Its cold outside!

Brr. Mother nature really has it in for us today! Home from work because the van wouldn't start. I wonder why.

This is the current temp according to the weather report, but my thermometer outside reads -26. I truely hope that everyone is taking every precaution against frostbite and hypothermia today and that goes for pets also. Please don't leave them outside. It wouldn't take much for them die from exposure is these kind of temps.

Christmas so soon!?!

I have had a little bit of time lately where I can play in my craft room. Now it's getting to the holidays and there is so much to do! I need to design my Christmas cards and tags and work on gifts. I was so busy last year, I (gulp), had to buy tags and packaging, but don't repeat that! Lol. Here are a couple of tags I recently created. The paper and ink is Stampin Up and the die cuts were made on my Cricket. Don't ya just love them! They are simple, not a lot of embellishments, but sometimes those are the best kind. I'm still playing around and will upload more when I get them done!

Time Flies

I have finally had time to start blogging again. It has been waaaaaay too long! So many things have happened that I don't know where to start! Opening the business in the Dells was probably the scariest thing that I have ever done. We came, we saw, we tried to conquer, but, it didn't work out. Sad to say, but the business only lasted a year. The sales just weren't there. When our lease was up, we closed the business. It was sad. Our whole life savings went into that business, but, you learn from your mistakes. We will wait until the economy gets better and try again. But on a good note, things are finally looking up for us. I am (slowly) getting back into stamping. I have done a few projects and will be posting them later. I still love Stampin Up, but I have found other companies that I like as well, so I will be show casing their products as well as Stampin Ups. Look for them soon!

Many Changes!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything and there is a very good reason for that. Let me bring you up to speed on what has been happening. My husband and I have been talking for a while about opening our own business. We decided in late March / early April to take the plunge. We rented a building and opened a small gift shop in Wisconsin Dells. Between moving from Illinois to Wisconsin and all of the remodeling of the building, time got away from me. We both quit our jobs to persue this venture. The sad thing about this (besides leaving family and friends behind), is that I will no longer be able to be a Stampin Up demonstrator (for now anyway). As of the end of July, I will be done with Stampin Up. This was just as hard of a decision to make as it was to leave everyone behind. I hope to join back up with Stampin Up in the future, but for now, I don't have the time. I will still be stamping (when I have time) and will post what I can.

Welcome Baby Card

I wanted to share this card that I made for my friend. I was so sure that she was having a girl, that I made this card. Well, she had a boy. It seems like everyone I know is having a baby boy! LOL! The stamp set that I used is from the Sale-a-bration book, called, Punch Bunch.

So Sorry!

OMG! I can't believe that it has been a month since I blogged. I am so sorry! I've been so busy and had so much going on, that not only have I not had time to blog, but I haven't had time to stamp either. Tonight was the first time that I have had time to stamp. I would post the beautiful easter card that I created tonight, but, it is for an upcoming stampin up workshop and I don't want to spoil the surprise. I will post it after the workshop. I will start posting more frequently, promise!

Baby Shower Card

I threw this card together right before I had to go to a baby shower. It could use some ribbon on the side, but I was out. I used chocolate chip, crumb cake, and very vanilla card stock, with just an accent of real red. I think that it turned out cute. It was for a little baby boy and it matches some of the bibs and onesies that I bought.

I used the Baby Bundle stamp set that I borrowed from my upline. I think that I am going to have to buy that set. It is quite versatile.

Hugs & Kisses

I was playing with My Digital Studio and came up with this valentines card. Its a 6 x 6 card. I used Melon Mambo, Basic Black, and Whisper White. What do you think?

The Craft Cave

I wasn't kidding when I said it is about the size of a large walk in closet (although, I have seen larger walk in closets! LOL), but, seriously, I'm starting to get it organized. It's hard to take a craft room that was in a 12 x 12 room and fit in into a 6 x 8 sized room. I'd had to make quite a few adjustments (which I am still working on). Here is a  photo. It is work in progress, so If anyone has any ideas, feel free to send them my way. 

If you look at the bottom of the picture, my little crating buddy, Pez, is resting in one of my baskets. I haven't been able to find a place for it yet, so I have been letting him use it for a bed. The craft cave does look cluttered, doesn't it! It will get better as I can organize it more, but it's going to take some time. At least I have a place to craft now.

All settled in

Ok. We are all moved in and are now trying to settle back into a daily routine. I actually got to start unpacking my craft stuff and setting up my craft room. Well, I wouldn't actually call it a room, more like a large walk in closet, hence the fond name of the Craft Cave. LOL! I will start posting projects again soon, I promise! Until then, back to the craft cave! (Does anyone hear the theme to "Batman"? LOL!!)

