting sets!
No limits and get them on any order type (workshop, customer, demonstrator, or online).
Dates: May 31-June 30, 2013

Sale Price	Retail Price	Description	Item
$17.96	$23.95	Sassy Salutations Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132070
$13.46	$17.95	Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126707
$14.96	$19.95	Sweet Essentials Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132085
$11.21	$14.95	Sweet Essentials Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126457
$21.71	$28.95	Petite Pairs Wood-Mount Stamp Set	128706
$15.71	$20.95	Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Stamp Set	122497

I will be placing my order and taking advantage of these offers.   Here are some of the top things I am most excited about with the new catalog release...

1. New Magnetic Platform to hold framelits in place so they don't shift when you run them through the Big Shot. Super!



Magnetic Platform


2. New Framelits!  I'm terrible at cutting, so I love Framelits.  That is also why I love punches and already pre-ordered one of the new punches.  My new favorite framelit is the Deco Label Framelits.



Deco Label Framelits


3. New Ribbons.   The chevrons are so fun and trendy and I'm excited that they come in so many colors.  All of the ribbons are going on my "need" list.   Ok, it's more of a want, but I "feel" I "need" them.   LOL


Chevron Ribbon



Ruffled Stretch Ribbon


4. New Papers.  There are so many to choose from, including new designs for all the pattern stacks in all the colors.  :)



Birthday Basics DSP


5. Speaking of Color... New COLORS!   I already have the new 2013-2014 InColors, and I LOVE them.  They are so soft and pretty.  I will be getting the other new and returning colors that I do not have yet.  The new Smoky Slate gray is a fabulous edition.  I've been wanting SU to carry a lighter shade of grey.



2013-2014 In Color Bundle





6. Accessories- I'm intrigued by the new color Candy Dots.  They are going on this list as are the buttons. 


Buttons



Candy Dots


7. Stamps, stamps and more stamps.   Oh my, where do I start?   Honestly, this is what is holding up my order.  I want everything, but I do have a budget.  I think I will start with some masculine stamps for Father's Day and my Dad's birthday, then work my way from there.   



Six-Sided Sampler




Six-Sided Bundle with matching Punch :)



Where will you start?   What do you want? 

BONUS ALERT*** Anyone who places an order with me between now and the end of June will get a bonus surprise that includes a sample of all the new colors, a card using new product and a secret surprise from the new catalog.   :)   Thank you for supporting my business!!!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

New Papers

If you have ever visited my craft room or scrapbooked with me, then you know I have thing for papers.  In fact, the thing that pushed me over the edge into becoming a demonstrator was the offer for one FREE pack of Designer Series Paper (DSP) every month for the first year.  I snatched that deal up!   So, it is probably no surprise that in my first order for products from the new catalog I added a couple of packs of new DSP.  ;)  

The thing is that we've been so busy lately I had not had a chance o play with my new stuff.  That is until I got a care package for being on the design team at StampNation.  The sweet card Catherine sent me and the goodies she gave gifted me inspired me to hop into my hobby room and whip out 4 cards, not to mention breaking open my box of new goodies.  This is one of the cards I made that day.   I was inspired to cut into my pretty paper instead of leaving the sheets whole.   What good is paper in a package?  It needs to feel the love and be used.

Don't you just love when a stamp set comes with a matching punch?  It makes it so easy!   I'm really liking the shape of this new punch and the stamps that come with it. 

If you are a paper lover (hoarder) like me, I encourage you to pull out your papers and start using them in your cards, scrapbooks and journals.  You will be glad you did. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  I can't show you pictures of the new product yet, but I will include page numbers so you can look in your catalog and find them.  :)  The catalog goes live tomorrow at noon, so check in to my website then to get your new catalog goodies.  If you do not have a demonstrator and want a new catalog, let me know and I will send you one.  Just email me your information at cr8tvblessings@hotmail.com

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Label Love (page 33)
Ink: Melon Mambo
Paper: Gingham Garden (pg. 153), Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Misc.: Artisan Label Punch (pg. 181)

Bye Bye Baja Breeze

Of all the things retiring from the old catalog I think I am going to miss Baja Breeze the most.  It's such a lovely color.  I can't believe it will be gone in a few short days.  :'(   Thankfully I have the ink pad, a re-inker and a package of cardstock to tide me over for awhile.  I'm also pretty excited about the new colors SU is releasing.  Especially that my favorite in-colors, Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party along with Blushing Bride, are now a part of our core color collection.  I really do like color.

To say goodbye to this color I made it the focus of my card. 

The Tea Shoppe stamp set I used is retiring too.   I stamped it with Baja  Breeze then "fussy" cut it out.  It wasn't too hard to cut, but I would love to have a tea cup framelit.  My favorite little detail on this card is the stamp image "tea for two me & you" that I stamped upside down onto a doily.  It looks like steam coming out of the cup.



