My favorite blue has to be Night of Navy.  In fact, it was one of the first Stampin' Up! inks I bought over 15 years ago.  It is just one of those go-to colors for me, especially when I'm making masculine cards.

I made this card several years ago, but updated it recently with some of our new colors and punches.

The Word Window punch is prominent in the stable and crib.  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede are the neutral colors I used for this part of the card.  The crib is a Round Tab punch folded in half and 2 Word Window punches cut in half and criss-crossed.  I snipped some Crumb Cake card stock for the hay.

Baby Jesus has a Brushed Gold halo with a 3/4" circle; Pink Pirouette 1/2" circle, and Small Oval in Bashful Blue.  I did put Stampin' Dimensionals on Baby Jesus' body and the crib.

The phrase is from Sincere Greetings – I like this mixture of fonts on this stamp set.  Punched out with the Large Oval and backed with Bashful Blue Scalloped Oval punch, the phrase is also popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

The star is a die cut from the Big Shot Stars die in Brushed Gold (again, popped up).

I hope you like it!

If you want to continue on the blog hop, Karen's blog is next – http://www.kraftingwithkaren.blogspot.com/

Last night I held my Fabulous Fall Stamp Camp.  I made pumpkin cake (recipe in my recipe section) and played some Vince Guaraldi (Charlie Brown/jazz music pianist and composer).  We had a small but truly wonderful group. 

One of my all-time favorite stamp sets has to be the new Gently Falling stamp set in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Fall is my favorite season, and the leaves in this set get me in the autumn mood!

One of the very first techniques I taught my Technique Tuesday crowd over 4 years ago was the Vanilla Double technique.  It is a quick and easy technique that always turns out stunning.  So here is what I came up with for last night's class:

The Spice Cake DSP is lovely to work with.  I am surprised how much I am using it…the Pool Party color is a pretty accent with the other colors.  The new Velvet RIbbon is dreamy!  This scan is the prototype for the card we made – I cut the DSP down a little bit and we used the Vintage Trinkets brads instead at the stamp camp. 

Watch for an upcoming post on my Holiday Mini Catalog shares – you'll want one of everything!!!

Ah, summer – I do wish it would linger a little longer.  The kids go back to school on Thursday; therefore, I should have more time to concentrate on my blog entries! 

The theme of this blog hop is using our BIG SHOT MADNESS.  The Big Shot has to be my favorite tool – it never leaves my stamping table!  The embossing folders are simple to use yet always striking in any project.

This week marked the end of the school year…so it was time to make some teacher thank you gifts.  My dear sister, Mary Jo, is an elementary school teacher and advises me on what teachers like/don't like for gifts.  She always raves about receiving my handmade cards so I think I have a winner in this project.

This simple yet elegant card used the Elegant Lines embossing folder, Naturals White card stock, Marina Mist 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (which is retiring), scissors, the Just Believe stamp set, Old Olive and Marina Mist inkpads, and the Extra-Large Oval and Decorative Label punches. 

I used the leaf stamp and inked up with Old Olive, but first stamped off once.  I then stamped the thank you stamp "full strength" in Marina Mist.

For my gifts, I created 5 cards with matching envelopes (yes, I embossed the back flaps too – gorgeous!).  I then embossed an acetate card box and created a tag using our new Perfect Pennants die (it's probably my favorite item in the upcoming catalog) and the 1-3/4" circle punch.   I also used some retired silver stretch cord to attach the tag.

Here is the back of the box ~

Here is the front of the box ~

I hope you bookmark my site or subscribe to my blog. I've got some fabulous new programs I'm unveiling in the coming weeks. You can also find me on my Facebook page – Stamp With Jane!

What is VC Rocks…and why do I love it?? VC Rocks is an online community where members share their love of stamping before, during, and after the Stampin' Up! convention. If you can't go (or even if you can) to convention, you can get your "stampin' mojo fix" with challenges, swaps, and discussions! I have "met' many fabulous stamping demos and nondemos through this group.

Here is how it came out – I think it is quite elegant!

SALE-A-BRATION starts today and ends March 31st.  This year there are even more items to choose from including 4 limited-edition stamp set, 69 stamp sets from the annual catalog, a Designer Series Paper and Quick Accents Pack, a Ribbon and Button Pack, a Digital Content CD, and a Chalkboard Decor Element.

