One dozen buttons in pear pizzaz-these cards dedicated to Cristena B & Jean F!

First I am dedicating my cards and posting today to a SU friend, Cristena B - she sent me a great Christmas gift that was totally unexpected by me - a RAK....it was such a nice surprise to receive this hostess set from the Stampin' Up 2010-2011 Idea Catalog.  It was the Designer series paper patterns pack In colors (p. 11) and I had seen them but didn't ever think I would be able to get it....but I did and so I used as much of the pear pizzaz paper in it to make these cards.  The papers were reversible, so I had lots of fun mixing and matching them! 

And because another super nice SU friend had a birthday yesterday, Jean F, so one of these birthday cards is dedicated to her long-distance!

I have to mention that I have never met either of these awesome people IRL (in real life) but have become "friends" with them because of my connection with Stampin' Up and the internet!!  Stampin' Up is like that....

So onto the fun I had making these cards, which also were designed for the Sudsol design challenge this week, which was BUTTONS! 

Here are 4 of the button variations

Free bitty buttons; watercolored cards

Just wanted to remind you that there are a few more days for Stampin' Up's Filled With Love bundle where you will get free bitty buttons with your order (to Jan. 24).  Here is a picture of the bitty buttons and a closeup of them. I have used them on several projects and they go with everything....so cute!

The bitty buttons are a $4.95 value:  Add a bit more eye-pleasing detail to your projects with Bitty Buttons. These clear mini buttons coordinate with both the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set and the shapes in our Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. Mix them all together for a charming spell of itty bits for your favorite keepsakes...

And when you place an order with me you will also receive a free tutorial from me for a Build a Card Kit projects!  Here is a picture of the projects to make in the Build a Card Kit tutorial:

This weekend I was fortunate enough to go to a watercoloring class that Diana Gibbs

Recycling my mini-tree!

I bet you have taken down all your Christmas decorations, just like me. But I just couldn't put my little tree away - I discovered it can be redecorated for other holidays! This is what it looked like as part of our Christmas decorations....I used it as a little Christmas tree for our furbaby...see there is her Christmas gourmet doggy bone underneath it. I hung her doggy Christmas ornament on it, but forgot to take a picture of that....next year I will put more doggy ornaments on it. 

Last year I used the tree for an Easter decoration - I had just bought the little tree at a church lawn sale along with some cute bunny baskets. I made up Easter-type peppermint patty treats to hang on it, which could be reused as candy holders or a bookmark afterwards. See how cute it was?

Oval Scallop Frame diecut photo card a la vintage; oranges in Dec.; more new Stampin Up items

I had to make a masculine birthday card so went with the cream, white, and black colors....I used Stampin' Up's oval scallop frame diecut to put around the photo, which was printed in black and white and lightly chalked with pastels in a few spots, to make it look vintagey! I also distresssed the designer paper Loveletters mounted on gray cardstock. The frame was also swiped with white ink. Here is a great way to use up some of those ribbon scraps you might have! I put one on either side of the frame and adhered them with an antique brad...I just love that striped grosgrain ribbon...

The new Stampin' Up Occasions catalog is here! Get free tutorial with your order

         

I just had to share pictures of some of the beautiful items available in Stampin' Up's newest Occasions mini-catalog, and what you can make with them!  There are breathtaking designer papers and fabric, with matching ribbons, brads, buttons....

Below is a picture of a new diecut to make adorable petal cones (they used to call them "tussies")

And here is a new simply sent card kit called Medallion Medley

If you are feeling kinda down with the after-holiday blues, or already tired of snow and/or cold, take a look at Stampin' Up's Occasions Mini-Catalog that just came out....the items and ideas in it will take your mind off them and put you in a better mood!  Just click on the picture of the mini-catalog on the left side of my blog, and make a list of a few things you HAVE to have....just like that New Year's resolutions list!

But this is something you can act on now and get almost-instant gratification - Send me an email with the items you would like to buy and I can invoice you via Paypal, OK? 

And you will also get my January monthly class tutorial for free!  The tutorial is to make a Build A Card kit so you will have 8 great cards ready to customize in an instant (just add paper, etc.) More almost-instant gratification!!  Wouldn't this make your life more organized and maybe give your children or grandchildren a great project too? 

So take a couple minutes for some "me" time - take a peek at the new Stampin' Up mini-catalog - and send me an email with your list (mklecuyer@hotmail.com) OK?

Thanks for stopping by!!

Last "family" holiday card for 2010; Happy New Year; last day to order from mini-catalog Jan 3

Another year is almost over, wow....just wanted to post a few last pictures!  Since some of you might have gotten snow for Christmas, this snowman cookie is for you!  It's all natural ingredients (yogurt, etc.) but if you look at the snowman's buttons, you will be able to see who this cookie was for! 

Yep, it was for our furbaby....and she absolutely loved it!  She ate it all up on Christmas day.  Isn't she a cutie?  Her fur is soft and silky, since she gets cleaned with doggy wipes and brushed every night before she goes to bed.  What fun we will have on New Year's Eve because we are going to our first owners and dogs' New Years Eve party - pizza for the owners and a fun run for the dogs at the indoor dog agility site we go to for classes. 

I will post some pics later!

To wish you a Happy New Year,  I'm posting and dedicating my last 2 cards made of the year to you all!  It has a family theme and I thought the saying on it was very appropriate to reflect how family and friend memories are - "Carpe diem!" I say (Latin for "seize the day")  Can you see the difference between these 2 cards?  The bottom half of each card is slightly different.  I used Stampin' Up's embossing folder called Vintage Wallpaper, but before I embossed the cardstock, I brayered white craft/pigment ink on one side of the folder.  For the other card, I brayered the other side of the embossing folder - Can't decide which one I like the best....There is a little rhinestone at the top of the tree, along with an antique brad, tinsel trim, and striped grosgrain ribbon (I love that ribbon).

The last day to order some of these Stampin' Up products featured in the holiday mini-catalog is Jan. 3rd - let me know if you want to order anything from it - you can download and view the catalog if you click on the picture of it to the left of my blog....

From our house and furbaby, to yours and your pets, be safe and have a Happy New Year!