Beautiful Butterflies for you!

Craft Critique recently reported on Stampin Up's fabulous Beautiful Butterfly die. After you read this review by Sara McKenzie and purchase yours here, be sure to stop by craft critique and show Sara some stampin Love!

As Reported by Sara McKenzie on Craft Critique

In support of the Craft Critique Butterfly Project, I poked around to see what I might want to make and share. It feels a little bit like cheating, but if you want quantity, you can do what I did and go for die cut butterflies.

Stampin Up! has an exclusive Sizzix Bigz die "Beautiful Butterflies" that will cut 6 butterflies at once, of different sizes and shapes. Two of the butterflies are created by using a folded piece of paper or cardstock, and placing the fold at the center of the butterfly. Below is an example of what you get out of the die.

Butterflies from the Beautiful Butterflies die.

When you use a folded piece of paper, you get two-each of the butterflies on the lower row. The two on top are cut on the fold. The butterflies range in size from 4" X 3" to 1-1/2" X 2-1/4".

You can use a single sheet of paper, or you can mix and match using scraps on the different butterflies, as shown below.

Mix and match your butterflies by choosing the placement of your paper.

Of course the die easily cuts through all manner of materials. I played with vellum, handmade paper, paper doilies, and origami paper. The butterflies are sized to be used singly, or you can layer them; you can adhere the whole butterfly to your project, or you can adhere only the center so the wings are free to move.

These butterlifes are great for all manner of projects, including:

• greeting cards
• scrapbook pages
• 3-D paper projects, such as stationery boxes
• mobiles

In other words, pretty much anything you want to use them for!

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So, what do you think? Wanna get your hands on this great Die? Did you know it's a Stampin Up Exclusive? You can get it today for only $19.99 (retails at $21.95)plus S&H . If you are interested in contributing to the Butterfly Project for the Houston Holocaust museum, this die will make a perfect addition to your stash and before long, you can crank out tons of your own buterflies to donate.

Stampin Up also recently released this great butterfly punch, for only $15.95, but if you order it now, it's yours for only $14.45 + S&H.

Better yet, make plenty of butterflies to donate and plenty to keep for yourself! Purchase both the butterfly punch and the butterfly die today for only$29.99 Plus S&H. You cant get a better deal!

Butterfly Special

Butterfly Die for Sizzix $21.95 Butterfly Punch $14.45 Both Butterflies $29.99

Embracing Life

Today's first card share is one I did for the Clean and Simple Sketch Challenge this week, I used more this gorgeous paper from the cottage wall collection, really, isnt it beautiful? Of course, I had to break out the Embracing life flower again, I am really enjoying this set!











When I first saw the Circle Circus set, I didnt really see the appeal. However, as I started to see others creations, it started to grow on me a little bit. If you have been watching, the new In-Colors can be very bold! I usually try to tame them a little bit, but for some reason, on this card, i wanted Big and Bold, so I used my two favorite Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo. I tried to use something similar to the depth of view technique from TJ. I saw on someone's blog where they used something like a depth of view resist technique, so I gave it try and this was my final take on it. The Sentiment is my favorite one from the On your Birthday set. Isn't it fantastic? The phrase Live, Laugh and Love, always makes me feel better when I am down.

Thinking of you, always!

I can't call him, to tell him how much I miss him, I can't see him, or hear his voice, but I can't
stop thinking of him. I cannot bring myself to scrapbook, I have nothing happy to remember
these days..........

A friend and fellow blogger wrote me today, to say if there weren't any changes, we would
never have butterflies. That inspired this first card, I wish I could hold on to such words at a time like this, when I am hurting and so much is changing.

I wish I could turn into a beautiful butterfly sometimes and just fly away from the hurt.
I know when one door closes another is supposed to open, but it's so hard when all you see is the closed door in front of your face, eh?

Since I can't call him (or should I say, I shouldnt call him), since I cant text him or email him
or hear his voice today, I will just keep making cards to let him know I am thinking of him.

He will never see them, He will never know the pain that I feel, missing him! Maybe someday, they will find their way out of my stash and into some ones hands, to make them happy.

Maybe the smile they put on someone's face someday will make it worth it, the creativity that comes from hurt and lost love.


Enough of the sadness, I used the beutiful new Designer Series Paper, Cottage wall. You really can't tell how vivid and beautiful it is in the catty, you really need to see it first hand! It's beautiful. The first card uses the Simple Friendship stamp set and the rest of them use the new level two hostess set, Asian Artistry.

Wouldnt you know that somehow, I managed to order the spanish version instead of the English one, so I havent used the sentiment.

The sentiment that comes in this set, says Wherever you go, go with all your heart. How appropriate when I am hurting and missing him so much.

The Thinking of You Sentiment, is from teh new set, Kind and Caring thoughts, another beautiful set of sentiments!

I also used the new Desginer Label punch. I cannot stop making these beautiful thinking of you cards
tonight, because well, I am thinking of you Bobby and I always will!

