Stampin' UP! News

Have you heard the news?  So much was announced at Stampin' UP this week that my head is spinning.  Here are the highlights, in no particular order...



Woop Woop!  Sale starts on Monday and runs for 10 days. 
Dates: November 19-28, 2012
Details
The Online Extravaganza promotion is our biggest online sale of the year! ... during these 10 days only, you and your customers can get incredible discounts-up to 50 percent-on some of your favorite products!
In addition, there will be three products 20 percent off for 24-hours only on both the first and last days of Online Extravaganza-our very own doorbusters! Woot!

CLICK HERE to view the PDF with all the items that will be on sale.  :)



Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine

This is a VERY limited edition item from sizzix.  It's a small embossing machine.  It only works on embossing folders.  If you have been wanting to add some texture to your projects, but aren't sure if you want to invest in a full size Big Shot OR you want something even more portable, then this adorable embossing machine could be for you.  I already own a Big Shot and a Cuttlebug, but I am sooooooo tempted just because it is darling!

The only downside is that there aren't very many available, so if you want one get it NOW.



Texture Boutique Bundle

Price: $39.95



Texture Boutique Embossing Machine

Price: $29.95



 

Here's a video from Stampin' UP!'s Carrie Cudney showing you just how it works.

Talking Tag
(Take a close look at that letter in the picture.  Do you see the sneek peak at a new embossing folder coming very soon?!!!)

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words! How to Buy Talking Tags: Buy 'em by the sheet! You get 10 tags for just $7.95 (item 129723). How to record a voice message: Download the FREE TalkingTagT App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes® or Google PlayT. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift. Open TalkingTagT App and scan the code. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure you're ready!).

You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it. Each label allows up to 60 seconds of a greeting, song, or product message.
To play the message, recipients will need to download the app and scan the code. Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over.

New Spring Catalog and Sale-A-Bration Catalog!!!

The new Spring Catalog is coming out soon, and the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) catalog is soon to follow.   I hope Santa brings me a bag of money to spend on the new catalog!  It is filled with so many goodies!!!  If you have ordered from me in the past 6 months I've already got your catalog coming to you.  If you don't have a demonstrator and want one or both of these catalogs sent to you just shoot me an email with Spring Mini in the subject line along with your:

Name
Address

My email is:
cr8tvblessings@hotmail.com

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Thankful

It's fun to be in my craft room and doing challenges again.  I made two cards to show you today using the same sketch from Try Stamping On Tuesday Challenge.




The first card is monochromatic with neutral shades of brown.

 

I just love the ribbon detail on this card and the sparkle from the glimmer paper.

I LOVE the Thanks is for giving sentiment from the Seasonal Sayings stamp set so I used it on the inside with a scrap of Mocha Morning DSP as a background.

On the second card I colored in the image and added a pop of color with some DSP. 

I also added some pearls to the wreath on the second card.  The piggyback challenge was to add a little "red". I did that by coloring in the berries.  There is also a tiny bit of red in one of the banners. 

The sentiment from Seasonal Sayings on the inside was matted with the same DSP.

I think this sketch work VERY well with the Full of Blessings stamp set.  The Festival of Prints paper stack works well too.  It's not just for Christmas cards. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

All items Stampin' UP!

Stamps: Full of Blessings, Seasonal Sayings
Paper: Festival of Prints DSP stack, Mocha Morning DSP (retired), Early Espresso CS, Very Vanilla cardstock, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Timber Brown Staz-On, Soft Suede
Misc.: Early Espresso 1/8" Taffetta Ribbon, Crochet Lace Trim, Antique Brads, Scallop Trim Border

Thanksgiving Card ~ MM267

Every day on Facebook this month I have been listing what I am thankful for.  Honestly every day I am filled with thankfulness for so many things.  My life has truly been blessed.  Not to say it hasn't had it's trials, just that I have had a life filled with love.  What could be better?  So, in honor of this month of gratitude and reflection through the eyes of Thanksgiving I decided to make a few cards.   My plan is to send each of the cards you will see over the next week to family members.  It just might be the first year I've sent Thanksgiving cards.

