Song of My Heart Stampers

Easy Graduation Cap Punch Art Card

I love the look of punch art, but I'm not very good at it... I can take all the same punches and put them in all the right places just like anyone else, but it still just looks like a heap o' punches when I'm done! I just do not have talents in that direction. I was tickled when I saw this cute and EASY graduation hat idea at the WI Stampers Regional and adapted it for this card we'll be making at my clubs this month.

The hat is half of a Wide Oval Punch (now called Extra Large Oval, #119859) with a simple topper of a 1/4 inch wide strip. That's it! The tassel is easily made by grabbing a thread and pulling to unravel a 1/8th-inch Taffeta Ribbon up to a knot you tied. And we have that size ribbon in all sorts of cute colors, too, so you can really customize the tassel to suit the school's colors.

The Pure Gumption graduation stamp set is my favorite graduation set we've had in my time as a demo. I love the sayings. The price in clear mount is just $12.95 for 4 sayings and the little hat. Order it now at www.lyssa.stampinup.net!

Punch Art Puppies

I must have doggies on the brain! I had planned to share these two adorable punch art dogs on my blog today (made by talented demos on the Stampin' Up Fiji incentive trip), but yesterday I heard of a friend's dog who was attacked by a pitbull (he will be ok, despite pretty intense injuries). I dreamed all last night that I had found an injured dog and was trying to return it to the owners but I kept missing them. Then this morning I woke up to hear that my cousin's dog got away from her while they were out walking, got hit by a car, and was missing. Thankfully, she seems to be ok--and I hope the vet visit will confirm that.

So, dogs on the brain... they sure hold a special place in our hearts, don't they? I STILL miss my Border Collie, who lived a long and happy life in Wyoming cheerfully herding birds, squirrels and kids in the big lilac-scented backyard and chasing antelope, fox and jackrabbits all over the sage-covered foothills at my grandma's house. What a life!

Sneak Peek!! Cantaloupe and Cabana Baby Card

Ok, there's about a gazillion other things I should be doing right this second, but here is a sneak peek of two of the new In Colors!!! I used Crisp Cataloupe and Coastal Cabana ink and cardstock on this card, plus a new stamp set called Label Love that goes with a new punch!! SQUEE!!!

The other three new In Colors for 2013-14 are Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar, and Strawberry Slush. Love the updated, vibrant pastels in this new collection--who knew pastels could be vibrant? This card is actually my swap card for the Stampin' Up Fiji Incentive trip. For once my procrastination paid off and since I waited so long to start, I got to use the new In Colors.

I was a little limited for embellishments on this card. Can't wait to be able to order from the next catalog on May 31st, and get other accessories and ribbon that will oordinate with the new In Colors.

All right, now somebody smack me if I get on the computer again! Those to-do lists are not getting done by themselves!

Ovals Collection Framelits

My to-do list for Fiji is three pages long--no lie--so I'll just quickly share this gorgeous card that was created for our regional event last weekend, by my team member Lynn Z. She used Perfect Plum and touches of green for this stunning Best of Flowers card, from the April Best of 25 Years anniversary collection stamp sets. You can view a photo tutorial on how to make the scrunch punch flowers here. Lynn also used the new Ovals Collection Framelits and the Tulip Frame embossing folder for the Big Shot.
Ok! Off to tackle that to-do list... don't worry, setting up blog posts to automatically share while I'm away is on the priority list... you know, the list-within-a-list, the list where the things actually have a prayer of getting done!

Meetings and Minions

Hee hee--did that title catch your attention? I thought it might! This post is going to be about our monthly group gathering, but first I have to show you this adorable punch art card by the newest member of the Song of My Heart demonstrator team--Jess Seeber-- it totally cracks me up!

Isn't that cute??? I think Jess is going to be good at this demo thing, what do you think? We had some really awesome talent at our April 2013 meeting--great Make N Takes, yummy food, two hours of chatting and lots and lots and LOTS of prizes, recognition and celebrating. Super fun! Here's some of the swaps we made--we had a "farewell" party for the 2011-13 In Colors, but that was planned before we knew about the Color Refresh. Some of those colors aren't getting a bon voyage party this year! So we had an impromptu "anything goes" swap which was a lot of fun.

