Getting my blog updates?

Dog gone it! Google Friends is gone...and I've moved to a new blog: www.stampedblessings.com

Are you missing out on some great posts? Plus, I've started a new thing on Sundays - Amusing Challenges! I hope you'll stop by and sign up to get my blog updates via your favorite feed or email.

See you around!

I'm moving!

Luckily not from my house (now that my husband is retired military I like staying in one place for more than 2 years!) but my blog is changing locations. I thought long and hard about this "move" because I know it is an inconvenience to you!

There have been many changes (not just in ability, styles and stamping companies) over the years and I hope you will visit me at my new site:

www.stampedblessings.com

Once you hop over there, please be sure to sign up to follow me via this new domain. If you are on Google Friends, I think I've managed to transfer you automatically. But if you are a feedblitz, google reader or email subscriber you have to resign up.

Thank you so much for taking the time to peek in here to see what I was up to, or reading through my posts - I hope to make this new site an even better place for you to visit!

For my husband...

So often I make quite a few Valentine’s Day cards for my blog and then leave them laying out on the kitchen table…so I feel a little sheepish then giving it to my husband after he’s seen it for about a week. This one is just for him, and I’ve kept it hidden away until tomorrow! On the inside I’ve stamped “You are one of a kind”.



I’ve used these exclusive heart dies and woodgrain/harlequin impression plates from a•muse studio. I repeatedly cut out white hearts using the smallest of the 3 heart dies and then just used one heart from Cranberry paper. Maybe a touch of black ribbon would’ve been nice but it’s all stuck down now. Oh well!

Valentine's Coasters

We had a great hostess club meeting today – thanks to Cheryl for bringing such yummy treats! These chocolate covered pretzels were addicting and I can’t wait for my a•muse studio order to come in to start decorating cupcakes!



This Valentine coaster was designed by Seleise and she had the idea based off of the December Spotlight project from a•muse studio…I loved her twist and she was gracious enough to let me use it for my get together. We used a•s felt (it’s a wool/rayon blend and cuts beautifully!) and the largest of the 3 heart dies. I preironed the back of the pink felt with Heat and Bond and once we die cut the felt, the ladies got busy ironing the pieces together…it took just minutes to complete! So easy but so cute.

If you like this project idea, I hope you will share it via one of these social media buttons!

Vintage Birds...

I was so excited to use one of my newest sets from the 2012 a•muse studio catalog. Did that make you do a double take? This catalog is crammed pack full of variety...you won't be disappointed!

I had initially planned to do a spotlight technique on this card and had the birds all watercolored in and cut out in an oval. But, when I stamped the whole image on the vanilla a•s cardstock with Memento ink - it was so crisp and beautiful, I couldn't bare to cover it up!

This card is one of the projects at my hostess club and the only hard decision is whether to go with the sky blue or lime ribbon - they both look beautiful!

Card Details: all supplies from a•muse studio (stamp: Touch of Nature), bind it all for punch detail at top

I have a lot of fun things to unveil in the upcoming weeks...stay tuned! And, double check your inbox for this month's newsletter! I sent them out last week using Mail Chimp for my service and it may just be hiding out in your junk or spam box!

Super Bowl Special

So why should the guys have all the fun? Although I must say after watching my son play football for 4 years now (kiddie level - but look out high school next year!) I finally understand it a bit better. But only a little. I think my favorite part is the munchies - and I'm all stocked up! I heard that on average, folks eat 1200 more calories on Super Bowl Sunday...

But here's a little fun for you too. I've put a poll in my sidebar and I hope you'll play along! And, if you place a $30 order or more, today only (Sunday, 5 Feb) - then you may choose between either a package of Twinkle Hearts or Stars as my thank you!



You can email me your order, or shop online on my secure website!

Enjoy the game...and the food. :)

February Spotlight Specials

File boxes covered in a•s cardstock that has been stamped and white embossed...


Such a quick and easy project!

Our maple tags stained with an inkpad and then stamped...I've got lots of ideas for this!

For one month, you can save 10% on the stamp sets used to create these fabulous projects!

