Thank you so much dear people!!! Connie, Greenbean, Mel & Candi!

HI friends,
I want to thank several very dear people for some kindness!!
Last week for no reason I got a darling hummingbird card from a dear MB friend, Connie. Connie loves sewing and is not even a paper crafter but we met two years ago on the boards and stay in touch. She surprised me with a no reason card and a Starbucks gift card!!
Then I won a rak on the MB from my dear Greenbean! What a cutie patooty she is! I got a MS button punch and Greenbean made me this darling magnet board. I have been planning to make these for my workshops.
Then... my very best friend, Melanie, sent me a card that she had made at MY workshop. I was so touched, here she used the card she made and was giving it to me! Inside was a Starbucks giftcard and she was thanking me for letting her come over one day and just use my punches. I wuv you Mel!!
Then, I was awarded with a J's gift card from Candi over on the Austism Challenge on the boards. I am soooo excited to use it!!
Thank you wonderful people!!!!!
(Here is Greenbean's Magnet board hanging on the rack)

In the Mood for Owls- SU Good Morning Sunshine Paper!

Here are 3 more owl cards, that I made these last week but never got them posted. The last one is my favorite. I just love working with this Good Morning Sunshine Paper! The solid colors are last year's in colors and they are coming back as Core Colors this summer- Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango!! See April 18th post for more Owl Cards!! These are sooo much fun to make! The Owl "button" on the last owl is on sale too!! Along with the Kiwi Kiss Grosgrain Ribbon.
The Owls are made with the following punches:
Round Tab Punch- love this punch!
Scallop Circle Punch- My fav thing that SU offers and
1", 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches

THIS IS MY MOST FAVORITE SU PAPER! IT IS RETIRED AND ON SALE IN THE CLEARANCE SECTION ON MY SU SITE. CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

I promise to post some photos tomorrow.

Been sick!!

In Color Polka Dot Ribbon Share- get it before it is gone!

Edit- Check back on July 1, 2011 for NEW SHARES!

Hi there,
Guess what? 3 of these gorgeous colors are retiring! So I thought I would do a last chance Ribbon Share with the 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon! This way you can finish up your projects!

This is a one time Share.
In this share you will receive 3 yards of the following 6 IN Colors:
Rich Razzleberry ( staying)
Bermuda Bay ( retiring)
Soft Suede ( staying)
Crushed Curry ( retiring)
Dusty Durango ( retiring)
Melon Mambo ( staying)

The cost is $18 for $18 yards which includes Shipping and Pay Pal.
Don't forget to order this gorgeous paper before it retires!!
 P.S. I put this out in an email about an hour ago and just have 1 spot left!!!
Later...full now but starting Round 2!
UPDATE- ROUNDS 1-3 HAVE BEEN ORDERED. I HAVE 1 SPOT LEFT IN ROUND 4!!

In the Mood for Owls- SU Good Morning Sunshine Paper!

Today was cold and dreary. I got dressed then changed back into my pj's and spent the day making Owl Cards.
The first one is totally scraplifted, from Melissa Sloan, except I changed the button and placement of it and the sentiment.

I got this second owl on Splitcoast Stampers from someone named Sarah Jane. I think the style of the owl is quite cute! It is by Sarah Jane. They are so much fun to make! I copied the owl and the little hello tag, but made up the card design.


I used the Good Morning Sunshine Paper Pack found right HERE on my SU site in the Clearance Rack Section, only $3.99 for this darling pack of paper!!!
The Owls are both made with my SU punches!
The 2 Step Bird Punch, the Round Tab Punch, the Scallop Circle tag, the Wide Oval,and the 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch circle punches.

Here are some more that I made with this pack last year. These are my original designs when my mind was less boggled back then:

My "Signature Style" Cards

More birdies!

And,my most, very favorite card that I ever made! This pear just pops! This Very Vanilla and Kiwi Kiss Ribbon is still in the Clearance Rack .... go check it out!

Card for Austism Awaress Challenge

Here is my card for my participation in the CEC Special Challenge for Austism. Cynthia and Candi sponsored this. The cards and layouts will go to Candi's daughter's Austism Support Group. The groups meets at least every month for activities.

Inside:

It is very simple. I hope you can figure out the meaning- there are no words but it has much meaning!

New SU 2010-2011 CATALOGS are coming soon!! Who wants one- later!!!

Hi there, I checked with our customer support and demonstrators can start ordering our new 2010-2011 Catalog/Idea books on June 1st!!! Yippee!!

