Malachi's Birthday Invitation

A couple of months ago we decided on a Dr. Seuss theme for Malachi's birthday party. Being that I am a card maker, I wanted to make my own invites but I couldn't find any stickers, die cuts, or paper at any of the local stores. I looked online and found a few stickers but I didn't order them because I wasn't sure on size. I was to afraid that they wouldn't work and I would waste money. Someone suggested looking online for free clip art, so I began my search.

While searching I found a website that would design Dr. Seuss invites for $15.00 but then it hit me, I could make them with MDS and free clip art. So I went to work and this is what I made. It is very similar to the card I had originally found online. I found the wording for the invite on another website and I just altered it to fit Malachi's party. I did order a Cat in the Hat, hat and took a quick picture of Malachi to add to the theme. I love the invite.

Now I need to work on the other party items. I can't believe Malachi will be 1 in just a couple of weeks. Time sure does fly by.

Merry Christmas

For the past several years I have given out picture Christmas cards but this year I completely lagged on getting mine printed and now its to late. So I sent out a mass email to everyone with this Christmas card that I made using My Digital Studio.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Simple

For a long time I had a hard time creating simple projects because I would always look at them and think, "It needs more." Then when I started having classes with my cards, I learned that I needed to make them simpler or everyone would either have to plan a whole day at my house or they wouldn't want to come because they couldn't just play all day. So I have gotten better at the simple stuff, especially now that I have Malachi. OK, where was I going with this rambling? Oh, right.... that is why I love embossing folders, they just add so much to a card and it doesn't take much effort.

I currently own all the ones that SU! has available so I hope they come out with more. I almost forgot there is one that I don't have yet and it is a new one that will be released with the Occasions Mini Catalog on January 4th. Yippee!!

I am working on one more Christmas project. I hope to get it finished this weekend but we shall see. I have a lot to do, youth Christmas party, make some Tamales, Church, and maybe I should start Christmas shopping. I know I am horrible this year. I guess its because Malachi's 1st birthday is in 3 weeks and I have been trying to plan for that and then all the other stuff in life, I just keep pushing off the Christmas shopping. Well I hope to be back before Christmas with that last little project.

Merry Christmas Banner

Here is the Merry Christmas banner I made. I got the idea for this project from the December Stampin' Success magazine. I used the Table Setting die and the Bells & Boughs Stamp Set. This is the reason I purchased the set. Grandma and I both made these Merry Christmas banners. I hung mine over a mirror in the living room.

When taking these pictures I had to make sure the house was picked up because the mirror was showing more than just the project. LOL! I had to stand on the couch at an angle so you wouldn't get my big head in the reflection.

I also took this close up picture so you can see the banner a little better. It was a pretty simple project and it came along rather quickly. The coloring was what took the longest. I just love die cuts because it makes cutting things out so easy. I really am glad that SU! decided to add the Big Shot to their product line. I have been purchasing die cuts for several years and I do have a rather large collection of die cuts from another company and I have two other die cut machines but I never even use those other machines. I still use my dies for scrapbook pages but I can now use those dies with my Big Shot and I don't have to mess with changing out the platform etc... I love my Big Shot and the exclusive Stampin' Up! dies. Ok, I just love Stampin' Up!

Holy Family

I purchased this stamp set last year from the mini catalog but never used it. I had good intentions of using the stamp set but never got around to it. Maybe because I was getting everything ready for Malachi, I was at the end of my pregnancy at this time last year.

Well like I said in a previous post I was determined to put ink on this set. I actually used this card at my last card class. It is a simple layout but it does take time to color the image. I am still trying to perfect my coloring, one of these days mine will look like a professional did the coloring. One of these days!

Jesus is the reason for this season and I never want to forget that. It's so easy to get caught up in the holiday shopping, parties, and gifts that we forget to remember the real reason for this season. So today I give you a traditional "religious" Christmas card instead of one that has Santa or snowman.
Merry Christmas!

Bells & Boughs

I didn't plan on purchasing this stamp set Bells & Boughs but when I received the Demonstrator magazine Stampin' Success and saw a Christmas banner I just had to order it. Which reminds me I need to take a picture of it so I can show it to you. Anyway since I purchased the stamp set for the banner I figured I might as well use it to make Christmas cards too.

