Sale-a-bration Sampler Card

When I got the Sale-a-bration download I just knew what I had to do with it first. I've been seeing these cute little sampler cards all over the place and I wanted to design one just for Sale-a-Bration!

After making this little bad boy I can tell you one thing- designing one of these is intense! You want to make sure they all 'go' together, but at the same time each one has to be unique and stand out on its own. Striking that balance can be a challenge sometimes. Regardless- it was a TON of FUN designing each of these little squares :)

And now that all the design work is done I have three options: #1 print it up through print services, #2 break it into pieces and print it to be assembled as a hybrid card, or #3 create it from 'real' supplies (because I used everything at it's true size that is an option- yippee). Well, since there is little difference in the final product between #2 and #3 (and I don't have all the 'real' supplies) I decided to go with the hybrid card. But.....

You'll have to flutterback later to see it :)
I'm such a tease!

Sale-a-Bration is HERE!!!

I can't believe it is finally that time again! For those of you who are familiar with Stampin' Up! I bet you are doing the happy dance right alone with me :) Follow the banner below to see this year's awesome products!

And just in case you are new to this wonderful new crafting arena, here is the skinny: Every year at this time Stampin' Up! puts out a mini catalog full of free items! Yes, I said FREE!!! Truth be told, I've never understood why they call it 'Sale' - a-Bration, because nothing is actually on sale, it is FREE instead. Free is so much better than a sale. They should call it Free-a-bration... although that doesn't have quite the same ring to it :)

So how do you get some of this free stuff? Well, I'm glad you asked :) For every $50 order you get to pick out one of the special items for this year. And they even made it easier this year by putting together kit suggestions for you- that way you can be sure to get everything you need to make some awesome projects! Check it out HERE.

And just in case you were wondering, here are my picks for this year. Aren't they awesome!

Yes, of course they are both MDS, what did you expect :) With the first download you will have everything you need to get ready for that next party. And the second has ALL the Sale-a-Bration items digi style. Woot Woot :) I've even got a digital sampler card all made up using the items from that download.

Flutterby again soon to see it!

Flowers for a Blustery Day

It is snowing here in MN... sort of. It is a wet sloppy sort of snow and is making the roads an awful, horrid mess. Bleck. This after days and days of sub-zero weather. *Sigh* I'm ready for winter to be done.

But, since I can't change the weather I can at least change my mood with a flowery, happy card. Makes me feel all springy inside at least :) I made this card and envelope set a couple of months back with my Mom. Cute, cute right?

This card features the Gingham Garden product suite. I just love the cute DSP and matching washi tape. It is oh so fun and girly :)

The stamp and punch are from the Label Love Bundle. Stamps that can be punched out are my absolute favorites. And here is a little trick for you. In order to create the border for the punch you need to punch out two extra shapes in the pink cardstock. Then cut each of these in half- one vertically and the other horizontally. After that flip your saying over and mount the four pieces to the back- each bumped out a little from the original punch. When you flip it back over you will then have this nice little outline. Too cool right :)

Hope your winter is going better than mine! Flutterby again soon!

Any Reader's in the Fergus Falls area?

Then you have to come join us to "Escape Your Winter Blues"

It is going to be a blast! I'm so excited to host this event with my fellow demos. And I would love to see you there :)

Here's all the details. Let me know if you want to come!

A Cereal-ously Cute Valentine

Have you started planning your Valentine's yet? Last year I shared the Valentine's I made for a family get together- but since it was the weekend after Valentine's it was too late to help you out. But with the day of love just around the corner, now is the perfect time for you to grab the printable I made for you :)

Aren't they just sweet? And here is a copy for you to save and print out for your own cereal-ously special Valentines. Enjoy!

Simple Scrapbook Layout

Today I wanted to share another page spread from my Glacier Vacation photobook. This is a really simple layout that really allows the pictures to be the main focus. And with these pictures that is exactly what I was looking for.

The page didn't look quite 'done' without the star embellishments added. But just a little sure can go a long way.

Also, I want you to take note of the drop shadow on the yellow lettering. It really isn't noticeable until you look directly for it, but without it those letters really get lost in the design of the DSP behind them. So if you are ever having trouble getting your titles or journaling to show better just give this a try. All I usually do is add a drop shadow (usually with the opacity turned up- but you will need to play with this based on your specific DSP underneath) and I color the shadow to actually blend with the paper behind it. This creates just enough of a haze by the letters that they show up better- without being a black 'here I am' kind of shadow.

Hope that helps you out. Give it a try on your next layout and let me know how it goes :)

Flutterby again for more inspiration.

2014 is here!... WHAT!

Wow. I feel like the past month has just flown by. In the whirlwind of the holiday season I feel like I lost parts of my life! Don't get me wrong, I love the holiday's, but I'm ready for life to settle back down again :) That way I will have more time to inspire YOU!

So what does 2014 have in store? Hopefully a lot more crafts :) Especially MDS- I have so many scrapbooks I want to catch up on and projects I want to make. I actually can't believe my little boy is already 7 months old and I haven't even started his baby book. Then again, with a 7 month old that still sleeps like a newborn I think I'm going to blame him for that one ;)

Also, now that my little girly is getting older she always wants to help me make things. So expect to see many more crafts suitable to complete with kids. Hopefully they will inspire you in some quality time with the little ones in your life. PS- they don't have to be your kids :) Grandkiddos, family friends, or the neighbors will all do.

From Stampin' Up!'s side I'm expecting many great things in 2014 too. Lately they have been great at offering all sorts of new products, kits, and seasonal items. I'm loving this trend and can't wait to see what they bring us in the New Year.

Speaking of new products, have you seen the spring catalog yet? So many pretty new things :) I just love them. I think my favorite of all has to be the new Retro Fresh line. I know, I know that's not picking just 'one' thing, but how can I choose. They are all so fun and fresh, I love the colors, and they are meant to be together. So I can't bear to single just one of them out ;)

Don't you love them to? Seriously, this is my favorite page of the whole book.

I would love to hear what your favorite is in the new catalog. Flutterby again soon. Hopefully once I get the hang of this 'new year' thing I will be back to posting regularly :)