Happy Leap Day everyone!  Something special today with this Simply Sent Create and Keep Set from Stampin' Up! It is so much fun as well as quick and easy!  I just had to show you in a video...take a look below! ...and read on for my Leap Day Special!

Stampin' Up! Tutorial Quick and Easy Create and Keep

Leap Day Special! 
For every 4 customers that place an ONLINE ORDER with a product total of $50 or more from me,
today, February 29, 2012...
one name will be randomly drawn to receive one of these Create and Keep Kits FREE!
Order must be placed through my Online Store by 11:59 CST tonight!
This offer only good through Lisa Brown, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!

Last October, I began my sixth year as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  What a wonderful ride it has been!  I have to tell you that it just keeps better and better!

I had someone ask me recently what I liked best about being a demonstrator...my top three!  There's so much that I love but I've narrowed it down to the best of the best.

• Relationships.  Relationships are the heart of Stampin' Up!  I have met so many caring and wonderful people through my local and online business. I have a blast with my local customers at workshops, clubs, and classes! And, I've spoken or communicated via email, through this blog, my mailing list or on Facebook with so many from all over the U.S.  How awesome is that?!
• Flexible job sharing what I love.  Paper crafting, scrapbooking, handmade gifts...and getting to share that with hours that I set!  It's the best!
• Sharing the opportunity to do what I do with others.   Watching my team members get excited about creating and sharing...such an inspiration to me!

If these points appeal to you, I urge you to give it a try!  It's always a great time to join Stampin' Up! and I'd love to have you on my team.  E-mail me or call me!  I'd love to discuss it with you and answer any questions you may have. 

Go HERE NOW to read more on becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!

This masculine birthday card is a little over the top with Stampin' Up! products! However, it's for my husband's birthday and he's going to love it!

Looking at the front (above), I've used several stamp sets!
Four Frames (wood, clear)
Clearly for You (wood, clear)
Notably Ornate (wood, clear)

In this photo, you can see that the card has an accordian fold with little pockets for fun. ( I took the photos before adding my sweet love notes.)  Stamp set used here is Established Elegance (wood, clear).  I think it's so perfect because he is 58 (shhh!) this year!

Here's another view of one of the inside panels.  The background of the "Take Note" piece was printed on Crumb Cake card stock from My Digital Studio. 
Did you know you could download a FREE 30 day trial of My Digital Studio Express?

Here's the the view of the inside as a whole!
Lots of Stampin' Up! goodness on this baby!  If you have questions or would like to know about any of the products used here, leave your question in the comments below and I'll respond.
P.S. Can you see the little insert with the trees?
That technique is one I'll be teaching in one of my online video Masculine Card Ideas classes, Mainly Manly Cards.  Be sure to check it out HERE!

Braggin' a little today with this My Digital Studio layout!   This page of our youngest daughter has a different feel than my other pages in this project...(remember, I said "no rules"!)...but I wanted a bit more of an elegant theme to frame the memory of this event where my daughter was a runway model. Just a little proud! ;)

Try My Digital Studio FREE for 30 days! 
Visit my Online Store and click on 30 Day FREE Trial! and start creating digital scrapbooking layouts of your special moments!

I've had fun working with this new Designer Rosette Die from Stampin' Up! and wanted to share some tips that I discovered.  It is fabulous tool and a great time saver!  It's available HERE in the Online Store.

Stampin' Up! Designer Rosette Tutorial

One of my stamp club members and dear friend created beautiful cards for all her sister club members and presented them at this month's club meeting.  Each was unique and she selected this one for me...isn't it gorgeous?!!

Oh, the power of Heat & Stick Powder from Stampin' Up!  Look how she used color on this beautiful floral stamp! With the help of a VersaMarker, she was able to "color" each section in VersaMark ink then proceed through the Heat & Stick process for each color.

Debbie, it is just absolutely beautiful!  Thank you so much!

To learn more about creating beautiful cards with Stampin' Up! Heat & Stick Powder, see this post and video tutorial HERE.

So excited to share this tutorial and card idea using Stampin' Up! Mixed Bunch (wood, clear) from the Occasions Mini! It reminds me of an embellishment you might see on a Brighton purse.  Really pretty and easy, too!  Check out the how-to below...

Stampin' Up! Tutorial "Brighton" Technique Card Idea

Happy Mardi Gras! I used the Stampin' Up! Designer Rosette Die in this banner that I created to display on our door at home. We attend a local parades here at the Southeast Texas Mardi Gras...a fun family event of ours for years! The elements on the banner were trinkets that I've collected through the years from my Mardi Gras stash.

