I'm having a Class later this month and this is one of the cards my ladies will be making. It uses the MIXED BUNCH stamp set which was given to those

of us who attended Leadership in San Antonio back in February. It's featured in the Occasions Mini Catalog which ends April 30th. All the cards this month will be made using products/sets from this Catalog.
There is also a coordinating punch that goes with the MIXED BUNCH stamp set. Both the stamp set and BLOSSOM PUNCH can be seen on page 17 of the Occasions Mini. I cut the petals on the flower to give the card some depth. The other punch I used ~ the LACE RIBBON BORDER PUNCH ~ is in the 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog.
I'm glad you joined me today. Stay tuned later this week for the other cards I have designed for my upcoming class. Have a blessed day!

Happy Friday! It's Go Texans Day here in Houston

and the winds are blowing. So I thought it would be fitting to share with you today the KITE CARD Make & Take from the San Antonio Stampin'Up! Regionals back in January. We used the SEND ME SOARING stamp set.

You'll notice on the right side of the card part of a circle hanging out. We used a template to mark where the 3" circle should be attached so that we could stamp the kites through the 1 1/4" circle (see photo below). We had to line each kite up with the kite tail and then turn the circle until the kite we just stamped was hidden. Three different color kites were stamped.
This photo shows better where the 1 1/4" circle was punched on the Whisper White card front. We used a template for that also.

is still going on. For those who are not familiar with SAB, it's the biggest SALE of the year. Please go to my Stampin'Up! Website, shirleybmckay.stampinup.net for all the details and to find out how you can receive FREE product during this promotion. Until next time, have a great day!

"What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe." -Oprah Winfrey

All demonstrators who went to Leadership 2012

received the MIXED BUNCH stamp set FREE. I used this set, along with the coordinating Blossom Punch, at my Blue Bonnets Class last week. My ladies made three cards and the box shown below.

Other products used: Big Shot and Stripes Embossing Folder, Melon Mambo card stock and ink, Perfectly Penned stamp set and Pearl Jewels.

A closer view of the card.

This is a great gift idea to have on hand for those unexpected occasions. Thanks for joining me today!

"Your body is God's instrument, intended for His work and for His glory." - Max Lucado

2012 Stampin'Up! LEADERSHIP SWAPS

The cards I'm sharing with you today were actually taken in the Gathering Place on the display wires. There were hundreds of cards displayed and unfortunately I can't give credit to those who designed or made these. Enjoy!

Too cute! One of my favorite color combinations.

How sweet is this? This card front uses the Designer Cut cards in the Occasions Mini.
This card features the You're My Type stamp set in the Mini Occasions Catalog.

On Wednesday evening we gathered for make and takes. From L to R: me, Sue, Patti, Barbara and Karen. We did not finish what make and takes they had prepared for us. I've got to get busy and finish them so I can share those with you.

Don't forget to CELEBRATE by placing your $50 merchandise order on my SU Website (shirleybmckay.stampinup.net) and choose your FREE product out of the SAB brochure.

Thanks for stopping by; see you again soon!

"The more self-disciplined you are, the more you will progress." - Thomas A. Kempis

SALE-A-BRATION is under way ~ jump in and join the fun!

Today's post is a Valentine idea using the Stampin'Up! TOP NOTE DIE (113463). The idea is from my upline, Karen, and was shared with my customers earlier this week.

Below gives you an idea of what other products you'll need: Twitterpated DSP (125406), Island Indigo (122923) and Blushing Bride (119796) card stock, Small Heart (117193) and Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer (122464) punches, Bitty Buttons (118761) and Basic Rhinestone Jewels (119246).
By purchasing the Top Note Die, DSP and Blosson Punch you can choose a FREE Sale-A-Bration item.
Please go to my SU website, shirleybmckay.stampinup.net and order your items today!

Here Karen and I are with my downline, Myra. We had a chance to visit with her and see her Stampin' Studio earlier this week.

Until next time, do something good for yourself and stamp daily!