Floral Duet
Birthday Builder
Beautiful Botanicals
Woodgrain Background
Just Because

And, for a limited time, order the special Urban Wildflowers cardstock assortment pack - an easy way to get the look showcased in this month's spotlight.

Urban Wildflowers Assortment Pack contains four sheets each:

Pebble
Lido
Vanilla
Seattle
Bermuda

Pencils wrapped in washi tape and a covered can...perfect for any teacher or office!

Email me if you need anything from this month's special! It's a good time to get a catalog too...they are hot off the presses!

a•muse friends Blog Hop!

Welcome to our blog hop hosted by Sunghee! Be sure to visit her site after leaving a comment on each post for a chance to win her blog hop candy!

Card Details: a•muse studio: Beautiful Botanicals 2, Satin Pearl embossing powder, green cardstock, embossing buddy, corner chomper: others: ribbon, Basic Grey DP, DCWV maroon cardstock, ribbon.

Look at those richly embossed leaves! (Sorry, I took the photo at night so it's a bit dark) Can you believe this is the Satin Pearl embossing powder from a•s? On dark papers it comes out silver and on light papers it's a true, beautiful pearl color! I use it often but I suggest you test it out on a scrap if you are worried about which way it will emboss...I tend to just go with the flow...tee hee.

I've been trying to use up some of my papers that I've been hoarding for years and it feels good! I think this economy is starting to weigh us all down and is making me stop and think a bit before I buy like crazy. I like that a•muse studio has sampler paper packs and that I can buy those instead of 25 sheets of just one color -- although if I really like a color, I will! :)

So now begins the hopping!

Sunghee
location: McLean, VA
blog: http://www.CreativityInProgress.com

Sandi
location: Aspers, PA
blog: http://www.sandileescraps.blogspot.com

Kandy
location: Lebanon, IN
blog: http://www.kandys-keepsakes.com

Chris (that's me!!)
location: Springfield, VA
blog: http://allamericanstampers.blogspot.com

Angela
location: Cottonwood, CA
blog: http://angelakelley.blogspot.com

PS. Psst! Have you heard that the a•muse studio catalog is now LIVE? You can click on it here to download it for free or if you want a hard copy to thumb through...click on my sidebar and I'll mail it same day. Want it for free? Ask me how?!? It's easy...

Fortune Cookies

These are fun any time of the year and I love a•muse studio's take on them for Valentines Day!



So what's the recipe?

as supplies:
sweet love stamp set
sugar cardstock
bubblegum cardstock
shell cardstock
blush cardstock
apricot cardstock
orange cardstock
bubblegum sweetheart cardstock
bubblegum heartbreaker cardstock
nestabilities classic circles large
glue dots (or glue gun)

To make cookie, cut a circle (we used the largest Nestabilities circle die from the Large set). After it's cut, simply gather two sides together (without creasing), push in on the center, and fold together. Use glue dot to hold together.

If you're adding the super cute fortunes, just lay it inside before you fold!

LAST CHANCE for January's Spotlight Special!! You have just until tonight, 11:59 pm, to get this special paper pack and these stamps on sale for 10% off...email me or place your order here!

I'm back!

I had a wonderful trip visiting my folks last week. I think it's the first time I've been home alone for a few days since I've been married and I'm glad to say my family survived without me and perhaps (I'm hoping!) gained a little appreciation for me. tee hee... Can you believe I went snowmobiling with my Dad on his 80th birthday? Wonderful!

I finally had a moment to play and I must say I've missed my stamping!

Card details: a•muse studio Friend to Friend stamp set, copics, Basic Grey paper, DCWV green cardstock, assorted ribbons, a•s button and onyx bakers twine

I hope you'll come back to visit on Wednesday, 1 Feb! My upline, Sunghee, is hosting a team blog hop and she's going to have a special prize. I may just find a little prize to put up too. After all, my box of brand spanking, new catalogs arrives TODAY!! There's still time to order your copy - I'll be mailing out all the spoken for copies tomorrow. :)

2012 Calendar and a•muse inks!

Sunghee, my a•muse studio upline (times 2) and I got together for a wonderful morning of stamping ink charts. I hadn't gotten to see all of the lovely a•s inks until today and I was blown away by the colors...so much better than in the catalog! She's got a great stamping room and look at how efficiently she set up the inks. It is always fun to talk and stamp with someone, I think!

