Free Shipping

Stampin' UP! is offering free shipping this week, starting today and running through April 10, 2015!!!!  Time to stock up on your basic supplies and get a few things off your wish list without having to pay for shipping.  

Be sure to check out the New Arrivals and Weekly Deals.   Weekly specials come out on Tuesdays so jump on the current special today and order the new one tomorrow without paying double shipping.  Hooray!

Clicky to go shopping now, or click on the Shop 24/7 button at the top of my blog page.

Melting For You

Baby it's cold outside, but it's warm in the hobby room.  :)  When the space heater gets cranked up in that room in the garage it's a cozy warm place to be.  Walking through the frigid garage to get to it is the hard part.  Thankfully my husband went first and got the room heating up while I was at work on Sunday so I could come home and get crafty.

This is one of the cards I made.  The colors remind me of ice, so it was appropriate for our weather.  I was inspired by the gorgeous cake photo and sketch at Fusion Card Challenges.    I wish I had the camera setup to show you how I made the watercolor panel, but it was playtime and that would have meant cleaning up my stamp table first.   ;)  If you would like to see a video on this technique, leave me a comment letting me know.

As I was writing up the supply list, I realized this is a Stampin' UP only card.  That is pretty rare for me these days.  :) 

Supplies: (Stampin' UP)
Stamps: Chalk Lines, Tag Talk 

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Versamark
Paper: Watercolor Paper, Whisper White, Pool Party

Accessories: Aquapainter, Basic Rhinestones, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Artisan Label Punch, White Embossing Powder

Stampin' Celebration + Design Team Call

Yesterday a new challenge went live on Stampin' Celebration and I almost missed it!   Yikes!  I'm glad I was able to get my card submitted just under the wire because I think this sketch has so many creative possibilities.

The sketch inspired me to look for an extra large stamp in my stash for the background "circle".  I inked up my stamp with distress inks, then sprayed it with water before stamping it on a piece of cardstock.  There was still loads of ink on my stamp so I stamped it again for the piece you see in my final card.

Doesn't this technique give the stamp a unique watercolored look?  I wished I had my camera turned on for this card, but I had no idea where I was going and it would have been a 60 minute video.  I love the stark contrast of the white and the watercolor, but I needed to subdue it a bit for my sympathy card, so I sponged on a soft pink.  When I was about to adhere the vellum I realized I had no place to hide the adhesive.   Luckily I had some very thin washi tape laying next to me on my stamp table.  It worked as a perfect mask.

Stampin' Celebration is having a Design Team call and a few changes to the guidelines of the challenge to make it easier for all of us to remember.  :)  Be sure to check out this post if you have ever thought of joining a design team.

Before I go I wanted to remind you that tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of the $1 StampNation trial. If you've been curious about StampNation and want to try it out before you buy a full membership, then hop on it before it disappears.

Tomorrow is also the last day to take part in the housewarming party blog hop.  Clicky to see my post for more details.

I can't wait to see what you are inspired to create!

Stampin' Supplies
Stamps: Gathering Together (Penny Black), En Francais (SU)
Ink: Dusty Concord-Milled Lavender- Peacock Feathers- Picked Raspberry (Distress Inks), Versamark, Basic Gray (SU)
Paper: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Vellum, Whisper White
Accessories: In Color Sequins (SU), Clear Embossing Powder, Washi Tape, With Sympathy Die (SSS)

Holiday Catalog

The 2014 Stampin' UP! Holiday Catalog is live!  What new goodies will you be bringing home?  Below are my some of my favorites.

Wondrous Wreath

My mom & I share a wreath tradition every year, so I love making her a Christmas card with a wreath on it.  I'm super excited SU came out with matching framelits and photopolymer stamps for this set.  

Seasonally Scattered

The Seasonally Scattered set was on my pre-order and I've already a video using it.  Stay tuned for that one soon.

Bright and Beautiful Stamp Set

Right now I am working on a Christmas class, so I am in a Christmas stamping mood.  The stamp set below is so trendy right now with the geometric trees.  I just had to get it with the matching punch, as you saw on my Monday post.

Festival of Trees Photopolymer Bundle

Are any of these items on your wish list?  What are your top 3 favorite items from the new holiday catalog?  Clicky Here if you want to see them all online.

Beachcombing with Blendabilities ~ Video

One of the things I love about the beach is climbing around the rocks to view the tidepools and picking up little treasures off the sand.  The last challenge is up for the StampNation Beach Vacation and it is a Beachcombing challenge.  I made two videos showing how I created my card.

***Note- If you are reading this post in a reader or email you may need to go to my blog to view the video.  Click the post title to go there now.  :)

The part 2 video will show you how I created sand with Copics and pulled the card together.  StampNation members can go there now to see SN Beach Vacation #6.

Not yet a member?  Click here to learn more and sign up today.