Another Thinking Inking Video

I got a little behind on the thinking inking videos over at two peas. You can watch the third in the paint dabbers series here:You can go over to the two peas site and give Jennifer some love and see all the fabulous creations everyone is making! You can also download the pdf here

Happy 4th of July

I found this on a fellow bloggers blog and couldnt resist sharing it here! This is my 20th year serving in the military and I still tear up when I hear the National Anthem or any other patriotic song. You will see me swinging my fist to Toby Keith and wanting to beat some Taliban butt too! (lol) Happy 4th of July everyone, please take a moment to think about those that are still serving, away from home to keep us safe in bed! This truly is the best Country and I love what I do for a living!!!

I watched the flag
Pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud.
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil,
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' g raves ?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant 'Amen,'
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington .
No, freedom isn't free.

Thank you to all my fellow service men, women and all their loved ones who wait so patiently for their return.

There is no better time to Join Stampin' Up!

While anytime is a great time to join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator, joining during July and August is an especially good time!!

Starting your own Stampin' Up! business means free and discounted products (20% and up!), plus a little extra cash--or a lot, its really up to you! Now, from July 15 - August 31, you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for only $85!

The special, limited-time Mini Starter Kit contains all you need to get started in your new business, including
For All You Do stamp set
In Color Classic Stampin' Pads (6)
Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Business forms and tools
Or if you want to buy the standard $199 Starter Kit, in addition to the supplies listed below, you'll get all six of the new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads and one pack of In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")--a $43 value! The standard Starter Kit includes
Four stamp sets
A Stampin' Around wheel, handle, and ink cartridge
Stampin' Pastels
Card stock
Eastern Blooms Décor Elements and applicator tool
Five Classic Stampin' Pads
VersaMark Pad
Stampin' Scrub and Mist
Blender pens
Business forms and tools

These special offers--the Mini Starter Kit and the In Color add-on to the standard Starter Kit--are only available for a limited time, so you must act fast! Benefits of Becoming a Demonstrator Whether you just love to stamp, or you want to grow a successful, thriving business, the Stampin' Up! opportunity is the right fit for you. Stampin' Up! demonstrators enjoy many benefits, with just a few listed below:

• Product discount. Demonstrators get a 20% discount on all Stampin' Up! products, including stamp sets, paper, and accessories. It's a great way to support your love of stamping and paper crafting.


• Extra income. You'll earn extra income based on your sales and recruiting--how much extra income is up to you. Maybe you just want enough income to pay the electric bill every month, or maybe your goal is bigger--the monthly payment for your new car--it's your decision! See the Compensation Table for more information.


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• Support from Stampin' Up! They have some of the greatest Customer Service I have ever seen!

So what are you waiting for? Contact me TODAY at angi89@yahoo.com or sign up online, use password angia; to join the Stampin' Up! family!

Plus, if you join my stampin team, I will make sure you have all the classes and workshops you need to get started! I have everything you need to make your business a great success!

What are you waiting for??? I cant wait to get you started!!!

Another Thinking Inking Video From Jennifer McGuire

Have you been following all the Thinking Inking videos over on the two peas website? If not, here is the next one in the series, more paint daubers!
You can see lots of samples and the PDF of this class

Free Stampin Up Catalog!

I am feeling a little patriotic tonight after creating all of those red white and blue cards. It has also occured to me that this year marks my 20th Anniversary in the Air Force, I can hardly believe it has been almost 20 years since I packed up my bags and headed off to basic training! What an amazing ride it has been. Also, this week marked the beginning of the new stampin up year, how exciting is that? Since I am feeling in the mood to celebrate, I would like to offer up 10 free Stampin Up catalogs! That's right, if you want your very own idea book and catalog, now is your chance to get one for free! Simply Comment on my blog sometime over this weekend. On Monday, I will pull ten names and send out 10 FREE catalogs!

Just a few more Red white and Blue for you!

I was trying to come up with my red white and blue entries for late night stampers and I really wanted to some fire works, this flower stamp from Kind and Caring thoughts was the best I could come up with
.

I also wanted to do something red white and blue, but not necessarily the typical patriotic theme. I still have about 80 cards to make and send to CFH, after my Memorial Day Challenge, so I made this card for military family members. I used the flowers from embrace life again and the sentiment is from the new Service and Sacrifice set which really comes in handy for all those military cards I have to make!

Red White and Blue

I like to keep a stash of cards at the office for last minute use. It never fails a co-worker has a birthday or gets promoted and we forget or didnt know, so I like to make cards that I can keep in a box at work that can be pulled out and signed at a moment's notice. This first card I made for just that, since joining the military almost 20 years ago, I have made so many friends and met people all over the world. Many times, we celebrate things like babies, marriages and promotions without our loved ones, so I always like to have some handmade cards to try and help make the day just a little bit more special.