So this is a card that we made at my last card class. To be honest I kept wanting to make more vintage looking cards with this set. Maybe its because so many of the samples I have seen with this set are more vintage looking, or maybe because that is the craze these days but when it came down to it I didn't have the supplies for my all of my class attendees to make a more vintage card. I did wait until the night before the class to create the last couple cards and cut up all the materials so I needed to go with what I had on hand. So since I had a lot of old olive card stock and that beautiful satin old olive ribbon, I used those as my starting point. So this is what I came up with, not to shabby for 10:30 PM on a Friday night.

Well, now I need to go and take a picture of the banner I made. I already took a couple pictures of some other cards so I will definitely be blogging again very soon.

Peace, Love, & Joy

Now here is a simple Christmas card with a vintage feel. I created this card for my December stamp club. I just love the stripped ribbon in all the colors but this one is actually not a current ribbon in the Idea Book & Catalog (IBC) but you can find this Riding hood Red Stripped ribbon in the clearance section on my website for a $1.99, now that is a bargain!

Even though I was searching for ideas to steal on Tuesday I ended up just creating this card all on my own. I know it isn't anything to elaborate but I did want something simple since we would be playing Bingo and it still is pretty. I still need to take a picture of the bingo card so I can show you how cute they are. I think everyone enjoyed the little bit of bingo and who doesn't like free prizes, especially SU! product.

I used my Big Shot to emboss the Crumb Cake card stock then used a sponge dabber with Chocolate Chip ink and rubbed it on the snowflakes. I also sponged the edges of the card stock. I stamped the Peace, Love, & Joy sentiment from the All Holidays stamp set in Chocolate Chip and punched it out with the wide oval punch and mounted it on a tag that I cut with a SU! Sizzix die.

I might be back again this week with more Christmas cards, hope I can get the pictures taken and uploaded before we head out to Disneyland tomorrow. We shall see....

Hot Cocoa Gift

Last night at my club Erin mentioned to me that she is now an avid follower of my blog, that makes me happy since I now know that someone reads my blog. She also mentioned that she has been checking to see if my blog would update but it hasn't. I have been very busy with life the last couple of weeks and haven't had time to update.

I wish I could say that I was out shopping and getting my Christmas stuff finished but that isn't even the case. I was getting ready for our annual Youth Retreat in Angelus Oaks. We took 39 youth up to the mountains and it can be a little stressful. I had to lock the youth into going, get the finances taken care of, permission slips, purchase stuff for the snack bar, get games ready, and pack Malachi and I. Boy am I glad that is over for this year. I said all that to say this, "I have been neglecting my blog because I just had to much to do."

Yesterday I frantically worked on Stamp Club projects, I had no idea what I wanted to do for our projects. The only thing I knew I wanted to do was play Bingo with the Bingo stamp set and the Bingo Bits Stamps from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I even planned ahead on that one and purchased some extra little items for prizes. Anyway, I jumped on Stampin' Connection to see if I would get inspired or I could steal an idea. SC didn't fail me, I was able to steal this idea to make the lunch sack pouch. I got the idea from Sherry, you can visit her blog at Sherry's Stampin' Room, I think her bag is cuter than mine even though I almost copied her project exactly. Maybe I will give this cute little bag to my neighbor or something, that would be better than the alternative, leaving it on my desk or putting it in my cabinet to collect dust. I have so many project that I just can't give away because they are just to cute. What a hoarder!

I'll be back this week with the other projects from Stamp Club in a day or two. So never fear Erin, I will post again this week! LOL!

Come to Bethlehem

It's kind of strange but I never make any "religious" Christmas cards. I just realized that this year. I went through my stamp sets I only owned one that wasn't snowmen, snowflakes, or Christmas trees and the one set that I did have, I've never used it before.

So I am determined to use my one set and this new one that I just ordered, Come to Bethlehem. I cased this card and will be using it in my card class this coming weekend. I like it, it's simple but nice.

I never want to forget the true meaning of Christmas.

It's Spectacular!!!

