Blog Hop - Wrapping Up the Holidays

Happy December! I am SO excited for the Christmas season. The lights, the music, the decorations, the baking, the general holiday spirit -- I love it all! One thing I don't love? All the spending. It's so incredibly easy to go over budget come Christmastime, and while we're not quite "poor, starving college students" we are on a student budget. So this month, for our Wrapping Up the Holidays blog hop, I'm showing you some of my favorite -- and cheap! -- gift wrap options.

Can you believe that the US spends $2.6 BILLION each year on gift wrap?! That's absurd! Especially if you grocery shop. My favorite "trick" is to use the brown paper grocery bags as wrapping paper. Simply stamp a few Christmas-y images on it and tie it with some cute ribbon or twine, and you have cheap (and eco-friendly!) gift wrap a-plenty!

Gift tags can get expensive, too. Instead of buying them, I dug through my craft drawers and found some old washi tape (from last year's Holiday Catalog) and some Whisper White cardstock, and I made my own!

Adding rhinestones to the tags gives them a little bit extra holiday sparkle, don't you think?

The cute little To/From stamp is from a retired set called "Sleigh Full of Toys", and I love it!


Oh, you want some budget-friendly decor ideas, too? Hit the dollar store! Remember the super-cute rope-wrapped vase I made last month? I swapped out the fall-themed (Dollar-store) flowers for some poinsettias from my Christmas box, and voila!

We also hung Christmas lights (which we got on sale last year for super-cheap) on our balcony, since we finally have an outdoor space to decorate!

So there you have it! My budget-friendly Christmas blog hop. Be sure to hop on through the rest of the blogs to see what they're showing off today.

Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

'Tis the Season - Blog Hop

Happy November! For me, today officially kicks off the holiday season, so it's fitting that this month's theme is " 'Tis the Season." Thanksgiving is coming up soon, then Christmas & New Year and all the wonderful celebrations just make me SO happy! As much as you might hear me complain about the cold weather (and snow! Ugh. Give me back my California weather!) I really do love this time of year. There's so much to celebrate and so many excuses to CREATE!

So today, I want to show off -- er, share with you -- some of the fun things I've been creating that really encapsulate what Fall is to me. No cards this time, but plenty of other creative, fun things to get your brain going.


First up: Baking! Nothing says Fall quite like lots of delicious baking! Today's recipe was a decadent chocolate cupcake and dark chocolate frosting for my friend's birthday. Yum!

Oh, and see the festive Fall vase? Yeah, I made that. I covered a dollar-store vase with some thick jute and filled it with dollar-store flowers. I love it!

I also love decorating for Fall! Here's the "Thanks" banner I made last year. It fits perfectly in the empty wall space between my living room bookcase and the kitchen.

And the pumpkins! I love pumpkins! Yet again, this is a dollar-store find. (Ok, so I didn't make anything here, but I did arrange it.)

Do you remember the Spring Wreath I made way back in January? Well, after having it hang around our apartment (pun intended) for months -- including through our move this summer -- I finally pulled it back out. The paper flowers, though cute, had faded from being hung in sunlight for months. So I ripped them off and added -- guess what! -- more dollar store flowers! I absolutely LOVE the burlap and fall colors, don't you?! It makes me SO happy every time I come home :)

Last but not least, Fall makes me think of cozy things. Someday, I might learn to (have the patience to) knit or crochet, but for now, I've got my trusty little sewing machine. I whipped this pillow out in just about an hour, start to finish. It's the pop of pattern I've been wanting in my craft room since before I even moved in here!

What's YOUR favorite part of fall? Have any fun crafts up your sleeves? Hop on through to see what else our fabulous bloggers have to inspire you today!

Blog Hop: Check Out the Holiday Catalog!

