a chocolatey birthday...Stampin' UP! style

The love and best friend of my life is going to have his 35th birthday coming up very soon! Naturally, I had to put together a thoughtful gift for him.

My husband is a simple man. He doesn't want much and would be content with nothing for his birthday, but I would like to give him at least a little something to let him know that I'm thinking of him.

One thing that I know that will always make my husband happy is chocolate.......but then again, who doesn't get happy with chocolate?! This little box is stuffed FULL of chocolates.......

 Anywho, I decided to create this...

It's a 4" square box with a matching 3"x3" card. 

If you haven't guessed where I got my color inspirations from already, then let me show you...

 YES! my husband is going to LOVE it, I just know it!

My tips:

• sometimes you need to look at the gift you are giving your birthday boy/girl for color inspirations! In my case, it was a Hershey's chocolate bar: smoky slate, early espresso, and very vanilla.
• the 4" square box was actually made with a non-SU! punch board. The punch board is from We R memory keepers; gift box punch board. 
•  the circle window in the front of the box was cut by hand which created a not-so-pretty edge. I covered up the edge with a 3" circle and punched out 2 1/2" from the center with my circle punch.
• the ticket punch was shorter than the sentiment (yippee-skippe) I wanted to use so I, 1) cropped the width of the paper to fit slightly smaller than the width of the ticket  2) stamped the sentiment onto the cardstock 2) punched 1 edge of the ticket at a time by slipping it in as shown below then punching.

• for the 3"x3" card: the banner is actually a belly band! I thought this was pretty clever...lol. All you do is create a belly band like you normally would (make sure it's slightly smaller than the banner), then attach the banner to the front with some adhesive.
• trim very thin pieces of cardstock to create the vertical stripes on the right side of the card.

Supplies used:

• carstock: early espresso, smoky slate, very vanilla
• ink: early espresso smoky slate, versamark (for polka-dot background)
• stamps: yippee skippee, designer typeset (photopolymer), happy watercolor (polka-dot for background)
•  punches: ticket duo, 2 1/2" circle

 Thanks for stopping by! If you every have any questions or comments, I am always available!

Until next time...

Stampin' UP! personalized name stamp

Being able to customize a stamp to fit your style and give it a personal touch ALWAYS gets a 3-thumbs-up from me! I'm sure you would agree too!

 The brand spankin' new Personalized name stamp from Stampin' UP! is now available! 

  
A few things you should know:

• you can create a cool address label or even use it for everything from marking your territory on books or other belongings to having a fun way to give a personal touch to gifts and goodies.
• the stamp coordinates with the 1 3/8" circle punch (item 119860)
• this stamp is available in photopolymer only.
• use clear block B (item 117147) 
• you can see a preview of your customized stamp as your creating it in your order window !!! (I LOVE THIS PART!)

Here are a few customization ideas for you:

• Address stamp
• Thank you
• From the classroom of (for a teacher gift)
• From the kitchen of
• Made with love
• This book belongs to
• From the desk of
• Just married
• Save the date
• Promote your business (add your name, website, and contact info)

  Examples I created :

There are too many ways to do this! 

My tips:

• I created a personalized stamp for my husband and I (top left). This will look very good in the back of a mailed envelope! (I partially erased the numbers for our address for security)
• for my spanish speakers..... the top-middle and top-right stamp has both spanish and english! Now you have a whole other set of ideas for the bilingual speakers. 
• you can create your own symbols using keyboard shortcuts. The bottom left and middle stamp uses the degree symbol  to separate the top from the bottom. I found keyboard shortcuts on Pinterest: here

I hope that you are just as excited as I am about customizing and getting that personalized and fun stamp as I am!

• To order yours go to my online store

• You can also view the flyer ! (located under the promotions column on the right side of this page)

Thanks for stopping by today!!!! Until next time...

milk & cookies punch art card

I find myself making alot of masculine cards and don't have very many options. I'm sure you don't have this problem ;o) As an Engineer, the males outnumber the females so that's why I have so many masculine cards that I have to come up with...

This time around, I have two birthdays coming up soon: my little brother and a co-worker.

As I browsed my pinterest board for ideas and inspiration, I couldn't pinpoint any one that I felt would fit them. So, I googled for some more inspiration and ideas and finally ran into Dawn Griffith's cookies and milk card.

 
Dawn really nailed it with this card (as she does with all of her cards) and when I saw it, I knew I had to case it!