During this one week only, you can get incredible discounts--up to 50 percent--saving big on your favorite products, as well as qualifying for FREE SHIPPING with demonstrator or online orders of $150 or more.

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Also don't forget about our Simply Amazing Demonstrator Starter Kit is 50% off. If you want to be a SU! demonstrator now is the time to sign up!

You won't want to miss out on these great deals, contact me if you have any questions.

Tags Til Christmas

The last time Stampin' Up! had a Christmas tags stamp set I purchased it but never used it. This time I bought the new Tags Til Christmas set I thought I am am determined to use this set. So this month at my stamp club we made these three tags. They we're all simple but super cute. Make some cute tags this Holiday season for your Christmas gifts.

Cute Christmas Gift Card Holder

I actually hate to give gift cards for Christmas because I feel like they are so impersonal. I guess I hate thinking that I got a gift card for someone so I can cross their name off my list. Not that I think that gift cards are a horrible gift because I don't mind receiving gift cards. I know, I'm just crazy. Maybe its because I love all the wrapping paper, ribbon, and bows.

Anyway even though I don't always like to give gift cards I sometimes still purchase them and give them away as a gift. This Cute Christmas Gift card holder is just, cute and I won't mind using it for a gift card. I found the instructions for it on youtube.

The measurements are 4.25" x 10" and you score at 3", 4", 5", and 8". I used the Cute Christmas Stamp set, the Candy Cane DSP, Real Red card stock, Circle Punch, and the Scallop Circle Punch.

I am in Texas on a little vacation visiting my Husband's family so I won't be doing any stamping this week but I do have one more project to show you, it will post later this week.

Bye, ya all!

Cute Christmas

My goal is to blog about my projects at least once a week and recently I had been doing it more like 2-3 times a week and I was real proud of myself. At least until this past week. I have projects that I have created to share with you but I just haven't gotten the time to do it and I am about to leave for a week to visit the inlaws in Texas. Well I have scheduled a couple of blog updates for this coming week. I hope it works like it is suppose to.

I used this scrapbook page for my last scrapbook class. I used the Cute Christmas Stamp Set, Candy Cane DSP, snowflake punch, Tasteful Trim die, and the large Candy Cane buttons from the mini catalog. Hope it inspires you to create!

Pumpkin Patch

I have had an idea for making a pumpkin patch page floating around in this head of mine for a while but it wasn't coming out like I had hoped so I just started playing with it. This is what I came up with.

Now the scarecrow isn't my idea, it was originally created by another demonstrator, Doris Denman. The scarecrow was made with several punches and the oval die cut. I wish I was this creative. The one thing missing that she had was some crows but she used the medium oval punch from the mini catalog and I don't have that punch. I did make a phone call and Grandma Mary has it so I will be borrowing it from her so I can add some crows to the page.

I will be using this page at my next scrapbook class on Thursday, November 11th. If you are interested in attending make sure to RSVP by Tuesday, November 9th.

My Lil Giraffe

Warning: This is a non stamping related blog post. This is a, I am a first time mom and I want to brag blog post.

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures of my little giraffe at the Pumpkin Patch. Isn't he just the most adorable little guy ever? I just love him more than words can describe.

I am going on 10 months with out a full night of sleep, can't just get up and go like I use to, I am constantly chasing him now that he is into everything, and I wouldn't change any of it. After three and a half years of wondering if I would ever be able to experience being a mom, God answered our prayers.

So during this season of thankfulness, I am so very thankful for my little guy. I just wish I could keep him a little baby a lot longer. Time is flying by way to fast.

I hope you enjoy looking at this cute lil giraffe as much as I do. Thanks for listening to this new mom brag about her baby, I promise the next post will be a stamping post.

Greeting Card Christmas

The Greeting Card Kids stamp set is so adorable. I just had to use this stamp set when making the Christmas cards for my class.

I used the snowflake stamp from the Winter Post stamp set in Not Quite Navy on Bashful Blue Card Stock and layered it on Not Quite Navy. The card base is Marina Mist. I colored the image with my Water Color Wonder Crayons and a blender pen. I also added some Dazzling Diamonds to her coat and hat.