With the Designer Rosette, I can say that I prefer using designer paper over card stock since it's a bit more pliable and not has heavy.  The medallions (rosettes) here are made with card stock and I have some tips for cutting and assembling that I'll share in a video soon.

Discover how to create your own custom banners with my Online Video Banner Class.  Step-by-step instructions--lifetime access--view at your convenience.

Online Video Banner Class and Bonus Project
$24.95

Order now and receive an email with instruction to access your online class!

Sharing some more Stampin' Up! Mixed Bunch love with this card idea from my January newsletter.  This Blossom Punch and stamp set combo is fun to use and offers lots of possibilites. 

Just in case you're not on our Mailing List {what?}, I thought I'd share a bit of what you're missing! :)
Here's the how-to:

Supplies:
Stamps: Mixed Bunch (wood-125535, clear-125537), With All My Heart (wood-118134, clear-118623)
Paper: Riding Hood Red-111348, Blushing Bride-119676, Whisper White-100730, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper-125406
Ink: Riding Hood Red Classic-111836
Accessories: Blossom Punch-125603, 3/4" Circle Punch-119873, Eyelet Border Punch-119853, Decorative Label Punch-120907, 3/16" Corner Punch-119871, uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen-105021, Stampin' Sponges-101610, Stampin' Dimensionals-104430, Basic Pearls-119247

Directions:

  1. Cut Riding Hood Red card stock to 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" for card base.
  2. Cut a strip of Twitterpated Designer Series Paper to 2" x 5 1/2".  Punch one edge with Eyelet Border Punch.
  3. Cut a strip of Blushing Bride card stock to 1" x 5 1/2".  Adhere behind punched border of designer paper.
  4. Adhere this layered strip to right front edge of card base.  Round top and bottom edges of card front and back on this edge with the corner punch.
  5. Stamp floral image 3 times in Riding Hood Red and circle medallion in Blushing Bride on Whisper White card stock. Punch with corresponding punches.
  6. Bend flower petals with your fingers to add dimension. 
  7. Stack the 3 flowers using Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere one to the other. Adhere circle image as flower center.
  8. Add Basic Pearl to flower center.
  9. Stamp "friend" image from With All My Heart on Whisper White and punch with Decorative Label.  Sponge edges with Riding Hood Red.
  10. Adhere label and flower to card and you'll have a pretty card for a special friend!

Now that I've given you a peek of a sample Stampin' Up! card idea you'll receive in my newsletter, CLICK HERE to sign up!  Thanks for stopping by!

One of my dear customers, Kristen M. from North Carolina, shared this Stampin' Up! Card Idea using the Heart Treat Cups and other Stampin' Up! goodies from her stash!
Kristen made these for her son to hand out to his classmates for Valentine's Day.

Here's a list of the Stampin' Up! Products she used:

Stamp Set:
Filled with Love (retired)

Card stock:
Real Red 102482
Pretty in Pink 100459
Ink:
Real Red 103133
Designer paper:
Patterns Love (retired)
Accessories:
Small Heart Punch -117193
Extra Large Punch -119883
Treat Cups Heart- 120435
Sticky Strip- 104294
Dazzling Diamond- 102023
Multipurpose Liquid Glue 110755
M&M's for the filling!

Kristen is a member of the Inkspiration Classroom and enjoys creating cards and projects with Stampin' Up! products.

"Thanks for everything you do! I found something I love and you are always there with such great ideas!"  --Kristen M.

Join us in Inkspiration Classroom!  Exclusive Stampin' Up! card idea video tutorials and other fun projects each month!

Sharing another step taken with this digital scrapbooking layout from my 2012 project. Love these photos my daughter got of this majestic bird!

Preserve your memories with a digital scrapbooking layout!
You can try My Digital Studio, FREE, for 30 days! 
Visit my Online Store and click on 30 Day FREE Trial!

I realize this doesn't have a birthday sentiment on it but when I send cards to my Stampin' Up! stamp club members, I usually leave off the sentiment and write on a post it note inside.  This way, it's a card and a gift!

I was in a "tag" frame of mind when I created this card using the beautiful Attic Boutique Designer paper.  The idea was for a shabby chic look and this paper provided the perfect base.  Stamped elements from Established Elegance(wood, clear) are perfect for this look and the lace and Antique Brad add to the feel.

What's your favorite element to use on cards?
ribbon?  buttons? lace? designer paper? brads?

Leave a comment here in the comment section and let us know!
On Monday, I'll conduct a random drawing and I'll send you a little something special!

Working on a DIY wedding?  Let's look at a Stampin' Up! candy wrap tutorial in a different light!  The Valentine wrap seen HERE is gussied up for a wedding in this quick and easy favor idea.

Let's take a look...