Debi's Crazy Life;

Do you get those mid-winter blues? I do, every year and this year seems much worse then others. It could be all the snow or that the sun has not really shined much lately but it is really starting to get me down. More snow again today, 6"-10" today and another 2"-5" tonight, doesn't that sound lovely? No, I don't think so either. Between the lovely (NOT!!) weather and a shaky stomach (thanks to that nasty little bug my beautiful children decided to share with me) I am in major need of spring. Since you know that stupid groundhog is going to see his shadow next week and doom us to 6 more (who are we kidding more like 3 more months) weeks of winter and my vacation is still 4 weeks away I decided I could at least stamp springish. Sale-a-bration is coming, it starts February 1st and I figured you might want a little peek at what wonderful free stuff you can get. For those of you not in the know, Sale-a-bration is Stampin' Up!s annual sale, for eve

It's that time again! Time for an Elzybelle challenge. This fortnight (don't you just love how british that sounds?!?!) we were challenged to create a Valentine treat or gif t . Now I had to keep this fairly simple because you know what will happen when my daughter Jessika sees this right? I can just hear it now, "Moooommmmmm will you make them for all my friends?? Willllll yaaaaa, pleeeeeeease." Then my younger daughter will chime in with "For miiinnnnne toooooooo." And I won't be able to resist and the next thing you know I will be making 70 of these because if I make them for the girls then I gotta make them for Manny's class and you know what happened at Halloween when I made all of those scalloped punch peppermint pattie spiders, and my hand hurt for weeks afterwards. Anyway this is what I came up with. I used the Top Note Sizzix die to cut out the topper. The adorable little sheep is paper pieced then popped up. The tiny hearts nee

Your going to be sorry that you missed my open house tonight. I have 3 really fun projects to share all using brand new stamps sets. Don't ya wish you were here? Well since you can't make it I will eat your share of the yummy desert, browse through the **brand new Stampin' Up! catalog**, and help everyone else make these lovely cards, while you sit home, wishing you were here. But I will be nice and share what we are making tonight. This fun one using the top note Big Shot die and Petal Pizzazz. This one with Echoes of Kindness one of the new Level 2 hostess sets. And this one using Just buzzin' by that I totally copied from Jaydee from SplitCoastStampers because it is just too cute and I had run out of simply wonderful ideas. We are Croppin' all day tomorrow so maybe I will have something wonderful to share with you again soon.

Are you all really sick of me using this stamps set? Well if you are I'm sorry but I am just having way to much fun with it. I did this card for todays sketch challenge over on SplitCoastStamper. I was going to combine it with the color throwdown challenge but this card had a mind of it's own and it just didn't want to go there. I may try a second card later with that color combination. Anyway I have exciting news the new "Spring/Summer 2009" Stampin' Up! catalog has arrived. My wonderful UPS man John dropped them off last night just as I was heading out to take my girls to ballet. I of course grabbed two copies before I dashed out the door. One copy was for the girls dance teacher Miss Joyce, the other copy for me to drool on and dream over. I have to say that I think you all are going to love it, I know I do. If you are one of my local customers remember that my Open House is Friday night and I have an All Day Crop on Saturday so if you want a cop

The colors of the day are Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Kraft from the color challenge over on SplitCoastStampers. I combined the color challenge with the Mojo Monday sketch challenge and this is what I came up with. Nothing fancy on this just a couple of little fussy details. I stamped the main image with NQN classic ink on kraft card stock then added a little baja breeze ink with an aquapainter and sponged around the edges. I added some color to the leaves with a mellow moss Stampin' Write marker. I made the scalloped edge on the circle (which was cut with my coluzzle) with a small corner punch, then pierced with a piercing tool. What I used: Fresh Cuts stamp set Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Kraft card stock Urban Garden designer paper Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze classic stamp pads wide stitched baja breeze grosgrain ribbon mat pack and piercing tool Build-a-Brad 1/2 circle punch, small corner rounder coluzzle cutting system sponge

You have probably noticed that I am not really very clever with 3D items. My brain just doesn't seem to work very well in that direction but on occasion I do give one a try. The Technique Lovers Challenge on SplitCoastStampers today is to make this cute little origami box so I figured I would play along and this is what I came up with. If you follow the link above you can see the directions on how I made the box. The only thing I changed is that I put a jumbo eyelet in the lid and bottom so that I could thread my extra wide ribbon through it to hold my box shut. The flowers on the top of the box are cut out then embellished with half back pearls for the pretties kit and dazzling diamond glitter mixed with crystal effects. What I used: Petal Pizzazz stamp set Raspberry Tart designer paper Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Kiwi Kiss card stock Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Kiwi Kiss classic stamp pads light weight chipboard (from a cereal box) 1 1/4" wide pink pirouette grosgrain

Isn't he just so cute? Who could resist him? I hope my valentine can't since this one is destined for him. This is the last sneak peek because today is the release day of Elizabeth newest Elzybell Valentine stamps. Make sure you check them out **here** at her online store. And don't miss what the other design team members have been doing. I am sure there is some really wonderful stuff. What I used: Elzybell stamps Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip card stock watercolor papder My Minds Eye designer paper Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip classic stamp pad chocolate chip satin ribbon ticket corner punch Stampin' Write markers, aquapainter

Are you ready for the new valentine release of Elzybells newest stamps? I am and this is what I have to show to you. Isn't it cute? Make sure you check out what the other design team member have done and stop by tomorrow of one more sneak peek. What I used: Elzybell stamps Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip card stock watercolor paper K&Company Wild Saffron designer paper Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip classic stamp pad Stampin' Write markers, aquapainter brown brads chocolate chip polytwill ribbon

