A Patchwork Christmas

My next Christmas card class is this weekend and I'm frantically getting things together. I'm a little OCD when it comes to having things ready. I know it's only Thursday, but I'm beginning to panic.  This card is what I call my 'lets clean out the scrap box card'.  I used the scraps I have accumulated from the Jolly Holiday DSP pack. I have a box full of these scraps so I should have enough for 30 cards on Sunday.
I have 15 people who are coming to this class and I have come up with 5 cards. They will be making 2 cards of each design. I hope they like them.

I cased this card right off of Stampin Connections. I borrowed the stamp set to put the card together and like the set so much I bought it. It's a stamp set from last year 'Season of Joy'. Isn't it strange how you don't give a stamp set a second look and all of a sudden you see something in it and you just gotta have it. I have noticed that alt in me this year. I guess my creativity is evolving. LOL.  The holidays are  approaching fast and I've been concentrating on classes and online workshops, that I haven't even begun to think about cards for my family and friends. I do have a few project in mind, and really need to get busy.    Happy Scrappin!!!

To Infinity and Beyond

My Great Nephew will be 2 next month and loves the toy story character especially Buzz. I was searching on Stampin Connections for a card to make when I found this, and cased him from Ellen Kemper.  Wow, my good friend and fellow demonstrator Carla and I made 4 of these and it took us nearly 4 hours.  He is constructed from our punches. lots of detail work.  All I can say is Ellen you are the bomb. I'm going to encase him in a shadow box frame and I hope Desmond enjoys him as much as I did putting him together.

230 Cards later!

Yep, that's what I said !!   230 cards cut and made ready for 23 of the greatest scrappers.  20 of us crammed into the back room of our local Pizza restaurant and for 4 hours we laughed, giggled, glued, taped and sparkled our way through 10 Christmas cards.  We had handcrafted door prizes and I think everyone went home happy.  I love doing these classes. This was my second one and a huge success. I'm now planning for class number 3. 
Here is a sample of the cards we did. All of the cards here were made whith current SU products. 

The first card shown, uses the new stamp set 'Come to Bethlehem'. I used Next to Navy Card stock and Not Quite Navy Classic Ink.

 This next cards was made with a stamp set I bought last year and never used. Now I think why?  It is so much fun.  'Holiday Lineup', I colored it with Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive markers. The DSP I used is from the Jolly Holiday Paper pack. I also used Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, and for that finishing touch I added pearls to their hats.

This Card was cased straight off of Stampin Connections. I can't remember the Demonstrators name but this card is awesome. This stamp set 'Delightful Decorations' is so versitile.  Again I used my favorite colors of Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.  The ribbon is actually the Cherry Cobbler Seam binding.  Makes for a really smart looking card. I just love it.

And Along comes 'Dasher'. This card was made with the DSP we received at the close of convention this year. 'Deck the Halls',  I also used Crumb cake, Cherry Cobbler, and Almost Artichoke cardstock.  

This is just a few of the cards we did during class. I will post more later.  Finding time to create, case and cut these cards for class is a labor of love and I look forward to bringing you more.

SOOO Cute

I cased this card and changed the base color a bit. The original card used More Mustard and Very Vanilla. I switched it out using Canjun Craze and Old Olive.  This is my first attempt with the new Owl punch and I love this little guy. I did add the google eyes for fun.  I made several of these for a swap I'm participating in Saturday at an all day demonstrator event. I'm looking forward to showing my little guy off. I think I'm gonna keep one for my self though.

Christmas Card Work Shop

Is It Really To Early To Think About Christmas?

Not around here!!