Holy moly, it's October! The weather's cooling off, days are getting shorter, and there are pumpkins EVERYWHERE -- sure signs that the holidays are sneaking up on us. Did you know there are less than 15 Fridays until Christmas?! Crazy! So even though I'd like to think that we have all the time in the world to prep for the holiday fun & festivities, it really is time to get started. For all kinds of awesome holiday inspiration -- from Halloween to Christmas and everything in between -- be sure to check out the Holiday Catalog from Stampin Up.

I made a cute little gift box with the new die in the holiday catalog, featuring silver Glimmer Paper handles & tag tied on with Cherry Cobbler baker's twine.

Perfect size for a mini pumpkin muffin! Or a good-sized hunk of homemade fudge. Mmmm. Must be time to start on my favorite part of fall -- baking!

What other fun things are you looking forward to this holiday season? Keep on hoppin' through our Blog Hop to see what other inspiration you might find. Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Hop - "Use Your Words"

Hello! It's time again for our monthly We Create Blog Hop. This month's theme made me laugh out loud when I heard it, because it's something I say a lot -- "Use your words." I can only imagine I'll be saying it even more when I have kids someday!

Anyway. I was super excited to do this hop because, if you haven't already seen them, the new catalog features some sets with AMAZING typography! The stamps I've featured are ones that can stand all on their own (though adding a little extra pizzazz is never a bad thing, right?), which makes cards come together lickety-split! In fact, I made all the cards for this hop in under an hour total! Like I said, super quick and easy!

Stamp sets: Big News, Something for Baby
Framelits: Baby's First Framelits 

Stamp set: Big News

Stamp Sets: Occasions 4 You, Mixed Bunch
Petal Punch 

Stamp Set: Big News

And because Stampin Up loves making things so easy for us, there's also an index of greetings & alphabet stamp sets right in the back of the current catalog! How easy is that?! You can check out the catalog by clicking on the link in the sidebar.


There are SO many more great ways to Use Your Words with Stampin' Up!'s word sets, so be sure to hop through the rest of the blogs to see what other ideas you can find!

Big Shot Blog Hop

Welcome! This month, I'm so excited to show off one of my very favorite tools: the Big Shot! For those who aren't familiar, the Big Shot is an epic multi-tool. Check it out.

Run dies through it to cut shapes out of all sorts of materials. Use it with Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to give dimension and texture to your projects. Also be sure to check out the Framelits, Embosslis, Bigz dies, Edgelits, and Thinlits. So many options!

If you've been waiting for the right time to purchase a Big Shot, that time is now! When you buy a Big Shot during the month of August, you'll receive your choice of one of five FREE exclusive stamp set and Framelits bundles (see bundles here)--that's up to a $60 value absolutely free! If you already own a Big Shot, we're also offering a 15-percent discount on these select bundles.

My project today showcases a few of the fun things you can do with the Big Shot. I had a friend ask me if we could make invitations for her daughter's 4th birthday. What a fun project! So we brainstormed and came up with these super-cute invitations.

The texture on top is the Mosaic Madness embossing folder, and the cute little butterflies are part of an Embosslit. We took a strip of DSP and creased it into an adorable ruffle to stick underneath the edge of the Tempting Turquoise paper.

This is just such a small sample of all the great things the Big Shot can do, so be sure to hop through to the other bloggers to see what they've showcased!

Bundle & Save Blog Hop (Or, Please excuse the moving madness)

Welcome back, stampers! This month has been insanely busy! As you saw in my last post, I'm getting ready to move, along with helping several friends move and deal with other huge life changes, and getting to go on vacation with my husband (our first road trip!). So please excuse the temporary lack of project and enjoy the quick post about the great Bundle & Save options that Stampin Up offers.

This year's catalog features several fantastic "bundle" options that pair a stamp set with matching accessories -- usually Framelits for the Big Shot -- and give you a 15% savings! You can't beat coordinating products AND great savings!

