Announcing New Stamp Program

Card Kits To Go

Each month, I will post the Card Kit of the Month. You'll receive the supplies to create SIX EACH of two designs - so you will receive all of the consumable supplies that you need to create 12 cards total. You will also receive 2 additional full color samples of "alternative" cards that you can make with the combined contents of the kit! In addition, you'll receive detailed, step by step instructions on how to complete each of the 4 designs. Orders for the Card Kits must be received by the 10th of the month. You will receive your kit by the end of the month. The photos above are the card designs for April.

Click on the photo to the right for details about the available card kits.

Another Workshop

I've been playing around in my stamp room a lot lately. Here is a photo of a project class I would like to do before Mother's Day. It will make an amazing Mother's Day gift!!!

April Girls Night Out

I'm excited to post a photo of the projects we will be making at my April Girls Night Out on April 24th at 6:00. We will be making this adorable bag, three cards, and a cute little box with five tags. We will use designer paper, chipboard accents, and the Good Friend stamp set (not included with class) for this class. More information coming soon!

Shoebox Swap News

I'm very excited about the wonderful cards we made at Jackie's Shoebox Swap on Saturday. I was so inspired that I came home and designed an Occasions Mini Class. I haven't set a date yet, but I think it will be one day during spring break. As soon as I set the date, I'll let you know.

I was also excited that Jackie asked me to present at the Demonstrator Training Event in April. I'm working on projects each day, but have to keep them secret until after the presentation on April 18th. I'll post photos as soon as the event is done.

March Girls Night Out

After having a few customers ask to see samples of the projects for this event, I took a photo to share here. We will be creating 5 gift bags, 20 cards (using the layout shown, but different paper combinations), and a mini scrapbook. This entire set is created using one pack of Raspberry Tart designer paper, 10 sheets of 12x12 cardstock, and assorted ribbon.

If you would like to attend this event (or purchase the pre-cut supplies), please register no later than Saturday, 3/14/09 to allow time for ordering and preparing supplies. You can register by phone - 269-686-2349 or email - amyrogers@charter.net.

More Spring Cleaning

I worked over 5 hours in my craft room last night. I took a load to the dumpster, listed several items on ebay, purchased drawers to organize, and more. I think it looks MUCH BETTER!

Junk pile before:
Junk pile after:

Area above cabinets after:

Now all that's left is the desk and work table. I may try to do those after a nap today or wait until tomorrow. Will post photos later.

Club Tonight

I'm sorry I haven't put up a new post in a couple of days, but I've been busy setting up a blog for my classroom. I found setting this one up so interesting, fun, and rewarding that I decided to set one up to share what's going on in my classroom with my students' families. Feel free to visit if you like - http://westwardkindergarten.blogspot.com/ - and let me know what you think.

Tonight is club night and we are making a beautiful card (direct from Stampin' Success - the demonstrator magazine from Stampin' Up!) using a bleaching technique along with an adorable bird card (also directly from Stampin' Success). Stampin' Up! does an amazing job of supporting us demonstrators with amazing samples, business tips, techniques, and more through a variety of sources including a demonstrator only website. Contact me if you'd like to learn more.

This is the card made using the bleaching technique and Fifth Avenue Floral:

This is an easy card using Good Friend:

The next two cards are examples of bleaching techniques I received in swaps (another way we demonstrators get card samples to share with our customers) that I will set out tonight for my club members - I'm sorry I don't remember who the demonstrators were who created them:

Shoebox Swap

I signed up for Jackie Bolhuis' shoebox swap in 1 1/2 weeks. She asked that we submit a sample of the card before we do the prep work. I was playing with scraps of color and really liked how this one turned out. Hope you enjoy it.

Jackie replied that she loved it! I guess I can start cutting tonight.

Cleaning My Messy Stamp Room

Hoping to share how wonderful my craft room looked after a day of cleaning, I took messy pictures Sunday morning. Unfortunately, it's taking much longer than I had anticipated. It's amazing how quickly I can mess it up and how long it takes to organize it again.

I cleaned out my stamp closet and a small area around it, but still have a long, long way to go before I'm ready to share before and after photos of the whole room. Here's what I accomplished yesterday (along with 3 loads of laundry, grocery shopping, dinner, and dishes).

Stamp closet before:

Stamp closet after - all stamp sets (even retired) alphabetized now - just waiting for extra CD organizer I ordered to arrive:

Area above stamp closet before:Area above stamp closet after (cards organized by occasion in matching boxes):

Ribbon cabinet before:

Ribbon cabinet after - my Dad and I built this a couple years ago with 1x6 boards, a marker board, and dowel rods - keeps sun and dust off ribbon:

Hope you've enjoyed seeing my shame.

I will continue working on it more over the next few days and I will post before and after photos of my work.

I'm meeting Jackie Bolhuis for lunch today to get some pointers on how to make my blog better. I'm so excited to sit down one on one with her.