Simple Stamping Challenge

Stampin'Up! gave demonstrators a challenge if they wanted to take it up. Create some cards that are super simple!
One stamp set, ink and the Notecards from the Annual catalogue,
Last night, looking for a set to work with that had a thank you in it ~ because December's challenge was to make a thank you...~ and I found that Dragonfly Dreams had a thank you in it.

#simplestamping Using Dragonfly Dreams stamp set and Blackberry Bliss and Balmy Blue inks.

Hoping that this week between Christmas and New Year's finds you enjoying time doing what you want...family visiting, skating, reading, stamping, cooking easy meals or entertaining elaborately! ...
Wishing you a much Happiness, good health and laughter throughout the coming year!
 HaPpY New YeAr!!


Smiles, 
Laurie


...and a little "blooper" at the end of the post:
...when you pick up ink on an edge of the block on the very last dot stamped!! ("gasp")...and decide to see what doing a few more lines will look like...

(this one actually got my daughter's vote for better between the two...what do you think?)

Santa's Workshop Memories and More

The Memories and More Christmas kit this year is fun...a different take from the past years of capturing your December...and actively being used by many folks for making a bundle of cards simply and quickly.
I've pulled together a bundle myself for a class I'll be holding the end of November! Inspired by many ideas online from others, and tweaked to a bit of my style, I guess you'd say.

It's been fun, sorting through the cards thinking of the possibilities! I have a couple more to make.
I also have my Hallway frame laid out to be glued down and put up!
I am skyping this class, if you'd like to join us, November 21, let me know so I can order you up a kit and get it off to you in the post!

Smiles,
Laurie

Bokeh Dots for Christmas

Prepping for a class this evening. Happy to have a few ladies joining me in either the afternoon or evening time option. We're going to be working with the Winter Woods stamp bundle from the Holiday Catalogue, there is so much versatility with this bundle it's hard to choose a couple styles to make for the cards!  I'm also designing a card using Stylish Christmas. A stamp set that I saw this summer in the Annual catalogue and recently decided, I did indeed LOVE it! The new DistINKtive stamps are rather clever!
My favourite DistINKtive stamps so far are the Bokeh Dots backgrounds duo on page 153.
I'm going to share a few cards we made with these two stamps from the last class!

I utilized trees and the sentiment from the Timeless Tidings stamp set. on the other cards, I used Lovely as a Tree and Night in Bethlehem. 

Smiles,

Laurie

To check out my online store click here, thanks.

Blessings of Stampin'Up!

My Heart is happy this week! I had a couple different events sharing my joy of stamping with others!
I'm always happiest when I feel I've made a difference in another person's life, when I see their pride from creating something so simply from paper!
Starting this business 16 years ago, I'm not sure I thought I'd ever be in it for so many years.
My Littlest was born into my Stampin'Life! She knows me only as a Stampin'Up! demonstrator...Imagine!
I've been blessed with wonderful customers that have become friends through stampin'.
I've been blessed with meeting beautiful demonstrators from around the world. Blessed to be able to travel for years to fun cities to join up with them each year, for a celebration of achievement in the business!
I am blessed that I have the business to focus me to sit down and plan classes ~ creating and playing with stamps, ink and dies to share with others. Teaching techniques, a fancy fold, or just showing off an extraordinary set that I've fallen in love with!

I have been hit and miss for years on this blog...I have always loved the idea of sharing on the blog...but never had the accountability to stick to it for the duration!
... but I'm going to start, yet again, to make regular entries. With gratitude as the theme.
I ran a course last year with prompts and snippets about journaling gratitude and capturing the everyday! I'm going to continue to explore these ideas!
...along with incorporating the idea of mailing out at least a card a week ~ and sharing the card on here!
Photo for this blog post is a photo of the group of Ladies I joined earlier this week to help them make some fabulous Fall banners! So many leaves to texturize and customize their own special creations! I'm so happy to have been asked to do this with them!

smiles,

Laurie

Three Month Mini Club ~ SAB style!

Sale-A-Bration is the biggest promotion of the Stampin’ Up! year and this year there are ELEVEN beautiful items to choose from for free with a $60 purchase!

Would you like to join my 3 Month Mini Club!?! You'll earn at least THREE of the SAB items and then  MORE free product!!

Here is how it works:
- 3 stampers commit to making a minimum $60 (+ GST and s&h) purchase in January, February and March, 2018
- Each month, one of the three members will act as the hostess and earn a minimum of $20 of hostess benefits.
(- The hostess for each month will be determined by a random draw)
- The hostess may increase her hostess benefits by hosting a workshop and/or collecting outside orders (but is NOT required to do so) ~  There are also a bonus 2 items to choose from for spending $120!

This is great time to make up your wish list and order up those wonderful Bundles you've been looking at.  

Everyone who joins the Mini Club by next Friday, January 12th will be entered into a draw!

Capture It All

Life is Good ~ and I think we are Blessed

Mindfulness is the key to realizing that on a day to day basis, though, I think!

By paying attention to details and trying to live in the moment, I'm enjoying my days more fully.
Recently, I've started writing down three things I'm grateful for each night ~ well, trying to do this in my journal each night...it's a habit I'm working on!
And I've been reading about Gratitude journals and a thankful heart.

A great book I started explores the idea of trying this for a year...the author talks about why need to make a purposeful attempt at reframing our days to look for things to be grateful for because we tend to dwell on negative too easily...but if we are aware of watching for what we are going to write about that evening, we look for the good.

The idea of Gratitude was talked about by philosophers for centuries, but only more recently looked at by psychologists and gratitude journals are being advocated. Studies show happiness is felt more readily by those that express gratitude...happiness itself is fleeting with an occurrence, but gratitude is a feeling that sustains.

I am continuing my class through this year with the Stampin'Up! Love Today Planner Kit.
I invite you to join us with the start of the New Year and new Resolutions!
Class includes the beautiful kit and you will receive writing prompts, crafting techniques and encouragement about once a week to keep you on track.
Some experts say a habit takes about a month to be learned, new evidence shows some habits might take 2 or 3 months, and even 6 months...so the course, and encouragement, will run for the next 6 months for just $75.

Join us...we've been having fun! ~ and welcome you to play along to create a beautiful journal through the coming months that is uniquely our own full of memories, daily happenings and gratitude!

touch base with me at laurenzrose@gmail com to get started today!