Now is the time to start thinking about those Holiday projects, before time gets away from you. This past weekend I had a wonderful time with a group of wonderful ladies (and my granddaughter), making Christmas cards using items from the New Stampin Up Mini Catalog. Each lady received a packet containing 10 card kits. 2 cards each of 5 designs. We spent the next 3 hours in fun conversation, putting these kits together. I used the 'A Cute Christmas' stamp set and 'Candy Cane Christmas' Speciality Designer Series paper' on most of the cards.  I have so much fun designing and making up these kits ans the ladies. I think really enjoyed them, and have asked for another class in October. I'm going to mix it up this time so I had better get busy.

I've expanded my business opportunities and have added Avon Representative to my resume. I'm frantically search for different ways to bring income into my household, since the job search has turned out to be such a miserable failure.   It's just a shame that I can't find a job. I really do like working, and I miss the camaraderie of co-workers.  I will find my niche, soon I hope.  In the mean time I keep promoting my love for Stampin Up!

I'm disappointed in myself for letting my Scrap Divas fall by the wayside.  I really enjoyed the whole idea of getting together with friends across the country and exchanging ideas and swapping projects. The economy has seem to hit hard everywhere.  I'm going to try hard to revive it this fall. I really miss all of my scrappin friends.  Please take a look at our site and join us, maybe we can breathe new life to it.    http://scrapdivas.spruz.com

Well I have better get to work.  Time to Scrap!!!!

Candle art

I have had these bare candles for some time and they always looked so boring to me.  I went to a all day workshop and one of the projects we did was this technique.  Walaa!! No more boring candles. This medallion stamp is one of my favorites,  There are so many different things you can create with it. I used it previously by stamping on a tile. I just love it. 
I have been stamping with Stampin Up for about a year and a half now and I am amazed at the talented demonstrators I have met.  My love affair with Stampin Up! is still as strong as it was when I was introduced to it.  I can't get enough of it.  Right now I'm working on designing 5 cards for my Christmas in September workshop. I have all my stamps set picked out, paper packs bought, and the designs are floating around in my head just waiting for me to put ink to paper.  I'm really getting excited. 
The new Holiday mini catalog is getting ready to launch on September first, and it is fabulous,  44 pages of OMG. If anyone out there really does read this and wants one just send me an email at rhondalb55@aol.com and I will pop one in the mail for you.
Time to go.  Happy Scrappin!!!!

Convention

Wow. I'm such a bad blogger.  It has been months since I have been here.  I think the biggest problem is that I live in a rural area and I'm stuck with a dial up connection at this time and updating this blog becomes more of a chore that an pleasure.  Unfortunately that is the sign of the times and I just need to get a grip on it.
Any way, back to reality. 

I had a wonder opportunity to go with 5 other Stampin Up demonstrators in my group to attend the Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, last month and it was such a great time.  We got tons of free stuff, and lots of information to bring home to share. Here are the 4 cards I made to swap and all of the really great cards I brought back.  Next year I'm gonna start earlier and make alot more cards to swap.  These swaps are a valuable part of my business, as they give me lots of examples and Ideas. 
My Internet Mystery hostess club ended in July and a new one begins this month.  I have changed it to a 6 month club instead of a year.  I still have 2 spots open if anyone out there is interested.  each month you place a 25.00 order and one member is the hostess and receives the hostess benefits.  It's a great opportunity to get free product with out the fuss.  Please email me a t rhondalb55@aol.com for more details.
Well, my scrappin friends, I had better run. I really need to get some 'chores' done so I can start playing.
Happy Scrappin