We can accept payment for them 7 days prior to that, but NOT before that and I like to follow the SU rules!

I am trying to get an idea of how many I will need to order as I have to order these in groups of 8??

I do charge $8 which includes the Catalog and Shipping to you in the US.
Just think, when you get a Paper Crafting magazine they are usually thin, but this has over 200 pages and is also an Idea Book!

If you are interested in ordering an SU Idea Book Catalog for 2010-2011, please EMAIL me and put NEW CATALOG in the subject line. I will collect $ by checks but much later in May.

Thanks!! Barb

Time for the Change....SU Color Change that is! Tutorial

Hi there,
I am the type of person that is always a bit hesitant for change but once I stick my toe in then I am excited as can be!! Just like jumping into a pool for the first time!

Last night I went through and organized my Ink Colors. It was so much fun. I love organizing. I am a visual learner so this really helped me.

First I pulled out all of the retiring colors. I did not have them all. I just recently (as of this week) filled in all of my greens and purples. I did not know we were changing. Am I getting rid of the soon to be retiring colors. No, I like them.

Then I sorted the Inks into the NEW Color Collections of:
Brights, Neutrals, Regals and Subtles. I realized I had just about all of them because I had some of the past two years IN Colors.

It was fun to do this and see the change. Once you line them up and sort them out and store them in their new spots, they look nice!

I also realized by doing this that I do not need that many more new inks. I am of course going to get the 5 new, cheery colors {Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, and Early Expresso} and the 5 new In Colors {oh these sound so yummy!} but I don't have to fill in with much more other than some of the Neutrals that we already have!!!

I suggest trying it. It might perk you up. You can keep your old but make room for the new!!!

Old Ink Storage:
Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals, Soft Subtles, Past and Present In Colors

NEW Ink Storage:
Brights, Neutrals, Regals and Subtles. The 5th row are some of the current colors that will soon be retiring.

I found a spreadsheet that was very helpful. If you would like me to email it to you, just send me an email please.

Back in town

Hi friends, I am back in town now.
I have a lot going on now with family illness, so if I have not been attentive or have been confused, I am sorry.

Inkspot/INKS/ and Marker Club orders go in tomorrow along with the Card Kit orders.
Again, sorry for any confusion. With the color change, I had to change around some clubs and was trying to do this all long distance without computer access.
I also have to say, I am very down right now, so trying to hang in there.
Thanks, Barb

Hostess Clubs- April 15th- July 15th going fast! Get your retiring items!

I got several emails today about marker clubs starting up. Instead I am going to do my $37.50 Hostess Club. This way you can order your items you want that are retiring before they retire!!!
I am filling up quickly!
Please let me know if you are interested by emailing me please.
Thanks!
EDIT: 4/23 All April - July Clubs are full.
I will be starting new clubs in July!!!

Oh how sweet!! Thank you, Ruth!

My dear friend and customer, Ruth, sent this darling card to me. It arrived today and Ruth has just suffered a loss. How sweet of her to think of me. Here is her card.
It sure perked me up. I was just getting ready to make a card for her. Gosh this makes me feel good! Look at the envelope too. It was a thank for being in my Marker Club. She is thanking me!! You are too sweet Ruth, aka Cricaholic!

OH look at this!

Oh look at this!! Look what my sweet customer friend, Candi sent in the mail!!!
A set of SU Business stamps!! Can't wait to stamp them on your next invoices. Boy it must be my birthday or something!!! Not really!!! Candi must want me to invoice her or something!!!

Mr. Top Note Bunny!

Isn't this darling! My great friend and customer, Evelyn, made this for me and filled it with yum, jelly beans! We made the Bunny Top Note baskets at my workshop last week and then Evelyn went home and made this. Isn't it too cute!! She also sent over some of her delicious bunny cake!! What a talented girl!!
Please check out my bunny on my March 27th post!

Stampin' Up announces Color Renovation

Hear ye, Hear ye, Stampin' Up just announces a New Color Renovation starting July 1st. Demonstrators just found out about this today. I love these new colors and am so excited to see many of the retired In Colors return.
New In Colors will be announced in July. I have no idea what they are but there will be 5 of them and they will last for two years instead of one.
FYI, My Color Clubs are still running and will end in June but you will get ALL 4 months worth of the gorgeous Current Color over 4 months payments. Color Clubs are full.

Print this out on a piece of Whisper White paper to see the gorgeous colors!