Stampin'Up! BERRY BLOSSOMS DSP and 2011-13 IN COLORS

Thanks for joining me ~ I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I'm sharing with you today a really easy card. In fact, it's one that I'm making about 75 of for swaps at Stampin'Up!'s Leadership and Regional Events coming up later this month in San Antonio.

For the base of the card I used CALYPSO CORAL, an In Color for 2011-2013, layered with BERRY BLOSSOMS DSP and Whisper White card stock. I used LUCKY LIMEADE for the leaf and trim.

Just wanted to show you how a little touch (by adding the leaf) adds so much to your card.

Here's the entire card front. Other items used: The Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Big XL Die, Floral Fusion Sizzlit Die, Bird Builder Punch, Gold Brads, Sincere Salutations Stamp Set. This card is a great way to use up some of your DSP scraps. Until next time, do something good for yourself and stamp daily!

"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." Maya Angelou, author

Stampin'Up! LOVELY AS A TREE & TAGS TIL CHRISTMAS Stamp Sets

My final Christmas card share for the year was made by Doris D. Doris used the LOVELY AS A TREE stamp set to make the branches and the ornament is out of the TAGS TIL CHRISTMAS set. The traditional Christmas colors are so perfect for this card.

Doris used a dimensional to pop up the ornament.
I want to thank each of you who took the time and made the effort to send us a handmade card this Christmas. May you and yours be blessed with a prosperous New Year!

Here's Laura and her newest American Girl Doll, Julie, just before leaving for our walk. My Mom made the crocheted hoodie that Julie is wearing for our daughter, Shelley, when she was a baby. Funny how I would not dare let Shelley play with those type things with her dolls but its OK for Laura to. Can you tell I love being a Grame?

Stampin'Up!'s Retired FROSTY

Even though FROSTY is retired, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that continues to hold on to him. Renda T., who held a monthly club while I was in the Carolinas, designed and sent us this card. I love it!

A closer view of FROSTY! Personally I don't think there's been another snowman as cute since he retired.

One thing I love about being a Stampin'Up! demonstrator is the friendships we make. . . and that's how I met Renda. A mutual friend of ours just happened to invite her to one of her camps and the rest is history. Thank you Renda for the holiday wishes ~ I miss you!
What a perfect ending to a beautiful day!
I have one more Christmas share so I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Happy Friday!

Stampin'Up! MERRY (retired) Stamp Set

My share today is the Christmas card I made for our granddaughter. The Santa idea came from my downline, Michelle.

Santa is made using the Blossom Petals Builder Punch. Go to Michelle's blog, simplycrafted.blogspot.com, for more details on how to make him. Below is the inside of the card.

"MERRY" is another one of those stamp sets that I just can't part with but I must say this is the first card I've made using it in awhile. I especially love the sentiment ~ think of Christmas, think of snow, think of Santa, ho ho ho! You'll notice on the front of the card, I used the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder and sponged the embossed areas with Blushing Bride ink. Then to make the Santa stand out against the white background, I ran Brushed Silver card stock through the Big Shot using the Snowflakes Set #2 Sizzlit.
Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with me today. I hope to see you back here soon!

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson

LET'S TALK TURKEY with Stampin'Up! PUNCHES

I'm sharing with you today the treats I made for Laura's classmates. I was inspired by a

Thanksgiving card my sister designed.

These little guys were made using Stampin'Up! punches. If you'd like the "recipe" please email me at shirley.mckay@ymail.com and I'll share them with you.
Needless to say, these were a little time consuming to make but I think they turned out so cute. I added the "eat beef" in hopes the kids see some humor! Have a great day and stay safe as you run your errands and prepare for Thanksgiving!
Hope you'll take time to stop by again soon!