I wish I was better at coloring and shading but I guess that will come with time and practice. Now I need to work on creating a new Blog header so that it will match the fall season and not the Halloween season since it is now behind us.

Season Greetings

This morning I had a Christmas card class, this is one of the cards we made. You've already seen two of the other cards in my previous post and I will photograph the other two soon and get them on my blog.

I know I need to work on some more Christmas items but I still want to make some Fall items. I saw this really cute scarecrow card that I am wanting to case, so hopefully I can get around to it soon. I wish I had as much time and energy as I would need to create all the ideas floating around in my head. Maybe some day.... but for this season in my life I am just thankful for all that I have. Being a mommy is the greatest thing.

Well, until next time....

Save, Save, Save!

Save 20% on the following product bundles....

Vintage Christmas Card Bundle
• Bells & Boughs Stamp Set • Deck the Halls DSP

Wood: #124067, $23.92Clear: #124068, $19.92



Contempo Christmas Card Bundle
• Contempo Christmas Stamp Set • Jolly Holiday DSP

Wood: #124071, $20.72Clear: #124072, $17.52



Tags til Christmas Bundle #1
• Tags til Christmas Set • Decorative Label Punch

Wood: #124077, $38.32 Clear: #124078, $31.92

Tags til Christmas Bundle #2
• Tags til Christmas Set • Ornament Punch

Wood: #124478, $38.32 Clear: #124477, $31.92



Gift Packaging Bundle
• Gifted Stamp Set • Mini Lunch Sacks

Wood: #124083, $26.32 Clear: #124084, $19.92

Simply Adorned Gift Bundle
• Charming Stamp Set • Simply Adorned 1″ x 1-1/4″ Charm • Simply Adorned 24″ Chain#124076, $39.88



Frame Gift Bundle
• Definitely Decorative Chunky Frame • Small Chocolate Chip Dotted Flourish Décor Elements#124075, $19.92

Holiday Bundle Update: Due to vendor delays, the Decorative Label Punch is on backorder. Since this punch is part of our Handmade Holiday promotion that started October 19, Stampin’ Up! is offering two options:
• You can continue to order the Tags til Christmas Bundle and receive the 20% off pricing. The Tags til Christmas stamp set will ship immediately and the Decorative Label Punch will ship as soon as they are in stock.
• Or you many order our alternative Tags Til Christmas Bundle #2 that includes the Ornament Punch instead of the Decorative Label Punch. This bundle will be available throughout the promotion even when the Decorative Label Punch is no longer on backorder.

Dasher, Dasher

Black isn't normally a color I use on a Christmas card but I really like the elegance of the Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black. I've also been dying to use my new embossing folder from the mini catalog.

The Dasher stamp isn't new and the wood block has the ink stains to prove it but he still is a favorite. This is another simple Christmas card but with a 9 month old baby, things have to be done quickly so this is great. Hope you enjoy it.

Items Use
Stamp Set: Dasher
Card Stock: Cherry Cobler, Basic Black, & Whisper White
Other: Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Basic Black Ribbon

A Little Bit of Christmas

It's a cold and rainy day in Southern California. I have stayed indoors all day with Malachi because who wants to take a baby out in the rain? I wish Malachi would want to snuggle under the blankets with me but instead he wants to crawl and explore. He is into everything, including the doggy bowls. I'm sure he will learn the word "NO" very soon. Well even though he has kept me on my toes today, I still managed to sneak in this simple Christmas card.

I am having a Christmas Card Class on October 30th at 10:30 AM, the first one for the season. Hope some of you can join me and get a head start on those Christmas Cards. Make sure to RSVP by October 28th.

Items Used:
Stamp Sets- Holiday Happiness
Card Stock- Real Red, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke
Other- Stampin' Write Markers (Real Red, Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight), Big Shot, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder

Wicked Fancy Favor

I wanted to make something for the girls in my stamp club, so I thought what better than a box with candy since it's Halloween this month.

I used the Fancy Favor die with my Big Shot and the Wicked Cool stamp set. These little boxes came out pretty cute and it didn't take me long at all. I am liking the waffle paper, it adds a little to each project I use it on. Since these were so easy to make maybe I'll make some more for my sisters or something. hmmmm......

