I needed a spring theme decoration for my front door.  I decided to make one.  I pulled out my Sizzix Big Shot and used the Top Note die on some leftover cardboard covered with Whisper White cardstock.  I found some retired On Board chipboard letters that I covered in Designer Series Paper and adhered to the cardboard Top Notes.  I attached the cardboard Top Notes to the Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon with silver brads.  I attached the ribbon to a silver piece of hodge podge hardware.  It was a sweet looking project. 

Then I noticed my recent box from Stampin' Up! with the new Summer Mini Catalog items in it.  Oh-la-la!  I could use the Smooch Spritz to shabby up my spring door hanger!  Please learn from my mistake, okay?  Use the Smooch Spritz sparingly!!!!!!  And hold it about ten inches away from your project.  Why?

Because I held it too close to my project and I used too dark of a Smooch Spritz color for my project.

Here is a close up of my too shabby chic project.  UGH!  I worked so hard on this project.   I still hung it on my door.  Now you know that I screw up projects.  But more important than that, you now know to use the right color of Smooch Spritz and to use it lightly!!!!  Or else, it goes W-I-L-D!

Tags: Big Shot, Decorating

I don't know about you, but I tend to do things all at once when I scrapbook.  I don't make one or two scrapbook pages at a time.  Oh no.  I make as many as I can.  Sometimes I make pages according to my photographs.  And, sometimes, I make my pages (or the bulk of the pages) before I even have  my photographs developed.

When I was at the cabin with my downline in April, my goal was to complete three Simply Scrappin' kits.  I did it and came home with almost 100 scrapbook pages! 

Here are the scrapbook pages I made using Simple Scrappin' kits from Stampin' Up! plus a package of white or vanilla 12"x12" cardstock.  

This is a retired Simply Scrappin' kit "Tie the Knot".  I have all my son's wedding pictures developed and cropped, but haven't put them on scrapbook pages yet.

Here are some of the layouts.  As you can see, I still have leftovers from that I will use to make more pages.

I have alot of Christmas photographs from 2009 that are printed and cropped.  But again, no scrapbook pages done.  This is the 115696 Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin kit.

Lots of fun pages and yes, more leftovers to make more pages later.

I panicked when our third grandgirl was born in January 2010.  When I started her scrapbook, I realized I never made a scrapbook for our second grandgirl!  What?  Seriously?  Yikes!

I purchased the 113059 Petal Party Simply Scrappin' kit for Amber's scrapbook.  Do you hear a sigh of relief?  Whew!  I'm not totally caught up, but I've on my way!

I believe the Simply Scrappin' kits are the best value for your money.  For only $19.95 you get three 12"x12" double sided printed papers, eight 12"x12" coordinating pieces of textured cardstock and six 6"x12" sheets of self-adhesive die cuts.  If you add a package of twenty sheets of 12"x12" Whisper White or Very Vanilla cardstock, you will easily have 30+ pages for your scrapbook!

Simply Scrappin' kits can be found in the catalog on pages 164-167.  Please let me know if you need any help in selecting the Simply Scrappin' kit that will work with your scrapbook project.

Tags: Scrapbooking

About a month ago, when my downline was at my cabin, Sandy M. shared these scrapbook page layouts with me.  I loved how they used "scraps" and they were truly simple!

Happy scrapping!

Tags: Scrapbooking

My upline, Terri, called to let me know that I was invited to attend a dinner on May 15 at the Mall of America with Linda Hanson.  Linda Hanson used to work in the Training Department at Stampin' Up! in Salt Lake City.  Linda has been traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada speaking at different demonstrators downline meetings.  I was thrilled and honored that I was able to attend this dinner.  My demonstrator friends reading this may be thinking "why did Sue get asked and not me?"  Terri asked people who got up on stage and presented at her previous Stamp Share for Leaders meetings.  Yippee!

Here is a picture of some of the people at the dinner.  From the bottom left:  Linda Hanson, Dawn, Stacy, Carol, me, my second upline Cherie, my direct upline, Terri.

Terri made everyone these adorable name tags using the Sizzix 113463 Top Note Die and the new 118871 Island Floral Bigz Die. 

Terri invited Linda to come and speak at her Stamp Share for Leaders meeting on May 16.  It was great to get an update on Linda's life since she's left Stampin' Up!   Linda is still a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, so she had plenty of creative projects to share with us.

Here are some fun stamping ideas from this weekend.

The 117178 Island Oasis Party Favor Boxes are so much fun to decorate.  They come with the box and the belly band.   You get 12 boxes and 12 belly bands for $5.95.  They are about 2" x 2" in size.

Yes, do not faint!  I made this project and completed it.  Usually, I get frustrated at more complicated projects and say "I'll finish it at home", but I never do.  This is featuring the 117173 Island Oasis Designer Series Paper.  My manager, Terri, came up with this design. 

This is a make & take mini scrapbook project using 4 envelopes and 117173 Island Oasis Designer Series Paper.  This is the outside view.

This is the outside view with the 4 pull out's on display.

This is what the inside pages look like.  Thanks to my downline, Denise W., who attended this meeting with me and helped me with my mistakes on this project.  My manager, Terri designed this scrapbook project.  She's awesome!

This amazingly ,creative mini brag book was made and designed by my downline, Sandy M.  I love the sponging on the embossed Sizzix Top Note and all her added embellishments.  This brag book is held closed with a ribbon.

This 6"x6" scrapbook page was designed and made by my downline, Amy.  She used the 120075 Sentimental Journey stamp set.   I love the fringed beach towel made out of ribbon.

This 6"x6" scrapbook page was made and designed by a stamping sister, Pam H.  She used the 120081 Tropical Party stamp set.  Do you see her clever idea of using a grass skirt?

Pam H. also made this flower out of felt using the 118871 Sizzix Island Floral Bigz Die.

Pam is a quilter, hence her neat rows of stitching.

This was such a fun-filled weekend of stamping!  It was almost like a mini Stampin' Up! convention!

Tags: Big Shot, Stamping

I had a swap for the Stamp Share for Leaders meeting on May 16.  When I saw the 120072 Rough Type ($18.95) alphabet stamp set in the Summer Mini Catalog, I knew I had to buy it.  I'm the antique and vintage lover. 

Supplies Used: 

Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue

Accessories:  Chocolate Chip Ink, Star Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Bashful Blue 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Sizzix Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Tags: Big Shot, Punches, Stamping