What to do when you need to make a card and your stamping table is such a mess that you don't have even a foot of space to stamp? You turn to your computer and My Digital Studio!

This stamp room never gets messed up…well, you might have to clean out some files once in a while so you don't run out of memory space…LOL! Anyway, I wanted to stamp today but didn't have the time to clean up a space so here is what I created with My Digital Studio.

Stampin' Up! released a lot of My Digital Studio downloads during January and I am excited about playing around with them. If you haven't purchased My Digital Studio yet, what is keeping you from it? The program is easy to use and the creative possibilities are limitless! Click here to purchase your own copy.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp Brush Sets using Concord Crush color: Thank You Kindly
            Notably Ornate
            Torn Edges – Flower Edge

Paper: Pink Pirouette card stock, Lap Of Luxury designs #6 and #12

Punches: Decorative Label punch
            Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch

This is the card we made at the workshop last Sunday. I rarely CASE anything but I couldn't pass up this card originally made by Laurie Gibson. I did change the little heart she had on her card to a heart punched from Glimmer paper using the smallest heart of the Heart to Heart punch. I also changed out the sentiment using the sentiment from Short and Sweet instead. Stop by my online store to purchase the supplies needed to make this card. My store is open 24/7!

Thanks for coming to visit today. Did you take time to have a cup of coffee or tea with me?

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamps: Short and Sweet (115060)

Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink Pad (101179)

Card Stock: Basic Black (121045)
            Real Red (102482)
            Whisper White (100730)

Other: Two-Step Owl Punch (118074)
            Scallop Oval Punch (119856)
            1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch 
            1 3/8" x 5/6" Oval Punch
            Two-Step Bird Punch (117191)
            2 1/2' Circle Punch (120906)
            Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (120175)
            Heart tp Heart Punch (119881)

…start your own papercrafting business! The starter kits are on sale for 15% off. This means you can start your own business for an investment of just $148.75! You have your choice of the Standard Starter Kit or the Digital + Starter Kit. Both kits are valued at over $300.

But the real measure of the value of owning your own papercrafting business is the opportunities it offers:

• ability to decide how much time you can put into your business
• ability to earn extra money to pay bills, save for a special trip

• chance to earn incentive trips and awards

• being a member of a sisterhood of fellow stamping demonstrators who are passionate about stamping
• flexible schedule to fit around family obligations
• a wonderful creative outlet having fun while working
• excellent training from both Stampin' Up! and me
• pride in being a part of a solid and growing company who puts relationships as important as the bottom line

During Sale-a-Bration, new recruits not only get a sale price on the starter kit but also get an extra $50 bundle of free product. Furthermore, finding customers and hostesses for workshops is easier during Sale-a-Bration due to the opportunity customers have to receive free product for each $50 they spend.

Don't wait! Sign up now and get your business off to a great start during Sale-a-Bration. Contact me for more information or visit my online store to sign up.

Thanks for coming by to visit today. I look forward to you coming back often.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

My offering for you today is a 3-D project that my stampers made at last Sunday's workshop. The Stampin' Up! matchbox die is a quick and easy to make little treat holders for your friends and loved ones. The matchboxes can be made from card stock or from designer papers. I have done both. This time I used card stock and embellished the top with hearts punched from Glimmer paper. I also used one of the three tags that also comes on the matchbox die. You can get a lot of conversation heart candies in one of these cute little boxes! If you don't already have this die, hurry over to my online store to order one. If you order soon, it will arrive in time to make these little 'Matchless Love' boxes. Thanks for stopping by to visit today and come back tomorrow to see what else we made at the workshop.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp: Valentine Defined (121941, wood) (123057, clear)

Ink: Real Red Classic Ink Pad

Card Stock: Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Other: Glimmer Paper (121790)
           Heart to Heart Punch (119881)
           Matchbox Bigz xl die (114890)

Good Monday to you all! It is My Digital Studio Monday and I have a card for you today. It took a little experimenting to get theVintage Overlay #3 resized to fit a 5 1/2"x 4 1/4 " card. I hope you enjoy this card. If you do, let me know by leaving a comment. If you would love to have a complete stamp studio right on your computer, click here to purchase your own copy of My Digital Studio. I will help you have as much fun with it as I do.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Software: My Digital Studio

Stamp Set Brush: Thank You Kindly

Backgrounds: Vintage Overlays #6
         Springtime Vintage #3
         Baja Breeze Card Stock

Accessories: Curly Label Punch once filled with white and once filled with black
         Square Punch filled with the Springtime                 Vintage #3
         Chantilly Bow and Ribbon

The February issue of The Soggy Stamper Newsletter comes out tomorrow. You really need to be on my mailing list so you can receive this issue packed with projects, tips, and current updates of my classes and Stampin' Up! specials. The sign up box is to the right so take the time right now to sign up! The process is easy and painless.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

  This afternoon a customer hosted a workshop. She had 11 people attend and earned over $100 in free Stampin' Up product plus two free exclusive hostess sets and a free Sale-a-Bration set. Sale-a-Bration is a great time to host a workshop as each $50 in product ordered gives the choice of one of the many offerings in the Sale-a-Bration brochure for FREE. These choices include stamp sets; designer papers; embellishments; a Decor Element item; and even a CD filled with all the digital versions of the stamps. Quick Accents, ribbon, buttons, and Decor Elements image in the Sale-a-Bration brochure. Long-distance customers can host a catalog workshop where you gather up orders and send them to me. Email or call me for more information about scheduling a time for fun, stamping, and great savings with your friends.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Each weekend the Stamping 411 blog posts a sketch and I love to play along with them. The timing is perfect for me since my day job doesn't get in the way of my stamping fun. Lots of other things often do but at least I have a little more time. Here is this weekend's sketch and my version as a Valentine. I love the way my card came together. It isn't quite like I had originally planned. Thanks for coming by to visit. I love getting comments…hint, hint! Let me know I have been visited.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamps: Love You Much (113756)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink Pad
       Pirouette Pink, Always Artichoke and Pumpkin Pie Markers