Items Used:
Stamp Set- Wicked Cool
Ink- Basic Black
Card Stock- Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Other- Waffle Paper, Fancy Favor Box, Big Shot, Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Circles # 2 die

Sending Thanks

I love Thanksgiving. I always debate whether I love 4th of July or Thanksgiving more. They are both great holidays that are usually filled with great friends and family. Although the food is always better on Thanksgiving! I am thankful that its almost time to celebrate all that I am thankful for.

Anyway I got my inspiration for this card from a card I saw on Stampin' Connection (SU! demo site) by Stephanie Robnett. My card is a little different but the main idea came from her.

Items Used:
Stamp Set- Paisley Print & Seasonal Sentiments
Card Stock- Early Espresso, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink- Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze
Other- Big Shot, Early Espresso Ribbon, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Wicked Cool

I kept seeing really cute cards with this stamp set and so I bought it. I didn't need it but I wanted it so here it is. I inked it up. I have been wanting to stamp all week but hadn't gotten around to it, although I did clear out some junk in my craft room.

Last year in November in preparation for Malachi to be born we decided to move the office/craft room to the guest room and make the office/craft room the baby's room. I was at the end of my pregnancy and it was the holidays so toward the end I ended up piling a bunch of scraps and other miscellaneous craft items and projects into a big SU! box. Well, I finally cleaned it out. It only took me 10 months. Well everything is almost put away or in the trash, just a few things are left on my desk awaiting my decision. My desk is never clean anyway.

Well I said all that to say this, I finally made a card. Here it is. Hope you enjoy it. Now to work on some projects for Stamp club this Tuesday......

Greeting Card Kids

One of the first stamp sets I ordered from the SU! Idea Book & Catalog when it released in July was Greeting Card Kids. This stamp set is so adorable.

This is one of the cards we made at my card class on World Card Making Day. I used the web embossing folder on the Basic Black card stock and then sprayed it with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.

Items Used:
Stamp Set: Greeting Card Kids
Paper: Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: Water Color Crayons, Blender Pen, Pumpkin Pie Striped Ribbon, Basic Black Ribbon, Circle Punch, Web Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Don't forget to shop the Clearance Rack on my website, http://rosecastillo.stampinup.net/ Stampin' Up just updated it with some great items including some Big Shot dies.

Fangtastic Spook Page

I was working on Halloween scrapbook pages this month and this is one of the ones I created. I actually created two layouts but my other page is the one I ended up using for my class and a swap.

I love the web embossing folder, I've been using it on all of my Halloween stuff. Even though I didn't use this for a class I can add it to my scrapbook and I will eventually add some pictures to it, hopefully. I have several scrapbooks with pages but no pictures, in this world of digital photography it seems that I forget to get my pictures developed. I love that we don't have to buy film anymore and that we can see our pictures instantly but I do wish I was better at developing my pictures.

This week I am working on creating cards for my class this weekend so hopefully I will have time to share them with you this week but if not, I will share them next week.

Items used:
Stamp Set: Fang-tastic
Paper: Wicked Fun DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Basic Black, Cajan Craze, More Mustard
Big Shot: Web Embossing Folder, Alphabet Simple die, Tasteful Trim die

Spooky

I have been trying to post new projects on my blog at least once a week but this week I fell behind. The good thing is that it wasn't because I didn't have time to create, it was I just hadn't had the time to take pictures and blog about them.

Anyway, Fall is my all time favorite time of year. I love the colors, the pumpkins, the smell of pumpkin spice, seeing kids dress up in cute costumes and Thanksgiving. So to get ready for this wonderful time of year I pulled out my fall decorations. So my house is officially in the fall mood. Although it looks like I might need a new scarecrow because mine is falling apart. I'll have to go and look for one this week.

Normally I don't decorate for Halloween and I just do the fall theme stuff so that it last all the way through Thanksgiving but this year I am a little more into the Halloween stuff, I guess because we have Malachi. I am looking forward to dressing him up in his skunk costume, he is too cute. So to add a little bit of Halloween to the house I created this banner, I also had my stamp club make one.