Late Night Stampers has a challenge to create a Red White and Blue card, while Stampin 411 had a sketch challenge, so I took both of them and these are the Two Cards I came up with. The first card is simply real red, Night of Navy and Whisper White and a simple sentiment from the new service and sacrafice set.

The second card is another from the Embrace Life set, I just love this flower (a dogwood, I think). Anyway, I combined some real red and brilliant blue to water-color the flowers. I used my eyelet border punch on both cards and skimmed my moonlight white ink pad over the cardstock to give it a worn look, I really like the way it came out. The flowers were a little too big for the Stampin 411 sketch challenge, so I overlapped them a little to make it match the sketch a little more.

Happy 4th of July!

Be sure to sign up to ride our next ROYAL BLOG TOUR

Good Evening everyone! Happy Fourth of July weekend! I am very excited to announce that our blog tour is only a few weeks away and the team is hopping to bring you a fantastic tour of creativity and fun! If you haven't signed up to ride the tour yet, you should stop by the blog as we have posted some fantastic interviews of some of your favorite stampers! There will be more to come and lots of surprises, so make sure you sign up to follow the blog today!

http://royalblogtour.blogspot.com/

A little more embracing life

I am really enjoying playing with this set! I love how versatile it is, but then again, what SU stamp isn't? I didn't notice that I forgot to put a sentiment on this card, until I saw it on the screen, oh well, I think the flowers are still very striking! I used some old SAB ribbon and some old olive paper, along with my mellow moss (yep, I think it is my favorite green!)














This card front was done on the other side of my Mellow Moss Cardstock, I added some old olive patterned paper (Both sides) to add some layers and the left over dogwood from my last post, sponged some old olive around the edges (How do you sponge them without getting the round daubber marks anyway) Guess I will have to practice that technique.

Happy Stampin'
Angi

Embrace Life

I am loving this set! It's not an new SU set, but it is new to me! I just got it in my shipment today and I really do love it! I cased all three cards from the internet somewhere, if they are your designs, please let me know so I can give you credit. I am really bad about keeping track of whose ideas I like!


The second card uses a die I have in my stash, its not SU, but I think it really goes perfectly with this flower from the Embrace life set! I of course had to use the new in-colors cardstock and ribbon and the card on top is the razzleberry lemonade DSP, isnt it just yummy?

Now that I see this one on the screen, I realize I probably should have watercolored with a different water color since its so close to the cardstock, its hard to tell the flower is a seperate item.

Anyway, the die cut is from sizzix, its a dogwood flower w/stem. I dont know how long I have had it, but it is the old red kind, so its probably a few years old.


I cased this one from the internet too, isnt it just beautiful! I used some mellow moss ink for this one, I am really thinking that this is one of my favorite greens in the SU line-up. Dusty Durango cardstock and marker topped off this creation. I love the way it turned out!

Free Truck SVG file

Here is the latest freebie from SVG cuts, be sure to stop by their page and see all the great files they have to offer!

Make your summertime gatherings special with the Country Living Summer Cookout Kit

Spending time with family and friends can make the splendid, lazy days of summer ones you'll always remember. With the simple and speedy projects in the Country Living Summer Cookout Kit, every occasion to gather becomes a reason to celebrate!

For just $24.95, you'll have what you need to throw a fantastic summer barbecue, including

• Dig In stamp set
• Die-cut table tents (two each of four colors)
• Die-cut components, bamboo skewers, and envelopes to create eight shish kabob invitations
• Die-cut coasters (three each of four colors)
• Die-cut tags (four each of four colors)
• 12" x 12" printed food wrapper sheets (12 each of two colors)
• Printed recipe cards (four)
• Linen thread (five yards)
• Ruby Red Classic Stampin' Spot
• Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Spot

This offer is only available June 15 - August 31 (or while supplies last), so order on-line or phone me 302-670-7980 or by email at angi89@yahoo.com

Download Country_Living_0609_US flyer now!

Download Idea sheet - Download Country_Living_Kit_US_0609

See how Shelli used the kit!

Todays SVG Freebies

I just came across these fabulous US NAVY freebies on Denise's Scrapbooking Room Aren't they fabulous and there are many more freebies with lots of patriotic and military themes, You really wont be disappointed!
Denise has lots of freebies and even more files for purchase at her site, be sure to drop by and give her some love and check out what else she has going on!

Workshop of the Month: Razzle Dazzle

Want to make these gorgeous projects with your family and friends? Want to host a party at your home or mine, featuring this workshop and the new catalog? Maybe you would like to order a workshop in a basket, where I send you all of the supplies you need to complete this workshop at your house and you can get the same hostess benefits as having a regular workshop?
Contact me today at angi89@yahoo.com to schedule your workshop today! Hurry dates are sure to fill up fast with this beautiful set!w

Another Free SVG from Free SVGs

Free SVGs has done it again, check out this cute little gardening boot, isn't it adorable?? So cute, be sure to check out all their other freebies and files for purchase!!