Branson, Mo. Retreat

Good morning everyone.  I'm sitting here and it's all quiet now, the stampers are all still asleep.  Amber and I are having a wonderful time at the retreat, we have already made 6 really great projects.  I believe we have 3 more today. ( I forgot the cord for my camera so I can't post pictures, but I will when I get back home).  We will also trade our own swaps today.  I can't wait to see what everyone has brought to share.  The weather, to me has been perfect, Not to warm and the sun has shined all weekend. 
We got here just after 1:30 on Friday, after we drove around Branson Lost for about an hour, But that ok we got the lay of the land and it is beautiful.  We all arrived around the same time and took the afternoon gabbing. After getting all settled We made homemade pizza  and worked on a couple of projects. Yesterday we went site seeing and did a little shopping.  We found a wonderful little scrapbook store (who would have thought we'd go looking for more scrapbooking stuff) and had lots of fun in there.  We also found a wonderful jewerly store.  Every thing was a Dollar and they had purses half price. I bought a few things for my granddaughters and of course I bought a BIG purse, (I think I could fit a small child in here. It's gonna be great for hauling my scrap book stuff around to classes and workshops.) I'm not really a purse person, so I'm gonna have to go purchase a bunch of stuff to fill this up.  After looking around town and deciding we need to come back with our families, we all met up for dinner at Fall Creek Catfish and steak house.  Wonderful food and they were throwing rolls at us. We came back to the condo and did 3 projects, there are 8 of us here and we have talked, laughed, giggled, teared up and had he most wonderful time, and I think we have all learned a lot more about marketing our business, how to better promote and demonstrate our products and I am really stoked about bringing that full circle and using it to promote and grow my own Stampin Up! business.  This weekend with other SU Demonstrators has reinforced the reason I became a demo and why I love Stampin Up Products and the company.  This is our last full day here and our team leader has more surprises in store for us.  Thank you Rochelle for a wonderful group and for bringing us all together this weekend.

Valentine Mini Album

I have acquired a passion for mini albums lately and can't seem to get enough of it. I created this one for a dear lady who belongs to my NING group: http://scrapdivas.ning.com She has been such a good sport about converting from a yahoo group to the ning group.  Creating these mini albums with someone in mind makes it so much more fun.  I just need to make one for myself.  Maybe the next one.  

I have been busy trying to promote my Stampin Up business and I can start to see the rewards. I just signed up my first recruit, (welcome Amber), and I'm so excited to help her to become a success. She has taken over the monthly card club I held at her house, so this month I'm going as a member, I'm looking forward to see what she has designed for us.  But the means I have to get on the ball and start a new club. We are 1 month into out Sale-a-bration campaign and it's going really well, the introduction of the new clear mount stamp sets is going great. I have purchased several for my demonstrations an  have had nothing but positive feedback.

 

If you are interested in seeing the new Mini catalog please visit my website http://rhondastamps.stampinup.net remember for every 50.00 you spend with Stampin Up you receive an item from the  Sale-a-bration mini flyer. There are some awesome items in there, check it out.

I'm still getting the hang of being a design team member for http://scrappyaccents.ning.com Theresa has some great ideas for us in the coming month. If you like to take part in challenges this is the place to be.

Well it's time to stop procrastinating and get dressed, I'm off to the used furniture store to find the perfect scrap table.  Wish me Luck!!

Happy Scrappin

Challenges

As a member of the Design team on  http://Scrappyaccents.ning.com one of my responsibilities is to come up with challenges for the members.  I posted my challenge today.  the picture you see is my interpretation of the sketch I used for my challenge. I'm really looking forward to participating in other challenges and swaps on this site.  And I can't wait to see what the members create. If you get a chance check this out. There a lots of talented and friendly people.

It has been a busy month for me. My friend Amber and I designed a new site to replace Scrappin_Swappin_Spot. Even though it was a great spot I wanted to offer my member more.  Following in the footsteps of Scrappy Accents, we developed http://Scrapdivas.ning.com I think it is an awesome site. Amber worked really hard putting some great graphics out there and personalizing the site.  She spent hour making sure that there were step by step instructions to help our members navigate around.  Invites went out on Wednesday evening, and we have recaptured all most all of our members.  We have even have several new members.  I am so excited about this site and I hope it is a giant success.  If you get a chance check us out.  We offer swaps, games,  A Secret Sister group, live chat and a place to display your creations.  Best of all its a place to come to make friends who share the love of scrapbooking, and card making.
Happy Scrappin!!