 Here's my version of Dawn's card:

My Tips:

•  don't waste good SU! paper, use regular copy/printer paper for the white behind the vellum.
• I used the 1 3/4" circle punch for my cookies then used the medium circles on the owl punch for the chocolate chips.
• to create the long sentiment, stamp the "you can never have....." the way you normally would on white CS, then trim each line as close to the words as you can. Combine the 1st two lines with some adhesive then flag the ends and sponge some ink on all the edges.
• use a sticky note to cover the 1st two lines of the stamp so you can just stamp the word "happy" directly onto the card front below the banner.
• use the gorgeous grunge stamp set to create the "cookie crumbs"for a simple yet fun touch to the inside of the card.

•  I used the fine tip of my pool party marker to create a slight shadow on the word "happy". 

Supplies used:

• cardstock/paper: early espresso, whisper white, pool party, baked brown sugar, vellum
• inks: early espresso, baked brown sugar, pool party (marker)
•  stamps: yippee skippee, gorgeous grunge
• punches: 1 3/4" circle (cookie), owl builder (choc chips), 1/2" circle (corners), 1 3/4" scallop circle ("bite" on cookie)
•  other: sponge dauber, paper piercing tool with template and piercing mat (for the strips of pool party)

I love the satisfaction of being able to look at a card I made and say, "yes, this is what I want!". I honestly don't get to say that alot. But, this time, I'm sure my birthday card recipients will get a kick out of this one. 

Let me know how I did. I would love to hear your comments.

Don't forget about Sale-a-bration! See THIS POST to know more.

until next time.....

Sale-a-bration 2014 is HERE!

A very HAPPY tuesday it is! Stampin' UP's (SU!) biggest sales event of the year has finally arrived! 

This event gives you the opportunity to:

• SHOP: Choose exclusive SU products provided in the brochure below with each $50 purchase. View all the current catalogs under the "Stampin' UP! catalogs" tab at the top of this page.
• HOST:  if you host a party/workshop, you earn $30 more in hostess rewards.
• JOIN: if you decide to join the SU! family, receive $150 worth of products for ONLY $99.

 

Click HERE to view the brochure

To begin earning your FREE exclusive products, shop at my online store by clicking on the icon to your left.

Oh baby baby

I finally got some "me time" in this weekend and had to put together a baby card for our adopted son's birthmother. She had another baby last week and she and her husband decided to parent this child. We are super happy and excited for them as they begin a new chapter in their lives! 

Isn't he so sweet?!

A happy and healthy baby Boy: Caleb born on January 8, 2014; 7lb 9oz; 20" long

To get my creative juices flowing, I recently pinned a cute card sketch that I've been wanting to use on Pinterest so I took advantage of it!

I pretty much stuck to the whole layout of the card sketch because I like the layers. 

Here's a slightly stepped up version...I simply added a border with the fine tip of my crumb cake marker and a ruler. 

 My tips:

• I used MDS (my digital studio) to print the "oh baby baby" sentiment on a 2.5" circle from the Hello World digital kit. I colored the words with crumb cake and pumpkin pie.
• use a small safety pin to attach onto the circle next to the sentiment to give it some dimension.
• I cut the baja breeze and island indigo rectangles to 3"x 1.75" then rounded the opposite corners with the corner rounder punch.

Supplies Used:

• cardstock: crumb cake, island indigo, *baja breeze, pumpkin pie, whisper white
• ink: crumb cake, versamark (for the bottle)
• stamps: *baby bundle, "oh baby baby" digital stamp
• punches: 2 1/2" circle, corner rounder
• embellishments: *trinkets
• ribbon: *baja breeze seam binding
• paper piercing tool and circle template
• polka dot embossing folder

NOTE: * indicates items are retired


I am looking forward to one day meeting this sweet little boy and I'm sure that our son would be happy to meet his little brother as well! 

Thank you for stopping by and don't be shy to comment about my latest creation! Until next time...

A baby shower invite using MDS

My Digital Studio (MDS) is one of the most amazing inventions when it comes to creating papercrafts!!!

I know I don't talk about MDS much, but seriously, you MUST try it. Although I don't create alot of digital papercrafts, there are times when digital is the way to go when you have a TON of invites to send out!

Take for example, the baby shower invitation that I have put together for my friend. 

This invitation was pretty much made for me once I downloaded it. All I did was change some colors with the HANDY stamp coloring tool,add some text, and change the project size to be postcard type. VOILA!!! Pure cuteness done in 10 minutes. I love,love, love the pops of color on the chalkboard design!!!


I downloaded this kit (and you can too) from HERE and it has everything you need for baby shower decorations! The kit is called Hello World.