Here's a handy list of each of the Bundle & Save options included in this year's catalog:

• Chalk Talk -- pg 11 
• Label Love -- pg 14
• Four Frames -- pg 21 
• Journal Bundles -- pg 29
• Apothecary Art -- pg 57
• Something for Baby -- pg 74
• Itty Bitty Banners -- pg 79
• Simply Sports--  pg 90
• Playful Pennants -- pg 91/92
• Starburst Sayings -- pg 117 
• Honeycomb Hello -- pg 134 
• Flower Patch -- pg 156 
• Tag a Bag -- pg 201

I decided to feature the Chalk Talk bundle, which is so much fun to play with! It was one that I borrowed from Julie, actually, but it may be on my "need to buy" list now! The stamps are super fun, but the really awesome part is the Framelits! You can cut out (somewhat) customized tags out of anything! So versatile!

This card features a cute little narrow tag and a popped-up heart. As you've seen in previous posts, I really love the combination of Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler (maybe because they're both desserts?) It's such a simple card, but the textured background and the chalk-like font give it a lot of character.

My second card was a little more tricky to figure out. I tried and tried and tried to figure out how to put one of the big tags on this card, and it just wasn't happening. So I browsed Pinterest and got the inspiration I needed: Ditch the big tag and focus on this super-sweet sentiment instead! After that, things just fell together so much better. The oval was cut out using a punch, rather than the Chalk Talk framelits, but I think the Oval Framelits would work too.

What's your favorite Bundle & Save option? Be sure to hop through all the other blogs to see their great projects!

New Catalog! And time for a Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to another month of our We Create Blog Hop! We're so glad you could join us this month, because we have something extra-special for you today: a BRAND NEW CAR CATALOG! (Sorry, bit of a Price is Right fan here.)

Every June, Stampin Up puts out a brand-spankin-new catalog. (If you were here last month, you heard about how that necessitates retiring some products. Sad day.) But even though we had to bid farewell to some long-loved sets, I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for the new stamps! Seriously, guys. It's amazing. Take a few minutes (or hours, whatever; I won't judge) to go peruse the new catalog. I'll wait.

Click picture to go check out the catalog.
Seriously. Go check it out.

Ok, you've checked it out? Browsed a bit? Yes? Isn't it fantastic?! I have to admit, I'm always a bit nervous when this time of year comes around, but this year's catalog blew me away. As a typography nerd (I was an editor in a past life) (and by past life, I mean barely a year ago), I was SO EXCITED to see all the fun, creative, beautiful word art they have! I definitely have a long wish list.

Alright. Enough yakking. On to the projects! I'm the kind of gal who just doesn't plan ahead very well, so instead of seeing new products (my order is still sitting in limbo, poor thing), you're going to see some of the products I'm most excited about that are sticking around!

This card came together pretty darn quickly, helped along by the fabulous ladies over at Freshly Made Sketches. What a great layout - so easy to work with.

The picture is a bit dim, but hey, it was midnight when I took the picture. (Remember what I said about not planning ahead well? Yeah. Prime example here.) It's Tempting Turquoise and Very Vanilla, with super-fun Silver Glimmer Paper banners. This showcases some of my favorite things that are sticking around -- or rather, coming back! The banner punch and the polka-dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder were featured during this year's Sale-a-Bration, and I couldn't be happier to still have them available! Seriously. They're just so cute and versatile!

The original sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - #138

And to go along with the card, I made a quick little gift box. I'm so happy the gift boxes are sticking around! I embossed the clear plastic sleeve with the same folder I used on the card, and I love the way it turned out! Wrap some twine around it, add a tag, and you're good to go. Inside the box, you can see some of our Stampin' Write markers. What I wanted to have in there, I haven't ordered yet -- the new Blendabilities pens! They are SO awesome! I'll show them off to you soon, I promise.

Be sure to hop through to see all the other wonderful posts celebrating our brand new catalog!

