Oh my oh my oh my… I think I died and went to heaven… really… no really!  Stampin’ Up! just made a huge announcement at their conference today…

For those of you who want to really make some nice gifts, you have to get this little die cutting/embossing magical machine… it is amazing and I cannot wait to get my little hands on this one!

Here’s a write up from Julie Ebersole’s blog on the Big Shot die cutting machine:

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/2007/01/big_shot_faqs.html

The neat thing is it works with other cutting machine dies - and Stampin’ Up! has exclusive cutting dies you will not find anywhere else!  And to top it off - they are selling a really cute handbag to put everything in!  (See bottom left corner of pic)… oh my oh my - my christmas wishes are complete! 

 Just think how many things you can dream up with Stampin’ Up!

Enjoy and Happy Stamping!

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Oh boy! Oh boy!  this is a Wahooo moment - in the near future, customers will be able to order online at Stampin’ Up!  Go here for details!

Oh are you just going to love these new In Colors… and the Bella Rose Designer Papers are so beautiful… Shabby Chic fans are going to heaven! (this includes me!!)  For those of you itching to place a preorder, I created a simple sheet that will help you. This preorder sheet features a new shabby chic designer paper: Bella Rose and the new InColors!  Just notice how wonderful the Bella Rose Designer Paper coordinates with the new In Colors…  To get the PreOrder sheet, simply click on the image below:

Happy Stampin’!

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During the month of August I will be demonstrating how to make beautiful monogram gifts… using the new In Colors, new Stampin’ Up! Designer Papers and the new scallop straight line punch…  Monograms make beautiful cards and gifts… and they are so versatile - you can use monograms to make:

• Bookmarks
• Place Cards/ Napkin Rings
• Invitations
• Stationary/ Cards
• Gift Tags

I created a supply sheet for this project series to make ordering Stampin’ Up! supplies a breeze.  Take a look at the supply sheet and order a few supplies you don’t have - I would not want you to miss out on these easy but beautiful projects!

Here’s the Monogram Project Series Schedule:

• August 1-8 Project: Bella Rose Monogram Card Stationary
• August 9-15 Project:  Blue Baja Breeze Wedgewood Monogram Bookmarks
• August 16-22 Project: Scalloped Monogram Gift Tags & Boxes
• August 23-29 Project: Elegant Monogram Invitations
• August 30-31 Project: Maine Blueberry Monogram Baskets

I can’t wait to get started on this series!  Stay tuned for our first project…

Happy Stampin’!

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Oh boy… this is exciting news! All new Fall 2008 stamp sets are going to be die cut! How exciting is that… no more cutting rubbah!

Stay tuned… more Fall 2008 information to follow…!

Happy Stampin

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Remember your little Sock Monkey friend that you carried everywhere you went.  He was there to cheer you up when you were sad, he was there to comfort you when you were sick and he always was ever so soft and cuddly… well….

Mr. Sock Monkey is alive! He's alive! and Stampified!

He’s baaaaack!  and he is the cutest little thing - and… he is one of Stampin’ Up!’s newest stamp sets for the Fall/Winter catalog…

Imagine the face of your friends and family when they see Mr. Sock Monkey Cards that you have created for them! 

I wish I could post a picture of each stamp in the set - but … I think I’ll keep that top secret until the catalog comes out!  But he is cute!

I have also decided to make Mr. Sock Monkey our official stamp camp mascot!  Oh Boy… it’s going to be a fun year… keep watching this blog to find other exciting sneak peeks for the Stampin’ Up! 2008-2009 year…

I am telling you now… you won’t be disappointed… if you cannot wait for another post…. contact me and I can fill you in a bit about other awesome products (like a scallop punch for edges of your cards…) that are coming up!

And yes I have ordered Mr. Sock Monkey and the scallop punch - and much more…

Happy Stampin

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Oh my… what a neat thought - in the scheme of life, friends are the chocolate chips!  What a nice verse to put in a card… and don’t forget to make the cookies!

Mrs. Field’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 cups rolled oats
• 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 8 ounces finely grated chocolate bar
• 3 cups chopped walnuts

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Wow - looking back 16 years to when I became a mother is an amazing walk through the past.  Such beautiful and wonderful memories and a whole lot of tears, prayer and hard work!  And I am blessed to say I loved watching how God molded and shaped me into the mom I am today… God sure did have his work cutout for him!