"A happy heart is the best service we can give to God." Marie Chapian

Stampin'Up! PUNCHES

WOW .... I can't believe how long I've been away. Thanks for joining me today! I've got a lot of things to catch up on ~ most important and foremost, the 8th birthday of our one and only granddaughter. Below please see the birthday card I made for her special day. She is a girly girl so there can never be enough pink or bling. The bodice of the dress is made using the Round Tab punch, the neck is scooped out using the 1 1/4" Circle punch and the layers for the skirt are made using the Blossom Petals Builder punch. I used Vellum card stock, took a dauber and Pretty In Pink classic ink and tinted the petals for the skirt. I then layered the petals and added the Rhinestone Jewels for the bling.

Here's the inside of the card using the Easy Events stamp set featured on page 57 of the 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog.

Well I just had to have a personalized stamp to use on the back of all her cards. See page 172 of the IB&C and order yours today.

OK, hope you won't get bored but just wanted to share some photos of her party. It was at .....

Laura and her guests had their hair done, makeup applied and fingernails polished.

Then they were off to change into their "diva" outfits. Laura is in black ~ next to one of her friends that's pointing to the screen at the other end of the room. The lights are about to go off, the disco light is about to come on and the music is about to begin. They are just before posing on the runway. Oh, they were something else but so cute!

So once the dancing was over, it was time to have cake and ice cream. Just love the decor in this place. Awesome!

And here's the gift bags you saw in an earlier post but didn't they look good? (even if I do say so myself)

OK, the cake and ice cream have been devoured and it's time now to ride around Katy in a limo. I'm a little envious being that I've never been in a limo. I'm old and she's only 8. What's wrong with this picture?

Thanks for allowing me to be a grandmother and sharing this wonderful occasion with you. I hope you'll check back tomorrow as I've got a few more things to share with you! Have a wonderful day. Do something good for yourself and stamp daily!

Stampin'Up! BLOSSOM BOUQUET TRIPLE LAYER PUNCH

I'm glad you are joining me today. I've got another Christmas card to share with you!

You've probably seen the packages made using the square punches but have you seen this cute bow? It's made using the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (122464) shown on page 211 of the 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog. For those ladies who have limited stamps, this is a great card for birthdays or any occasion for gifting.
Got a busy day today prepping for Sunday's class, making treats for new residents in the neighborhood and last but not least I am going with my daughter to hear Dr. Maya Angelou speak. She's resides in NC but is in Houston today as part of the Brilliant Lecture Series. I am really excited to get to share this with Shelley.
Have a great Thursday ~ I hope you will stop by again soon!

Stampin'Up! STITCHED STOCKINGS Stamp Set

It's hard to get in the Christmas spirit when it's still so warm outside but gotta do it. My next Christmas in July conti...Class is this weekend. Below is one of the cards my ladies will be making.

I used the STITCHED STOCKINGS stamp set in the Holiday Mini Catalog along with the Stocking Builder Punch. Both can be seen on page 34. For the base of the card I used Cherry Cobbler and the holly DSP is out of the Holly Berry Bouquet pack and the plaid is from the Frostwood Lodge pack. You'll notice the white scallop is from the Flirtatious Specialty Paper. It's actually pumpkin pie on the back side but I turned it over and used the whisper white side. Stay tuned for more Christmas samples this week. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day. Do something good for yourself; stamp daily!

Stampin'Up! DELICATE DOILIES Stamp Set & FLIRTATIOUS Specialty Designer Series Paper

I'm just now getting around to using the DELICATE DOILIES stamp set and coordinating FLIRTATIOUS Specialty Designer Series Paper. Today's share is the card I came up with. A sentiment could easily be added to the front of the card; however, I think I'm going to use mine as note cards.

I'm hung up on using an uneven number of colors on a card. So to get that third color in, I pulled out the BIRD BUILDER Punch punching out a few leaves using Pear Pizzazz card stock. For you to see what a difference that third color makes, see the "plain card" below.

The FLIRTATIOUS Specialty Paper includes two doily laser-cut double-sided designs ~ 1 sheet Pumpkin Pie and 1 sheet Melon Mambo. The back-side is Whisper White.