Supply List:
Stamps: By the Seashore (SU), Chalk Lines (SU), Gorgeous Grunge (SU)
Ink: Coastal Cabana Blendabilities, Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky, Tuxedo Black Memento
Accessories: Sand Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Marshmellow Sequins (PPP)

Coastal Cabana Blendabilities

By the Seashore

Chalk LinesClear Photopolymer

Blendabilities and Sneak Peeks

Yesterday I took a few minutes to open up the new Blendabilities I got from Stampin' UP!   These are alcohol markers, similar to Copic, made in SU colors.  I've been very excited to try them.   For now they are only available in a limited amount of colors to demonstrators only.  (perks of the job)  SU just posted an expected release date of July  1st for the first 7 sets of colors!

Coming July 1, 2014

I'll be filming a video soon to give you the scoop, but wanted to play a bit first.  ;)  You can probably see that I used some retired sets.  That is because at the time I played with them my order from the new catalog had not arrived.  It is now in the house and I can hardly wait to get my new stamps inky.

The new challenge went up today at StampNation. It's a sketch challenge, and a very good one at that.  I'm going to be using this sketch on a few cards next month.  It's a great one for large focal points or sentiments.  I decided to give my new Blackberry Bliss color and Work of Art stamp set some love.  Aren't the gradient colors of Blackberry Bliss yummy?

Here's a peek at what the rest of the design team came up with.  What will you do with the new sketch?

Before I go I wanted to let you know what the weekly deals are for this week.  I'm seriously debating on finally getting the envelope liners.  If you've tried them, let me know what you think.

Blackberry Bliss

Work of Art

Artisan Label Punch

Knotty Birthday ~ Envelope Punch Board

If you are looking for my Sew Saturday post be sure to come back tomorrow.  ;)  I am running a day behind on my blog as I have been celebrating StampNation's birthday all week long.   In fact today's post was supposed to go up yesterday, but I ran into some technical difficulties.

My card for the last Birthday Bash challenge has to be one of my all time favorite masculine cards.   I wish I could show you the card, but it is one I made for the design team and is now a StampNation exclusive.  It is a CASE of Susan Powell.

Since I can't show you my Design Team card unless you are a member of StampNation, I decided to make a stepped down version of the card using some of my favorite elements from both Susan's and my own card.

***Note: If you are reading this outside of my blog you may need to go to this post to see the video above.  Click on the post title "Knotty Birthday" to go there now.

Catherine Pooler Cupcake Card.

As you saw in the video today's giveaway, on Catherine Pooler's YouTube channel, is sponsored by Avery Elle.  They are giving away the cutest little cupcake stamp and matching die.  Clicky to see it.  As I said in the video, I am not eligible to win, but I would LOVE for one of my followers to win it!  All you have to do is go to CLICKY and COMMENT on Catherine's YouTube video.  Good luck!

In addition to all this fun, I found a great new challenge that I am VERY excited about.  Why?  Because I need so many masculine cards and this challenge is just for masculine cards.  It's a perfect fit.   :)

Make A Masculine Birthday Card

If you want to see more Masculine birthday cards, check out the ones I posted on Sunday.  Three more masculine cards for a total of 4 this week and my February birthday cards are taken care of.

One last note.  Catherine is offering a special right now.  You can get a 3 day StampNation membership for $1. Give it a try and see why I love this site so much.  Clicky

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Supplies:
Stamps: Knotty (Avery Elle), The Open Sea (SU), Postage Collection - Hostess (SU)
Ink: Black Staz-On, River Rock (retired)
Paper: Epic Day This & That DSP (SU), River Rock (retired SU)
Misc: Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Linen Thread,  Essentials Wooden Elements, Envelope Punch Board

Essentials Wooden Elements

Envelope Punch Board

January Thank You

Did you get your new Stampin' UP! catalog yet?   If you are a customer of mine, then you should have received yours in the mail.  If you didn't, please email me to let me know and I will ship one out to you.  (cr8tvblessings@hotmail.com) Today is the day the new Occasions catalog is released.  You can check out all the new products right now by clicking HERE and going to my Online Store.

You might be wondering what some of my favorite products are.   There are so many that I love it's hard to pick my favorite.   You will be seeing many of them over the next few weeks.   Today's card showcases 2 of my favorites, the Fresh Prints DSP stack and the Hip Notes Stamp Set.  Both are so fresh and trendy!

My thank you card is super easy to make and would be great for the guys to send too.  (Although I would leave off the heart if my boys were sending this card... unless they are sending it to Grandma)   I cut the paper into strips of various sizes, then cut the fish tail ends out of the bottom and layered them on my card.

This card is so cute, easy and fun to make that I am going to make one for each of you that places an order with me in the month of January as my way of saying thank you.  What are your favorites from the new catalog?