Sunghee is extremely generous and gave me this business card sized 2012 calendar that fits into a plastic business card holder. I got to pick one out and this was my favorite using Wasbi ink and the Friend to Friend stamp set.

What is especially neat is that since our a•muse studio paper is white on one side, she could use a piece of woodgrain DP and print out her calendars on the white, underneath side. My photos don't do this justice and this is so much neater in real life!!

If you are interested in this calendar or any of Sunghee's other templates, you can find them here. And don't forget about my birthday special this week! You can find the details on the previous post...

Celebrate my Birthday!!

Yup! Today is my birthday and all week long I'm offering a special deal in celebration of me...if you place an order this week of $25 or more I will automatically send you a free 2012 a•muse studio catalog! It's the perfect time to take advantage of the January Spotlight stamp/paper specials - you can get these Valentine stamps at a discount with plenty of time to get busy for that special day! - or don't forget about the retiring a•s products and stamps. After 31 January you won't be able to get these goodies...so send me an email or place your order online at my secure shopping site before midnight, 27 January to get in on my birthday celebration!

PS. If you are in one of my hostess clubs you will be getting one free already - and if you have preordered a catalog and take advantage of this special I will refund you your money...

Card details: I love that I can have matching a•muse products and that is why my ribbon matches my paper so perfectly! They are both sky blue and after I embossed the paper, I rubbed it with a sanding block to let the white core show through...it really adds so much I think! I colored in my cake with copics and then used a ruler and an exacto knife to carefully trim part of it away.

I think this card will be perfect for my Dad's 80th birthday on Friday. I'm so excited to be able to fly out and celebrate with my parents and sister and her family...see? It's a double birthday celebration!!

New Catalog!

Phew! What a week...

but the exciting news is this weekend is the a•muse studio convention where the new catalog will be revealed!!

I'm so excited to see the whole catalog but I've enjoyed seeing some great sneak peeks! In fact, you can check some of them out here on Pintrest.

In the meantime I wanted to let you know that I just ordered 50 catalogs and you can now begin preordering them from me. It's just $8.50 which includes shipping to you...and includes a little thank you. :)

You can send me an email or click on my paypal button on the side!

Catalog goes LIVE on 1 February...just try to Keep Calm! tee hee...

Mr and Mrs

What a quick and easy wedding card! I like it because it has just a hint of sparkle but the woodgrain paper still makes it somewhat masculine. Perfect for a new couple. And, you could change the sentiment and it would make a nice Valentine too!

Bubblegum and Slate - it's a great color combo!

Have a super weekend!

PS. I hope by now you've received your email for my a•muse studio catalog preorder...the new catalog goes LIVE on 1 Feb and I should be able to mail them (hopefully!) by 30 Jan. I am also looking for a few more folks for a NEW Hostess Club starting in February...email me for details!

Stamping Kissing!

Sounds like a perfect technique for a heart stamp, right?

I love the heart from the Happily Ever After set. It's just the right size. I inked it up with Cranberry ink (retiring 31 Jan!) and then "kissed" it...when I say "kissing" I just mean you ink up your solid stamp with pigment ink and then tap with another fine lined stamp or texture.

Above I used an elegant damask, a music score background, some texture stamps (do you recognize Rock Star in there?), florals (my favorite, Marvelous Marigolds!), and the thin lined on the bottom left is just from stamping once on peeled cardboard! The combination is endless!

I cut out some of the hearts and spread them out on a leftover piece of slate woodgrain paper from a•muse studio. I added a piece of onyx twine and stamped just a portion of my "with love" sentiment on a tiny sizzix oval tag.

Quick and super easy! :)

Don't miss out on this set or inks - after Jan 31 the retired items will no longer be available.