The Delicate Doilies stamp set can be found on page 127 and the Flirtatious Specialty Paper on page 183 in the 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog. For those who wish to order, please go directly to my Stampin'Up! website, shirleybmckay.stampinup.net.

I'm so glad you stopped by today and I hope to see you again soon! Have a great day!

Stampin'Up! TRAVEL LOG Stamp Set

Thanks for joining me today.....since I last saw you I've had family visiting from TN and NC. It was great them being here BUT during that time I was unable to stamp (so unlike "The Daily Stamper", right?) I've been able to prepare a few things to share with you so I hope you'll stay tuned. Thanks for your patience!!!

I'm sharing with you today a card I made for our 7 year old granddaughter who went to NY for the first time in mid-June. This card uses the TRAVEL LOG stamp set featured in the Summer Mini Catalog. She is such a girly girl I just had to use pink.

You'll notice I used about every stamp in the set but I was very pleased at how the card turned out. She loved it too especially since we included a little spending $ for her. I took a long piece of Whisper White card stock, turned it up on the bottom edge and formed a pocket to put the money in.

You could also do the same and insert a gift card.

Enjoy your Sunday and I hope to see you back here again soon!

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Stampin'Up! BOLD BLOSSOM Stamp Set and BLOSSOM BOUQUET TRIPLE LAYER PUNCH

Today's share is my last of six cards made at my "His/Her Class" earlier this month. All the female cards were made using the BOLD BLOSSOM stamp set. For this particular card, I used Daffodil Delight for the base, Chocolate Chip, Brights Pattern designer series paper, Very Vanilla and Pumpkin Pie cardstock. The sentiment "thank you for being you" is included in the Bold Blossom stamp set.

As I mentioned previously, the BOLD BLOSSOM set is currently in the Summer Mini Catalog but it's also being carried over to the new 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog that comes out July 1st.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by; I hope you will join me again soon! Have a wonderful day!

God's specialty is making impossibilities possible ~ Beth Moore

Stampin'Up! BLOSSOM BOUQUET & POSTAGE STAMP Punches

HAPPY FRIDAY! My post today is CASED from my upline, Karen H. I love the colors ~ Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White and Basic Black. As you can see, there's very little stamping on this card. With a few punches and some cardstock (from Stampin'Up! of course) just look what you can create.
Punches used ~ 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 square punches, the new postage stamp punch AND the blossom bouquet triple layer punch. For the center of the flowers, I used the 1/4 circle punch rather than a brad.
Thank you so much for stopping by; check back on Sunday for another "female" card. Have a great weekend! Do something good for yourself; stamp daily!

Stampin'Up! BOLD BLOSSOM Stamp Set and BLOSSOM BOUQUET TRIPLE LAYER PUNCH

Thank you for joining me! Today I'm sharing a card I CASED (copy and share everything) from my sister, Sue, using the BOLD BLOSSOM stamp set and BLOSSOM BOUQUET TRIPLE LAYER PUNCH. The base of the card is Very Vanilla, topped with Concord Crush and another layer of Very Vanilla. For the punched flowers I used Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango. The stems are stamped using Pear Pizzazz ink. "Thinking of You" is out of the SINCERE SALUTATIONS stamp set. The sentiment was punched out using the DECORATIVE LABEL PUNCH.

All the items used for this card are in the new 2011/12 Idea Book & Catalog. Contact me today if you'd like to purchase a catalog that will be unveiled July 1st.

Our granddaughter (left) had her dance recital this past Saturday. Last year she took a Hip-Hop class but she's decided to go back to tap and ballet next year.

Have a great day and I hope to see you back here soon!

Stampin'Up! BUILD A BLOSSOM Stamp Set

My share today is a card I received from Ginger E. for Mother's Day. Isn't it so pretty? Ginger used the Build A Blossom Stamp Set and coordinating Punch.

Ginger was part of a group that I stamped with in NC. Thank you Ginger for remembering me with such a beautiful card. Happy Mother's Day to you too!