Candylicious: Proudct Display Stampin' Up! Style

Color Confections was on display at Stampin' Up!'s Convention 2010. It looked delicious!!! Of course, it wasn't edible. What a creative way to showcase all our fabulous new products and colors!!! You really felt like a "kid in a candy store" when you walked into this product showcase.

Convention Swaps

Convention is my favorite time of year!!! Imagine 3000 demonstrators stamping, learning new techniques and business tips, meeting new friends, catching up with old ones, swapping hand-stamped creations! Swapping is my favorite part of convention!!! Swapping is where you make a bunch of the same card (or ATC, scrapbook pages, 3D items, love notes, etc.), and exchange cards with other demonstrators. You get so many great ideas! It's all about sharing--Share What You Love--that's this year's theme. Here are my swaps. If you received one of my swaps at convention, thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so I know you were here for a visit.

WOW! Swap Supplies used: Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, Beautiful Butterflies Bigx Die, Big Shot, Rhinestone Brads, Perfect Punches Stamp Set, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Daffadil Delight or Baja Breeze cardstock, Baja Breeze Classic Ink, Stampin' Dimensionals. For the ribbon: tie a smaller piece around longer ribbon, secure to the back of DSP.
3x3 Love Note Swap Supplies Used: Crumb Cake and Basic Black cardstock, Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Cute by the Inch Hostess Stamp Set, Petal Card Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Basic Black Classic Ink.

General Swaps:
Supplies: Baja Breeze cardstock and classic ink, Early Espresso classic ink, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper,Early Espresso 1/8" Taffetta Ribbon, Friends Never Fade Stamp Set, Big Shot, Top Note Die. Tape strips of DSP together, run through the Big Shot with the Top Note die. Wrap with ribbon and secure to card. Add stamped embellishment as desired.

Supplies: Cajun Craze cardstock and ink, Very Vanilla cardstock, Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Tag Punches, Puns from the Past and Artistic Etching Stamp Sets. Stamp directly on DSP.
Do you like to share your love of rubber stamping with others? Need to earn some extra income? Consider becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I would love to have you on my team. Next year we could attend convention together! It would be so much fun! Feel free to visit my demonstrator website for more information.
Bye for now, Maria

Matchbook Cards

Matchbook cards are cute and simple to make. They're a little different than a regular A2 card. Cut cardstock in 4 1/4" x 11". Score at 2" and 5 3/8". Staple the 2" section. This creates the flap of the "matchbook." Use ribbon to wrap around the flap to hide the staple. Tuck in the larger section underneath the 2" part to close card. Decorate card as desired. The flower on the purple card was die cut out of demin with the Daisies die and the Big Shot. The butterfly card uses the Beautiful Butterflies die.
Happy Stamping! Bye for now, Maria

Island Floral Card

Here's a card made with Island Floral Bigz Die and Island Oasis Designer Series Paper. You can find these items in the Summer Mini Catalog (expires August 31, 2010).

Bye for now, Maria

Tea Bag/Chocolate Holder

Need a little gift for someone? How about some cute shower favors? The pocket on these little holders can easily fit a tea bag or a Ghirardelli chocolate square.
1. Cut cardstock to 3 1/2 x 11. Score at 3 1/2, 7 and 7 1/2.
2. Cut the right outer scored square from the bottom edge to the top left hand corner.
3. Add Sticky Strip to the bottom triangle and fold over.
4. Slide your tea bag or chocolate into the pocket the triangle created.
5. Decorate as desired. Add ribbon and tie to close.

Happy Birthday to me!

Among the thousands of demonstrators, I have the BEST customers EVER!!!!! June 12th was our monthly stamp club, as well as my birthday! My club members are so wonderful and thoughtful! They all brought me gifts and goodies--chocolate, gift cards, flowers, fruit arrangement, chocolate chip cookie cake, princess crown (they know me so well), a frangrance thingie (you know the kind with the liquid and reeds), and the HUGEST birthday balloon I have ever seeen!!! A Great Big THANK YOU to Barbara, Debbie, Frances, Heather, Joan, Kim, Kristi, Lisa, Maria G., Mary (Hi, Mom!), Paige, and Tina. Each of you are so much more than a customer--you are my friends! I love and appreciate each and every one of you! You made my day!!!!
Here are a few of our card swaps. Debbie stamped this one...

