Special Gift Card Holder

Yesterday I shared Paisley's gift and today I want to share the gift Paul got from my daughter, Heidi. She made him this adorable gift card holder with a Home Depot card inside. I think it is amazing - here is the outside spritzed with our new log cabin spritz paint and closed with the hardware and brads. And here it is open - it's hard to see but there are slits where the card fit in. Notice - the card is gone and spent - nothing better than a Home Depot card for Paul :) You can check out Heidi's blog at www.stampinking.blogspot.com and see all her creative ideas.

The BEST gift...

A week or so ago we celebrated my hubby's birthday with all the family over. While we were eating and chatting and laughing, my six year old grand-daughter Paisley, was busy working on a homemade gift for "Papa". We all know how wonderful home-made gifts are but this one was extra special. She put together this'box' for him - it said "Happe Burthdae Papa" on top, and then there were pictures on all side of it -my favorite side was this one - a picture of her and Papa holding hands - But the best part was what she said - when he said thank you for the wonderful gift - she said Papa, this is the best gift - because it is filled with LOVE! She is soooooo right!

Baby Shower Card

My downline Toni made this adorable invitation for the Baby Shower of her downline Melissa and I just had to share it. She did fantastic work - The baby buggy is done perfectly and I love the weaved ribbon - nice touch!! Can't wait for the shower :)

Stampers 10 Card Challenge

Here are the entries in our Stampers 10 Card Challenge - the challenge was from last month's hostess Meagan: make your best Christmas/Holiday card using Gray; vanilla or white; and pastels - that's it. It seemed like a really tough challenge but the entries were great. First we have Meagan's entry - she mailed it to me and it didn't get here one time for the voting - but it's a great card. Here it is closed - and when you untie the ribbon - here it is open.Next is Kathy B's beautiful card - using our Nouveau Chic DSP -

Here's my entry - I was really happy with how it turned out and will make some more I think - you can't see in the picture but there are hints of dazzling diamonds on the flowers -

And finally our winning card from Karen O - nice work - the picture doesn't do it justice - she used our platinum shimmer paint on the edge of the focal point, and on the halos - and covered the halos with crystal effects which gave them some nice pop. Way to go Karen!!

Stampers 10 Projects

Each month at my Stampers 10 club we make two projects. This month the first was this cute card made with the Awash with Flowers promotional set from the April special - see this post - http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com/2010/04/sneak-peak-special.html

It is such a great two-step stamping set - I love it!! The entire top note section on the sample is popped up on dimensionals.

Here is our second project - it's a sweet little gift box made from the Matchbox die. The pansy is made with two butterfly punches criss-crossed and attached with a brad. Perfect to put that necklace or earrings in or even to hold four little wrapped Hershey's nuggets - Lovely!

April Hostess Gift

Here is the gift for my hostesses in April - The first picture is the set of mini cards in a cello bag with a cute little topper - Here is card #1

Card #2

And card #3 -

All were made 3x3" and layered on So Saffron and More Mustard Cardstock. Everything is colored with markers and the bees have some dazzling diamonds glitter on their wings. The hive and all the bees are popped up on dimensionals. I think they turned out great!

Special Gift Certificate

So recently this Gift Certificate was purchased for one of my customers. I wanted to make the presentation look special for her. Here's the decorated gift certificate.

And here it is in the folder I made from a discontinued DSP.

And Finally here it is closed up with a cute floral belly band - hope she likes it!!

Easter Sunday

Every Easter we have the whole family over and after brunch we do an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard and then it's time for pictures. We have a tradition of always taking a picture of the newest baby in the big basket. Here are Paisley and Prince with their new baby sister Zamarah.And here are Makai and Kamili loving on their new brother Zavian.And then here's the traditional picture - but this year there were two babies!!! Zamarah and Zavian - what an amazing Easter gift they are. Double the love! They were born six weeks apart and will hopefully grow up together - the two newest little Rauchfuss cousins :)

Sneak Peak Special

Stampin' Up! has a Sneak Peak Special this month featuring 4 stamps sets at 20% off this month in addition to the Sneak Peek set, Awash with Flowers shown below.

Awash with Flowers can be your FREE with a $350 workshop!!

Or you can purchase the month of April only (until the new catalog) for:
120549 Awash with Flowers (set of 18) clear mount $27.95
117062 Awash with Flowers (set of 18) wood mount $39.95

Also, you can purchase these Spring-Themed Two-Step Stampin' sets at 20% off the retail price, no additional purchase necessary!

Fifth Avenue Floral #113734 (shown on page 98)

reg. $24.95 SALE price $19.96!

Trendy Trees #113258 (shown on page 112)

reg. $17.95 SALE price $14.36! Greenhouse Garden #113824 (shown on page 94)

reg. $25.95 SALE price $20.76!

Flower Fancy #111578 (shown on page 101)

reg. $36.95 SALE price $29.56!

Email me NOW to take advantage of these great specials. For every order of any of these five sets that I receive by April 25th - I'll throw in a sampler of 10 assorted pieces of our quality Stampin' Up! cardstock - so order NOW!

A HONEY of a Card

I love this card with it's peek-a-boo window and the little bee peeking through - how cute is that. I had made several of this card about a year ago and this week I sent off my last one, so had to get a picture so I can make some more!

