Shelli's Valentine's Day Challenge

It's been a couple of months since I entered something in Shelli's challenge on her blog. Of course, due to procrastination and our computer issues - I'm entering this on the last day possible! :-) This month's challenge is for Valentine's day, so I thought I would get in on this challenge because I love Valentine's Day - even if my husband isn't that big on the holiday! ;-) For those who don't remember or know, Shelli is the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! She has a blog (link is on the left) and will every month or so post a challenge for demonstrators and customers - note: you don't have to be a demo to enter!

I did both of these cards a couple of months ago for a swap for the Holiday Mini. I was very happy to see that the stamp set I used is in the new catalog since I thought it is adorable. The set is A Happy Heart. I had fun using it for both a more masculine-flavored card (the 3x3 I"Heart"U card) and the regular sized card. A note about the Designer Series Paper (DSP) that is one of the layers - I used the Kraft Patterns paper that was part of the Fall/Winter Hostess Level 1 pack. The colors have been changed for the Spring/Summer Hostess Level 1 pack... but the Basic Gray that is in the new pack would be a great substitute. Or, you can use the Manchester DSP since that has a Kraft background color in some of its designs.

For the second card, I also used the Wonderful You set as both a background and used Stampin' Write markers to create the saying I wanted out of the word stamps from the Wonderful You set. I will admit, I need to work on getting those lined up better! Perhaps I should have used the Stamp-a-ma-jig. :-) By the way, the Wonderful You set is not in the catalog, but you can still order it. It just made its way over to the dormant list. It is kind of hard to see, but for the background, I embossed the outline of the leaves in clear embossing powder. Also, the three hearts that form the diagonal "win" are popped out with dimensionals.

Supplies:
3x3 card -
A Happy Heart stamp set
Always Artichoke, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla card stock
Riding Hood Red Classic Ink Pad
Patterns Level 1 DSP or Manchester DSP (see note above)
Designer Label punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Cutter Kit (distresser tool)

"won heart" card -
A Happy Heart and Wonderful You stamp sets
Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla card stock
Riding Hood Red and Regal Rose Classic Ink Pads; VersaMark Ink
1/2" circle punch
Ticket corner punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Cutter Kit (distresser tool)
Blender Pen
Clear Embossing Powder
Embossing Buddy & Heat Tool
Stampin' Dimensionals

NEW SPRING/SUMMER IDEA BOOK & CATALOG

Sorry I've been MIA for a little while. We've been doing the rounds of "sick" in our house. First it was me with migraines last week, then my daughter with the stomach bug over the weekend, now it's my husband. So, I don't have a ton of time tonight... I promise I will get back to posting some projects soon!

I just wanted to announce that the new Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog is available to order from. If you haven't gotten your copy - contact me to get this awesome book. Not only is it filled with amazing stamp sets and other accessories, but there are a ton of great projects in the catalog as well. The cards, boxes and scrapbook pages are amazing and great ways to jump start your creativity!

If you are interested in getting a FREE Idea Book & Catalog - there are a couple of ways to do that. 1) Host a class with me! Hosting a class is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with your friends. All you need to do is get together a group of your family or friends. I do the rest! For a $5.00 class fee, you and your guests will make 3 projects (cost and project type and number can vary depending on what you are interested in). If your guests place an order, their class fee is waived. You, as hostess, do not have the class fee, get a free catalog, and may be eligible to earn hostess benefits! If you are interested in more details, or booking a class with me, just drop me a line at memoriesbyvanda@gmail.com.

The second way to earn a FREE Idea Book & Catalog is to join my monthly Stamp Club. I'm signing up folks now for a 6 month club to run February - July. What is a Stamp Club, you ask? A stamp club meets once a month on a set day each month (i.e. the 3rd Thursday or 1st Saturday). You agree to a minimum order each month, even if you cannot attend the club meeting. In addition to the great projects that I will provide each month, including the ability to try out great new products and techniques, the hostess benefits will rotate amongst the club members each month. If you are interested in more details, or signing up for my Spring/Summer Stamp Club, e-mail me at the above address.

Spring/Summer IBC New Sets!!!

**NOTE: if you had visited my site earlier this month, I accidentally posted these images prior to the catalog release date, which is against Stampin' Up! policy. I apologize!**

I love the new catalog and stamp sets!! This is a card that I am making for a swap with my upline. It uses a new stamp set, new designer series paper, and a new BIG SHOT accessory! Yay!!!! It's probably hard to tell in the card scan, but I embossed the three flower images from the Sweet Stems stamp set in silver embossing powder and then colored in the middle image using aqua painters. The silver embossed flower at the bottom middle used the new Sweetest Stem Embosslet for the Big Shot. I can't wait to see all the new accessories they have for the Big Shot! I love the embosslets! Enjoy the sneak peek. :-)

Supplies:
Sweet Stems stamp set
Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, and Brushed Silver card stock
VersaMark, Rose Red Classic, and Regal Rose Classic ink
Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper
The Big Shot
Sweetest Stem Embosslet
Silver Embossing Powder
Embossing Buddy, Powder Pals, Heat tool
Silver cord (from Holiday Mini)
Silver brads
Ticket Corner punch
Aqua Painter
SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals

A second Sneak Peek...

**NOTE: if you had visited my site earlier this month, I accidentally posted these images prior to the catalog release date, which is against Stampin' Up! policy. I apologize!**

Here's is a sneak peek of one of the awesome hostess sets that are going to be in the Spring/Summer '09 Idea Book and Catalog. I needed to make a masculine birthday card for a good friend of ours and was looking through my stamp sets to see what I could come up with. I saw the birthday greeting in the "Goody Goody Gumdrops" Level 3 Hostess set in the new catalog and thought it would be fun to use the sundae and cherry with a window card. (Is that the correct term? I'm not really sure). So, I used the large oval punch to cut a window in the front of the card and then lined up the sundae and cherry so that you can't see the cherry on the front. I used Stampin' Write markers to have half of the greeting on the front and half on the inside. Oh - and I added the extra dimension with a "h" from one of the on-board chipboard letter sets and the Not Quite Navy patterns pack paper (a level 1 hostess item from the Fall/Winter IBC). (and yes, I need to work on my ability to stamp straight as you can see on the bottom picture which is the inside of the card!)

Supplies:
Goody Goody Gumdrops stamp set (Level 3 Hostess set available 19 January)
Party Hearty stamp set
Kraft and Night of Navy card stock
Patterns Pack (Level 1 Hostess set in F/W IBC)
VersaMark and Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Riding Hood Red and Going Gray Classic Ink
Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker
Large Oval Punch
Blender Pens
On Board Loads of Letters
Whisper White Note Cards
SNAIL, Sticky Strip and Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

Extra! Extra! The new catalog is here!!!

I received the Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalogs yesterday! I've been reading all the previews in the blogs of folks who attended Leadership - but after seeing it in person I'm even more "wow'd"! There are some great new stamp sets, AWESOME accessories (corduroy buttons/brads, textured designer series paper, and new ribbons!!), as well as amazing new Big Shot accessories (textured plates)!!! Don't wait, contact me to get your copy!!!

As an additional note, unfortunately we are having some issues with our primary computer. My husband is working hard getting everything fixed (and getting frustrated when things that should work, don't) but until then I can't post any projects. Just wanted to give you an idea of why I haven't posted... although the migraine I've had for the past two days hasn't helped either!