Last month we had a Pinterest-theme meeting, so the challenge they took away was to bring a CASE (copy and share everything) of something they'd seen on Pinterest, Some of the girls combined the swap with the homework challenge for a double whammy of inspiration! And several of them were participating for the very first time as demonstrators, so that was exciting.

Lynn D brought along her Pinterest CASE... which happened to be one of MINE! Too funny! Thanks for the great Make N Take Lynn also brought, pictured below, as well as projects by Michelle B and scrumptious cupcakes with a cute tag, brought by Katrina H. I missed getting photos of those!

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for next month's homework challenge... since May is National Scrapbooking Month, we're supposed to bring a scrapbook page with our baby photo on it! Then we'll have a little guessing game to see if we can tell who is who.You can join us for that if you are a Stampin' Up demonstrator or if you've been thinking about becoming one! We meet on the 2nd Mondays of the month in Watertown, WI, and our gatherings are free and open to all.

Chubby Bunny punch art

I've seen a lot of bunny rabbit punch art out there, but none of them has stolen my heart like the chubby little Easter bunny that hopped out of my stamp room on Thursday. I love how mischievous he looks, like he's about to pounce or wag his cottontail or something.
I've broken him all down so you can make him at home this week if you want! Give me a holler if you want to purchase any of the following punches, or view them here in my shopping website:

• main body--2.5 inch circle punch
• neck--1.75 inch circle punch
• head--1 3/8 inch circle punch
• feet--1 inch circle cut in half
• nose--Itty Bitty Punch Pack flower cut in half
• mouth--Small Heart punch
• ears--Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch
• cottontail--Boho Blossoms Punch

Here's a quick tip for the tricky, slippery whiskers--lay the monofilament fishing line or clear quilter's thread on an exposed Mini Glue Dot and trim. Add another piece of line and trim, then another and trim. Roll the glue dot together with your fingernail to seal them all in securely and attach underneath nose.

So that's my version of an Easter Bunny using punch art! Hope my little guy made you smile. If you prefer serious Easter Cards, check out tomorrow's post for a truly elegant one using Crosses of Hope and the new Easter Blessings single stamp from the Spring 2013 Catalog.

My favorite cards to make

Need I say anything else?

Well, it's me, so of course I have more to say! Duh!

These are my favorite cards to make because it means someone else has caught the vision of how Stampin' Up can bring and outlet for creativity and personal fulfillment to their lives. Eight years ago next month I bought the Starter Kit because it was a good deal, and I'm a bargain hunter. Turned out to be completely life-changing for our family, as my business took off and I began to earn trips, grow a team and reap rewards that I never dreamed were possible.

But it all started with a stamp, an ink pad, and some paper.

It didn't take me long at all to realize I'd fallen in with a fabulous company, committed to quality and innovative products, committed to supporting their demonstrators and helping them reach their potential, and committed to the principles of God first, family next, work last.

And it all started with a stamp, an ink pad, and some paper.

Two friends at the kitchen table with a shoebox full of random tools. A postage stamp on a invite that actually made it to the mail box. One dog-eared catalog. A party with only two guests. Ink on the fingers.

Magic springs from the simplest moments.

I could mention the Starter Kit and how it's only $99 bucks right now. How you can pick out everything in your kit yourself, $156.50 worth during Sale A Bration. How there's no shipping and how you don't have to return anything if it winds up not being for you. But I won't, because while those things are great, they're not the reason you should look at Stampin' Up.

Stampin' Up is not the company, or the product. It's the moments of magic. It's the feeling you get when you make something gorgeous, all by yourself. It's the way your heart speeds up when you recognize that envelope in the stack of mail, and know someone took the time to make you something. It's the glow as you walk away from your friend's house in the dark one night with your sides aching after laughing yourselves silly over a glued-shut card. It's that one space in time when you realize the group is clapping for you, because you did something amazing with one step out of your comfort zone.

Magic.

is it your moment?

Then click here: This is my moment