It uses the set "Just Buzzin' By..." from page 102 of the current SU IB&C - and discontinued DSP. I watercolored all the images - added some glitter to the wings and popped the hive up on dimensionals. The window is made by punching a circle in the base of the card where you want it. Then punch the same size circle in a piece of cardstock of the color you want the frame, and then put your scallop circle around the hole you punched and punch out the frame. It's a really neat look - let me know if you try it! -Maureen

Stamp Camp Cards

At our last Cards Camp we featured three cards made with our Vintage Vogue set out of the Occasions mini - I love this set because it is so versatile and I really hope it comes back in the 2010-11 catalog. Here's the first one - it is so much prettier in real life - it has shimmer paint on the flowers and looks so elegant. Would be a lovely wedding card.Card number 2 is bright and Springy - perfect to brighten any friends day. And finally card number 3 that I showed before - using blues and browns for a totally different look. Hope you enjoyed these - thanks for stopping by.

Sunshine Award

I received this great Sunshine Award from a fellow Crazy Stamping Lady - Julie Williams - you can check out her blog here - http://www.simistamper.blogspot.com/ Julie is so creative - you won't want to miss her site - thanks for the award Julie!

I want to pass it on to some of my favorite stampers -
Heidi@www.stampinking.blogspot.com
Maria@www.stampinista.blogspot.com
Jeri@www.cyriousstampers.blogspot.com
Lisa@www.putnamstamper.blogspot.com

They are all Crazy Stamping Ladies in my downline -check out their creativity and tell them Maureen sent you!!!

BIG SHOT CLASS*

1:00 -4:00 PM

This Sunday, April 18, 2010

Maureen’s Home in Simi Valley

Join us for a fun and fascinating class where you'll learn all about your Big Shot and the wonderful tool it will be for all your crafting projects. This class is for you whether or not you currently own a Big Shot. If you do own one, please plan to bring it with your cutting plates and multi-purpose pad. You'll be provided with information on the Big Shot, tips on usage and you'll get to make five different projects using your big shot using different materials and dies.

NOTE: If you have purchased your Big Shot from me you are entitled to a FREE Big Shot class,so if you did not make it to my last one - here's your chance. If you don't own the Big Shot yet,and decide at this class to purchase it, your entire $25.00 fee will be applied to your purchase of the Big Shot on the day of the class.

On-time drawing at 1:05 PM

Cost: $25.00

Limit: 6 spots - RSVP to hold your spot.*
*Stamp Camp and Class Cancellation Policy -If you cancel your reservation at least 48 hours in advance of the event there will be no cost to you. If you cancel within that 48 hours I will try and place someone from the waiting list, and if that works there will be no charge to you; otherwise you will be responsible for the class fee but you will receive the materials packet (with pictures by email) to make your projects. Stamping will not be done for you, so you may need to adjust the project slightly using what stamps you have available.

Color Renovation!!

Stampin' Up! Has announced they are going to be doing a complete COLOR RENOVATION of the current colors to bring their color groups to a new level. I am so excited about what they have come up with. These colors are fantastic and will be available beginning July 1, 2010 with the new Idea Book and Catalog - here's a sneak peak!! As you can see there will be some great NEW colors; as well as the return of some of our FAVORITE retired IN COLORS!! Woo Hoo!! Watch for some fantastic specials based around our Stampin' Up! colors that are being retired. It's going to be FUN to say good-bye this time :)

Downline April Challenge

The Challenge for this month's Downline meeting was set by me - it was to make your best card that is a copy of one out the of IB&C or current mini. But, you had to change the set you used and the colors. Here's what we came up with - This is a copy of the blue card on the front of the current mini catalog made by Heidi -Here is Lois' card, but I have to apologize, I don't remember which page and card she copied. Lois, let me know and I'll update my blog. I do remember you did a great job :)

And finally my card - I copied the heart card on page 114 of the IB & C - thought I could show a copy but no luck in copying and pasting - sorry.

But the cards were all great !! Heidi won and got the prize and gets to set the next challenge. We also had Cari play along through my blog and she also wins a prize - watch for it in the mail soon Cari - here is her card:

She used the Santa Card on page 34 of the IB & C as her inspiration. Great job Cari! Thanks for playing along - hopefully more will play next month when I post the challenge.

Beautiful Lilies

At our last downline meeting Heidi showed us how to make two different types of lilies using Stampin' Up! punches. The first was an Easter Lily show on one of our treat boxes. Her blog tutorial for the Easter Lily can be found here -









http://stampinking.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-lilly-tutorial.html


The second was a lovely Calla Lily shown here decorating a treat can.

The tutorial for these can be found on her blog at this location -

http://stampinking.blogspot.com/2010/03/calla-lily-tin.html

Both are great examples of her amazing talent - thank you so much for sharing with the rest of us!

Welcome Home Baby Zavian

So Heidi brought Zavian home on Sunday, March 28th and he got to meet his sisters and cousins and Papa. Here is Heidi with Zavian and Jenee with Zamarah. Heidi looks tired (no sleep in the hospital the night before) but great. Can't believe both of my girls had babies just 5 weeks apart. Here is Kamili just beaming - holding "her" baby - but she said she'd share him. She has been waiting for him to "get out" forever :)

And here is Makai with Zavian - she just keeps saying "I love baby!" I think they look a lot alike in this picture - just the way she is holding her head. But he definately looks like his Daddy.

Here is Zavian meeting his Papa - we feel so blessed being Gramma and Papa to SIX wonderful grandbabies.

Here we layed the babies next to each other in the crib. Zamarah is definately older - but not much bigger. Zavian was not happy during this photo shoot - he just wanted someone to hold him.

And here he is voicing his displeasure. Zamarah just looks like she can't figure out what his issue is! They are amazing!