Current Colors that will Retire at the end of June
Be sure to stock up on your ink refills and paper packs:

Bold Brights:
Glorious Green
Green Galore
Gable Green
Yoyo Yellow
Only Orange
Pink Passion
Pixie Pink
Orchid Opulence
Lovely Lilac
Brilliant Blue
Earth Elements:
Close to Cocoa
Creamy Caramel
Really Rust
Ruby Red
Cameo Coral
Summer Sun
Rich Regals:
Bordering Blue
Brocade Blue
Ballet Blue
Taken with Teal
Handsome Hunter
Soft Subtles:
Pale Plum
Blush Blossom
Apricot Appeal
Barely Banana
Mellow Moss
Sage Shadow
Almost Amethyst
Lavender Lace
Neutrals:
Basic Brown
Going Gray
Here is a photo of the Blush Blossom. This is the one that people use for the Paper Dolls! This color is retiring!

New Petal Party Card Kit!

New Card Kit!!

I am offering my newest card kit for sale to the first six people. I have to "build" these kits in sixes, so when I am full, they are over!

In this kit you will get:
1 sheet of 12x12 Textured Paper of the following colors *:
Old Olive
So Saffron
Pumpkin Pie
Pixie Pink

You will also get 1 1/2 sheets of the Patterned double-sided paper from the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' Kit on page 166 in the main catalog
Also three sheets of the darling self adhesive die cuts
2 yards of Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
2 yards of Olive Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
12 Whisper White Envelopes
12 A-2 sized Card bases in Whisper White- precut and scored

I fill up VERY fast on my card kits and can only take the first 6. May not be used with Clubs or Coupons.
Ready, Set, go!

The price is $27
This includes postage and pay pal*
* I do need to cut the 12x12 pages in half in order to mail them......Barb!

My Craft Room Photos! Scoll to bottom of post to view VIDEO!

Here is my Revised, revised, revised, revised Craftroom. I have to admit my slide show on the right is much neater version, but that was when I had less stuff!
We closed off our living and dining room with French Glass doors and separated the two rooms, four years ago.  This was the kid's craft room/playroom before I took over two years ago. After buying all of my "Bugs", I kind of took over the room,  but they have access to all my craft things.

Photos start and go around in a circle. It was buying the rods to store my Stampin' Up punches that got me to redo a few things! Enjoy!

You are now entering my Craftroom from the Kitchen. This is my "pull out area" I had the file cabinet for about 25 years and added the  narrow "desktop" so I could use this for a cutting area. I also threw in another set of plastic drawers and keep my stamp sets in there too. Stamps everywhere!

My main work desk.  This is my stamping desk where I make my Stampin' Up Cards.
I got this desk about 25 years ago. Underneath, I have red and navy bins on wheels with chalkboards on the front. I store more paper and cardstock in the bins in files. I like to be organized!  I keep my Stampin' Up Inkspots, Crayons, Pencils, Adhesives in the set of black plastic drawers. I keep stamp sets and ribbon packages in the Jetmax cubes to the right.

My Ink Center. My little girl decorated this and the Embellishment Center.

Embellishment Center, ribbon, buttons, bows!

Close up of Desktop

Punch Storage on Bygel Rods. I am so happy with these!! This is what got me in the mood to change things around!

Back of room, looks into Living room.  Stampin' Up Cardstock Storage

Left Shelves

This was the kid's Art Table,  that my hubby built for them, but I took it over for my "bugs".
I stand when I use the machines. It is a really deep space.
I moved their art work to this side because the wall was soooo busy with the Embellishment Center here. It drives me crazy with how busy this wall was and still is!

 I just found these little white CD cases and put them in the openings of the Jetmax Cubes. I used to have little ladybug boxes there and kept my overlays and and booklets filed in them. Now I put those back in their boxes and use these new CD cases to store my new plastic cases from SU. I redid a bunch of my stamps and store them in there now. The drawers also house stamps.
The little plastic bins in the middle store more cardstock and envelopes.

 Right Shelf space

Right Shelf space. More Artwork from Preschool

This is where I live- at my Computer and work my business! I love this Tressle Desk. I love being able to look out my backyard through the bay window. The kitchen is to my right.

Ok, we made a full circle now of my little dining room, turned playroom, turned Craftroom/Office! This is another entry into the room and to the right of my desk and the bay windows.  These  cubes  house embellishments and books.

I hope you enjoyed my tour. Would love to hear your comments!

! Click HERE  for the Video Tour of my Craftroom!