Tea Shoppe

To help the "steam" show up better I punched out a 2 1/2" circle of white cardstock and placed it behind the doily.

The Fancy Fan embossing really shows up well in the picture above.   It's all the little details of this card that I love. The other stamp set I used was from the "Best of Love" stamp set. 

Now comes the truly hard part.  Do I send this beauty to my mom or my grandma?  I think I will go make another one and send one to each.  :)

What are you going to miss from the current catalog?  What are you excited to get from the new catalog?  Will you be going on a shopping spree this weekend to get some from both? 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North




Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon






Fancy Fan Embossing Folder



Baja Breeze Ink




Best of Love




Memorial Day Thanks

Today we Americans honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation.  In honor of those who have served I have made today's card.  Thank you for serving.  Thank you for giving up your loved one so we can be free.  Thank You!

I made this card for OWH (Operation Write Home).  It will either be used to write an "any hero" message to our troops or it will go in the box for them to send out.  Either way would work.  I went to the OWH website to see if there was anything special going on this weekend and found the following picture that pierced my heart.

The picture says it all.  I did a google search for Memorial Day images.  There are some fabulous ones out there.  Here are just a couple that I wanted to share with you.

Now back to my card.  While making this card I thought about our troops and prayed for those who are serving, thankful for all who have served and said a prayer for those who have lost loved ones in service.  I never forget the spouses, children and parents who are on the homefront.  Their sacrifice is often just as great. 

My card is a simple flag.  I used some paper that is about to retire and ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die.  Next I embossed the red DSP with the Stripes Embossing Folder. I then took a small rectangle of blue paper and ran it through just the corner of the Top Note Die.  I used some snail to adhere the two patterned papers together.  Add a banner and you are done.  :)

What will you be doing this Memorial Day?  Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy your day and the freedom you have.  Take a moment or two to remember those who have died.  Perhaps make a card for someone who is serving, or a quilt for the wounded or a scrapbook page to preserve your family's memories.  Enjoy your campout and smores by the fire.  Hit the stores for some super sales.  Spend time with your family or even just enjoy a nap!   Enjoy this great nation that was bought at a very high price.

One more time I want to say thank you to our nation's heroes!  You are not forgotten!!!

Creative Blessings, 

Heather North

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Curly Cute (retiring May 30th)
Paper: Comfort Cafe DSP(retiring), Fan Fair DSP (retiring), Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla

Ink: Midnight Muse

Misc.: Top Note Die, Stripes Embossing Folder

Stripes Embossing Folder

Top Note Die

Curly Cute

Sunshine to Others

Are you ready for a sneak peek at some of the new items from the new SU catalog being released next week?  I had fun playing with one of the new InColors, Pistachio Pudding, and pairing it with the new Gingham Garden Washi Tape.

If you have never played with Washi Tape before you should give it a try.  It's like tissue paper with post-it note sticky on the back.  It sticks to paper, but doesn't tear your paper when you peel it back up.  You can see through the tape like you can with tissue paper.  I put a strip of white cardstock behind my washi tape so the bright colors would POP, but it was also pretty straight on the Pistachio Pudding cardstock with the green showing through.

To create the sentiment I took another piece of Whisper White cardstock and used a sponge to color the paper with Daffodil Delight ink.   Then I stamped my sentiment using Night of Navy ink.  I recently took the plastic wrap off that ink pad and I've been using it for my sentiments with the Gingham Garden paper.  I really like how this ink looks and it's fun to break away from black and browns for a change.  After I cut the sentiment out with my framelit, I sponged a little more around the edges to make it stand out a bit more.

This finishing touch has to be my fluttering butterfly.  I punched the larger butterfly out using Melon Mambo cardstock and the smaller butterfly using a scrap of Gingham Garden DSP.  Then I stuck half the butterfly to my sentiment layer and left the other half floating off the page.  To add a bit of sparkle I used the medium sized Basic Rhinestones.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  My heart has been heavy this week with the things going on at our local high school and the tragedy of Moore, OK, along with the news of a friend's husband passing.  I found I couldn't make a card and couldn't post without mentioning the tragedies.  I'm thankful for this card I made last week for the SN challenge because it is a reminder to bring sunshine into the lives of others.  My prayers are with the loved ones left behind after the tornados in OK and the suicide of one of our RHS students.  The loss of a child is something I cannot comprehend.  {hugs} to you.  <3 Heather

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Feel Goods
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pistachio Pudding, Night of Navy
Paper: Pistachio Pudding (New 2013 InColor), Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gingham Garden DSP
Misc: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Basic Rhinestones, Labels Framelits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch

Feel Goods

Fancy Fan Embossing Folder

Labels Framelits

With Love & Sympathy

Last week I posted my video for my recent swap cards.  Last weekend the dear husband of our swap hostess passed away.  Poor Kimie-kins and family.  My heart goes out to you.  Here is the card I made for Kimie and her family.

