Black Rose

I love the Big Shot. If you don't have one yet, you gotta get one!!! A Big Shot just gives you so many more options for your projects and so many more dimensions. One of my favorite things to do is to use designer series paper on an embossing folder:

Stamp Set - Matchbox Messages

Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, DSP (retired)

Ink - Real Red

Miscellaneous - Manhattan Flower textured impressions embossing folder with the Big Shot, Wide Oval and Scallop Oval, and 1/4" circle punches, Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, sanding block

**After you run your DSP through the big shot, take your sanding block and, VERY LIGHTLY, sand over the embossed areas. Because the DSP is so thin, if you sand too hard, you will rip your paper.

Regionals - Yay!

One of the most exciting things about being a Stampin Up! demonstrator are the functions that we get to attend. This year, the Regionals is in Phoenix and it's this Saturday! I'm so excited to go! It's kind of like a mini convention but just for the day. Here, thousands of demonstrators will come together from surrounding states and we get to hear from the top people at Stampin Up!, meet fellow demonstrators, swap cards, and do make-n-takes (which, obviously, is my favorite part!). I'm working on my swap right now and hopefully I'll get it done tonight so I don't have to worry about it all week!

Here's my swap:

Stamp Set - Tote-ally Tess, Simply Said

Paper - Basic Grey, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade

Ink - Basic Grey, Melon Mambo

Miscellaneous - Petals-A-Plenty textured impressions folder, Top Note big dies, Melon Mambo 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, Black, Grey, and Brown watercolor pencils, Blender pen, Melon Mambo Stampin Write marker, sponge

Isn't she the cutest?? I love this stamp set! You'll be able to order it tomorrow...

Happy New Year!

I'm super excited to start a new year, hopefully an exciting one! As I put away my Christmas decorations and focus on "the real world" with school starting, I'm excited to set up new classes and start up my monthly stamp club. I've scheduled classes out and you can view the dates on my Stampin Up! website. **Remember, if you cannot attend my class, I make "long-distance" packets for my monthly classes and any special classes that I schedule. Please let me know if you are ever interested in purchasing one of these packets. Depending on the class will depend on the price so contact me for details.

Have you heard...Stampin Up! will be promoting the Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration starting THIS Tuesday, January 5th. It's always very exciting to see all the new stamp sets, papers, and accessories.

The most exciting addition is the Clear-Mount blocks and stamp sets -

"Enjoy the same high-quality rubber and foam you’ve grown to love on our wood-mount stamps in a new clear-mount stamp option! New to stamping? Need to save on storage space? Want to mix and match your images on any clear block? Our repositionable clear-mount stamps offer you an ideal solution. Like our wood-mount stamps, clear-mount stamps are also die-cut, which makes it easy to start stamping right away. And an optional label makes it easy to locate your stamps and also helps you easily position the rubber on your clear blocks."

Look for a picture on pages 6 and 7 in the Occasions Mini Catalog. I bought the block bundle and new clear-mount stamp sets and I'm just loving this idea!!!

I participated in a swap recently and the theme was the Occasions Mini Catalog. Here's the card I submitted. It was a lot of fun to use new stamp sets. I can't wait to get all of the swaps that everyone else made returned to me :)

Stamp Set - Fox & Friends, Well Scripted

Paper - So Saffron, Brilliant Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Tall Tales DSP

Ink - Chocolate Chip, So Saffron (sponged on the Very Vanilla)

Miscellaneous - Brilliant Blue and Chocolate Chip Stamp Write markers, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, So Saffron brads, Scallop punch, sponge

My Digital Studio Launch

If you haven't seen Stampin' Up! My Digital Stuido (MDS), you HAVE to check it out!!! It's the best scrapbooking tool ever! I've made scrapbooks with other companies before, but Stampin' Up! really outdid themselves with the layouts and accessories that are available and not to mention how easy it is to use! And, the best part of MDS is that all of the colors and accessories match the catalog, so if you wanted to add your own 3D effects, it will all flow together.

I'll be uploading the book I've made so you can see first hand what it's about, or you can go to my Stampin' Up! website to learn all about it.

Starting today through October 31st, the My Digital Studio is included in an exclusive starter kit. So, for $185, you get:

My Digital Studio software
Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
Button Latte Designer buttons
Stampin' Dimensionals
Mini Glue Dots
SNAIL Adhesive
Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

Interested in joining my team? You can learn about Stampin' Up! and join right from your computer. Click on the left for my Stampin' Up! website and click on Start Your Own Business and then click on Join Now and enter password monicalermateam08 It's that simple!! Contact me with questions.

Trick or Treat

Now that I have kids, I love Halloween. I've never been a fan. Even in grade school, it was always a drag to get dressed up and participate in the school Halloween parade (of course, now schools arn't allowed to do this kind of celebration anymore. But, the kids are still allowed to give out Halloween treats so I enjoy doing that for the class). So, needless to say, I've never given out Halloween cards, but this card was too cute to pass up. I saw a version of this card on Tiffany Bauer's blog and changed it up a bit. Arn't the little bats the cutest things!





Stamp Set- Holiday Best, Batty For You

Paper- Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Cast-A-Spell DSP

Ink- Basic Black, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Accessorries- Coluzzle, Black Gingham ribbon, Key Tag punch (which is retired and I'm still upset about it!)


I cut out a couple of the bats and put them on dimensionals to give it more of a 3D look.

Shot Till You Drop

Stampin' Up! is launching a new section of the online store called the Clearance Rack. The purpose of the Clearance Rack is to clear out the inventory of surplus items that have been retired. Many of these retired items will be offered at a substantially reduced price.

All items are only available while supplies last and all sales of Clearance Rack items are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted, except in the case of defective product.

You can only purchase these Clearance Rack items online, so click on Shop Now from my Stampin' Up! website and scroll down to the Clearance Rack. Today is the first day so don't miss out on your chance to stock up on your favorites!

Give Thanks

I've never really sent out Thanksgiving cards before, but I'm going to this year for sure. It's a nice way to give thanks to our friends and family who can't celebrate with us on Thanksgiving Day.

My friend, Lisa, actually bought this stamp at club last month and when I saw it, I immediately called her and asked if I could use it (isn't that awful?). Oh well, she was more than excited because she was planning on making Thanksgiving dinner invitations and she told me that whatever I designed, she was using. Soooooo, this is what I came up with. The actual design is very simple, but it's the watercoloring that makes it all come together. I just love, love, love to watercolor!!!

Stamp Set- Gifts of the Earth

Paper- Naturals White, Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Ruby Red, Autumn Traditions

Ink- Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie

Miscellaneous- Ruby Red brads, Soft Suede 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Aqua Painter