Busy, busy busy!

Well, I've been really busy lately and haven't had time to post. I've spent the last few weeks packing and we moved the week before Christmas. Talk about a hectic holiday season! I broke down and actually bought Christmas cards because I didn't have time to make them (needless to say, I was a little embarrassed because everyone expects the handmade ones). My son was so worried that Santa wouldn't find the new house, I don't think that he slept for a couple of days. We finally got him convinced that Santa is better at delivering to new addresses than the post office. Christmas morning he was convinced that Santa found him (and happy too)! Now that things are starting to get settled and unpacked, I might get to start unpacking my craft stuff and set up my new craft room. It is about a third of the size of my old one (at least it is until we remodel!), but I think I can make it work. We are going to get our Internet this week, so I won't have to go to the library or use my cell phone (which isn't easy to do this on, LOL). Within the next couple of weeks, I will be crafting and posting new cards, scrapbook pages, and other paper crafts. So, until then, happy crafting!

My Digital Studio

I ordered the My Digital Studio software during the Stampin Up! extravaganza sale. I just got it today and started to play with it. Since my digital camera is not cooperating with me, I thought that I would try to make some digital cards. Here is my first attempt. What do you think? It's simple. I think that the more I play with the software, the more I like it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! This is the time of year where family and friends come together to enjoy good company and good food.

What a sale!

Can you believe this!?! Hurry before all the great deals sell out. Get My Digital Studio for less than $40.00! Great stamp sets, bundles, digital downloads, and decor elements at unbelievable prices!

Click this link to go to my website to shop www.2createwithink.stampinup.net

Camera issues!

I had a bunch of stuff that I wanted to post for you today, but unfortunately, my digital camera is not cooperating. Hmm, maybe I can get Santa to bring me a new one? Hopefully I can get the thing working so I can upload my pictures. Anyway, I've been real busy stamping away. I have about 60 little gift bags (with goodies) that I have to make for both my kids for school. As of right now, I've only got about 20 done and I'm running out of time. I still have ALOT of Christmas cards to make and treats for work. There just isn't enough time in the day. Cheese anyone? (I'm done whining) LOL.

New Christmas cards

I was playing around today and came up with a couple of new holiday cards. I used different techniques on 2 of them. On the Angelic Joy card, I used the embossing resist and on the Happy Holiday card, I used the big shot to emboss it.

Angelic Joy

Happy Holidays

A Neutral Card

Tuesday Tip

     When planning your holiday cards, you also need to think about postage. Don't want to sacrifice your creativity - you don't have to! All you have to do is lighten up your layers - literally. Instead of using the whole layer, cut the middle, turning the layer into a frame. You don't have to sacrifice your creativity for a nice looking card, but you can save money on postage. If your like me, the money I save on postage gets spent on more Stampin Up! stuff!

Quick and Easy Christmas Favor

     This cute set is quick to make and give a special touch to an ordinary memo notebook. All the paper, ink, and ribbon are Stampin Up! products.

Supplies:
1 memo notebook
1 Pentel R.S.V.P. pen
Cherry Cobbler card stock cut to 3 x 4 10/16 in.
Jolly Holiday DSP cut to 2 1/2 x 4 and 3 1/4 x 3/4 in.
Very Vanilla card stock cut to 2 x 3 1/2 in.
Gifted stamp set
Old Olive ink
Old Olive ribbon cut to 3 1/2 in.
Snail adhesive
Glue dots

Instructions:
1) Cut card stock per dimensions specified.
2) Stamp Seasons Greetings image on very vanilla card stock. Set aside to dry.
3) Snail cherry cobbler card stock onto the back of the memo book as shown below.

4) Snail DSP (designer series paper) in the center of the cherry cobbler card stock.
5) Snail very vanilla into the center of the DSP.
6) Take the ribbon and tie a knot in the center of it. Adhere it to the very vanilla card stock with a glue dot.
7) Unscrew the top of the pen.
8) Roll the DSP around the ink barrel of the pen.
9) Insert into the body of the pen as shown below.

You will need to use something to push the DSP all the way down into the pen barrel. I used a paper clip.

     This would make a cute party favor for an office Christmas party, to give to a co-worker, or for a school party. Use your imagination.

Holiday Cards

I've just started making my holiday cards. Here are a few examples. Each one of these cards have been made with Stampin Up products.

I will be adding more projects, instructions, and other things shortly.

A new blog

Welcome to my new blog. I hope to post atleast weekly. If this sounds a little stale or overdone, bare with me. I will catch on to this blog thing quickly. I hope to share my passion for creating beautiful things. I am a Stampin Up! demonstrator and am going to share my work with you.