Tina stamped this one...

Paige used Shimmer Spritz (homemade with Shimmer Paint) on hers...

Kim made this one....Alice in Wonderland by Joan...

Mary made this one...

Thanks again for all my wonderful birthday surprises!

Bye for now, Maria

Butterflies & More Butterflies

This little guy floated into my backyard this afternoon. So, it seemed fitting to post more of my butterfly cards. Ever since I got the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die from Stampin' Up!, all I have been doing is making butterfly cards. I love butterflies. Can you tell?

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued is just out of grasp...

but if you will sit quietly, may alight upon you."

~Nathaniel Hawthorne~

Butterfly Notecard & Box Tutorial

This was our project from April's Stamp Club.
Box Instructions
1. Cut 12x12 piece of cardstock into two pieces, 12x4 and 12x6.
2. Add rubber stamped images prior to scoring and assembling box.
3. On the 12x4 piece, score the long end at 1”, 5 ½”, 6 ½” and 11. Score on the short end at 1”. This is the bottom.
4. On the 12x6 piece of cardstock, score on the long end at 1 1/8, 5 ¾, 6 7/8, 11 ½. On the short end, score at 1 1/8”. This is the lid.
5. Fold on score lines, cut slits in flap and assemble with Sticky Strip. Decorate with die cut butterflies. Set aside.

6. Decorate cards as desired and place in bottom of box. Add stamped images. Box will hold about 6 cards. Don’t forget envelopes! Place lid on top.
7. Tie ribbon around box and decorate with die cuts. Add stamped images.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This card was our Stamp Club project this month. Originally, I saw this card in a magazine, but do not remember when or where--sorry about that! Everyone liked the design. I do not usually make St. Patty's Day cards, but this one was fun to make.

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Wishing you rainbows!

Bye for now, Maria

Butterfly Thoughts

This winter we got much more snow than we're used to. I am so ready for spring this year! I was inspired to make this card using the Shades of Spring DSP and the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die. The phrase says, "you're never more than a thought away." Is there someone you've been thinking about lately? Why not send them a card and let them know? Such a small thing could make a big difference in their life!

"All you send into the lives of others, will come back into your own."

~Mary Kay Ash ~

Bye for now, Maria

Medallion Gift Bag

I received this goodie bag at my door one day last week from my fantabulous upline--what a nice surprise!! I needed a little pick me up--thanks Sharon! That's one of the things I love about rubber stamping--sharing our creations. It's a great way to bring sunshine and inspiration into the lives of others.
Here's what's inside:

The portfolio was made with one of Stampin' Up!'s file folders.

What it looks like on the inside...

This card was made the Sending Love Specialty DSP and the heart treat cups.
The adorable little tote is two pieces of felt cut out from the Basket and Blooms die and sewn together. Add a felt flower accent with a rhinestone brad and some ribbon.

Happy Stamping! Share your creations with others--it just might make their day. It did mine!

Bye for now, Maria

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the cool crisp weather and the leaves turning colors. We have a small pear tree in our front yard that has leaves of gold, orange and red--beautiful!! Since the season of gratitude is upon us, I thought I would stamp something "fall-ish." Don't forget to give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday--an attitude of gratitude is so important! Thanks for visiting!
Bye for now, Maria

My Digital Studio

Isn't this card pretty? It was made using the new My Digitial Studio from Stampin' Up! It's an easy to use digital paper crafting tool that you can use make cards, scrapbooks, dvds, etc. I never thought I would go digital with my scrapbooks, but I have made the leap. It is so easy and so much fun!

Happy Stamping!  Bye for now, Maria