Happy Mother's Day

My mom is amazing. She taught me how to be strong and true, and she taught me how to make a family and home. She is always studying and learning and trying to improve herself--she taught all of us the great joy in learning. She is an amazing pianist--I'm sure she would have been a concert pianist if she hadn't had all of us kids! She still plays wonderfully, and it's a joy to watch her perform and share her music. She teaches piano and accompanies the grandchildren (and many others!) as they sing and play instruments. She has been a widow for almost 14 years, but she holds the whole family together. She taught us to let go of hurt feelings and disagreements, because family is what matters most. She taught us to cook and sew and clean and shop frugally. She taught us to grow a vegetable garden to feed our stomachs and a flower garden to feed our souls. She taught us faith in God and how to endure well.

She made me who I am, and I hope I can pass on as much my own children. Love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day!

More Butterflies

I know, why even post! It's a super simple card that needs no explanation, but it's my mom's favorite out of the whole set! lol Again, the artwork speaks for itself. Love that butterfly!

Butterflies

This card is from the set we made last week at our Mother's Day class. It features the wonderful butterfly image from Strength and Hope. The pearls didn't show up well in photos, but they are there on each wing! It's a really simple card, but I think that allows all the attention to focus on that beautiful butterfly!

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Stamps: Strength and Hope
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, Pearls

Strength and Hope

Stampin' Up! is partnering with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in the Strength & Hope Campaign. 

From May 1-August 31, 2011, Stampin' Up! will donate $2* from the sale of each Strength & Hope Set and Digital Kit to BCRF.

Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
Strength & Hope	118100	$17.95	123660	$13.95
Force & Espoir (French)	123665	$17.95	123667	$13.95
Fortaleza y Esperanza (Spanish)	123670	$17.95	123672	$13.95

A Strength & Hope Digital Kit (item 124475) is also available that includes a four-piece stamp brush set, 12 Designer Series Papers, and 10 embellishment pieces for $9.95.

Contact me today to order this beautiful set and support BCRF as they work find a cure for breast cancer! Or shop now in my Online Store.

*Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from this purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini Blog Hop!

It's time again to see what those brilliant stampers at Stampin' Addicts have created! Click here 
to go to the list of participants and get started on all the stamping goodness!

Open Sea

This is my card for the Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini swap. I love all things nautical, and I'm so excited we'll have the Nautical Expedition papers and Open Sea stamps for the summer!

I stamped the ship image in Early Espresso ink on an oversized Naturals White cardstock. Then I tore around the image and inked it in more Espresso. I used the handle of a small paintbrush to roll the edges--I was going for an "old map" kind of look.

The DSP is Nautical Expedition--beautiful colors for Father's Day, which is coming up faster than you think! I used Jumbo eyelets and the new Baker's Twine--in Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso--to finish off my main image. The background is stamped with the ship's log image.

Check back tomorrow for the Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini Blog Hop. As always, these stampers have some brilliant ideas for you!

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Stamps: Open Sea
Paper: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Naturals White, Nautical Expedition DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Brads, Baker's Twine Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso, Dimensionals

More Nature's Walk

This is another card from the set I made for my sister. Faux silk again, and this one has the bunched-up-ribbon on the side. I put down a line of sticky strip, then folded and scrunched (the technical word) the seam binding onto it. I think it looks very springy!

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Stamps: Nature Walk
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, tissue paper
Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Baja Blue
Accessories: glue stick, Baja Seam Binding

Four Frames in Paisley

We made this project at club on Tuesday, and it was a hit! The stamp set Four Frames and the Designer Series Paper Paisley are part of the Spring is Blossoming promotion going on now! Here are the details:

Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

• Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

Four Frames Stamp SetW: item 123440 | $20.95
C: item 123442 | $15.95

Paisley Petals Designer Series Paperitem 122367 | $9.95
This gorgeous paper contains 12 sheets: two each of six double-sided designs in Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango, Marina Mist, River Rock, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso and Whisper White.