Out with the old & in with the new!

Today is the last day to order from the Summer Mini and tomorrow is the first day to order from the Holiday mini! I've already pre-ordered several things and I've had fun making Halloween and Holiday cards already, too much fun! I love this time of year, collecting ideas for the Holidays - less than three months till Christmas! At stamp club this month we made the above card using the Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper from the Summer mini, I've really enjoyed all the colors and designs in this pack. I stole the design of this card from one I received from Tara, here is her card, isn't it lovely? I loved how she used this unusual fold to make a fresh card. I copied the design and substituted different colors and stamp sets. I also made a new baby card using this design. I added the clear bitty buttons and punched shapes using the itty bitty punch pack too. Here is a close up of the detail from my finished card. I used the new Printed Petals set which co-ordinates with a few different punches. I liked how everybody's came out a little different. Here's a link to everything in the Summer Mini if you need a quick reminder. http://www.brendamarshall.stampinup.net Click on Shop Now>Summer Mini. It's the preferred price that you get if you order via me or my website of course.

Did you get your Holiday mini in the mail yet?? If you didn't PLEASE let me know and I'll be happy to pop one in the mail for you... I have to say there are lots of different sets you're going to love plus a whole host of wonderful new accessories I'm dying to learn to play with.

I hope you're having a great week! Brenda

What a Blast!

I had so much fun yesterday making cards and hanging out with some really lovely stampers. For a lot of the daytime it was just Sherri and I, which was a good thing, because I was having trouble getting focused, it took me ages to get down to something productive. I'm blaming the 6-10 little boys that were in my yard/house even though they were really good - that's the thing about living in a neighborhood like mine, as soon as you send your kids out to play they seem to multiply! Sherri was a card making MACHINE - she was a good influence - she just put her head down and got working, amazing! The Lynn joined us, she's kind of a "reluctant" stamper but you should see the lovely photo card she made. Then in the evening the party began... Terri, Julie, Sherri (still!) the other Sherrie, Barbara, Caroline, Marissa and Rhonda. We were eating and playing and those girls came up with some absolutely GORGEOUS designs! We got through a ton of supplies and turned them into works of art :-) I forgot to get my camera out until really late so I'm afraid I don't have many to show you but here are a couple of samples to give you an idea. Aren't they lovely?

This blue card is a mix of old and new... some leftover Brilliant Blue card stock, embossed with the beautiful snowflake folder that will be in the Winter Mini. Sherri spritzed this with lots of Smooch Spray and in real life it is VERY sparkly!

These are Marissa's cards, aren't they so cute? She used the Holly Jolly Designer Paper, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive with Sparkly & Bright stamp set - you can't really see but the reindeer has a diamond on his nose!
Sherrie used the Poinsettia embossing folder for the background of these cards which is picked up in the poinsettias beneath the dove, I love this stamp set. Then she glued teeny tiny pearls in the middle of each of the flowers. Simple but really effective.
We're going to be making more Holiday cards on Monday, September 27th, mark your calendars now, I guarantee you'll have fun, and you might even get a couple of your cards made!

Gone Fishing!

Callum said I should put this on my blog after this weekend! So here's a pic of them fishing in their pajamas... we had a lovely weekend out at Vallecito, and NOW I'm getting ready to work on my Christmas cards tomorrow! If you're local and not out doing fun, summer, stuff, you are welcome to join me making cards tomorrow anytime from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Stay as long (or short!) as you like - bring your card stock and adhesive (or use what I have on hand and replace) and feel free to use any of my non-consumable supplies, stamp sets, inks, Big Shot, punches etc. No charge but you might want to bring a snack to share. Here's a picture of Rhonda with the lovely card she designed last week... Hope to see you soon! Brenda

Maybe you like to send a photo card?

I love to send a card with a picture in - I love receiving those cards from my friends, I usually save the pictures and I love to see my loved ones' children and animals change over the years! Well, even if you want the photo's to be the focus you can still make it handmade. Here are a couple I have sent over the past few years, if you decide to do this the stamp sets will be different but they would be very easy to adapt, and you can use colors that go with your picture of course. Mine have been kind of funky but you can choose a more traditional design if you like. All these have been essentially quick and easy because I like to make lots of them! I've printed the pictures out on my computer and cut them down to the size I want by using my paper cutter or a punch. The boys' faces are really small here so I had to tuck a bigger picture inside.The card below has a window sheet in front of the photograph with snowflakes stamped on in White StayzOn ink - this was a really quick and easy cardIf you want you could bring a picture with you on Monday and we can design something around it! Have a great week-end, Brenda

More cards to give you ideas!

I don't own this stamp set either, but I've borrowed it twice now, once from Penney and once from Stacy so I guess I should break down and buy it ;-) It's called Sparkly & Bright and I love it! Here I made two cards using the little reindeer, really I wanted an excuse to use the little stick on diamonds I was referring too yesterday, LOVE THEM! They don't show up very well on the photograph but in person they are super cute. I used one on his nose and one to dot the "i" of Bright. Remember that if you like any of these ideas you can always substitute color palletes, stamp sets, designer series paper or punch shapes.
Have a great week! Brenda

I'm doing it!

I'm making Christmas cards in August! My lovely customer Brenda used this stamp set to make her cards last year and she let me borrow it to make some samples. It's not really my typical style but I had a great time playing with it today. Sometimes my favorite projects stem from being outside my usual way of doing things. Here I'm using one of our new colors, Cherry Cobbler, yum. I also used some of the embellishments from the new Idea Book & Catalog. I used the lace ribbon (I just LOVE this, it's so soft and easy to use) and the basic pearls. Tara sent me a sheet of these and the diamonds and I can tell I'm going to have to include them on every card for a while! They're my new favorite thing. Both of these card would be pretty quick to make once you have your design squared away. I hope you might join me next week to make YOUR Holiday cards. Come to my open house on Monday to choose your design OR call/email your order if you know what you want and then come back the following Monday (the 16th) for an extended open house to get them made, Yay!

Imagine getting your Holiday cards done in August?!

Free card making day for my customers & friends!
First choose your design - look at the idea book & catalog (call me if you need a new one). Come by my house on Monday the 9th to browse my samples, look online, pull up a card you made or received last year you'd like to copy, whatever works for you!
Next - Order your supplies from me by Monday the 9th
Finally - come for an extended card making session on Monday, August 16th, anytime between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. stay as long as you need, feel free to use any of my non-consumable toys and get all your cards made! Free - just bring a snack to share :-)
Wouldn't that just feel fantastic?!

Every day this week I will be posting inspirational ideas here for you to browse, some are my cards and some are other people's - remember we're just gathering ideas as a starting point, you can substitute colors, stamp sets, embellishments etc. Here's some to get you started!

Please don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions! Have a great day, Brenda