Thought I would share some wisdom and then a thought to make this Mother’s Day special:

Wisdom:

Your teachings have great importance! What you teach guides your children when they walk and watches over them while they sleep.  Your instructions are lights for their lives and speak to them even when you aren’t there.  - Proverbs 6:20-23

Gosh do not be afraid to be different and teach your children the core values at a young age.  Remember this verse so that you can enjoy the teen years.  If you guide your children when they are young, they will remember and walk in the same light as yours.  Be gentle, be kind and loving and they will follow…

My children are 16 and 14 and I am enjoying the fruits of this verse… when things do not go well, and with children they do have their moments… just remember that if David could slay a giant with a slingshot - I can certainly slay whatever it is I am facing… It’s important to know that God is with us always - even when things look bleak and we just have to guide our slingshot (prayer) towards the giant we are facing…

Thought:

Each day brings a new set of challenges to each mother.  Whether you have a beautiful child who is obedient or a prodigal, they too have a purpose in life and God will get them there… trust me I was a prodigal growing up (so hopefully this will give you hope!) When times are tough, faith is what we have to draw closer to God and faith is not something you get by giving up, but faith is something you get by remembering all the times when God blessed you.  Draw on those times during the tough times and your attitude will change for the better - you will be stronger and more peaceful - simply because you chose to remember the beautiful blessings of God instead of life’s disappointments.

Remember, yesterday’s God Moments are stones in the sling of faith for tomorrow’s giants. How you remember yesterday determines how you will live tomorrow.

I got this concept on Faith in the book God Moments by Aland D. Wright - it is a wonderful wonderful read and helps me remember how important attitude is and also how important capturing God’s blessings through scrapbooking are!

Enjoy your Mother’s Day and rejoice… Happy Stampin’…

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Even though my children are older, I was thinking about the past and remembered how magical it was when my daughter’s tooth started to wiggle and then eventually fall out… we carefully wrapped it into a special tissue and the placed it into a special silk bag and slipped it under her pillow.  I had found a verse years ago and made a small booklet out of it… it is a story about a tooth fairy who took Nicole’s tooth and then had gnomes make a special stone.  When my daughter awoke, she found the booklet and the stone tucked neatly into the silk bag.  Sometimes the tooth fairy would leave sea shells too!  and how my daughter loved reading the booklet over and over again…

You can make this booklet too… and suprise your little one with a cute story of your own… here’s the story for my daughter’s first tooth…

This night it is a special night
As fairies dance upon the roof.
All the fairies must alight,
For Nicole just lost a tooth!The Fairy Queen gives her commands-
Twelve bright fairies must join hands
Then together in a circle stands
To guard Nicole while she sleeps.

The Tooth Fairy into the circle leaps
The hidden tooth she takes
Ah, but has far to go
Before Nicole awakes.

Three times around the world she flies
Over valleys deep and mountains high;
Skirts the storm clouds thick with thunder,
Wings over waves all wild with wonder.

Deep within their earthly homes
Finally she finds the little gnomes,
Who upon the tooth they must work
Never once their duty shirk.

Some are hammering, hammering, hammering,
Some the fellows blow a sprinkle of fairy dust
Others sweat at the sweltering forge
And then cry out, “Hi Ho!”

The tooth’s been turned to a shimmering stone,
A glimmering, glowing gem
The tooth Fairy takes the gnomes’ good gift,
And bows (curtsies) to all of them.
Before the sun’s first rays are shown,
She returns the stone to Nicole’s bed,
And then - - - away she’s flown!

Here’s a great website for ideas around the Tooth Fairy:

http://www.ultimatetoothfairy.com/index.html

Happy Stampin’…

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Gosh… as human beings we are always trying to find the perfect job, perfect marriage, perfect family, perfect house, etc… but what if God planted you in the situation you are in to mold and shape you more into his image and to infact help another person get closer to Him?  This is a great prayer that reminded me that we are not here because of us, we are here because of Him and His needs…

Master Gardener, help me be
Content with where You’ve planted me;
You carefully place each seed you sow,
And choose the soil to make it grow,
A shady nook or sunlit plot,
A wooded glen or garden spot;
And when you send the storm and shower,
You give me strength and inner power;
All things come that You might be
Glorified, my God, in me;
And so I’ll lift my flowers high,
To cheer and bless each passerby;
And may they see within my face
The beauty of Your love and grace;
So help me, Lord, to ever be
Blooming where You planted me.

—Wm. Claire Greiner

This poem would be a very thoughtful and beautiful gift for someone struggling through a trial, make a bookmark or a magnet using Stampin’ Up! papers and a flower stamp…

Happy Stampin’…

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