In theory it is a good idea to make sympathy cards in advance and have them on hand to send when the need arises.  My problem is that I never go to my craft room thinking, "I want to make sympathy cards today".  I'm sure nobody else does that either.  

Personally I have found that making sympathy cards is a way for me to minister to those who have lost someone they love.  While making the card I spend time praying for the loved one's family and friends.  If I know the person who has passed away I will think about them and remember them while I make a card for their loved ones left behind.  It is a way for me to memorialize the person.  During that 30 minutes or hour or however long it takes to make the card I have thought about and prayed for those needing it most.  In that way I hope to bring some comfort to them when they open my card.

If the design of this card looks familiar to you, then you may have seen my card last week using the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  This sketch is definitely going into my favorites folder.  If you want to see that card CLICKY.

My heart goes out to any of you who have recently lost someone you love.  If you know somebody who could use a hug in the mail, please send them one.  It's never too late to let others know you care.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe (SU supplies)

Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe (New InColor), Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette, (Retired) Christmas Scrappin' Kit
Stamps: Love & Sympathy
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe (New- available May 30th), Basic Gray, Pear Pizzaz
Misc: Basic Grey Satin Ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (Retiring), Basic Pearls, Scalloped Trim Border Punch

Sew Saturday ~ Quilt Class 101

Welcome to my second Sew Saturday post.  Did you see the card I posted on Monday?   I must have quilting on the brain because I did not intend to make a "sewing" card, but...

Don't you love when your hobbies overlap?  :)

Most of what I know about sewing and quilting has come from books, trial & error, and friends/family sharing what they know with me.  I had never taken a "formal" class before last week.  I will be taking a total of 3 this month!  Two of them on free motion quilting, then a fun one on making a Star Shadow quilt.  I have several quilt tops made, but they've never been quilted together.  For those of you who aren't quilters, a quilt is made of a quilt top (the pretty part), batting (the fluffy stuff in the middle), and quilting backing all sewn together, then a binding is added.  I can quilt the layers together as long as the quilt isn't too big and I sew in a straight line, but that is boring.   I haven't found anyone local to do the quilting for me, so I decided to take a class to learn how to do free motion quilting.  This way I can quilt the lap quilt I am making later this month.  

The free motion class comes in 2 parts.  Part one was last week.  For the most part, it was just review for me.   I'm looking forward to next week when we really get into the quilting.  Although I'm already afraid I need a bigger machine.  We had to come to class with a few things, including a practice "quilt".

Right away I was impressed with this teacher because of course we need something to practice on that we don't plan on keeping or showcasing.  We (I) are going to make mistakes, and this is perfect for a perfectionist who hates making mistakes.  ;)   Just because it was a practice piece doesn't mean it had to be ugly.  I knew I liked the colors I was working with I would be more likely to practice on it.

Our instructor had us divide our quilt into different sections to try different techniques on each.    Sewing (semi) straight lines was the easy part.  So was "stitching in the ditch" as that is basically the kind of quilting I have been doing.

There was one part I messed up on and the instructor showed me how to fix it.  I was glad for that because it is a mistake I make often.  She also explained why some common problems happen and how to avoid them.  That part was great, because even though I didn't have those problems on this little piece, I usually do on my bigger quilts.

Next she had us use stencils.  I did better on that than I thought I would.   Not perfect, but good enough for me.  :)   I traced another stencil to practice on later.  (You can see it in blue.)

We put our free motion foot attachments on and "wrote" our names in cursive, then worked on stitching lelelele in cursive.  I was terrible at writing my name, but at the end of the "r" I started going freeform and loopy.  The teacher said I did great on my "stippling" but that I wasn't supposed to try that yet. lol.   What surprised me was that I really liked how my l's and e's looked.  I didn't think I would be good at them, but I really like them, so I'm happy that I am on my way to being able to make loops and scrolls.

When I came home I made another practice quilt and actually practiced on it.  I was getting frustrated because my stitches were being pulled, so I left it and went to my laptop to look for fabric.  :)  Then it dawned on me that I had forgotten to put my feed dogs down.  :D  I went back to my machine and put them down, then tried to raise them and nothing happened.  I thought I had broken my machine.  Turns out all I needed to do was turn the dial and they lifted.  :)

I know all this is probably pretty boring for you.  I promise it will get better.   Next Friday is quilting 201.  You can see the picture above of what we will be making.   Then on Saturday I get to take my first real quilt class to make a quilt top.  I can hardly wait!  One lat picture for you.  This is another class being offerred by the same teacher as my Quilting 101 & 201 classes.  I wish I had signed up for this one.  I love log cabin star look this one has.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North