Suzanne's Stamping Garden

If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed an uptick recently in the number of posts I've been doing. I was fortunate to attend some training through Stampin' Up! where they proved to us the more often and consistently we post, the more engagement we will have. And I want you to engage! Yesterday was World Card Making Day. It was so fun to stamp with others from around the world yesterday afternoon and we made three cards together. The beauty of technology! Sara Douglass, our CEO and her daughter Sydney also made some cards using a new suite which you will be able to order soon. Stamping is so much fun, especially when you are in a room filled with like-minded people who enjoy the creative process as much as you do. The October and November class schedule will be posted tomorrow (I am waiting to hear back from a friend on something before I schedule.) Let's make some cards together soon! Take advantage of free shipping this week - October 9 - 11. https://suzanne

When was the last time you took inventory of your craft stuff? Are you like me and enjoy more than one craft?  We recently moved and downsized. This past month I've come to realize that if you name a craft--I've probably tried it and bet there is something I can contribute to your stash. One find was a stash of hardanger embroidery items that haven't been touched in a long time! Along with cross-stitch, quilting, beading, diamond painting, items for my 19-year-old's baby scrapbook (that hasn't been started), and of course, my first love, cardmaking. Visualize stuffing a bratwurst into a straw. That is what it is like consolidating it into my new craft room. It is coming along, but not as quickly as I had hoped. I LOVE that I am on the first floor with a couple of windows for natural light. I need to be creative on how this all gets stored. The beauty of this move is that it allows me to be brutal on what to save, what to store for a future project and what I can do

  Last month, I celebrated my 5-year anniversary with Stampin' Up! Those years just flew by! I'm hoping for another five years so let me know if you would like a catalog or would like to place an order! Thank you! Suzanne

  Sometimes the card-making juju just hits at just the right time. You start making a card and everything seems to fall into place. I had one of those days while creating this card! Please click on the card to appreciate the details! All of the products I mention are Stampin' Up! You can find them on my website, the link is below. I chose a splotched background from the Dainty Flowers DSP that was a free option during SaleABration. My card layers include Crushed Curry 131199 and Mossy Meadow 133676. From the Queen Bee cling stamp set there is a stamp of word gibberish that I stamped onto the background using Crumb Cake ink 147116. The circle with the Bee Hive embossed was a retired embossing folder from Stampin' Up! Also from the Crushed Curry I used the dies that came with the set to add three hive outlines to the card front (the third one is layered onto the bee hive circle. Sentiments are stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock 101650. with Black Momento ink 132708. Crown and he

  Not too long ago, adult coloring books were all the rage. Most of the books are too large to color and use as card fronts, but if the designs are abstract enough, you could trim it up to make it work. Recently I ordered some magnetic sheets to fit my dies inside of their respective stamp set cases. They were ordered from Honey Bee Stamps. Inside my order was a 'thank you for your order' post card and I decided to color it. Below is the end result - using Stampin' Blends markers, it really brightened up the card! So on days when you aren't feeling particularly creative, try old-fashioned coloring instead. The results can be stunning! Happy Stamping, Suzanne

The few Valentine cards made this year went out the door early last week, as did the Cupid Care Packages I shipped my two daughters. I was inspired by an envelope Angie Pyjas created. Using some retired designer series paper, this envelope holds three Ghirardelli chocolates. I have to say I wasn't thrilled with the colors for the January Paper Pumpkin. Peach, purple and pink. UGH. So I didn't make any of the Valentines as designed and created some alternatives. (at least this month didn't have the usual treat bags for Valentine's day!) Hopefully your Valentine's Day went well! Corey and I celebrated Taco Tuesday at Cafe Corazon. Very delicious! Happy Stamping! Suzanne