And if you're in the Provo area, come to my New Catalog Launch Party! I'm holding an open-house style party to celebrate the new catalog AND my new craft room! (I'll have pics of that later this week.) Next Tuesday, June 10, 7-9pm. Contact me with any questions!

Blog Hop! Don't Miss Your "Last Chance" to Get Retiring Products

Welcome back to our Blog Hop! Was it just me, or did April fly by super fast? I could hardly believe it when Julie reminded me that it was time again to get our blog hop posts ready again! This last week, Stampin Up released this year's list of retiring products in anticipation of the brand-spankin'-new catalog that launches in just one month! (Can ya tell I'm excited? I'm pretty darn excited.) Thanks to Julie, who went to a catalog premiere party, I got to see the catalog early -- and let me tell you, it's SO GOOD! I'm really excited for all the new products and accessories that are coming out.

But at the same time, I'm sad to see some of the great stamps and accessories I love go on the retiring list. So this blog hop is a chance to say "farewell" to some of the great stuff that will be retiring. I'll be showcasing the "Simply Stars" set, along with some of the word sets that are going away as well. Be sure to check out the other blogs in the hop to see what they're saying goodbye to, as well.

***These stamp sets are only available
 until June 4 -- and only while supplies last! -- 
so get them before they're gone!***

This first card is a simple baby card in soft pinks and blues. The greeting is from "Cuddles & Kisses" set which is, sadly, also retiring come June 1.

It's a little hard to tell, but this card is Real Red and Crumb Cake. It's showing you the Simply Stars set as well as the Bring on the Cake set, which is also retiring. I colored in the letters with our blender pens.

I made some simple color changes to make the card from above more girly. This Melon Mambo and Whisper White card shows off a few retiring products: the Simply Stars set, the Bring on the Cake set, and (sad!) the Melon Mambo embossing powder, which you can kinda see on the pink stars here.

Oh, and the embossing in the background of the pink card there? You may want to keep an eye out for that one. Just sayin'. It's pretty darn cute. 

Thanks for stopping by the Hop again this month! As always, Pins, comments, and shares are appreciated. And be sure to grab your favorite retiring products before they're gone for good! Feel free to contact me with questions or if you want to place an order. Hop through to see everyone else's great projects, too, of course!

My Digital Studio Blog Hop (And a Bonus Recipe!)

Welcome to another edition of our fabulous We Create Blog Hop! This month, we're showcasing a product that may be new to some of you, but maybe an old friend to others: My Digital Studio! My Digital Studio ("MDS" for short) is Stampin' Up's digital creating program. It allows you to make cards, photo books, swatch books, posters, invitations, and whatever else you might dream up without making a mess of your craft room! How amazing is that?

Now, I have to be honest: MDS was a hard sell for me. I'm just too much of a hands-on crafter! A few times before I've, rather grudgingly, made projects on MDS (like this one) -- usually at the prompting of other Demonstrators who just LOVE the program. I was always happy with how the projects turned out, in the end.

And even though the program is only $20, I've been a stinker and only ever downloaded the free trial. (Personally, I would have rather put the $20 toward a new stamp set. Or so I thought, but I'll get to that in a minute.) Today's project, a recipe swap swatch book, was also made entirely with stuff available in the free trial of MDS, along with some fonts I downloaded from Google Fonts (such a fun site! At least for a typography nerd like me) and some word art from online.

This is my very own recipe for High-Altitude Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Isn't it adorable?! I freaking LOVE how this recipe card turned out. The best part? Since this was a swap, my little swatch book is now FULL of a variety of gorgeous and delicious-sounding recipes! There's talk of doing more recipe swaps in the future, and if that's the case . . . well, then I may just have to "invest" the $20 and get the full version of MDS for myself!

Thanks for "hopping" on by to see my MDS project! Try out the banana bread recipe sometime and let me know how it goes for you. And be sure to check out the rest of the hop by clicking through to the rest of the lovely ladies' blogs. As always, we love comments, shares, and Pins!