Better Late Than Never?

Well, here it is January 5th and I am just now posting my last two Christmas cards, but like the title of this post says- better late than never, right? I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and that the new year will bring you much happiness!

Here is the second of my Christmas cards. I CASE'd this one from Heidi Baks. I saw a similar card on her blog and LOVED it so I had to make my own version. I was really happy with the way they turned out! What do you think of this one?


Supplies Used:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Come to Bethlehem (sentiment)
Paper: Soft Suede CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, Whisper White CS, Deck the Halls DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Marina Mist
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Cherry Cobbler seam binding
Techniques: Masking, Sponging

Here is the third card design that I sent out this year. It is a CASE of a card made by Ilina Crouse. I added the glitter window technique to make the snowflake extra sparkly. These are definitely CAS (Clean and Simple) cards which means that the design is very clean and there is a lot of white remaining on the card. The first picture shows a close up and the second is the entire card front. Even though I don't often do CAS cards, I really like this one and they went together very quickly and easily. This card is done in Concord Crush, but I also did them in Cherry Cobbler and Not Quite Navy and they were all very pretty. I loved all the shimmer on this card. I used the shimmer spray on the card front to give the whole card a little sparkle!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Four the Holidays

Paper: Concord Crush CS, Whisper White CS

Ink: Concord Crush
Accessories: Snowflake punch, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds, packing tape (non-SU), shimmer spray

Techniques: Glitter Window

Sorry that I didn't get these posted before Christmas, but better late than never- right? right?

~Marla

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Christmas Card #1

Why does it seem that every single blog post that I write begins with an apology for neglecting my blog? Well, here is yet another apology! I'm so sorry that I haven't been posting regularly. I have been up to my eyeballs in all things Christmas and am just now finally getting around to getting my own personal Christmas cards made and sent out. I am going to end up with four designs this year and this is the first one. It is being sent mostly to friends and family. It is a CASE of a card that I saw on splitcoast that was made by a member called jchill34. I loved the design of her card and wanted to make my own. I did make a few minor changes to make it my own and I love the way it turned out.

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season and that you have been able to take a few moments here and there to relax and enjoy this wonderful time of year! I hope that all of you will have a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with blessings and much happiness! I will be back soon to share the other three designs of my Christmas cards, so check back soon!

~Marla

Supplies Used: Welcome Christmas, Many Merry Messages (for inside sentiment)

Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Accessories: Scalloped Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scallop Edge Border punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, Big Shot, Petals a Plenty embossing folder, Glitter Spray (homemade using Champagne Mist glitter paint mixed with rubbing alcohol)

Techniques: dry embossing

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Technique Club Forming Now!

Hello! Would you like to learn some new stamping techniques? Well, I am bursting with ideas that I would love to share with you. I am forming a hostess club where we will focus on techniques that will wow, but that are a bit too involved for my regular classes.

How does a hostess club work?

- There must be six members.

- We will meet in my home once every other month for one year.

- On the date of each meeting, each member is responsible for placing a minimum $25 order (before tax and shipping). The orders will be combined to form a workshop that will receive hostess benefits.

- There will be a new hostess for each meeting. Members will choose their hostess month in the order that they sign up for the club. The hostess is responsible for bringing a light snack for all members to share. I will provide drinks.

What are the advantages of joining the club?

- Each member will receive at least $15 in free merchandise and a free hostess stamp set on their hostess month. You get the benefits of hosting a workshop without having to clean your house!

- You can purchase stamping supplies on a budget.

- You will make two WOW! projects at each meeting that you can take home.

- You get a girls' night out six times a year. (Who doesn't need that?)

-Each member will receive a free copy of the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog when it comes out in July. (If you don't already have a copy of the current catalog, you will receive one of those as well.)

I am thinking that we would meet on Friday evenings or nights, but I am open to another day as long as everyone agrees on the day. I would love to begin our club meetings in January. Our Sale-a-Bration sale begins in January, so that would be a great time to order and be a hostess! More details on Sale-a-Bration to come. If you are interested in joining this club, please email me at reedmarla@comcast.net or call me (304) 904-5883. I look forward to hearing from you!

~Marla Pin It

Emboss Resist

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving! I am visiting my parents for the holiday. We arrived last night after a long but uneventful trip. When traveling with two little ones, an uneventful trip is definitely something to be thankful for. I'm really looking forward to visiting with family and friends that I don't get to see often enough, and I am, of course, excited about all the good food!

Isn't this card so pretty? I saw a video on Dawn Griffith's blog where she made a card very similar to this one and decided that I needed to make my own. It used the emboss resist technique, which is where you heat emboss an image and then sponge or roll ink over it. The ink will not stick to the area that is embossed. The large flowers on the card were stamped with Versamark ink, then covered with clear embossing powder, then heat embossed with the heat tool. I then sponged over them with Crumb Cake ink on a sponge dauber. I think it turned out beautifully. I recently (finally) purchased the heat tool and it has been such a great investment. I have been using it all the time because there are so many really cool things that can be done with it.