For those of you not in the USA, it's never too late to be grateful and send a thank you card.  ;)  My card today comes from the Mojo Monday sketch this week.  Every week they manage to come up with a new, divine sketch for us.


As you can see I had fun with coloring.   I used my markers and a blender pen to color this image.   Such fun.  The papers come from SU's Comfort Cafe DSP.  This pack of papers is wonderful for Fall cards. 

My favorite thing about this card is the custom button I made.  Basically I stamped the Give Thanks sentiment from the Full of Blessings stamp set onto Very Vanilla Cardstock using Soft Suede ink.  Next I punched it out using Little Labels punch pack.  I used a glue dot to stick the punch out to the Brushed Bronze Button and used another glue dot to adhere the button to my card. 

The strip of paper in the middle of the card was created by taking Cajun Craze cardstock and stamping off with Cajun Craze ink before stamping onto the paper in a random  pattern.  Easy as that I have a custom background paper. 

There is lots of dimension with this card, so I'll probably have to pay extra postage, but my family is worth it.  :)


Creative Blessings,
Heather North




Full of Blessings



Little Labels Punch Pack




Brushed Bronze Buttons



Home Is...With You

It seems like I just got home and now my husband is away on a business trip.  :(  After being married for almost 18 years I find it difficult to sleep without him next to me.  I think our next trip should be to Disneyland with the kids!  :)  Before he left on his trip I tucked this little card in to his suitcase along with some SF Giants World Series stuff I got him while I was in Sacramento.  :)

When you open up the card you can see through the window.   The sentiment says "Home is wherever you are with me"  Isn't that sweet?  I hope he thinks so too.

You could write on the blank space inside, but I chose to write my note to him on the back.  This card was super easy to make.  If you need help figuring out how, just leave a comment telling me to film a video.  I would be happy to make one if somebody wants to see it.

I'm off to make some dinner for my kids and then head to the craft room.  If I can't sleep I might as well create.  ;)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Forever with You



Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper (DSP)



Window Frames Framelits



Midnight Muse Ink and Cardstock
along with Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla Cardstock

Personal Updates

Hello my creative friends!  I thought I would tell you what has been going on with me and why I've missed a few posts.

Last week I flew down to CA to see my family:

1. My dad has prostate cancer and is beginning his treatment soon.   It's been a long road full of insurance complications, but his prognosis is excellent.  He just needed a little cheer.

2. My uncle has stage 4 cancer.  I wanted to see him and my aunt and cousin, just to be able to give all 3 hugs and tell give them my love.  He will soon begin a new trial drug.  Please pray for a miracle, if you are so inclined.

3. My grandma fell and broke a few ribs.  She fell again and bruised her tailbone.  She stopped eating, saying the medicine made her sick and dropped down to 66 pounds. It was at this point I decided to go down and see her.  I booked my flight for the following week.  Then she fell a 3rd time, fractured her hip and ended up in the hospital.   She got moved from the hospital to skilled nursing to go through rehab.  While I was there she was in good spirits and even attempted to eat some of her food.  Her leg is really swollen, but so far no blood clots.  Her short term memory is shot.  She doesn't even remember being in the hospital.  I hope she will remember I came to visit her, but at least she remembered me while I was there. 

4. My mom needed me.  She needed a hug and to know I would come and to help share the burden for a while.  My first morning there she got the news that her friend had passed away from cancer.  I hate cancer!

Before I left I was able to get a few blog posts scheduled, but I am way behind now.  I apologize to my ACAD blog challenge ladies.  As soon as I get back in the swing of things I'll be visiting your blogs and leaving some love.  Thank you for all the beautiful comments you have been leaving me. 

I have 10 cards, 1 video and several scrapbook pages done, I just need to take pictures and get blog posts written.  Yesterday I slept and started to unpack & do laundry.  Today I took care of my home and family.  Tomorrow I go play in my room.  :)  I have lots of cards to make for these far away loved ones!!! 

