Friday, July 31, 2015

Gifts from convention

So part of the fun of convention is downline and roommate gifts - so that last couple posts showed what I made - but today I'm posting a few of the things I received.
Birthday box full of salt water taffy from Toni!
Beautiful composition notebook journal from Heidi!  Plus some yummy homemade caramels.
Adorable little bag filled with awesome chocolates from Stefanie.
Keeping a few more goodies to share with you next time - but here are three great stamping ideas you can share for teacher, birthday, or your just my friend gifts :)   ~Maureen

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Convention gifts

So convention kicked my A$$ - my autoimmune has really been giving me a hard time the past couple weeks -and convention nearly knocked me out. I had ha amazing time - but was exhausted and still have not recovered.  I'm doubling up on my supplements, and trying to eat well and get enough rest - so hopefully I'll see an upswing in my health soon.  So - I am sorry about the lack of posting - will try and do better.   But I did want to share the final pictures of the totes I made for convention gifts -
After decorating I added the goodies you see below -
Here they are just before I packed them up to take down to the convention hall - I think they are so cute.
Watch for more convention news in my upcoming posts!  but for now - nigh, nigh ~Maureen

Friday, July 24, 2015

Downline and Roommate gifts -

By the time you see this post I will (God-willing) be in Salt Lake City for the last annual convention (they are switching to a semi-annual OnStage event that will be similar but different).  It has been tradition for me to make downline and roommate gifts, so that is what I am working on today.  This "Cherry On Top" DSP pad is full of such FUN patterns - that I thought it would be perfect for FUN goodies.  I had some plastic purses that I had ordered for a different purpose - and what I had left was perfect for what I wanted to make.
I used Bermuda Bay cardstock to make a base to go in the purse, then added different patters of the DSP package to make the sides.
Side one above and side two below -
Made up bunch of these cute little bows to go on the front of  each, but am protecting them in a box while I travel and will attach when I get to convention.  The bow builder punch makes it so easy to put perfect cardstock bows together.
Here's a sneak peek of the work in progress.  I'll take a final picture when they are all put together, but probably won't get to post till we're back home Monday.  I'll also take a picture of the goodies inside.  Hope they all like them. 
I'm typing this up on Wed. morning before heading to Phoenix to catch my flight to Salt Lake - getting really excited.  I'll try and post a few updates from Convention if I can on my Facebook business page - Crazy Stamping Lady - so like my page if you'd like to get updates as well as ongoing creative ideas!  See you soon ~Maureen
Here are some of the products I used to make this project - 
 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Heidi's Downline Project

So for Saturday's meeting - Heidi came through in a pinch for me with a project for the downline group.   It was this adorable little card.  I especially loved it as it used a couple items I had really over-looked in the catalog - the "Endless Thanks" set on page 14 and the "Writing Notes" background stamp on page 40.  Ladies - I have looked my catalog over and over - and missed both of these gems. 
The card is simply adorable - the background stamp had now been ordered by me :) and the Endless Thanks is on my list!  Just look how cute the card is with that note paper on there.
This close up shows the doily, the staples, the holes in the note paper, and the items that we popped up - all giving the card some great texture and dimension.  So pretty!!! Thanks Heidi, for having my back!!!   ~Maureen
Here are some of the products used to make this project - 


Monday, July 20, 2015

Personal Post Monday - Birthday Celebration!

So - I had a birthday Sunday - and just wanted to share some of the lovely things from my weekend of celebrating.  Started with receiving this beautiful bouquet of flowers from Heidi and family on Thursday - was so unexpected and just made me happy in every way!
Then Friday - I spent some time going around the house looking at all the beautiful plants we have - the holly hocks surround my back yard and are just so pretty.
Picked a few little beauties to grace my windowsill - the colors on these roses is amazing!
Saturday hubby woke me with this great cup of coffee - he knows how to start my day - lol!!!


Saturday - lunch on our screened in porch - the weather was cool and breezy -
later we also had dinner out there - it was pouring rain - I don't think you can see it through the screen door  but it was a downpour.  Lots of thunder and lightning  -  it was amazing.  We ended up with 3.2" of rain in the gauge - so quite a storm. 
Then Sunday, here's the birthday girl ready for breakfast - actually I look like I was not quite awake yet :)
We had breakfast out - tried out Willow Hills Baptist Church for the first time (looking for a new church home in Prescott), did some furniture shopping, ate lunch out, took an amazing drive around the countryside, went home and stamped and relaxed in the afternoon and then out for a steak dinner with my sweetie.  No cooking ALL DAY - don't remember the last time that happened. 
Here's a picture of some of the clouds on our drive - we also saw a Pronghorn and a desert hare - but they were too fast to get a picture of.  Had amazing birthday wishes from friends and family, by phone, emails and Facebook.  I was missing everyone back in Cali - but Paul made it an amazing birthday and by the time I went to sleep was feeling nothing but blessed!! Here's to a great year ahead - thank you Lord for another birthday - may I honor You in every way this year!  ~Maureen

Sunday, July 19, 2015

DSP Sampler

So one of the demonstrations I did at the downline meeting was showing how to make these great little DSP samplers.  Stampin' Up! has some of the most amazing Designer Series Papers - but what I've learned over the years is that the catalog does not do it justice.  You really need to touch and see the paper in person.  So these are easy to make - the first one is strips of DSP showing all 12 designs on the front (our packages are 12 sheets - 2 of each 2 sided design - for 12 designs total).  I cut these strips 2" and then as follows for this sampler - 7" 6.5" 6" 5.5" 5" 4.5" 4" 3.5" 3" 2.5" 2" and 1.5" the laid them down as shown - stapled together and tape a little topper over to hide the staple. 
The advantage to this style is you can compare all 12 designs together to see what mixes and matches best for your projects.  The disadvantage is you can only get one sampler out of a 2" strip of each DSP.  Here are the backs of the papers - which will be repeats of the other side.
So another way to do it is to cut you strips of each 2" and then as follows - 6", 5", 4", 3", 2" and 1".  The advantage here is that you can get two samplers our of your 2" strip and the disadvantage is that they are only seeing one side of the DSP.....
And will need to flip it over to see the backsides of the papers.  But either way works!
I finished it off with a little label with the name of the DSP, Item #, Description and Price, so if customers want to order the package - the info is right there.
So hoped you like that little tip - I think it is a great demo tool to use at your workshops.  Have fun making them!   ~Maureen
Here are the products used to make this project -