Blog Hop

Well Hello!  So happy to have you stop in here for our 

Maine Stampin' Up! Demonstrators Blog Hop!

Try not to get TOO excited, but this IS a very exciting thing...My card today is made with brand spankin' *NEW* supplies - soon to come to you on June 1st - from Stampin' Up!  I just love this beautiful stamp set, the sparkly goodness of it, paired with the bright colors and just the right background - gold polka dots.  Everything is 10x better with polka dots.  Right?

Start with a card base of melon mambo.  Just take a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 piece and score it on the 8 1/2 side at 4 1/4.  Then fold in half.

Attach a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of DSP.  I used the large gold polka dots from the *NEW* Pop of Pink DSP.  Don't you just LOVE it?

On a 2 x 4 piece of whisper white cardstock, stamp on the image from the *NEW* Hostess Stamp Set Fabulous Flora.  I used Stazon ink because I felt it gave a more vibrant look.

Color in the image with melon mambo, daffodil delight and cucumber crush markers.  I then used the *NEW* peekaboo peach marker to add more color to the center of the flower.

This is where the magic happens.  I wanted more sparkle, so I looked around...what could I do?  At this point, it was the next morning, and I had a few minutes before the bus run (you know, running out the door to make sure my kids do not miss the bus, which comes to the end of my road and not actually to my house).  Well this particular morning, I actually had extra time.  Must have been the crafting gods, because this never happens.  Ever.  So it was meant to be for me to find just the right sparkly goodness to add.

And there it was.  My gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush.  Perfect.  I added some to the flower image.  I took a 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 piece of whisper white for a mat and brushed the gold glitter brush around the outside edge.  I let it dry for a minute, then I attached it together with dimensionals and then to the front of the card.

After stamping the little HELLO sentiment (from the same Fabulous Flora Stamp Set) in melon mambo ink, I flag cut the right edge and attached the left edge under the stamped image using a glue dot.

Done!  And the sparkle!  You want to see it again?

So there you have it.  I hope this has gotten you excited to see our new Stampin' Up! catalog.  June 1st...count down the days...email me to request a catalog (ajoyfullifecards@gmail.com) or place an order HERE.  Thanks for visiting.

Now onto the next blog...by one of my favorite Maine Stampers, Jean Tarrio!

Free Shipping and Retired Products List is Out!

Now is the time to shop with me for your favorite Stampin' Up! products!  Everything, yes everything you order will ship for free, April 21 - 25!  Visit the link below to start on your list of wants!

Click Here to Shop with FREE SHIPPING!

Also, check out our Retiring Stamps and Accessories from our 2013-2014 Annual Catalog.  These items will only be available through June 4th and they are while supplies last!  So if you favorite ribbon sells out in 2 days, then you are out of luck.  

Order now to make sure you get all the things you want!

Click Here for the PDF listing Retiring Stamp Sets

Click Here for the PDF listing Retiring Accessories

If you have any questions, be sure to contact me!

Happy Shopping!

Camo. Can you see it?

Who loves Pinterest?  I know.  I know.  We all do.  It sucks us in, right?  So many cute things we could make if we had all the time in the world with no life commitments.

I like to look at card designs.  Making cards fits into my life.  I find a design I like.  Make it.  Done in a matter of minutes.  I feel like I accomplished something.  That card, too, will be sent to someone to brighten their day AND I just saved myself $4 by not buying one in the store.  Making one is far more economical.

Here is the link for one I found on Pinterest:

http://www.talesfromthecompact.blogspot.com/2013/10/camo-christmas.html?m=1

I love it!  Every male in my life will be getting a version of this camo card this year!  

I saw the design.  I made it.  Done in a matter of minutes.  Thank You Cheryl Holtman for copying your friend, Jan's, card, posting it on your blog and on Pinterest, so that I too could copy it.  Happy we can all share!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Cupcakes!

Last night at my children's school there was a Father/Daughter dance.  I have sons so my children were not going, but I wanted to go!  So I joined the planning committee, because as a crafter, isn't that the dream - to plan events like this and make them pretty?  My good friend, Heather, who is also a Stampin' Up! Demonstator, is super naturally talented and made the cutest tissue paper flowers that she hung.  I am hoping to nab a picture of them for a later post.

As for me, I made lollipop flowers with Heather that we put into plant pots.  Cute!

And Yummy Mini Cupcakes!

May brings the Monther/Son Kickball Game.  Now that will be a blast with my kiddos!

Card Candy. Mmmm.

No it is not candy you eat, but it is still eye catching!  "How did I get so much of this card candy?" you ask.  I joined a swap!  "What is a swap?" you ask.  It is an organized group of people, who all make a certain amount of somethings, send it to one person who separates all the somethings out and mail back an assortments of somethings for you.  Do you get it now?  Well whether you did or did not, here is what I got!

I signed up, along with 12 other people, which meant that whatever I made, I had to make 13 of the same exact thing.  It was card candy, so we were told to make 6 items that could be peeled off the backing and attached to any birthday card design.  13 sets of 6 items. Yes, that did take me a long time!  I know, it is amazing that I can read your mind!

My package with my 13 sets of 6 items, all different on the return, came back to me on Saturday.  Perfect!  I had to make a birthday card for my sister-in-law!  Now the decision was hard.  Which card candy should I use first.  I went though them all over and over until finally I chose.  

Tada!  Here is the card I made:

All I did was cut a base for the card, add a strip of early expresso brown and then I used some of the card candy pieces.  Easiest card I have ever made!  

My THANKS goes out to Tracey Roy, fellow Mainer and Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, who actually MADE these Card Candy pieces.  It was a pleasure using your work.

To see more of Tracey's work, visit her blog at

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/traceyroy/blog

Weekly Deals you do not want to miss!

Glimmer Paper!  Designer Series Patterned Paper!  Core'dinations Paper (that you can sand!)  Oh My!

Take a look at the Weekly Deals and Order through my link below.

Click Here to Shop this Week's Deals!

Also, now until March 31st, for every $50 order, you can choose an item FREE, that's right FREE, from our Sale-a-bration Catalog.  You can find those items in a link to the left.

Happy Shopping!

Male + Birthday Card = Challenging

I always find it hard to design a handmade birthday card for a male, especially if I am not using a specific stamp, like a deer, a four wheeler, a campfire.  Until I found this stamp set...Gorgeous Grunge.

I had so many ideas for this!  Backgrounds galore in so many colors.  

The dirtier the background looks, the more male-ish right?

Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow.  So many colors!

Oh wait, in Stampin' Up! language, it is not quite navy, garden green, tangerine tango, daffodil delight!

I had a lot of practice making this card too, since my husband has 3 male siblings all with birthdays within 1 week in March.  Aaron on the 10th.  Toby and Matthew on the 17th.  Oh but don't forget his sister also has her birthday on March 17th. (and no, there are no twins or triplets!  Just happen to like that day to be born!)  My brother's wife's birthday is also on March 16th and then their daughter just turned 1 on March 20th.  Wow, what a busy week.  Here is the highlight:

I know...she is the cutest thing you have ever seen.

Happy First Birthday Charlotte!  Your Auntie loves you!

Thanks for Visiting!