This past Tuesday my house was full of ladies and several Big Shots. We used the Pennant die, circle die, alphabet set, and web embossing folder all on the big shot. We also used the waffle paper and the bitty bat punch. I hope everyone enjoyed making their banners and will proudly display them at home or work.

OK, I am off to finish prepping for my scrapbook class tomorrow morning.

Disney

For the first time in my Stampin' Up! career I am trying to earn the incentive trip. The next incentive trip is to Walt Disney World and at first I thought, big deal, I go to Disneyland all the time but then I thought I've never been to Disney World. I love Disneyland why wouldn't I want to go to Disney World?

Anyway there is a little contest on Stampin' Connection (SU! demo site) to upload a Disney themed project. I used My Digital Studio to create this 12x12 Scrapbook page.

The pictures are from last year, October 22nd to be exact. It was my 30th birthday. Even though I have been to Disneyland to many times to count I still love to take pictures with my favorite characters every now and then so when we saw Mickey we went right over to take our picture. Now I wasn't expecting Mickey to rub my belly but he did and Eric took a quick picture to capture that moment. I wasn't a huge fan of random people coming over and rubbing my belly when I was preggo but since it was Mickey Mouse I didn't mind.

It would be nice to win something from the Stampin' Connection contest but it would be even greater to accomplish my goal and earn the incentive trip that SU! offers to all the demonstrators.

You can't accomplish a goal if you never set a goal to accomplish.

Give Thanks

This scrapbook page idea was in my head for a couple of weeks and I finally got it out on Monday night. I wanted the "Give Thanks" to look like it was sitting on a pile of leaves, it didn't turn out quite like I wanted it to but is still came out nice. I am going to add something to the left page like a journalling block and then I think I will feel like it is complete.

I am currently working on three layouts for a swap and my upcoming scrapbook class, this Thanksgiving one, a Halloween one, and a Christmas one but this one is the one that I just had to finish up first. I love Fall and it is nice and cool this week in Southern California so it put me in the mood to make this page first. I hope this is what our fall is going to be like because sometimes its just way to hot here!

Items Used: Autmn Spice DSP, Big Shot Leaves die, Simple Letters die, Naturally Serif Alphabet, Cajan Craze, Old Olive, More Mustard, and Early Espresso card stock.

Fang-tastic

So I haven't done as much stamping as I wanted to this weekend but I did make a couple of Halloween cards with the Fang-tastic Stamp Set and with the Spider Web embossing folder. I added some basic black ribbon, distressed the edges, and brayered the web with basic black ink.

I'm thinking I should have put the witch on her broom so she doesn't look like she is floating in the air but oh well, maybe on the next card. oh, I can't wait for Halloween. We are currently trying to decide what costume to buy for the baby. Oh the fun of dressing up Malachi!

Ok, I am off to try and do some more crafting, I want to work on some scrapbook pages. I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head, hope they work out and hopefully Malachi will cooperate with me and take a long nap. Enjoy the rest of your Labor Day.

Holiday Mini Catalog

You can now order from the Holiday Mini Catalog. This catalog is filled with great stamp sets, buttons, fabric, Big Shot dies & embossing folders, paper, ribbon, and punches.

This also means that we are that much closer to the holiday season and Fall! I am looking forward to the seasons changing buying a costume for Malachi, getting ready for my favorite holiday Thanksgiving, and then decoration for Christmas!

If you'd like to see the Holiday Mini, just click on the picture.

I am excited to find out that my mini catalog order will be arriving on Friday, just in time for the weekend. Yippee!!! I will try and post what ever I make.

Tote-Ally Awesome Opportunity

September 1- October 18 New recruits who join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator during the promotion period will receive a FREE craft tote (valued at $39.95) with the purchase of their Starter Kit.

Demonstrators enjoy many benefits, including

• 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 up to you! See the Compensation Table for more information.
• Flexible schedule. This is your business, so you can put as much (or as little) time into it as you'd like!
• Support from Stampin' Up! We love our demonstrators and it shows through our demonstrator support materials, including a monthly magazine, workshop ideas, and audio and video trainings on all kinds of topics on our Demonstrator Web Site.