Don't have MDS? You can download it for FREE for 30 days. Click HERE to begin.

Thanks for joining me! Until next time....

Stampin' UP! 2014 Occasions Catalog

Finally, the moment a lot of you have been waiting for.........the 2014 Occasions Catalog has been released for your viewing and ordering pleasure!

Click HERE to view the catalog and more!

A few things you need to know:

• don't forget about the Carryover list from the 2013 Holiday catalog. Available through June 1st. Click on the image to the right of this page to view.
• access the designer paper (DSP) list of coordinating colors HERE.
• Don't have a catalog? Get a FREE copy from me by e-mailing me at jretana06@gmail.com.
• Get a FREE stamp set of your choice when you earn 10 scissors! For more details, click HERE
• Go ahead, place your order today at my Online Store! Simply click on the link to the left of this page.

 
Watch all the videos below to see some awesome products that are featured in the catalog.
 

Stampin' UP! 2014 Occasions catalog peek

I have another peek of the upcoming 2014 Occasions catalog for you, PLUS the Sale-a-bration banner blast stamp set & matching banner punch is shown as well!

My TIPS:

• create an easy way to keep your ribbon in place by using your circle punch and punching out both edges of your paper as shown above. (I used the 3/4" circle punch here)
•  the small pearl on the heart is just right to finish off this card.

Supplies Used:

• cardstock: very vanilla, coastal cabana, so saffron
• DSP: * Retro fresh
• ink: coastal cabana, baked brown sugar, tangerine tango
• stamps: * peachy keen, ** banner blast
• * on film framelit dies 
• punches: 3/4" circle, ** banner
• pearls
• stylish stripes embossing folder (holiday 2013 catalog)
• linen thread

NOTE: 
* denotes items from the 2014 Occasions catalog
** denotes items from the 2014 Sale-a-bration (SAB) catalog


Don't wait to get your 2014 Occasions catalog (set to release January 3rd)! You may get one FREE if you e-mail me at jretana06@gmail.com.

Until next time...

a MASCULINE Birthday

I can't wait for you to see the upcoming Stampin' UP! Occasions 2014 Catalog. There are lots of projects in there that are sure to inspire you to create! 

I have already had an inspiration from this new catalog. I had to create a masculine birthday card for a co-worker and flipped to the perfect page for that inspiration!

Here's a peek of what inspired me. I love the textures, the colors, and the layout. Perfect for a masculine card!

This is one of the reasons I LOVE Stampin' UP!, they do all the hard work of thinking up a project and when I need something quick,  I easily find what I want to "CASE".

On the card that I created below, I followed a similar layout with similar textures. I am very happy with the turnout.

 Supplies used:

• cardstock: basic gray, whisper white, island indigo, pool party
• DSP: winter frost 
• Ink: island indigo, basic gray, coastal cabana, basic black
• stamps: gorgeous grunge, you're amazing, woodgrain
• ribbon: linen thread
• punches: 2 1/2" circle
• color spritzer (retired)
• sponge dauber (for edges)

Get your own FREE copy of the upcoming Occasions catalog by e-mailing me at jretana06@gmail.com (available for order on January 3rd)

I'd love to read your comments so don't be shy! 

Until next time....

A Retro wedding money holder

Phew!!! What a MONTH!!! I just don't understand where all the time goes....

On another note, I finally got to get in some crafting time to create a special money holder for some friends of ours that tied the knot this past weekend. 

This money holder features the "Retro Fresh" designer paper that will be coming very soon in the Stampin' UP! Occasions catalog 2014.
While I was creating this card, I came to the realization that I do not own 1 single wedding stamp set from Stampin' UP! so I had to resort to my non-SU! stash of stamp sets.

My Tips:

• create the holder by cutting a piece of CS to 8 1/4"x 7".
• score at 3" and 6" along the 7inch length.
• use the envelope punch board to create the middle tab as shown in the bottom right picture before your assemble the holder.

Supplies used:

• cardstock: crumb cake, tangerine tango, coastal cabana, so saffron, very vanilla, baked brown sugar
• DSP: retro fresh (coming soon)
• stamp set: wedding (by Inkadinkado), everyday expressions (by stampabilities) 
• ink: soft suede, tangerine tango
• embellishments: pearls
• punches: heart
• envelope punch board

Interested in the upcoming "Retro Fresh" paper Suite? Sign up for my mailing list and get a FREE Spring catalog by e-mailing me at jretana06@gmail.com


Thanks for reading my post! Until next time....