Everyone have a safe and happy holiday!

~Marla

Supplies Used:
Stamp Sets: Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess), Vintage Vogue
Paper: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Versamark, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Basic Pearls
Techniques: dry embossing, heat embossing, emboss resist, sponging Pin It

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Hello! Happy Thanksgiving week to all of you! I just want to say that I am very thankful to all of you who come and visit my blog, come to my events, and place orders through me! I have had a really successful year and it's all thanks to you!

This is a birthday card I made for my niece, Hannah. She is turning six next week and I knew I needed to get a card made now before life gets super busy with Thanksgiving travels. We made a version of this card (which is a CASE of one made by Tessa Wise) at the birthday card class I held back in September, but I don't think that card ever got posted. I made this one to fit the color challenge on Splitcoast last week, which was Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, and Pear Pizzazz. I have to say that I love this combo! I really love Baja Breeze and any shade of purple, so this was a great one for me. It's hard to see in the picture, but I heat embossed the balloons with VersaMark and clear embossing powder to make the balloons appear shiny. It gives a cool effect!

Everyone have a wonderful week! I have a few other cards to post this week, so check back often!

~Marla

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Everything Nice, Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: VersaMark, Black Staz On, Perfect Plum marker, Baja Breeze marker, Pear Pizzazz marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Scallop Border punch, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Certainly Celery ribbon (retired), Linen Thread
Technique: dry embossing, heat embossing Pin It

This Deal is Too Good to Pass Up!

Until November 30th, the Stampin' Up demonstrator starter kit is half off! The kit that is
usually $175 (and contains $310 worth of products and supplies) is now only $87.50!

This is what is included in the CUSTOMIZABLE standard kit:

ANY $33.95 or lower set

ANY $28.95 or lower set

ANY $18.95 or lower set

ANY $9.95 or lower set

***Note that the $87.50 kit cost has already paid for the 4 sets above valued at $91.80. That means that EVERYTHING BELOW THIS LINE IS FREE! ***

$19.95 Brights Patterns Designer Series paper stack (OR color of you choice) FREE

$16.95 Stampin' Scrub FREE

$8.95 Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon (OR ribbon at same or lower price) FREE

$8.95 VersaMark pad (OR ink pad at same or lower price) FREE

$8.50 Whisper White card stock (OR color of you choice at same or lower price) FREE

$7.95 Small Chocolate Songbird Decor Elements piece (OR Decor Elements item at same or lower price) FREE

$6.95 Assorted 8 1/2 x 11 card stock (color assortment of your choice) FREE

$6.95 Clear Block C (OR clear block at same or lower price) FREE

$6.95 SNAIL adhesive (OR same or lower price adhesive) FREE

$6.50 Fast Flowers Stampin' Around Wheel (OR standard wheel of your choice) FREE

$5.95 Stampin' Around Self-Inking Handle FREE

$5.95 Classic ink pad (your choice of color) FREE

$5.95 Classic ink pad (your choice of color) FREE

$5.95 Classic ink pad (your choice of color) FREE

$5.95 Classic ink pad (you choice of color) FREE

$5.25 Uninked Cartridge (standard) FREE

$4.50 Stampin' Mist (OR StazOn cleaner) FREE

$3.95 Stampin' Dimensionals FREE

$3.50 Stampin' Write marker (your choice of color) FREE

$3.50 Stampin' Write marker (your choice of color) FREE

$3.32 Blender Pen (single) FREE

$2.95 Classic ink refill (your choice of color) FREE

$1.95 Decor Elements Applicator FREE

$1.17 Stampin' sponge (single) FREE

Catalogs ($29.95 for 8), business forms, and other printed business materials

Seen enough? Call me today (304) 904-5883 and I'll answer any questions you have about being a hobby or business demo. We have low quarterly minimums and great benefits for demos if you choose to remain a demo. I'm so excited for all of you who will take advantage of this awesome deal! Stampin' Up has never had a deal this good and probably won't again for a very long time! Hope to hear from you soon!

-Marla Pin It

A Color Challenge!

Hello! I woke up super early yesterday morning and this is what I worked on. It is my customer thank you card for November, so if you have attended one of my events or placed an order with my in the past couple of weeks, keep an eye on your mailbox!

This card was inspired by one done by Julie Davison that I saw on Splitcoast. I changed the colors for my card to make it fall-ish and to make it fit with the color challenge #295 on Splitcoast, which was to use Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, and Cajun Craze (plus neutrals). I just bought the set called "Just Believe" that was new to the latest catalog and I love it! I have had my eye on it for a long time, but hadn't ordered it. I'm so glad I finally got it. It is a really lovely and versatile set.

Thanks for stopping by! See you again soon!

~Marla

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilly, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze
Ink: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Scalloped Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Word Window punch, Early Espresso satin ribbon Pin It