Becoming apart of my SU! Downline Team is simple you can go to http://www.rosecastillo.stampinup.net
Click on the Start Your Own Business Tab
Click on the Join Now Button
Password is: Rose Marie

If you have any questions or need assistance I am here to help.

Brayer

I had a request to to demonstrate the brayer technique at my last workshop so I created this card with the Inspired by Nature Stamp Set. I hadn't inked up this stamp set in a while but when I was thinking about a stamp set to use this is the one that came to mind.

If you want to host a workshop I would love to show you how to use a brayer or any other product SU! has, just let me know when you'd like to have your workshop.

Rubber Duckies

My Card Class participants made this cute and simple baby card this weekend. It really is a simple card and could be duplicated very fast. I am absolutely loving using the embossing folders on my cards. Seems like more often then not I am grabbing for my embossing folders.

Well that is all I have for tonight, I am wiped out from my fun and busy weekend. It started with youth service on Friday, card class and Disneyland on Saturday, and I ended it with Church, church picnic, a nap with Malachi, and then prepping for a Stampin' Up! Workshop for tomorrow night.
Oh, before I go I don't want to forget to mention that SU! updated the clearance section, make sure to check it out by going to www.rosecastillo.stampinup.net and clicking on the shop now button in the upper right hand corner. Happy Shopping!

Go Green

I recently started cleaning up some of my stuff in my craft room. I was trying to reorganize by getting out all of the retired items, in doing so I cleared out a lot of button and brad containers. I had them all stacked on my desk trying to figure out if I wanted to keep them or not. I've seen people use them to dye flowers with re-inkers so I definitely could keep a couple for that but what else do I need them for?

A few days later.... I was getting ready for a SU! Workshop and Malachi was wanting to be near his mommy so I put his play mat in the craft room so he could see me while I packed up my items. I had to lean over him to grab an item and he started crying because he thought that I was going to pick him up. I tried to calm him with some of his toys but it wasn't working when I grabbed a few button/brad containers and gave them to Malachi. He immediately stopped crying and started playing with them. It kept him entertained for at least a half hour. So over the past week he has kept playing with them. I love it! I have found a way to recycle those containers, they make great toys for Malachi! Yea for going green with one thing in my life. Maybe this can be my excuse to be able to buy more buttons and brads. Sounds like a good reason to me.

The workshop I was getting ready for, was Roberta's. Here is one of the cards I created for the workshop. Roberta wanted me to highlight the use of the brayer and I was happy to do so since it is one of my newest tools and one of the newest techniques I have learned. I will share the other card I created later.

I am happy to report that I booked another workshop for next week. So this week I need to work on the projects for Lorraine's workshop. I have no work tomorrow, its my day off with my little man. Maybe I can get some stamping done during one of his naps. Goodnight.

Stamping Again

Believe it or not I have been stamping on a regular basis these past couple of weeks. It feels good to be getting back into the swing of things again. I even have a SU! workshop tonight at Roberta's house. So Malachi will be hanging out with Daddy tonight while I go and have a Stampin' Up! party! Fun, fun, fun!

I also had a SU! workshop on Monday at Sharon's house. We had a great time. This is one of the cards that I demonstrated at the party. Elements of Style is one of my many favorite stamp sets at the moment. I am especially loving the color combo of Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler.

I've gotta run, I need to finish the rest of my day at work so I can get home to see my husband and baby boy for a little while before heading over to Roberta's house. I have my fingers crossed that someone else will want to book a workshop.

Stamp Club

Tonight was my monthly Stamp Club meeting and these are the two cards we created. I just purchased a brayer because I wanted to be able to try these techniques.

I am loving these SU! Big Shot Embossing Folders, it seems like I use them on all my cards lately.

In the first card I used the Tropical Party Stamp Set form the Occasions Mini Catalog. The sky is brayered with Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, and Night of Navy, for the sand I used Sahara Sand and Crumb Cake. Card stock: Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, and Whisper White.

Now for the second card I used one of my favorite new stamp sets in the new catalog, Just Believe. I received it in my Stampin' Up! convention bag, whoo who!!! Anyway I embossed the crumb cake card stock and then used the brayer to apply the Early Espresso Ink. I used Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, & Very Vanilla card stock.

I am looking forward to using the brayer techniques over and over again.