If you have read this far I thank you.  Any prayers for my family are much appreciated.  I'm already thinking about when I can go back down and looking into airfare for cheap flights.  Now that you know the situation I am sure you understand if I miss a day here and there.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Scrapbook Sunday ~ Squaring Off

Gotta love squares if you are a fan of 12x12, 8x8 or 6x6 scrapbooks.  For the longest time I think this is what tripped me up in card making.  Cards are typically rectangles and the scrapbooks I had been creating for over a decade were square.  Any preschool graduate can probably tell you the difference between rectangles and squares.  Even though squares and rectangles are very similar those 2 extra long sides can really throw you off your creative game if you aren't used to them. 

Today's layouts are an ode to squares, with some rectangles thrown into the mix.  They really can play well together.  

This first layout uses some background paper I found while cleaning out my "stash".  It has 4 large squares in the center of the 12x12 page.  You could easily re-create this page with your own DSP.  Cut four 5 1/2" squares in coordiating paper and adhere them to the middle of your page. 



NEW Stampin' Trimmer

You could cut your pictures into squares, but I chose to leave them as rectangles, cutting them down to 3 1/2" x 5 1/4", with the exception of a couple of pictures that I did cut into squares.  I really mixed it up on this page.  I then embraced the "white space", or in this case the colored background.

By picking and choosing which pictures to make sqaures and which to make rectangles I was able to fit LOTS of pictures on these two pages.  Look at your pictures before you trim them.  Which ones could be cut to bring your focal point to the center?  What elements do you want included in the picture?  (ie house numbers, birds, flowers, etc.)  How will your new size flow with the other sizes of photos on your page? 

One of my favorite uses of squares is to punch out some DSP and add a title.  Yes, you can use a trimmer to cut squares, but the SU square punch is SO much easier to use.  Originally I was going to mat these squares with a dark cardstock punched out using the postage square punch, but it looked good with just the 1" square, so I left it.  Either would be cute, but I was smack in the middle of  "get 'er done" mode when I made this page.




1" Square Punch




Postage Stamp Punch

Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Remember When

Today I am blessed to be in California spending the weekend with my parents and extended family.  Here are some cards I sent them a few weeks ago.

The images on this card are from one of the oldest stamp sets I bought.  They remind me of my childhood vacations to the beach.  If you look through my parent's old photo albums I'm sure you would find pictures just like this of my brother and I.

The little girl card I sent to my mom. 

The little boy card I sent to my dad.

Looking at this little boy card makes me miss my boys.  They aren't so little anymore. :)  But, I bet if we took them to the beach they would build sandcastles just like they used to. 


Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Remember When




Fancy Fan Embossing Folder




1/4" Wild Wasabi Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon



Travel With Me

Today is a travel day for me.  While I am not going to Paris, I can dream of going there some day.  I love to make cards like this and put them on a shelf in my hobby room for inspiration and dreaming.  This card looks 100 times better in person. 

 

The Eiffel tower was embossed with Black Embossing Powder, then I used a yellow marker to color in the "lights".  It's hard to see in the picture.   The medallions are made using white embossing powder.  Then I used various colors of sponges to create the sky and grass.

The   love charm hanging from the taffeta ribbon was found on the Clearance Rack.  I'm not sure if it's still available, but you can click HERE to check.  ;)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Artistic Etchings



Stampin Sponges



Trinket Hearts
$2.79



Sunshine Cheer

Here's a bright little card to bring you a little sunshine.

Those 3 boxes are made using Summer Smooches paper and square punches.  I also used a (retired) ticket corner punch on the Island Indigo pieces.   The banner was made using the Itty Bitty Banners Stamp set and matching Framelits.

 To make the card even easier it uses the Note Cards & Envelopes pack.

 



Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Itty Bitty Banners




Bitty Banners Framelits




Summer Smooches DSP