Isn't this little lamb the cutest? It is from the new soon to be released Elzybell clear stamp set, From me to ewe. Make sure you check out what the other design team members have done and check back for the next couple of days to see what else I have to show you from the new valentine releases that will be available to purchase January 12th. What I used: From me to ewe Elzybell clear stamp set Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss card stock watercolor paper Bohemia (My Minds Eye) designer paper, Holiday Treasures (SU) designer paper Black Stazon Stampin' Write markers, aquapainter Earth Elements brads Baja Breeze wide stitched grosgrain ribbon

January 12th is the date for the new release of the Elzybells newest Valentine stamps. So are you ready for a sneak peak? Below is what I made using the December dirty dozen sketch and this adorable teddy bear stamp. Make sure you check out what the rest of the team has done, link to their blogs are below on the right. Stop by tomorrow and every day until the release to see more sneak peaks. What I used: Teddy bear with roses heart, hugs & kisses Weathered background stamp Rose Red, Chocolate Chip card stock, watercolor paper My Minds Eye designer paper Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa classic ink pad Stampin' Write markers, aquapainter sponge, stickles scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch wide Rose Red stitched grosgrain ribbon

Hop on over to Elizabeth's blog and check out what the Elzybell are doing with todays color challenge. The belles were challenged to use pink, blue and green to create a project. This is mine. The main image is colored with Stampin' Write markers and paper pieced with various designer paper scraps. *New for 2009* everyone who plays along with the blog challenges or submits cards for the showcase on Elizabeth's blog is added to a draw at the end of the month for a chance to win a gift voucher to spend in the online shop! So get out your Elzybells and play along, then make a comment on Elizabeth's blog and link you creation because what could be better then free stamps? What I used: Elzybells Coffee Friends and Coffee Multi Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pirouette Pink, Watercolor paper Basic Grey designer paper black Stazon, Chocolate Chip classic ink pad Pirouette Pink striped grosgrain ribbon, white brads

I got a very late start today. Lots of freezing rain this morning delayed school for 2 hours which meant I had every kid in the neighborhood running around my house this morning. This was supposed to be one of my kid free days, didn't work out that way though. Even before I got the kiddos off to school I was on the phone with my upline who is at Leadership for Stampin' Up!, getting all the up to the moment details about the new Spring/Summer catalog. All I can say about that is that I can barely wait to get my copy into my hot little hands, my mastercard is going to be smokin'. Well probably just steaming a little bit until I manage to make some money but you know what I mean right? Well since I was thinking new catty, why not use Echoes of Kindness (yes, again) to do todays sketch challenge over on SplitCoastStampers. Nothing fancy on this one. Both backgrounds are designer paper from the Bella Rose collection. The two main images are both sponged with chocolate

You know how sometime you just want something quick and easy and simple but not so simple that it isn't great. Well JulieHHR (Her Royal Rubberness as she is know on SplitCoastStampers) is quite literally the queen of sweet and simple. If you have never seen her stuff you must visit her blog and/or gallery . She was the featured stamper this weekend on SplitCoastStampers and Sundays challenge was to CASE (copy and share everything, or in non stamper talk, copy) one of her cards. I didn't CASE a specific card but rather her style. I thought that would combine nicely with todays color challenge to use Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Garden Green. What I used: Just Buzzin' By stamp set whisper white card stock black Stazon ink pad Brilliant Blue, Garden Green and Pumpkin Pie classic ink for watercoloring aquapainter Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon

I dashed through the house really quickly this morning, cleaning bathrooms, straightening up and finishing laundry so that I could have some play time in my quiet for the first time in ages house. Yes having everyone do a 15 minute pickup after dinner each night is really helping. The kids went back to school today and Matt left for college as well so the dog, 3 cats and I are enjoying some peace and quiet. I still need to fold laundry (I always have laundry to fold!) but I managed to get to my stamping space by 10 AM pretty close to my goal. I am ashamed to admit that I have had this stamp set since I went to convention in August and it has never seen ink. That is very unlike me. I dragged it out this morning to make a birthday card for a friend. Since it is Monday I decided to play along with both the Mojo Monday sketch challenge and the Technique Lovers Challenge. This mornings new technique to learn is called "Tacky Glitter" you can find the direction at the abo

I made this card for todays Limited Supply Challenge; My Favorite Things . Thanks to Judy (my online buddy and challenge hostess) I now have that song stuck in my head, probably for the rest of the day! This challenge is all about my favorite things. First of all I love Stampin' Up!, I have 3 other companies I love as well but SU is my first love. My all time favorite set is Petal Prints and this new hostess set "Echoes of Kindness" reminds me of it. Secondly I love a soft, distressed look, yes I know it is out of fashion but I still love it. Thirdly I love blues and browns, so I chose a couple of blues and paired them with chocolate chip. Lastly I love to use sketches and one of my favorites is the Mojo Monday sketch from Poetic Artistry . And of course there has to be ribbon because I just can't make a card without ribbon. To get the soft and distressed look I did a couple of different things. Most of the layers, including the main image are over-stamped with

I think I am suffering from a hangover this morning, NO not that kind of hangover, a stamping hangover. Over on splitcoaststampers they had a New Years Eve stamping party, with hourly challenges. You can check it out **HERE** . Since my children were fairly well behaved (Thanks to delivery pizza and the dvd player) and hubby was plowing snow for hours after work I managed to play along from 2:00 in the afternoon until I burned out around 9:15. I am in general a fairly quick stamper but I still average over an hour for any project that has much detail, so I was really happy with how much I got done during that time period. Below is a sample of what I did. If you are looking for details please see my gallery on SplitCoastStampers. Yesterday I was talking about resolutions. Now I am not going to make any silly ones like losing the extra 50 pounds I am carrying around, thought that wouldn't be a bad idea, but I am not going for anything that extreme. Which is a good thing sinc