All you need to do is place an order of $50.00 or more to receive one free item – incremental purchases of $50 will earn an additional item!

Hostesses earn an additional item if their workshop merchandise total is more than $300!  Contact me today if you want to schedule an event.

Here is a sample of one of my favorite Sale-A-Bration stamp sets – Punch Bunch:

I used Always Artichoke ink on one of the Texturz plates (Perfect Details).  I added small pearls on the right side.  The coloring of the flowers is done with markers.

Have a great day!

The supplies you need are as follows:

• Large, bold image stamp
• Inkpad
• Whisper White CS
• Versamark Pad
• Stampin' Mist

1. Ink the Whisper White CS all over with a dark (but not too dark) colored inkpad.
2. Ink the stamp with VersaMark, then spray mist lightly over the stamp.
3. Press stamp into inked cardstock and release.
4. Set aside to dry – as it dries, it will look like the image has been bleached out.
5. Add a phrase and some bling and you're done!

This card uses Greeting Card Kids and features heat embossing and the shaving cream technique (an all-time favorite technique of my customers).  I love those new glitter brads!  This is a simple design, but I didn't want to hide too much of the shaving cream technique.

Today I am celebrating my official ten-year anniversary as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I still remember how it all happened:

• Marnie Komp - my dear friend from grade school who hosted the first Stampin' Up! workshop I ever attended as a guest
• St. Mary's School - where I volunteered to showcase my business at a Fish Fry vendor event a day after I received my starter kit
• Lori Olson, Nancy Brundidge, Marlene Machovec, Anne Hanek, and Lisa Mosier – my sideline group who were and are supportive and generous with business ideas and creative inspiration and who were fabulous convention buddies (W-O-W)
• Jody Stack - a friend from my sister's quilting group who hosted my first Stampin' Up! workshop as a demonstrator
• Johanna Zuehls - my first recruit
• Sara Bintzler, Jennifer Cassellius, Mari Leninger, and Nancy Windorff - my current downline who inspire me with their creativity
• SUDSOL Group - my favorite demonstrator business online group where I go to get any business question answered
• Michelle Laycock and Amy Celona – my computer gurus who keep my blog website beautiful and up to date
• Pat Huntoon - a technique junkie who teaches and shares new techniques to stamping enthusiasts all over the world
• Ellen Kemper - this punch art queen's creativity never ceases to amaze me
• Stampin' Up! Staff
  • Shelli Gardner (Stampin' Up! Co-Founder and CEO) – She is one of those people who walks into a room and lightens and brightens it!  She is not only the head of Stampin' Up!, she is the heart of Stampin' Up!
  • Demonstrator Training – They provide wonderful new business ideas, new training methods, and new business resources
  • Demonstrator Support - Whenever I have to call in with a problem or concern, they happily assist me and fix any issue
  • Stampin' Up! Design Team - Your gorgeous stamp designs keep my customers coming back every year
  • Stampin' Up! Manufacturing and Shipping Employees - I STILL squeal with delight when my packages arrive
• My UPS Man – Stampin' Up! Demonstrators have mad crushes on our UPS delivery men (they bring us presents filled with things we love)
• My Mom – She is my biggest cheerleader and has made many desserts to feed my customers over the years
• MY CUSTOMERS – I love, love, love my customers!!!!  They not only come to my events, make purchases, host workshops, and bring new customers to me, they inspire me to create new projects and try new techniques.  They also laugh at my lame jokes and don't even complain when I make mistakes.  Thank you for your support!

Finally, I am eternally grateful to my family as I celebrate this anniversary.  I started as a demonstrator when my three young boys were very young.  Now, they assist in cleaning the house prior to events, critique my projects, cut out project materials, and resist the urge to eat the food I make for my events (well, at least they try).  Thank you to David, Steven, Mike, and Joe for all of your love and support as I follow my passion as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I love you with all of my heart.

To each and every one of you who have touched my life as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, thank you so very much. 

I used the new In Colors – Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait.  A simply elegant card!  Ok, I guess now I can concentrate on Fall and Halloween cards for the next few weeks!

In the next couple of days, I am going to have to get this stamp set off my workspace because I must get busy with my many planned fall and winter holiday events.  However, here is the card my workshop guests made:

The color combination is Whisper White, Concord Crush, and Pear Pizzazz.  The Designer Series Paper is from the In Color Paper Stack.  LOVE IT!