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Supplies:
Stamps: Hip Notes
Paper: Fresh Prints DSP Stack, Whisper White
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Real Red
Misc: Finishing Touches Edgelit, Heart Punch, Corner Chomper

Fresh Prints DSP Stack

Hip Notes

Finishing Touches Edgelit

Happy

What makes you happy?  Lots of things make me happy: my family, my friends, creating card/scrapbooks/quilts.  I love to color, take walks on the beach, photograph nature and see my dogs' tails wag furiously when I walk in the door.

The challenge this week at CAS-ual Fridays is to create a card using a word that describes what you hope for the new year.  Can you guess my word? :)

I'll be sharing more about this word and why I chose it on Sunday's post, but in a nutshell I want to make time this year to make and do things for myself that make me happy.   It's far easier for me to make and do things for others, but it's going to be a stressful year and I think I need to take a little time for myself.  My hope is that I will also be sending more cards to make others Happy.  In doing this I can spread the "happy" around.

Along with my new goal, this card also uses some new products.  First I used a new stamp from the new Stampin' UP! catalog, Happy Watercolor.  (Coming out tomorrow) I also used my new Christmas Copics to color in the flowers.   This certainly made me Happy.  To finish the card I added some Stickles for a lit touch of glitter.  I won't be keeping this card.  I made it to send and that will make someone else happy. :)   Oh, and I'm linking up with the SSS Wednesday Challenge: Use something new.  

Simon Wednesday Challenge

This card certainly fits that challenge.   Did you get anything new to play with this year?  Did you make a new year'r resolution?  What is one word that describes your hope for the new year?  

Creative Blessings

Stamps: Happy Watercolor (SU)
Ink: Bermuda Bay (SU), Pistachio Pudding (SU), Tuxedo Black (Memento), 

Copics: BV20, BV23, BV25, ), C1

SU Paper: Afternoon Picnic DSP, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White

Happy Watercolor

Afternoon Picnic DSP

Banner Christmas Joy

Is there someone on your list that has everything?  Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for her?  Perhaps today's project idea will help you.  :)

Each pennant has a flower and a letter.  You could put anything on these pennants.  It would be darling to hang little ornaments instead of triangles, or use snowflakes in place of the medallions.

There are so many possibilities once you start creating.

My poor neglected Cricut got a bit of a workout the past few weeks.  I used it to cut out the letters and pennants.  You don't need a Cricut to make this though.  In the video I give you more ideas of other things you can use.  

Note: You may need to go to my blog post to see the video above if you are not there now.  :)

Doesn't it look perfect hanging from the shelf in my home?  That is why I had to make another one.  It will probably hang all year long because Joy never goes out of season. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Suplies:

Paper: Mondern Medley DSP,  Champagne Glimmer Paper, Misc. Metallic Cardstock from my stash, Black

Ink: Crumb Cake
Accessories: Cricut, Crop-A-Dile, Scallop Circle Punches, Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon,  Lace Trim Ribbon, Black Glimmer Brad

Modern Medley DSP

Champagne Glimmer Paper

Greatest Gift

There's something magical about Christmas, isn't there?  Every year we remind our children of why we give gifts on Christmas.  We tell them that Jesus gave us the greatest gift of all so we give to others on His birthday to honor Him.  That's why I love this stamp set so very much.

Such a special card deserved some special treatment.  :)  For my background I masked and sponged in crumb cake ink.  My star was cut by hand and I added dimensionals to pop it over baby Jesus. Speaking of baby Jesus, He was stamped in Midnight Muse onto Very Vanilla, then cut out with SU Circle Framelits.  Next I layered him on a scallop circle I cut out of Midnight Muse cardstock using my Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacey Circles die.

 That beautiful script sentiment comes from my new favorite stamp company.  (new to me, that is)  Seasonal Flourish by Waltzing Mouse Stamps.  (WMS)  They have super fast shipping and lovely scrolling script.  You will be seeing more of them on my cards soon.

In other news, my old laptop is just about dead.  It runs super slow and really hot.  That's why I haven't been able to edit videos.  My dear husband bought me a new computer for Christmas, which I am trying to learn.  It doesn't have Photoshop yet, but it will soon.  I'm so excited!   Last night I found the movie maker program and I am almost back in business!   Here is a quick video I shot for you today with some sneak peeks.  ;)

I'm linking up to CAS on Sunday Challenge.  The theme is Christmas.  I think every card I'm going to show you this week will be Christmas and most will be CAS to get them done fast so they can be mailed out before Christmas.  ;)

CAS#23

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:Christmas (SU), Seasonal Flourish (WMS)
Paper/Ink: Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla
Accesories: Circle Framelits, Lacey Circles (Spellbinders Nestabilities)



P.S.   Don't miss out on the Clearance Rack Blitz going on now!  So many wonderful items, but they won't last long.  I suggest getting the Jewelry Tag Punch if you don't already have it.  It's a favorite of mine that I won't be letting go of any time soon.

Jewelry Tag Punch