Paper: Pirouette Pink, Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla Card Stock
       Glimmer Paper

Other: Scallop Trim Border Punch
       Heart to Heart Punch
       Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

I seem to always be slow to start making holiday plans until the holiday is almost on us. Valentine's Day is no exception. Here is a little Valentine treat I have made along the lines of the one Holly Krautkremer shared on her blog. It is going to be one of the projects the guests at Barb Moot's workshop make next Sunday. This is such an cute and quick way to use the Heart Treat Cups that Stampin' Up! sells. To order the supplies to make this project, click here. Thanks for coming to visit. Come back tomorrow to see one of the cards that will be made at this workshop.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Paper: Real Red Card Stock (102482)
        Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
        Glimmer Paper (121790)

Ink: Real Red Classic Ink (103133)

Other: Heart Treat Cups (120435)
        Modern Label Punch (119849)
        Crop-A-Dile (108362) – to punch hole in top for ribbon
        Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon (117286)

You are missing out on a wonderful collection of projects complete with directions and pictures, tips, and techniques by not being on my mailing list. The February issue of my newsletter will be coming out next Tuesday so sign up now so you will begin receiving the benefits of being on my mailing list with this issue. The sign up box it to the right of this post and the process is easy. Thanks for stopping by today and do come again soon.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

This sounds like something that the student council at the school where I work would declare. It is actually a recognized day nationwide. In honor of Opposite Day, I have created this black and white card…total opposites. Now this is greatly out of my comfort zone for colors but the color combination takes little thought. This stamp set Notably Ornate also makes this card very easy to do and very elegant. I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder to add texture to the black layer. All of this is mounted on a Whisper White base which is barely visible in the scan. I am sure you, dear reader, can do a better job of a black and white color combination than I have. Email me a photo of your card and I will share it here. Thanks for visiting today. Do leave a comment…I love comments!

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamps: Notably Ornate (117098, wood) (120561, clear)
             On Your Birthday (111664)

Card Stock: Basic Black (121045)
             Whisper White (100730)

Ink: Basic Black Craft Ink (102192)

Other: Decorative Label Punch (120907)
             Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (120175)
             1/2" Lace Trim (retired)
             Sponge Dauber (102892)

Have you been wondering if you could do what I do? That is be a Stampin' Up! demo? The answer is YES! And now is a great time to begin your papercrafting business. Jan 24 – March 31 is Sale-a-Bration and Stampin' Up! is offering a special on the starter kit. Check it out!

Choose either our standard Starter Kit or our Digital +Starter Kit – both at a 15% discount. Plus receive a special bonus bundle of over $50 in free products! If you are interested in more information as to how you can earn extra money, design your work schedule to fit your family's needs, and have great fun while working, contact me now!

Sunday, January 23 is National Handwriting Day. This reminds me that we should be doing journaling in our scrapbooks. I have a lot of family pictures from previous generations. Some of them have names on the back of the photo but most are unmarked and I have no idea who they are or what they were doing. Journaling in your scrapbooks will fix this problem. Here are some things to journal about:

• Who is in the picture/s
• When the photo was taken
• What occasion is being shown
• What emotions are felt when looking at the photo/s
• What are the emotions of the subjects in the photo

This is a good beginning. Now the question arises…journal in your handwriting or type the journaling. Granted, typing it may look neater, but your own handwriting expresses part of your character. Your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will treasure the scrapbook even more if your handwriting appears on the pages as well as your memories.

The bottom line…however you may do it…don't forget the journaling!

Happy Scrapping and thanks for coming by,

Sue

Sunday, Jan 23, is National Handwriting Day. Here is an excerpt from an article posted on the AOL Shopping webpage.

"According to retail authority National Retail Federation (NRF), handwritten notes are making a strong comeback. Text and e-mail are the primary modes of communication between people, but a recent study of the greeting card and stationary market reveals that electronic communications are falling to the wayside as handwritten note cards re-emerge as the favored trend — or, "counter-trend." Yes, even with the convenience of Facebook.

Personalized, handwritten note cards are so much more meaningful to receive. It's a way for you to realize that you really do matter to your sender, as they have taken the time to think about and write out this message. With handwritten note cards, you can really connect with people on a personal level, helping yourself to build and maintain those warm and valuable relationships. Let someone know that they are a top priority.

With this head's up, take some time to practice your cursive and build up your stock of note cards. People's standards are higher today, so if you really want to impress and show people your sincerity, handwritten note cards are the way to go."

A packet of hand-stamped notecards makes a great gift for any occasion. Email me a card that you have made and I will be happy to feature it on this blog.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

This weekend's Stamping 411 sketch appeals to my sense of proportion. I used Stampin' Up!'s Botannical Gazette Designer Series Paper and the Noteably Ornate stamp set for my version of the sketch. Thanks for coming to visit me and leave a comment so I know you were here.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp Sets: Notably Ornate, On Your Birthday

Paper: Marina Mist, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper

Ink: Marina Mist

Other: Daffodil 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon